LOS ANGELES — Organizers of the SEX+ Summit, scheduled for October 2 to 4, are describing the event as an immersive digital experience that will explore the wellness world’s current offerings through panels, at-home experientials and expert guidance.
Hosted by sex educators and cultural event producers, the SEX+ Summit will bring together experts, practitioners and healers whose work intersects sexuality, sensuality and identity. This weekend-long digital event centers Black, queer, non-binary and non-Black POC voices.
Joining the SEX+ Summit are "Sexuality Doula" Ev’Yan Whitney and author, LGBTQ+ advocate and pundit Jeffrey Marsh as keynote speakers, with Black feminist folk-healer Jade T. Perry hosting a sensual group tarot reading to kick off the event.
Panelists include astrologer Dayna Lynn Nuckolls of The People’s Oracle; body relationship coach Ivy Felicia; trauma expert and queer media consultant Jimanekia Eborn; activist and artist Sean Saifa Wall of the Intersex Justice Project; therapist and radical body acceptance advocate Sonalee Rashatwar; president and CEO of SIECUS — Sex Ed for Social Change Christine Soyong Harley, and many others.
"The SEX+ Summit is dedicated to topics often left out of mainstream wellness and sexuality conversations and makes them accessible online from the comfort and privacy of our couches. Now more than ever, we need events like this to connect with the people, tools, and practices that help us navigate this transformational time in our lives,” summit co-host Anne Hodder-Shipp said.
Summit co-host Sarah Tomchesson echoed Hodder-Shipp's sentiments.
“We wanted to create a space that feels safe, supported and inspiring for attendees — and us — to expand their views on sexuality, be introduced to embodiment practices and explore their own relationship to pleasure, healing and self-care,” they said.
Each workshop, panel, keynote and at-home experiential is produced for digital engagement with a mix of live discussions, and downloadable content and activities.
“There is nothing better than seeing people, especially Black people, be themselves and/or regain confidence to be their sexual selves,” said Nhakia Outland, founder of Prevention is Key and PreventionMeetsFashion and a summit panel speaker. “We are learning to defy the stereotypes and negative views about our bodies and love and embrace our sexuality as Black people.”
“I always say, 'If sex is food, then sensuality is its flavor,'" said Elle Chase, sex educator, body acceptance advocate and a summit pleasure workshop host. “I love how sensuality is so dynamic, diverse and distinctive, and I'm always astounded by the myriad ways it shows up for us throughout our lives.”
The SEX+ Summit also connects attendees with tarot, astrology, breathwork, sex toys, herbalism and more with a marketplace of makers, artists, service providers and brands.
“It's an exciting time to be a part of the SEX+ Summit,” said Tracy Felder, pleasure product educator and summit pleasure workshop host. “It means that there's a great shift in diversity and how society is ready to be educated with folks that relate to them daily when it comes to sexuality. I'm happy to be a part of the movement.”
Tickets for the SEX+ Summit will go on sale soon at SexPlusSummit.
