DeSTIgmatize STIs: A Knowledge-Expanding and Stigma-Liberating Sexual Health Class

Unlike other infections, like chickenpox and the common cold, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are socially stigmatized. Sexuality and sexual intercourse outside of monogamy already carries the burden of being taboo, so getting an infection or illness can feel like a punishment. STIs are one of the potential risks of having sex, it is true. It is also true, however, that they can be mitigated with knowledge. Learning about various pathogens, understanding ways to minimize transmission, and practicing communication about your history and test results, open your world to a freedom from the stigmatization around STIs and sexual health.

STI pathogens do not all behave the same way (for example: some requiring body fluids, while others being transmitted by skin to skin contact), specifying the sexual activities and anatomy involved, rather than grouping by gender or sexual orientation, can allow for you to make more informed choices to better help minimize transmission.

This class gives clear and concise information about the different pathogens that can be transmitted through sexual or sensual contact, as well as guidance on how to navigate through testing, treatment and disclosure. Rather than promoting sexual behavior changes, we can destigmatize and reduce STIs by using a harm reduction approach.

STI Prevention Guidelines have been the same for years: abstinence, mutual monogamy, minimizing sexual partners, and using barriers. These recommendations can be unrealistic for people who are not in mutually monogamous relationships or celibate. “Prevention” implies that if you get an STI then you did something wrong. It reinforces the expectation that “safe sex" is possible by following these rules and if you break them, then it’s your fault if you get an STI. It is not. Like driving a car, you can follow all the traffic laws, wear a seat belt and drive defensively, but accidents still happen.

This class is guided from the perspective that sex is good and healthy but perfection is unrealistic. The way to maintain your health is by making informed choices. As a family physician, I believe that optimal health is achieved by making small changes. The first step is to deSTIgmatize the fear, the shame, and the guilt of STIs, and to detach and deconstruct the association of those ideas with sex: an activity that has the capacity to bring us such pleasure and connection. So rather than striving for “safe” sex and “prevention” and feeling shame if failing, having “safer” sex and understanding how to “minimize” transmission helps remove the stigma from STIs.

If you feel scared of STIs, of getting an STI, of sharing if you have one, then this class is for you.

If you reject those with an STI, or believe that people who have, or have had, STIs are irresponsible, then this class is for you.

If you are having sex outside of a committed and mutually monogamous relationship, then this class is for you.

If you want to have sex without fear and guilt, then this class is definitely for you.

Now is the time to recognize the power and beauty that our sexuality can bring into our lives, to allow us to feel safer to move forward.

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On Thursday, June 15th, 2023, at 6:00PM PDT, Dr. Evalene Molina Dacker we will be hosting “DeSTIgmatize STIs: A Knowledge-Expanding and Stigma-Liberating Sexual Health Class”!

Based on Dr. Molina Dacker’s handbook, “DeSTIgmatize STIs: Sexual Health, Knowledge, and Liberation”, this will be a 90 minute class introducing sex-positive education on Sexually + Sensually Transmitted Infections, fully based on anatomy and behaviors, NOT on gender or sexual orientation.

This class is useful for people who have multiple partners, sensual and kinky contacts, or just want to learn more. We will review and discuss best practices for testing, disclosure and how to reduce transmission.

Dr. Molina Dacker will be covering Herpes (HSV-1 & 2), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis, and the last 30 minutes will be a question and answer period.

The CDC guidelines are outdated and do not serve people who are sexually active.

Come learn about common STIs and how to minimize transmission, so you can have a safer and more freeing sex experience!

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Dr. Evalene Molina Dacker is a Mexican-American, bicultural, bilingual, trauma-informed, Integrative Family Physician who specializes in sexual wellness, menopause and hormones, and vitality throughout life. Her unique approach to health incorporates pleasure as an important aspect for healing trauma and illness. In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Molina Dacker specializes in teaching a sex positive approach to sexually transmitted disease, she is the creator of the STARS Talk framework for intimacy communication, and she works toward incorporating sexuality into primary care through educating health care providers on sex-positivity. In addition, Dr. Molina Dacker hold workshops on consent and sexual communication geared toward young adults to help reduce sexual assault on college campuses.

Dr. Evalene Molina Dacker is also…

• Certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine
• Board Certified in Holistic and Integrative Medicine
• Graduated with Honors from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
• A TEDx Speaker
• A Board Member of Something Positive For Positive People

And an active community member involved with…

• International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health
• National Coalition for Sexual Health
• American Academy of Family Medicine

Dr. . Molina Dacker is Kink Educated and Aware, Non-Traditional Relationship Informed, Gender Inclusive, and Trauma Informed.

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Gender and Genitalia Disclaimer

Historically, in western medicine, sexual health has traditionally been presented through a binary lens regarding gender and genitalia. With the gendered language used to discuss bodies, the assumption has been that men are people who are born with a penis and testes, and women are people who are born with a front hole/vagina, cervix, ovaries and uterus. This assumption explicitly excludes trans, non-binary, and intersex people, who do not fit into these rigid categories of man=penis and woman=vagina. There are women with penises, and men with front holes/vaginas. There are intersex people with physical and/or hormonal variations in their reproductive and sexual anatomy, and individuals with genitalia that has been changed either surgically or through the use of Hormone Affirming Therapy (HAT).

Rather than taking the more common Public Health Literature approach, customarily categorizing and classifying STI risks based on gender and sexual orientation, and assuming that “sex” implies “intercourse”, this event discusses the STI risks associated with specific sexual activities and commonly understood anatomical terms.

At the moment, there is insufficient consensual medical research regarding intersex and trans individuals and STIs, and I look forward to future versions of this event with more reference material regarding this for the benefit of these folks. For now, in this event, I have chosen to exclusively use genderless anatomical words, like penis and front hole/vagina. I want to acknowledge that these terms may not reflect everyone’s experience, or may not be correct for you. Until we have better language and understanding on STIs and intersex and trans individuals, please use your best judgment on how these terms apply to you.

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To find more resources from Dr. Evalene Molina Dacker, feel free to visit her website EvaleneDacker.com

and her Instagram and Tiktok @SexMedDoc

We recognize the absolute privilege it is to experience access to this degree of communication education in our current world. In order to maintain equitable accessibility for our current and future publications, events, workshops, and retreats, our ticketing is based on a sliding-scale, pay-what-you-can, and pay-it-forward model, no questions asked.