Sex-Positive

Sex-positivity is a philosophical movement that aims to change the cultural and social norms around sexual expression and sexuality. To say a culture or person is "sex positive" means they see sexuality as a healthy part of the human experience. People and events adopting the sex-positive philosophy tend to be consciously practicing and promoting personal sovereignty, safer sex practices, and consensual sex. Besides that, people often adopt radical inclusion that intersects with race/culture, gender, sexuality, class, nationality, and spirituality. Sex-positivity not only includes hyper-sexuality, but also asexuality as a form of sexual expression. Because "sex" is part of the term, it is sometimes confused with only sexual activity, and not all forms of sexuality. The term is also sometimes used in the fight for sex workers' rights, gender equality, and rights for sexual self-expression. Protests against "slut-shaming," "prude-shaming," and "kink-shaming" have all been part of the movement. ### Origins of the Term While the term became more widespread in the '60s and '70s during the sexual revolution, the term sex positive was originally coined in the 1920s by Wilhelm Reich, who followed the works of Freud. While other terms like "free love" and "sexual revolution" were more in the forefront in the '60s and '70s, the first wider spread use of the term sex positive started in the '90s. It was used as part of the founding of the Center for Sex and Culture in several places in the United States and has progressively grown in use from there. ### Sex Postiive in Kink Events In the kink community, "sex positive" can be used to indicate that an event allows sex on the premises. In this context, it is used separately and differently from the "sex-positivity" movement, and serves to indicate whether penetrative sex (oral, PIV, manual, etc.) is allowed at the event. This is typically seen at sex parties or clubs. However, the term may also be applied to kink events and conventions where it means that the event supports sex-positive culture, even if sex is NOT allowed on the premises. For example, a rope conference or sexual health convention might call itself "sex positive," even sex is not permitted at the event. Many kink events, while potentially being run by sex-positive people, cannot allow intercourse due to local laws or venue restrictions. Even so, they may use the term "sex positive" to show that they are in support of sexual expression.