I spent spent a few days at the annual AASECT conference and had a great time, as usual. I mostly worked the NCSF table in the Exhibit Hall, talking to attendees about all of NCSF's projects that directly educate and serve the alt sex communities. I'm also a member of the AASECT advocacy committee, so I'm helping them organize their first advocacy projects. It's very exciting to be able to contribute to this wonderful group.

Here's the NCSF press release on it. Near the bottom, it also mentions my contribution to Sadomasochism: Powerful Pleasures, which I'm very proud of.


NCSF and ITCR Participate in AASECT's 2007 Annual Conference

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and The Institute for 21st Century Relationships: The Foundation of NCSF participated in the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists' 2007 annual conference, The Soul of Sexuality, held in Charlotte, NC, from June 20-24th. AASECT is the premier North American training and credentialing organization for sexual health professionals and sex therapists. Supporting Memberships extend to all individuals who share an interest in promoting understanding of human sexuality and healthy sexual behavior (www.aasect.org).

A standing-room-only crowd attended "Big(ger) Love: Boomers and Sexually Open Relationships," by James Fleckenstein, President and CEO of ITCR: The Foundation of NCSF, and Carol Morotti-Meeker MS, MLSP. This informative presentation gave attendees a clearer understanding of the history of sexually open relationships, how these relationships work, past research validating their suitability, and techniques for serving clients who are practicing, or interested in exploring them.

At the NCSF table in the Exhibit Hall, therapists and counselors signed up for the Kink Aware Professionals list (www.ncsfreedom.org/kap/index.htm). This online resource provides referrals to psychotherapeutic, medical, and legal professionals who are knowledgeable about and sensitive to diverse expressions of sexuality. The positive response came from sex educators, counselors, therapists, psychologists and registered nurses. A number of professionals who are already on the KAP list commented that they get referrals from this free service, and they're glad to serve members of the BDSM, swing and polyamory communities.

The AASECT conference makes available academic research and publications that are vital to changing the perception of alternative sexuality. NCSF and ITCR encourage your support for two books that were published in the last year: "America's War on Sex" and "Sadomasochism: Powerful Pleasures."

Marty Klein, PhD, received AASECT's Book Award for "America's War on Sex," with foreword by Nadine Strossen, President of the ACLU, published by Praeger Publishers, 2006 (www.AmericasWarOnSex.com). From the book jacket:

"With hundreds of examples ripped from today's headlines, Dr. Klein names names, challenges political hypocrisy, and shows the financial connections between government and conservative religious groups that are systematically taking away your rights. Savagely funny, brutally honest, Dr. Klein isn't shy about it."

"Sadomasochism: Powerful Pleasures" edited by AASECT board member Peggy J. Kleinplatz, PhD, and Charles Moser, PhD, MD, was co-published simultaneously by Haworth Press and the Journal of Homosexuality, Volume 50, Numbers 2/3 2006 (www.haworthpress.com/store/product.asp?sku=5794). The 15 articles include "Discrimination of SM-Identified Individuals" by Susan Wright, MA, spokesperson for NCSF, which details the history of discrimination against SM practitioners since the 1970s, including attacks by the American religious right and sex-negative feminists.

In his review of "Sadomasochism: Powerful Pleasures," the late Eric Rofes, PhD, stated:

"Powerful and important… Moves sadomasochism from the suspect fringe to center stage for our academic and clinical consideration. By bringing together these pioneering authors and insightful pieces, the editors have done a tremendous service to the filed of sex research and to the lives of those who enjoy SM. Rarely have I seen a book that so powerfully redefined an entire field of sexual inquiry so swiftly and in so thorough a manner."

NCSF and ITCR: The Foundation of NCSF are committed to educating professionals and health service providers about alternative sexual expression, and will continue to support AASECT.

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A joint Project of NCSF and ITCR: The Foundation of NCSF

The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom is a national organization committed to creating a political, legal, and social environment in the United States that advances equal rights of consenting adults who practice forms of alternative sexual expression. NCSF is primarily focused on the rights of consenting adults in the SM-leather-fetish, swing, and polyamory communities, who often face discrimination because of their sexual expression.

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom
822 Guilford Avenue, Box 127
Baltimore, MD 21202-3707
917-848-6544
media@ncsfreedom.org
www.ncsfreedom.org

Tags: aasect, ncsf