"Getting your 'Groove On' at the Adolescent Sexuality Conference in Seaside."

          By Steve Duin | sduin@oregonian.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on March 22, 2014 at 9:10 AM, updated March 22, 2014 at 11:32 AM

        

I've long wondered what, beyond immaturity or a naive sense of adventure, might inspire a teenager to submit a naked selfie to the wired universe. 

Now, I know:  the Cascade AIDS Project.

In recent years, CAP has arrived at the annual Adolescent Sexuality Conference in Seaside and distributed a 22-page pamphlet titled, "How to Get Your Groove on ... Fluid Free."

As CAP notes on the brochure's inside front cover, "We believe in the power of young people.  We believe you have the right to accurate, relevant information and sex and sexuality."

In that spirit, CAP offers "Neat Places to Make Out," a love-letter template ... and pointers on phone sex: "Texting can give you an opportunity to say things you wouldn't normally say.  End the conversation at your leisure.  It gives you extra time to think of something clever to say.  You can send photos.  And it's fluid free!"

True.  But as we saw in the events leading to a federal lawsuit at Clatskanie High School, sending photos may also leave teens vulnerable to bullying, extortion, public humiliation and physical abuse.

Oregon's Adolescent Sexuality Conference is a 20-year fixture in Seaside.
It is enthusiastically sponsored or supported by the Oregon Health Authority, the state's Department of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Oregon Attorney General's Sexual Assault Task Force.

And Brad Victor, a recently retired sex-education specialist at DOE, estimates that up to 30 percent of last year's 300 attendees were middle-school or high-school students.

What should we make of Cascade AIDS Project offering adolescents pointers on phone sex, even encouraging teens to "send photos"?

Unbelievable, given recent headlines. This leaves teens vulnerable to all kinds of embarrassment and abuse.Chill. You've never heard of Snapchat?

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Peter Parisot, CAP's director of development and communications, said the pamphlet was published in 2009 "as part of ... our youth program for HIV prevention efforts.

 "We operate in the real world," he notes. "Young people have sexual drives. We need to provide them with avenues to safety express their sexuality without running the risk of HIV transmission and HIV infections."

What's more, Parisot adds, the sexting page concludes with a reminder, "Be careful.  Watch what you send.  These pictures are not confidential.  And some people suck and use these pictures in ways that they are not intended.  Before you send anything imagine your Mom seeing it, or your principal or your little brother.  And one word ... DELETE!"
  

"What kind of advice is that," Welch asks, "to lie to your parents or do things behind their back?  If you saw me handing this out to your children on the street, I'd be picking myself up off the ground.  It doesn't belong in a state-sponsored, state-supported symposium that invites children as young as the seventh grade."

The weekend conference at the Seaside Convention Center includes keynote speakers Allison Vesterfelt ("A New Reason for Abstinence") and Cory Silverberg, a Canadian sexuality educator who founded the Toronto co-op sex store, Come As You Are.

Workshops include "Is It Rape? How Youth Make Sense of Unwanted Sex Involving Alcohol"; "My Mom Wishes I was a Lesbian: 'Coming Out' Experiences of (Bi)sexual Young Adults"; "Embracing Sexuality Education in Church"; and "Slut Shaming & the Value of Virginity."
And Nystrom isn't surprised by planned protests or the alarmed Facebook page.

"If we're going to support positive youth development, and sexual health across their life span, there are several key ingredients," Nystrom said.  "One of them is not to be afraid to dialogue with youth about subjects that sometimes make adults, even parents, uncomfortable.
"Making everyone happy or comfortable would be a challenge."

Understood.  But encouraging adolescents to get comfortable in the nude with their iPhone is, given the painfully relevant headlines out of Clatskanie, both irresponsible and mind-boggling.
 
As Nystrom and Victor wrote in a recent abstract, the state's approach to comprehensive sex education has evolved over the last 20 years from a teenage-pregnancy prevention program to one "that places young people at the center of their sexual health and well-being."

At the same time, conference organizers have made a "concerted effort," Victor says, to involve more youth in the presentations. Scholarships are offered, though students under 18 are required to bring a chaperone.

Welsh is troubled by that. "The event has degenerated into something it was never intended to be," he argues. "You're teaching my children what?  It's promoting ideas way out of the mainstream.  I know the mainstream has shifted over the years, but something is wrong here.  Why are my tax dollars being used for this?"

Nystrom -- who admits he has never seen the CAP brochure -- takes the critique in stride.
"Nowhere in the (sex ed) literature have I ever found that exposing kids to more sophisticated information encouraged sexual behavior or more sexual behavior," he says.  "When we equip kids with good accurate information, boy, they're making really good decisions. Pregnancy rates have been going down year after year.  "It would seem to me that the overall framework is working."

CAP remains unapologetic about its message.  "The whole point is how to avoid fluid exchanges," Parisot says.  "Our primary mission is to prevent HIV infections.  And the Legislature is mandating that we do a better job teaching adolescent and youth sexuality.

"The fact that a minority of the community is upset doesn't mean that this information shouldn't be put out there."

I get that. I get that a lot of teenagers need someone to talk to about sex, and parents aren't always available.

But I don't get, "Send photos." I don't get, "End the conversation at your leisure." Several teenage girls in Clatskanie surrendered a few such photos ... and they're wondering if the "conversation," or the abuse, will never end.

-- Steve Duin

Should the Office of Justice and Peace Participate in La Raza (The Race) Rallies?

This seems wrong to support people to break the laws of the United States.  Oregon Catholics are doing just this by having Matt Cato, director of the Office of Justice and Peace, speak at this rally.  VOZ is also affiliated with La Raza who support homosexual rights among other things. http://www.nclr.org/index.php/nclr_affiliates/affiliate-entry/voz_workers_rights_education_project/

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3/24/2014 4:07:00 PM Protestors stand with ICE-detained hunger strikers Catholic Sentinel photos by Rocio Rios Rally-goers gather outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Facility Monday morning in downtown Portland. Maya Miranda Silva, 6, holds a sign:  “No more deportations!” On Monday morning, Voz Workers’ Rights Education Project and allies gathered in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Facility to stand in solidarity with hunger strikers in Tacoma, Wash. Approximately 1,200 inmates at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma have been on a hunger strike since March 7 to protest the harsh treatment of inmates, as well as the Obama Administration’s detention and deportation policies. Matt Cato, director of the Archdiocese of Portland’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace, spoke at the rally. Cato quoted Pope Francis, who says, “a change of attitude toward migrants and refugees is needed on the part of everyone, moving away from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalization toward attitudes based on a culture of encounter.” Aside from calling attention to deportation policies, the strikers’ demands include: improved food quality and treatment (including medical care) at the detentions centers; increased pay for work in the facility (the current rate is $1 per day); a decrease in commissary prices; and “fairness and justice.” Hunger strikers say they will continue until federal officials meet their demands; many have been placed in solitary confinement and threatened with force-feeding, Voz leaders said. On Saturday, April 5, Voz is organizing a local rally as part of a national day of action against deportations called “Two Million Too Many.” In Portland, supporters will gather from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at St. Peter Church, 8623 SE Woodstock Blvd. For more information

"One year down, many more to go" Archbishop Alexander Sample

Most Rev. Alexander Sample Archbishop of Portland                                                                                                  As of this writing, I am just two weeks away from the first year anniversary of my installation as the Archbishop of Portland. As someone once said, “It has been quite a ride!” I thought I would just pause for a moment, reflect on this past year, and give some sense of my vision for the future. When I was announced as the new Archbishop back on Jan. 29, 2013, many people came forward to offer advice for my new assignment. I was and remain very grateful for that. I did receive two conflicting pieces of advice, however. A few suggested that I not wait, but just dive in and start changing things right away according to perceived needs. Others suggested that I follow the advice often given to new pastors to wait a year before doing anything significant. I opted for the latter piece of advice. I have tried to spend this first year getting to know the local Church and the good people who make up this Catholic community in Western Oregon. I have tried to observe, listen and learn about my new home and the needs of this wonderful and historic archdiocese. I have tried not to change too much, and to engage controversy only when I found it necessary. So what have I learned? Well, this is an incredibly diverse archdiocese. This is certainly true of the cultural makeup of our family of faith. Alongside the so-called “Anglo” Catholic people, there is a growing and vibrant presence of Hispanic Catholics. Add to this the strong Vietnamese community, the Filipino Catholics and the many other less numerous but no less important ethnic groups, and we see an incredibly rich and diverse local Church! But the Archdiocese of Portland in Western Oregon is also very geographically diverse. There is a very different “feel” if you will, to the urban centers of Portland, Salem and Eugene in comparison to the many wonderful communities in the more rural areas of the state. There are often different concerns, interests and perspectives that must all be taken into account and respected. This diversity of perspective is certainly evident within our Catholic family. One thing is constant, and that is the inherent goodness, generosity and hospitality of the people of this archdiocese. I have been very impressed and inspired by the kindness shown by our people to those especially in need among us. My dear mother and I have certainly been the blessed recipients of the warm hospitality of Western Oregon. We are blessed to be part of this community, our new home. I have also been struck by the incredible numbers of those in special need among us. Perhaps that comes largely from living in a downtown urban setting, but it is also evident in other social settings across our state. There are so many homeless on the streets, so much evidence of drug and alcohol abuse, so many mentally ill, not to mention the “hidden poor” who escape our immediate notice. The bottom line is that I am extremely happy to be among you and to have been named your bishop and shepherd. Back in Michigan I was not looking for a move, was not expecting a move, and was quietly “minding my own business” as the bishop of Marquette. But if it was the will of the Holy Spirit that I be moved, I could not be happier than being assigned to such a beautiful and wonderful part of God’s creation. The natural beauty of Western Oregon is matched only by the beauty of its people. I have listened, observed and learned in this past year, and all should know that I do have a vision and a strong sense of mission for where we go together from here. This vision has been shaped by so many in the archdiocese who have advised me and given input during this beginning of my time among you. I would like to just briefly mention some areas where we will focus. I will have much more to say about these things as we move forward. Faith formation, catechesis and evangelization: These are a top priority for me. I am passionate about ensuring that our children and young people have a solid and sound education and formation in our Catholic faith. This is true for our Catholic schools and parish faith formation programs, as well as our youth ministry programs. Adults, both young and old, are also in need of deeper formation and evangelization. Evangelization begins with us and goes out toward others. Marriage and family life: The results of the survey conducted in preparation for the world synod of bishops on the topic of marriage and the family only confirm what I already knew. Marriages and families are in desperate need of pastoral attention and care. Catechesis on the meaning of marriage, assistance to couples preparing for marriage, and support for marriages and family life will receive special attention. The sacred liturgy: It doesn’t take people long to learn that I have a special love and concern for divine worship and the sacred liturgy, especially the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is the “source and summit” of the Church’s life, and it deserves all the attention and care we can give it. Reverent, beautiful, prayerful and worthy celebration of the holy Mass must be the hallmark of every parish community. Care for the poor, vulnerable and marginalized: There is so much need out there, and care for the needy is an essential part of the work of evangelization. Through the work of Catholic Charities, the parishes and other institutions we must see the face of Jesus in the poor and also show them the merciful face of Christ. Well, there it is! It seems to me that we have a lot of work to do together, and I plan to be with you for a long time. So let’s get going!

Fulton Sheen on Contraception.

Seaside 2013: Teens teach porn class to adults at Oregon Adolescent Sexuality Conference. by Jim Sedlak STOPP

 Planned Parenthood is a permanent member of the Seaside Adolescent Sexuality Conference. 

Jim Sedlak is the founder of STOPP, stop Planned Parenthood.  And is an expert on this subject.

2013-05-15 by Jim Sedlak STOPP

When I walked into this year’s Oregon Adolescent Sexuality Conference in Seaside, Oregon, one of the first things I encountered was a table manned by three young teen boys. On the table was a collage that included many depictions of totally bare female genitalia—obviously pornographic and, one would think, illegal.


The collage included a drawing of a woman circa 1950 declaring, in the most base terms, what a woman’s private parts should smell like. It also included a drawing of a pigtailed little girl riding on a tricycle with the word “Vagina!” written above her, and another drawing of a young female child standing by a rose, with the word “Vagina” written below her on a chalkboard.

“Everyone can come inside” are the words visible along the outer edge of the piece, which appeared to be a decoupaged plate.

The boys smiled nervously as hordes of teens, who had arrived for what some described as a field trip, passed the display table. Planned Parenthood was on the steering committee of this conference.
The booth belonged to Youth for Education and Prevention of Sexual Assault (YEPSA), a supposedly teen-led initiative from Eugene, Oregon. At a booth whose stated mission was the prevention of sexual assault, I could only wonder why the teen boys would be manning a table containing graphic pictures of female genitalia, suggesting that “everyone can come inside” a pigtailed little girl on a tricycle.

With that question in mind, I checked on the Internet and found that the group puts on performances, the first of which was The Vagina Monologues. The students stated they just finished a run of a play that they wrote about the life struggles of a transgendered woman. They have a transgender education panel coming up, and they do art shows around teen sexuality and gender.

Day two of the conference found me very reluctantly attending a workshop led by YEPSA entitled “You Say Porn, I Say Porn!”

The program description did not even begin to touch the stark reality of the session. “To porn or not to porn, that is the question. YEPSA will be leading the masses through the very exciting world of pornography.” The session was held in a large room, filled with teens and adults. It started with a soft porn video commercial.

About 10 teen facilitators lined up across the front of the room and introduced themselves. They gave their names and the pronoun they prefer (“I prefer ‘she,’” “I don’t have a preference but I identify as male,” etc.). This was in keeping with a theory emphasized over and over at the conference—that gender is fluid and is determined only by the person in question and how that person feels at that particular time about his or her gender. In others words, biology has nothing to do with gender.
That was evidenced by a teen boy who attended lunch the first day dressed as a woman, complete with wig, pearls and dress. He soon put aside the outfit, and was once again looking like a teen boy the next time I saw him. Another young man was decorated with glitter on his face and a lilting voice, both of which he shed later in the day.

It was pointed out at the beginning of the conference that there were unisex bathrooms available for those who preferred to use them. There were separate male and female bathrooms available as well.
Getting back to the session, the facilitators asked everyone in the room to work on a group definition of porn. Since they said it wouldn’t be possible to come up with a real definition that everyone agreed on, we just needed to make it “pornish.”

Some of the pornish ideas were: Main purpose is to stimulate arousal. You learn different ways to have sex from porn. It has commercial purposes. It is an exaggerated depiction of fantasy. It is a beautiful thing. It objectifies people. It is whatever promotes a sexual response. It tries to get people thinking about sex.

Next, the room was divided into nine groups. The youth facilitators went from group to group, individually or occasionally in pairs, talking about different aspects of porn to the mixed groups of teens and adults.

One of the young teen female facilitators was very scantily dressed, with her entire midriff showing and wearing a very tight miniskirt. She literally bounced rather than walked. The young teens would come into these groups of mixed adults and teens and ask questions like: “How is porn different from real sex?” “How might watching porn from a young age affect you?”

A major discussion about how tragic it is that porn stars refuse to use condoms ensued in our group, with much wondering about why this is so. An adult male, who seemed to have way too much knowledge on all things pornographic, said it is because of lack of stimulation.

Most of the facilitators were teen girls. Much of the response to these young girls’ queries and the discourse about sex and pornography came from two older men in our group.

When one particularly thin girl finished questioning our group and left, I heard one of the men say to the other, “That was sexy. What do you do?” To which the man who knows too much about porn replied: “I work with teens.”

He had been discussing with the teens a social media outlet where one can post photos for just a few seconds, or as long as wanted, and then the pictures disappear, he said.

One teen facilitator asked whether it was okay for girls to send nude pictures to their boyfriends, and the adults generally agreed it was fine as long it was a boyfriend, but not to strangers. One woman finally pointed out that those pictures can go anywhere once they are sent and don’t disappear when the relationship dissolves.

The session was a dirty old man’s delight. These teen facilitators were probably high school age, some very young high school, with some appearing to be possibly middle school. Several of them were awkward and visibly uncomfortable with their role in this debacle, while others seemed far too seasoned and comfortable with the situation.

This is just a sampling of the plan that Planned Parenthood has for our teens. Check out our website at www.stopp.org, where I will be writing for several weeks on the unbelievably inappropriate materials and scenarios that were presented at this conference.

Oregon Education Department “sexuality education expert” Brad Victor prides himself on the fact that Oregon has the “most progressive sex education laws in the nation,” and brags about how he easily slid Oregon’s explicit Administrative Rule under the radar as a consent item at the state board level. The plan is that other states will follow suit. Many are already deeply embroiled in Planned Parenthood’s sex education. Those who are not embroiled are targeted.

But as we pointed out in our last edition of The Wednesday STOPP Report, Brad Victor also demonstrated that if parents will speak out at every level, sex education can be easily derailed in a school district—even one where the programs are already firmly in place. The sooner parents start their challenges, however, the better.

Jim Sedlak’s book Parent Power!! is available free of charge on our website. It is a brilliant instructional tool that lays out the plan that parents can follow to get Planned Parenthood out of local schools. It is a plan that has been proven to work time and time again when parents follow it. Read Jim’s book today and take action!