Let’s talk about sex, baby.
Sure, discussing coitus with total strangers might make a few of us squirm, but that’s what the volunteers at the Sexual Education Centre call Tuesday morning.
Created in 1976, the SEC provides peer counseling on anything sex or sexuality-related, either in person or through a phone help line. Located on St. George St. in the CIUT building, the cozy offices offer free condoms and advice to anyone who walks through the door.
Volunteers go through an intensive four-day training period, which prepares them for the range of questions they might receive. “Many of our questions are about sexually transmitted infections,” said External Education Coordinator Chris Jodoin. “We are not doctors, but we can give information and connect people to other resources.”
Jodoin added that many callers also ask about relationships and sexual practices. “Our volunteers must be non judgmental and pro-sex,” said executive director Rachelle Pascoe- Deslauriers. “You have to leave your personal bias at the door. If it’s possible to do it, I’m sure someone’s getting off on it.”
Pascoe-Deslauriers hopes that the volunteers will bring their experiences home with them, expanding the centre’s impact beyond those who call or drop by. “We are hoping to renegotiate the social norms,” she said. “And students will take the information back to their personal networks and communities.”
SEC is a true on-campus haven for anything sex-related. The offices boast sex toys and a plethora of free condoms, lube, and dental dams. And if you are feeling literary, check out the collection of books and magazines that address topics ranging from sexual politics to erotica.
The SEC tries to get the word out to first-years by supplying the condoms and lube along with pamphlets in frosh kits. They also give talks at residences and in the centre, as well as distributing condoms at various campus locations throughout the warmer months. While Pascoe-Deslauriers and Jodoin admit that other campus organizations have been intimidated by their pro-sex stance, they said response has been primarily positive.
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing: 20 years ago, SEC was banned from receiving student funding after St. Mike’s challenged their policy of giving abortion referrals. In the 1990s, however, students overwhelmingly voted in favour of using a portion of their tuition to create a sex-positive centre. “We try not to be political. We want to be here for everyone,” said Jodoin.
SEC works with a variety of Toronto businesses. They also receive a discount from Durex, allowing them to supply the St. George campus with condoms ranging from dry mint-scented to studded and tapered. Dropping by the offices guarantees one a pleasure pack of prophylactics ranging in colour and flavour.
And no one will judge you for giggling at the sight of the centre’s wall of sex toys. “Sex is fun, and sex is funny,” Jodoin said. “It’s okay to have fun. we just want to help you do it safely.”
The SEC help line is open Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All calls are confidential. Check out their web site, sec.sa.utoronto.ca, for talks, times, and information about how to become a volunteer.
