Pleasure - Is it necessary?

Youth have told us that they want pleasure- inclusive education and we think it is good to offer honest and straightforward answers to questions that are consistently asked in workshops. When we say pleasure, we mean “What is right for you.” We help you figure out what makes you feel good when it comes to making healthy choices for yourself. The workshops we offer can help you discover the tools for you to be in control of what you do, and who you interact with socially, and sexually. We want you to feel comfortable in your own skin – know your body, understand anatomy, “how-to” and techniques, arousal, desire, negotiation, and violence prevention.

Pleasure is to be discussed in an educational, healthy and positive environment with age appropriate information. Our goal in talking about pleasure is to help others explore, learn, and feel good about their bodies and their relationships and to hopefully find empowerment as an end result.

Marginalization... Am I included?

Everyone is welcome. We just want to make sure that everyone is included. We want to help those who may not have equal access to information and services regarding sexual health. We want to include people who often feel left out in the predominantly white hetero-normative centre.

 

We understand and acknowledge that realities can be different for different communities and we want to ensure we address those who are often forgotten. We also want to ensure equitable learning opportunities are available for everyone.

Pro-Choice - What does this have to do with me?

It is an important part of our beliefs, being pro-choice is about a lot more than supporting a woman’s right to choose. Our beliefs are centred around the idea that each person is the best person to decide what is right for their own life. When related to sexual and reproductive health and rights, this means that each person has the right to decide:

• If, when and with whom to have sexual relations.

• The right to choose whether or not to use contraceptives and sexually transmitted infection safety methods. And if using protection is desired, it includes the right to choose what type of protection methods to use.

• Being pro-choice is also about being able to express your sexuality in different ways and respecting all sexual orientations.

• It is also about respecting whether or not a person wants to marry and about supporting a person’s right to choose who they want to marry, if anyone, and when and how they want to celebrate their union.

• Being pro-choice supports that all individuals have the right to be free from exploitation, abuse, sexual assault and sexual harassment.

• It supports a person’s right to benefit from scientific advancements and to have access to new technologies that are safe and effective.

• It promotes the right to accurate information and education and strongly believes in the right to safe, legal, professional, affordable and accessible healthcare.

• This includes the right to the treatment of life-threatening conditions and infections.

• Being pro-choice means standing-up to protect people from forced sterilization, forced abortion or forced pregnancy.

• And of course, being pro-choice is about being able to decide whether or not to have children and when to have children. This includes the right to decide what to do when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

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