Sunday, October 14

General Session - Day 2 Welcoming Keynote

10:30 - 10:50 a.m. Singing the Praises of Sex Positivity: How We're Transforming the World Presenter: Allena Gabosch Hunt's Point/Yarrow Point Ballroom All too often we get caught up in the Bad News: stories of discrimination, of sex-negative political actions and other events that seem to bode ill for those of us in the Sex Positive Community. Join Allena Sunday morning for the Good News. Come and celebrate the victories both large and small of our burgeoning sex positive community. She will share how The Seattle Sex Positive Community Center and other organizations and individuals are transforming sexuality and bringing sex positive culture to the world. She will talk about how you can take the message of Sex Positive Culture back home and spread the Good Word. Do I hear an "Amen"?  Allena Gabosch is the Executive Director of the Seattle Sex-Positive Community Center, (a.k.a. The Wet Spot) a post she has held since 1999. During her tenure, The Wet Spot has grown from 60 to over 5000 members. She has presented, and continues to present, a variety of lectures and seminars on a number of sexuality-related topics to college, conferences, and organizations. She is a former member of the board of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom.

Concurrent Sessions Block 5

11:10 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. Making Peace With Jealousy Presenter: Anita Wagner Track: Practicalities Hunt's Point/Yarrow Point Ballroom Sound familiar? Just when we think we've got our act together, our relationships are going well and we're maybe even feeling confident, someone we love is attracted to someone new, and all of a sudden the bottom falls out. Or we meet someone new and want to explore our attraction to them, and contrary to what we anticipate, a poly partner starts freaking out. Why is this happening? Why do our emotions sometimes run so contrary to our will? What's a fair and reasonable poly person to do? We need not be jealousy's victims! Come learn to accurately analyze and identify jealousy's complex underlying emotions. Devise an effective plan that works for you that will take away their seemingly overwhelming emotional power. With a bit of patience, some love and support, and the right poly relationship skills, we all have the power to make peace with jealousy. Anita Wagner is a polyamory and sexual freedom activist, writer, spokesperson and educator. She is co-founder and past board member of Chesapeake Polyamory Network and is co-founder, Director of Outreach and a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for 21st Century Relationships/the Foundation of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. She currently serves as CPN's representative to the Coalition Council of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, and is a past member of NCSF's Board of Directors. Anita has appeared on television in interviews on polyamory in Washington, DC, and Baltimore, in newspaper articles, and has presented educational programs on polyamory at Dark Odyssey/Winter Fire, Black Rose XVII, ITCR’s Building Bridges III and IV, Free Spirit Beltane Gathering, the Florida Poly Retreat and the Loving More® East Coast Conference. She authored articles on polyamory and bisexuality published in Loving More® Magazine and ITCR's Relating© newsletter, respectively. As a polyamory skills educator Anita is lovingly and passionately committed to helping others find the happiness they seek through responsible non-monogamy. Taking "No" For An Answer CE Presenter: Pega Ren, Ed.D. Track: Experiential/Lighter Fare Medina Room When contemplating a new relationship, few of us want to anticipate anything but the glorious adventure.  For the polyamorous, however, it includes considering the effect on others.  Sometimes despite everyone's good intentions, the answer is "No." This workshop will examine how to deal with this tough spot from all angles. Poly is for adults - ethical adults at that - and it can be hard work. Sometimes you get the brass ring, and sometimes you have to take "no" for an answer. Pega Ren, BSEd., MPH, Ed.D. is in private practice in Vancouver, BC as a psychotherapist and couples counselor specializing in sex therapy. She holds a Master's degree in Public Health and a Doctorate in Education in Sexology. Registered with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counselors she is also certified as a clinical sexologist by the American Board of Sexologists. Dr. Ren is a featured columnist in Xtra West and hosts a monthly newsletter on her lively website, www.smartsextalk.com. She has spent many years presenting to groups and teaching relationship skills. She meets with individuals, couples, and families of many designs.

Concurrent Sessions Block 6

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Biochemistry of Love Presenter: Fritz Neumann Track: Lighter Fare Hunt's Point/Yarrow Point Ballroom Ever wonder just what is happening when you "fall in love" and why? While long scorned as a subject for hard science, research in just the last decade has begun to explain the reality of what happens inside our brains and bodies as we undergo the process of limerence - or "falling in love" - as well as other kinds of human emotional bonds. In this presentation, I will show some of the latest information on the biochemistry of human love and then we'll discuss how knowing these things can help us better understand ourselves and our partners in relationship. Fritz Neumann While he is no research scientist, Fritz Neumann works in the field of medical imaging and is an avid student of the mind, trying to put his philosophy degree to at least *some* use. An active organizer in the Florida polyamory community since 1999 and the survivor of several poly relationships, Fritz has been a presenter at Loving More, Poly Living, and the Florida Poly Retreat. You can reach him at fritzmail66-itcr@yahoo.com Another Kind of Activism Presenter: Alicia Lewis Track: Activism, Advocacy & Change-Making Ravenna Room As sexual minorities we are often in the position of spontaneously educating family, friends, coworkers, bosses, and casual acquaintances. Coming out to people as a member of a sexual minority can be terrifying. Each time we put a new face on who we are, we dispel the mythology surrounding our community. As a community, the more visible we are, the more difficult it is to stereotype and dismiss our experiences. This presentation is designed to help attendees identify: Non-confrontational, positive ways to approach what can be a personally vulnerable form of advocacy. Ways to know when it is less valuable to engage in these conversations. Alicia Lewis has been an activist and prolific speaker on behalf of the rights of sexual minorities for several years.  She has made presentations at numerous colleges and universities, has appeared on TV and in panels and discussion groups.  She was the coordinator for the South Puget Sound constituent attendance at first queer lobby day in Olympia, WA in 2004, chaired the 2004 Community Education Committee for TUFF on marriage equality, and chaired the Logistics Committee for the Equality Day Rally in January, 2006.

Closing General Session and Closing Keynote

3:10 - 4:10 p.m. I'm Different, Just Like You! Solidarity Through Diversity Presenter: Theresa Reed aka Darklady Hunt's Point/Yarrow Point Ballroom   As children, we are both encouraged to excel and to conform, to make our mark yet avoid being "different." In a world where being "other" is often considered deviant and wrong, we seek the comfort and companionship of those who are similarly "different," resulting in a new status quo. Our challenge as activists and alternative lifestyle practitioners is to avoid the pitfalls of unintentional social isolation and resistance to people, ideas, and behaviors that feel threatening to our newfound sense of safety and security. Join Darklady as we transition from the intentional intimacy of the conference environment back to the reality of our daily lives in a final acknowledgment and celebration of the world building power available when we successfully balance our human differences and similarities. Theresa Reed (aka Darklady) is a controversial writer, activist, and sex radical who has been called an “erotic party impresario,” “a force to be reckoned with,” “an ice breaker is a sea of phony intellectuals,” and far less flattering things. She holds degrees in History and Anthropology from Portland State University.  She is assistant editor at YNOT.com, host of the weekly YNOTRadio.com show “Darklady’s Sexpose,” liaison to the adult industry for the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, a member of the Free Speech Coalition, has run for public office twice on the Libertarian ticket, and is the creative maven behind the Portland Masturbate-a-thon fundraiser. Learn more about her at: www.darklady.com.   Return to Conference Page