CIIS Human Sexuality Department

03/19/2025

⚡️Panelist Spotlight: Bianca I. Laureano – Educator, S*xologist & Visionary⚡️

The Human S*xuality Department at CIIS is honored to welcome Bianca I. Laureano as a panelist for Celebrating Erotic Divinity: Liberating Black Bodies and Spirits.

✨ Who is Bianca I. Laureano? ✨

✊🏾A true pioneer in s*xuality education, Bianca is an award-winning educator, curriculum writer, and s*xologist whose work is rooted in liberation, disability justice, and the empowerment of marginalized communities.

❤️‍🔥She is the co-foundress of the Women of Color S*xual Health Network and the SPM Disability Justice Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting initiatives led by disabled people of the global majority. In 2017, she founded ANTE UP!, a virtual freedom school fostering radical, justice-centered learning.

🗣️A powerful voice in curriculum development, Bianca led the educational framework for the award-winning Netflix film “Crip Camp“ and the PBS documentary “I Didn’t See You There”, both guided by disability justice principles. She continues to push boundaries as the editor of The People’s Book of Human S*xuality: Expanding the S*xology Archive (2023), redefining the field of s*xology through a decolonized and inclusive lens.

🥇In recognition of her groundbreaking contributions, Bianca was awarded an honorary doctorate from the California Institute of Integral Studies and is a certified AASECT s*xuality educator and supervisor.

🎤 At this event, Bianca will share her insights on erotic liberation, disability justice, and reclaiming pleasure as a radical act of self-sovereignty. Her voice is essential to the conversation on honoring and celebrating Black erotic divinity.

📅 Date: March 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM (PST)
📍 Location: Virtual – Live Webinar (link provided upon registration)

🔥 This is a space for radical dialogue, deep healing, and embodied liberation. Are you ready to step into it?

📲 Connect with Bianca I. Laureano:
🌍 Website: BiancaLaureano.com
📚 ANTE UP! Virtual Freedom School: www.AnteUpPD.com
📷 Instagram: *xologist
💙 Bluesky: .bsky.social
📘 Facebook: Bianca I. Laureano

✨ REGISTER NOW to be part of this transformative experience!
🔗 Register here: https://www.ciis.edu/events/celebrating-erotic-divinity-liberating-black-bodies-and-spirits?fbclid=IwY2xjawI3FNdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfj41oVRfVAxoKRyU57t5ZzV3Ppd_HzVEaPPK2326SCwRlREUcwqsF5phQ_aem_M81PxPxT7pLb3yjQs9PvSg

*xualLiberation

03/17/2025

💎Panelist Spotlight: Marla Renee Stewart, MA – The S*xual Strategist💎

The Human S*xuality Department at CIIS is honored to feature Marla Renee Stewart, MA as one of our powerful panelists for Celebrating Erotic Divinity: Liberating Black Bodies and Spirits!

✨ Who is Marla Renee Stewart? ✨

🥇Marla is an award-winning s*xologist, author, and s*xual strategist with over 20 years of expertise in human s*xuality. She is the founder of Velvet Lips, a s*x education company, and the Co-Founder of the legendary S*x Down South Conference.

❤️‍🔥A true pioneer in the field, Marla has given over 1000 workshops worldwide, empowering people to embrace their erotic power and deepen their connections. Her work has been featured on major platforms like Netflix’s Trigger Warning with Killer Mike and Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, bringing s*x education to the mainstream with an unapologetic and pleasure-positive approach.

📖She is also the co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Seduction & Foreplay (with Dr. Jessica O’Reilly), a must-read book that debuted in April 2020, offering expert insights on sensual connection and erotic mastery.

🎤 At this event, Marla will join an incredible panel of erotic liberation leaders, sharing her expertise on seduction, empowerment, and the reclamation of Black eroticism. Her work explores the intersections of s*xuality, pleasure activism, and liberation, making her a powerful voice in the movement for erotic freedom.

📅 Date: March 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM (PST)
📍 Location: Virtual – Live Webinar (link provided upon registration)

This powerhouse panel features leading voices in erotic liberation—be part of the conversation and the movement!

📲 Connect with Marla Renee Stewart:
🌍 Website: marlareneestewart.com |
💋 Velvet Lips: velvetlipss*xed.com |
🔥 S*x Down South: s*xdownsouth.com |
⚡ Race & Kink: raceandkink.com

✨ REGISTER NOW and be part of this transformative event!

🔗 Save your seat here: https://www.ciis.edu/events/celebrating-erotic-divinity-liberating-black-bodies-and-spirits?fbclid=IwY2xjawI3FNdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfj41oVRfVAxoKRyU57t5ZzV3Ppd_HzVEaPPK2326SCwRlREUcwqsF5phQ_aem_M81PxPxT7pLb3yjQs9PvSg

*xuality

03/12/2025

💫Meet Our Moderator: Tyomi Morgan – The Power of Sensual Embodiment💫

The Human S*xuality Department at CIIS is honored to have the incomparable Tyomi Morgan leading the conversation as the moderator for Celebrating Erotic Divinity: Liberating Black Bodies and Spirits!

With her deep expertise, Tyomi will skillfully guide this dynamic discussion, ensuring an evening of insight, empowerment, and radical reclamation of Black eroticism. Her ability to weave together knowledge, embodiment, and engaging dialogue makes her the perfect facilitator for this sacred gathering.

✨ Who is Tyomi Morgan? ✨

💎Tyomi is a certified s*xologist, Authentic Tantra™ practitioner, and sensual fitness coach with 13 years of experience helping women reclaim their s*xuality and confidence through movement and education.

⚡️As a member of the National Coalition for S*xual Health and a passionate HIV prevention advocate, Tyomi is committed to spreading accurate, affirming, and empowering s*xual health information worldwide.

🗣️She is no stranger to the media, having been featured in major outlets such as The New York Times, The Doctors, Essence.com, Cosmopolitan.com, and Women’s Health. She has also contributed her expertise to Ebony.com and Blackdoctor.org, educating the masses on s*xual health and intimacy.

🔥The creator of The Cowgirl Workout™, Tyomi uses sensual movement as a somatic healing modality, helping women across the globe embrace their erotic power and unleash their s*xy through fitness and embodiment practices.

🎤 At this event, Tyomi will lead a powerful discussion with our panel of erotic liberation leaders, guiding us through transformative conversations on reclaiming Black eroticism as sacred, revolutionary, and healing.

📅 Date: March 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM (PST)
📍 Location: Virtual – Live Webinar (link provided upon registration)

This is more than a conversation—it’s a revolution. Will you be part of it?

📲 Connect with Tyomi Morgan:
📷 Instagram: | |
🎥 TikTok:
🐦 Twitter (X):
📺 YouTube: GlamErotica101

✨ REGISTER NOW and be part of this transcendent celebration of Black erotic liberation!

🔗 Sign Up for FREE here: https://www.ciis.edu/events/celebrating-erotic-divinity-liberating-black-bodies-and-spirits?fbclid=IwY2xjawI3FNdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfj41oVRfVAxoKRyU57t5ZzV3Ppd_HzVEaPPK2326SCwRlREUcwqsF5phQ_aem_M81PxPxT7pLb3yjQs9PvSg

*xuality

03/10/2025

❤️‍🔥Keynote Spotlight: Dr. Clarissa Francis – The Real Hot Girl❤️‍🔥

The Celebrating Erotic Divinity: Liberating Black Bodies and Spirits event couldn’t have a more powerful, dynamic, and trailblazing keynote speaker! The Human S*xuality Department at CIIS is beyond thrilled to welcome Dr. Clarissa Francis—a force in s*xuality education, activism, and holistic healing—to take center stage for this revolutionary conversation.

✨ Who is Dr. Clarissa Francis? ✨

🔥Known as The Real Hot Girl Doc, Dr. Francis is an award-winning s*xuality educator, Hot Girl Movement scholar-activist, and health equity consultant with over 15 years of experience working with colleges, organizations, and community leaders to address health disparities and promote healing in Black communities.

⚡️A Cleveland native shaped by her time in Atlanta, she embraces her identity as a scholar-activist and s*xually liberated Black woman. Her PhD research at California Institute of Integral Studies focused on pleasure activism and Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer as a pathway to Black women’s s*xual liberation.

🌀Blending academia with holistic healing, she is trained in massage therapy, reiki, and erosomatic touch, bringing an embodied and transformative approach to s*xuality education. Dr. Francis currently serves on the AASECT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and the WOCSHN Leadership Collective, using her platform to advance s*xual and reproductive health, mental health awareness, and peer education for marginalized communities.

🎤 At this event, Dr. Francis will deliver a keynote that challenges us to embrace Black erotic power as sacred, revolutionary, and deeply healing. She will explore how pleasure activism and erotic embodiment can be tools of liberation, offering a bold and transformative vision for reclaiming Black s*xuality and spirituality.

📅 Date: March 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM (PST)
📍 Location: Virtual – Live Webinar (link provided upon registration)

This is a moment you won’t want to miss. Join us for an evening of storytelling, movement, and radical dialogue as we reclaim and celebrate the divinity within Black bodies and spirits.

📲 Connect with Dr. Clarissa Francis:
🌍 Website: drclarissafrancis.com
📷 Instagram:

✨ REGISTER NOW to save your seat!
🔗 Register here: https://www.ciis.edu/events/celebrating-erotic-divinity-liberating-black-bodies-and-spirits

*xuality

03/06/2025

🔥 Celebrating Erotic Divinity: Liberating Black Bodies and Spirits 🔥

As part of our Decennial celebration series, the CIIS Human S*xuality Department and The Center of Black & Indigenous Praxis invite you to a soul-stirring evening of embodied storytelling, radical dialogue, and spellbinding performances as we honor the sacred erotic power within Black bodies and spirits.

🌀 This is more than an event—it’s a movement. A reclamation. A celebration. A sacred space where Black eroticism is honored as divine, revolutionary, and deeply healing.

In a world where Black bodies have historically been marginalized and silenced, this event seeks to reclaim and celebrate the divine eroticism that resides within them. Through a rich tapestry of performances, discussions, and reflections, we will dive into the ways in which Black individuals can reclaim their bodies and spirits, embracing their full erotic potential as a source of power and liberation. By embracing embodied, erotic spirituality, we can tap into a powerful source of agency and transformation.

✨ What to Expect:
🔮 Keynote Address – Dr. Clarissa Francis shares wisdom on Black identity, eroticism, and spirituality.

💃🏾 Embodied Invocation – Experience the spellbinding artistry of Goddess Jessi and Perle Noire in an electrifying fusion of dance and burlesque.

🎤 Dynamic Panel Discussion – Moderated by Tyomi Morgan, featuring erotic liberation trailblazers:
🔥 Goddess Jessi
🔥 Perle Noire
🔥 Marla Stewart
🔥 tia marie
🔥 King Noire
🔥 Jet Setting Jasmine
🔥 Bianca Laureano

💡 Engage, reflect, and be inspired in our Interactive Q&A Session and a powerful Closing Invocation by Goddess Jessi.

📅 Date: March 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM (PST)
📍 Location: Virtual – Live Webinar (link provided upon registration)

✨ REGISTER NOW to claim your seat in this transformative gathering! Don't miss your chance to be part of this historic celebration of Black Erotic Divinity.

🔗 Register here: https://www.ciis.edu/events/celebrating-erotic-divinity-liberating-black-bodies-and-spirits

*xuality

Join us for a transformative celebration of Black s*xuality as part of the CIIS Human S*xuality Department's Decennial Celebration Series.

02/01/2025

Please join us on February 10 for this exciting book talk with the author!

𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑼𝒑: 𝑶𝒏 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒌, 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 🗣️

With the start of the spring semester, we are excited to continue our Decennial Celebration honoring 10 years of the Human S*xuality Department at CIIS— We know many of you have been eagerly awaiting this next gathering, and we can't wait to share it with you!

The Department of Human S*xuality, in partnership with the Interdisciplinary Arts & Writing Program, invites you to join us for an interactive and moderated discussion featuring 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗻, acclaimed author of 𝐵𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑈𝑝: 𝑂𝑛 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑘, 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 (Wayne State University Press, 2024).

🗓When: Monday, February 10, 2025

⏰Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM PST

📍Where: Virtual via Zoom (link provided upon registration)

🔗𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁: https://www.ciis.edu/.../bound-up-kink-power-and-belonging

This event will spark meaningful reflections and conversations around identity, kink, and healing. Leora will share excerpts from her deeply intimate and evocative new book, exploring themes of writing the self, kink, disability, and the transformative role of play in processing inherited trauma.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:

✨Dive into the rich intersections of kink, power, and belonging through lived experience and scholarship.

✨Learn how writing and play can become transformative tools for healing and self-discovery.

✨Engage in meaningful conversation and connect with a diverse community interested in creative and therapeutic practices, especially in the realms of autotheory and s*xual trauma recovery.

𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠, 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦, ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓-𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.

01/29/2025

🗣️𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑼𝒑: 𝑶𝒏 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒌, 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 🗣️

With the start of the spring semester, we are excited to continue our Decennial Celebration honoring 10 years of the Human S*xuality Department at CIIS— We know many of you have been eagerly awaiting this next gathering, and we can't wait to share it with you!

The Department of Human S*xuality, in partnership with the Interdisciplinary Arts & Writing Program, invites you to join us for an interactive and moderated discussion featuring 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗻, acclaimed author of 𝐵𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑈𝑝: 𝑂𝑛 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑘, 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 (Wayne State University Press, 2024).

🗓 When: Monday, February 10, 2025
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM PST
📍 Where: Virtual via Zoom (link provided upon registration)

🔗𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁: https://www.ciis.edu/events/bound-up-kink-power-and-belonging

This event will spark meaningful reflections and conversations around identity, kink, and healing. Leora will share excerpts from her deeply intimate and evocative new book, exploring themes of writing the self, kink, disability, and the transformative role of play in processing inherited trauma.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
✨ Dive into the rich intersections of kink, power, and belonging through lived experience and scholarship.
✨ Learn how writing and play can become transformative tools for healing and self-discovery.
✨ Engage in meaningful conversation and connect with a diverse community interested in creative and therapeutic practices, especially in the realms of autotheory and s*xual trauma recovery.

𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠, 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦, ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓-𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿:
Leora Fridman is a celebrated writer, educator, and curator whose work explores identity, care, dis/ability, and embodiment. She is the author of Bound Up: On Kink, Power & Belonging, Static Palace (a collection of essays on chronic illness, art, and politics), and My Fault (selected by Eileen Myles for the Cleveland State University Press First Book Prize). Leora’s writing has been featured in Parapraxis, The Drift, Fence, LitHub, The New York Times, The Believer, and more.

Leora holds degrees with honors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst MFA Program for Poets and Writers and Brown University. She teaches at The New School and serves as the Director of the New Jewish Culture Fellowship. Learn more at www.leorafridman.com

📚 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸!
Bound Up: On Kink, Power & Belonging is available for purchase at is at Bookshop.org, or direct from the press, and rhymes-with-Glamazon. Get your copy today and dive deeper into Leora’s intimate reflections and transformative themes — Highly recommended!

💥 We can’t wait to see you there for this powerful and engaging event.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁: https://www.ciis.edu/events/bound-up-kink-power-and-belonging

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with Leora Fridman’s work, explore the intersections of creativity, kink, and healing, and connect with a like-minded community.

12/10/2024

🌟You're Invited: Virtual Book Launch of Critical S*xuality Studies, Lavender Language & Everyday Life 🌟

📣 This is a reminder! Don’t miss this extraordinary event as part of the Decennial Celebration of the Department of Human S*xuality at CIIS!

Join us for the virtual launch of Critical S*xuality Studies, Lavender Language & Everyday Life, a groundbreaking book that explores how language, s*xuality, gender, and power shape our lives.

Featuring: A conversation between co-editors:
💠Dr. William Leap, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at American University, a pioneer in q***r linguistics and founder of the Lavender Language Conference.
💠Dr. Michelle Marzullo, Chair of the Human S*xuality PhD Program at CIIS, whose interdisciplinary work bridges research, public health, and policy.

This volume explores the intersections of Critical S*xuality Studies (CSS) and Lavender Languages (LL), offering new perspectives on language, s*xuality, gender, and power in everyday life. Praised as "a triumphant work" (Breanne Fahs, Arizona State University), the book serves as both a roadmap and inspiration for future scholarship.

📔Order your copy here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/critical-s*xuality-studies-lavender-languages-and-everyday-life-9781350359956/

Event Details:
📅 Date: Wednesday, December 11th
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (PST)
🌐 Location: Virtual via Zoom (link provided upon registration)

🎟️ Register for free: https://www.ciis.edu/events/book-launch-critical-s*xuality-studies-lavender-language-and-every-day-life

💡 Why Attend?
- Engage in rich dialogue about the intersections of s*xuality studies and everyday life.
-Gain insights into how language, s*xuality, and power intersect.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Join us Dec. 11 for a conversation with editors Michelle Marzullo & William Leap: A lively discussion with the anthology authors in the context of s*xuality.

12/03/2024

🌟You're Invited: Virtual Book Launch of Critical S*xuality Studies, Lavender Language & Every Day Life🌟

We are delighted to invite you to an extraordinary event as part of our Decennial Celebration.

Join the Department of Human S*xuality at CIIS for a virtual book launch of:

𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 & 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞

📖 This groundbreaking volume explores the intersections of 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐂𝐒𝐒) and 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 (𝐋𝐋)—uncovering how language, s*xuality, gender, and power shape our everyday lives. Described as "a triumphant work" by Breanne Fahs of Arizona State University, this book serves as both a roadmap and inspiration for future scholarship.

✨ 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
🎙️ A conversation with the book’s co-editors:

~Dr. William Leap, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at American University, a pioneer in q***r linguistics and founder of the Lavender Language Conference.

~Dr. Michelle Marzullo, Chair of the Human S*xuality PhD Program at CIIS, whose interdisciplinary work bridges research, public health, and policy.

📅 Date: Wednesday, December 11th
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (PST)
🌐 Location: Virtual via Zoom (link provided upon registration)

🎟️ 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞! 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://www.ciis.edu/events/book-launch-critical-s*xuality-studies-lavender-language-and-every-day-life

💡 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝?
- Engage in a rich dialogue on how s*xuality studies shape everyday life.
- Gain insights into the intersection of language, s*xuality, and power.

We look forward to exploring these critical themes together and fostering new understandings!

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬:

𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐳𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐨’s work bridges academic and practical applications, with experience in public health, diversity and inclusion, policy, higher education, and organizational change. She considers herself is a practicing anthropologist specializing in critical s*xuality studies and currently serves as the Chair and Professor of the Human S*xuality PhD Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), which houses the second fully accredited PhD program in the U.S. in this field and a new Master's of Science. Her research spans four primary areas: LGBTQ access to higher education, the intersection of artificial intelligence with s*xual and reproductive health, workplace diversity and inclusion, and the economics of s*xuality and marriage in the U.S. A mixed-methods researcher, Dr. Marzullo integrates qualitative techniques, such as interviews and discourse analysis, with quantitative data to address interdisciplinary questions. As a convenor of scholars and advocates, she fosters a critical s*xuality studies framework, emphasizing the intersections of power, s*xuality, s*x, and gender. Michelle has collaborated with prominent organizations, including Ernst & Young, the Point Foundation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the California Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research.

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐋. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐩 is an Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the American University (Washington, DC). He is the founder of the now-annual Lavender Language Conference and the affiliated Lavender Languages Summer Institute. He was the senior founding editor of the Journal of Language & S*xuality (2011-2021). He is one of the co-editors of the Bloomsbury Series in Q***r Linguistics. Leap’s research interests include: gay and le***an English [in the urban US and in Black township South Africa], audience reception of gay p**n, language and s*xuality in globalization, “q***r language” before Stonewall, and most recently, the q***r potential of translanguaging. Leap has written, edited or co-edited fifteen books addressing theory, research methods and political practice related to language and s*xuality studies and to lavender/q***r linguistics. His publications in US-based and in international Linguistics journals address comparable topics.
Leap’s research and writing are haunted by the reminder that people in the gender/s*xual margins are still denied access to opportunity, and for that reason, people are dying. Hence, Leap’s writings are always attentive to lavender/q***r subjects as speaking-speakers, but also as subjects-in-struggle against privileged, normative, and (increasingly) neo-fascist understandings of language, inequality and difference. As cultural studies icon Raymond Williams wisely reminds us, “a definition of language is, first and foremost, a definition of human beings in the world” (1977: 21.) And what lavender/q***r linguistics is building is a new definition of language.

𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭-𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨-𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬!

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://www.ciis.edu/events/book-launch-critical-s*xuality-studies-lavender-language-and-every-day-life

11/18/2024

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲

📅 Date: November 20 | ⏰ Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM (PST)
📍 Location: Virtual event (Link provided after registration)

🗣️𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬
We’re thrilled to introduce one of our accomplished alumni and speakers, Dr. A. Bernard Davis!

Dr. Davis has more than two decades of experience in public health and community wellness, highlighting his long-term commitment and expertise in the field. In 2017, Dr. Davis, along with four colleagues, founded 𝑅𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝐴𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 & 𝑂𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠, which is now RAO Community Health (RAO). RAO is dedicated to prioritizing s*xual health and primary care. This initiative reflects Dr. Davis’s proactive approach to addressing critical health care needs. Under his leadership, RAO has developed a robust PrEP and HIV and treatment program, created a community health initiative, developed a doula program prioritizing African American maternal health,opened clinical and pharmacy services.

Dr. Davis is a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ health care needs and services, emphasizing the importance of inclusive and equitable health care. He upholds the principle that health care should be both a right and a privilege, advocating for patient education and informed care for marginalized individuals.

Dr. Davis has lectured at various academic and professional institutions, sharing his knowledge and insights on public health, community wellness, and human s*xuality. He has presented at numerous national conferences, contributing to the broader discourse in public health and s*xual health. His scholarly work includes his dissertation “The Black Church as a Riskscape: Masculinity in the Black Church for Black men who have s*x with men in the era of HIV and Pre-exposure prophylaxis” and co-authoring several publications, adding valuable research and perspectives to the field.

Dr. A.Bernard Davis's accomplishments illustrate his dedication to improving public health, promoting education, and advocating for marginalized communities. His leadership and expertise continue to make a significant impact in the field.

💻 Connect with Dr. Davis‘ work and services:
𝐑𝐀𝐎 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡: https://raoassist.org/

💬𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝
This event is ideal for anyone eager to deepen their understanding in critical s*xuality studies and contribute to a more vibrant future.

❗️𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟, 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑—this is a unique opportunity to network with leaders in the field and gain valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of s*xuality studies.

🦋Join us for an enlightening evening with Dr. Bernard Davis and other distinguished alumni as they share their innovative work and perspectives in human s*xuality.
🦋Engage with changemakers in critical s*xuality studies, and gain unique insights into their research, personal journeys, and vision for transformative change.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭! This is a FREE event.
https://www.ciis.edu/events/transformation-action-meet-s*xuality-changemakers-today

11/15/2024

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲

📅 Date: November 20 | ⏰ Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM (PST)
📍 Location: Virtual event (Link provided after registration)

🗣️𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: 𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨
We’re excited to introduce one of our accomplished alumni and speakers, Dr. Giacinta Talarico!

Giacinta is a clinician and researcher whose work focuses on improving wellbeing and health equity for all people with special attention to LGBTQ+ and multiply-minoritized populations.

In her clinical practice, she specializes in working with LGBTQ+ people and their partners, as well as with other minoritized s*xualities. Dr. Talarico mixed-methods research focuses on better understanding resilience among multiply-minoritized populations and decolonizing diagnostic frameworks and models of care.

💻 Connect with Dr. Giacinta Talarico and learn more about her work and services:

𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 : https://www.drtalarico.com/
𝐊𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: https://www.kean.edu/directory/giacinta-talarico
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giacinta-talarico/

💬𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝:
This event is ideal for anyone eager to deepen their understanding in critical s*xuality studies and contribute to a more vibrant future!

❗️𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟, 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑—this is a unique opportunity to network with leaders in the field and gain valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of s*xuality studies.

🦋𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 for an enlightening evening with Dr. Giacinta Talarico and other distinguished alumni as they share their innovative work and perspectives in human s*xuality.
🦋𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 with changemakers in critical s*xuality studies, and gain unique insights into their research, personal journeys, and vision for transformative change!

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭! https://www.ciis.edu/events/transformation-action-meet-s*xuality-changemakers-today

11/12/2024

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲!

📅 Date: November 20 | ⏰ Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM (PST)
📍 Location: Virtual event (Link provided after registration)

🗣️𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐢́𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐮𝐧̃𝐨𝐳
We are thrilled to announce Dr. Estefanía Simich Muñoz, Ph.D., LCPC, CST, CST-S. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Board Approved Supervisor in Maryland. Estefanía is also an AASECT Certified S*x Therapist and Supervisor and the former AASECT S*x Therapist Certification Chair. She owns a bilingual s*xuality practice in Baltimore where she works on healing ancestral wounds through holistic and shamanic healing.

She is passionate about supporting migrant populations who have experienced violence and s*xual trauma. As well as working with couples from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. In the past, she has acted as an immigration court expert on gender violence and s*xual violence cases involving Latin American migrants. She has worked in the non-profit and governmental sectors in Peru, The Netherlands and the US.

Dr. Simich Muñoz enjoys sharing her clinical and professional experience by incorporating an intersectional lens into her teaching to challenge students to conceptualize cases in a variety of ways. Her main goal is to guide clinicians on their journey of becoming s*xuality professionals by providing a safe space for dialogue.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 with Dr. Estefanía Simich Muñoz and other distinguished alumni as they share their innovative work and perspectives in human s*xuality!

💬 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝
This event is ideal for anyone eager to deepen their understanding in critical s*xuality studies and contribute to a more vibrant future. 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟, 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑—this is a unique opportunity to network with leaders in the field and gain valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of s*xuality studies.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬, and gain unique insights into their research, personal journeys, and vision for transformative change!

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭! This is a FREE event.
https://www.ciis.edu/events/transformation-action-meet-s*xuality-changemakers-today