Essential sex social skills

Norma Sorto/The Towerlight
By: Norma Sorto, Contributing Writer

Cavanaugh Quick, a queer, trans, polyamorous, Afro-Latinx sex educator presented their lecture, “Sex Ed Without the Sex,” in the West Village Common Ballrooms on Nov. 6th.

Quick lectured on the importance of having proper sex social skills. They argue that having proper communication skills with your partner(s) is more important than knowing about contraceptives with regards to practicing safe sex.

The event was coordinated by the department of Student Affairs, the Health Center, the Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equality, and the Center for Student Diversity.

Quick has been designing and presenting workshops regarding personal autonomy since 2007, and more recently has been discussing proper social skills as an essential tool in practicing safe sex, as opposed to only discussing contraceptives like traditional sex education.

Quick earned a bachelors in neuropsychology and sociolinguistics at Sarah Lawrence College in 2012, with a Masters in social work from University at Albany in 2018. They describe themselves to be an “adventurer with a passion for critical thought and personal autonomy.”

“I don’t think [the education of sex as a social skill is] just important, I think it’s a necessity and an ethical responsibility when you have a collection of people of any age,” said Quick. “Especially young folks who are moving into adulthood and learning stuff that they haven’t had the opportunity to learn before or maybe getting to exercise differently because we are at different levels of control in our lives at this point.”

Quick’s lecture explored various areas of sex education which do not involve sex, such as how talking about sex can increase safety within the community.

They explained the foundation of sex education to be consent, informed decision making, and boundary setting. Quick also explained the foundation in understandinig sex social skills to be an understanding of the four C’s: Confidence, Cooperation, Communication, and Curiosity.

Allison Seeley, coordinator for health education and promotion at Towson University, believes that it is important for universities like Towson to provide resources for students to be aware of sexual health.

“Part of my job is to oversee all our sexual health education and promotion programming.” said Seeley. “I think is certainly a topic that a lot of college students are interested in learning more about, we really have a wide variety of knowledge about. I think is really valuable to have a lot of conservations and opportunities for people to explore all the different areas of sexual health and well-being.”

The lecture offered information regarding sexual health without discussing sex as a practice but rather a conversation to be had.

Ryann Washington, a sophomore, thought that the event was helpful for students to learn about sex education.

“I believe [the event was helpful] because it mainly talked about the social skills behind being with a sexual partner,” said Washington. “Seeing what’s okay or not okay, and what’s okay for them and not just you, it’s not just centered around you but considering the other person as well.”

To learn more about sexual autonomy and consent, check out TU’s Sexual Health Awareness Group (SHAG), where according to their website, students “share the common interest in eradicating sex-related stigma, promoting body autonomy, and good consensual sex for those who want it.”

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