Sexuality and Seniors

Seniors A GOGO:  providing insight into sexuality for older adults

As we get older, the question of sexuality becomes more complex.  As a result of natural physical, emotional and psychological changes, and with a lack of information on the topic, older adults often have trouble finding answers to questions regarding their changing sexuality.  While there is little information on the subject, research shows that the majority of adults between the ages of 50 and 80 are still enthusiastic about sex and intimacy.

A key component of sexuality for older adults is adapting sexual activity to reflect current life circumstances and forgetting sexual expectations from youth. It can be a time to be playful, honest, communicative, and to find the form of sexual expression which suits you best.

We have a dedicated group of seniors – our Seniors A GOGO group - who have been working to provide insight into sexuality in the later years.  This committed and tenacious group has been meeting, laughing and sharing their experiences with love, loss and sexuality to create a series of stage readings, monologues and digital stories.

You can view some of their digital stories at:

·         Our website: http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca/aging_intro.html

·         Our Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Calgary-Sexual-Health-Centre/182324198460359

Seniors A GOGO is a partnership between the Seniors Action Group, the Foundation Lab and the Calgary Sexual Health Centre.   

Our Training Centre:  development for service providers who work with older adults

The Training Centre at the Calgary Sexual Health Centre provides a number of professional development opportunities for service providers who work with older adults. Our training ensures that professionals have the skills and knowledge to integrate sexual health into their everyday work with clients.

To book a workshop for your group, or learn more about our workshops, please contact Valerie  Barr, Training Centre Manager at vbarr@calgarysexualhealth.ca.  Or visit our website at: http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca/training.html

Here are some additional websites that address older adults and sexuality issues:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/life-vie/seniors-aines-eng.php

http://www.sexualityandu.com/en/sexual-health/sex-over-fifty

Pam Krause, our Executive Director, comments on the upcoming "Pornified" event

"We know from our work that pornography is having an impact on sexuality in our culture.

By hosting this discussion, we’re not attempting to debate the morality of pornography. Instead, we think it’s important to look at how it is influencing our society – especially youth sexuality – and to start a conversation about what we can do about it."

For more about this event, check out the recent interview with Pam in FFWD Magazine.



The Calgary Sexual Health Centre is proud to present
“A Porn Perspective”

Join us for an evening of engaging discussion with acclaimed journalist and author, Pamela Paul. Often controversial, consistently thought-provoking, Ms. Paul will present her views on the impact of pornography in the 21st century.

The format will encourage an open conversation with the audience.

Pamela Paul is an award-winning author and journalist who writes about social and cultural issues, demographic trends, consumer culture, psychology and health, and family. Ms. Paul is currently a columnist for The New York Times Styles section, where her Studied column, a critical look at recent social science research, runs bimonthly.

Her second book, PORNIFIED, was named one of the best books of 2005 by The San Francisco Chronicle. Using a mix of original qualitative and quantitative research, extensive interviews and vivid narrative, PORNIFIED tells the story of how men, women and children are affected by the ubiquity and mainstreaming of porn.

This event is open to the public.
Admission is free, however donations to support the work of CSHC are greatly appreciated.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
John Dutton Theatre
Central Library
616 MacLeod Trail S.E.

For information, contact Pam Krause at pkrause@calgarysexualhealth.ca.

Celebrating Pride. Creating a Culture of Respect.

PRIDE

It is a celebration of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community. 
It is a recognition of the human rights, equality, and diversity of this community.

In Episode 5 of our “How to be a Sexpert” podcast series, we celebrate Pride. (click the pic below to view our podcast, or check it out on our YouTube Channel.) 

LGBTQ pride celebrations happen every year around the world and are a way to celebrate our diversity. 

In Calgary, pride events have become a true celebration of the community – a celebration that no longer carries fear of protests and violence.   Lesbian and gay activists and their allies in our country have worked very hard to ensure LGBTQ citizens have the same human rights as other Canadians. 

But Pride must also be an acknowledgment that in many parts of the world, homosexuality remains illegal, that basic human rights of LGBT citizens are not respected. 

“Beyond Gay:  The Politics of Pride” is a moving documentary that examines the blatant homophobia and violence that happens in many parts of the world.  (find it online at http://biggaymovie.com/)   Yet, pride marches and celebrations still occur in the face of this homophobia.  It is a reminder that pride is about a global fight for human rights.

By celebrating Pride, here at home and around the world, it is a show of our collective commitment to work in solidarity for change.

At the Calgary Sexual Health Centre, we work every day to reduce the impact of homophobia.  We offer the DARE (Diversity and Respecting Everyone) program to youth and the “Creating A Culture of Respect” workshop for professionals.  Our goal is to reduce the impact of homophobia and heterosexism, and to give our city the tools to be allies to LGBTQ communities. 

We’re here to help.