Life Of B

My first experience with sex education occurred in middle school. We learned how to put on condoms on erect penis' and how to abstain from sex until more prepared for the choice. I also learned about consent and what resources women have for early pregnancy. I think it was not until my second year in community college, at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA where I was able to learn in a Human Sexuality course about all kinds of sex, and importantly safer sex practices and tools as an adult. This was the most comprehensive learning of sex that I had ever had. We even had people from the BDSM community share what their sex lives were like and how consent was a huge deal for them. They also demonstrated some pretty fun techniques to open our minds up to creative sexual encounters, safely.

My understanding of intersectionality is that it is the point at which two or many identities intersect:collide:combine to create a whole new identity and way of living even. My thoughts are that people often are unaware of the power of these intersections as they generate the uniqueness of humankind. I am queer, multiracial, male, student, brother, dancer, son, and all of these identities inform how I act and I think that these intersecting qualities create a keen awareness around expression because I am many things all at once and as I navigate each one separately I am able to engage these identities collectively. For example, I am a brother to 6 sisters and I am also queer and a dancer. I feel that because I am so colorful and emotionally expressive through my dancing identity I am able to engage with my sisters in newer and more dynamic ways. I am in tune with my femininity while simultaneously loving being in my male body, this creates a unique, compassionate way of approaching much of my life. I am thankful for my intersections and everyone else's unique combination of identities.

The most interesting information shared during this lovely presentation was the sharing of erowid.com which illuminates what almost all of the drugs can do. I found this website to be completely informative and helpful for understanding safe consumption of substances. I am not too much of a partier but this information will help me to inform my friends and family about their choices and my own.

I think that my social movement of interest starts with BLM, Black Lives Matter. Moreover, the intersections that exist within this movement that create this need for solidarity. As a queer black man, QPOC, I think that it is possible for anyone to support! Align yourself with a queer friends values and needs for equality and celebration of all identities. Support queer events, ideas and expressions. Being queer means allowing the most colorful sides of ourselves to be seen, and for our sexual desires to be accepted versus judged and condemned to hell. The National LGBTQ Task Force is an American non-profit that advocates for other queer grass-roots organizations. They host huge conferences around the nation and I was lucky enough to attend one in Denver, CO two years ago and it changed the way I even viewed myself as an agent for positive change. So it's simple, find queer friends and support what they are up to. Google the National LGBTQ Task Force. Dance in heels. Celebrate your local queens!

This Spring I have been fortunate enough to live in a home with an older woman who is also a dance instructor, healer, and empath to the world. Next semester here while attending Cal, I am concerned about finding a situation with other students who are mature, clean and inspiring. I feel as though I may look into Berkeley's co-ops, in particular the queer-focused housing, Oscar Wilde. Mostly, I want a large home to feel extremely cozy and productive in, but I do not feel to worried about finding what I need, I will pray for the universe to bless me.

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I've been more and more amazed by the little beauties to be found in life. And also very fascinated with how puny we are in comparison to this world. Life is scary, but it's so amazing.