What Colour is your Woodie?

We're 40 and fabulous! We're celebrating our 40th anniversary of serving the Calgary community with sexual and reproductive health programs and services.

 

We’ve always believed in showing our true colours – and we're inviting some surprise celebrities and local personalities to show theirs with our fun and easy creative project!


Our select group of "featured artists" will be raising their brushes to creatively paint a "woodie" - a wooden demonstration tool used by our sexuality educators to teach youth how to use a condom and practice safe sex. 


The woodies will be auctioned online and at our 40th anniversary gala celebration on October 25, 2012 in Calgary, Alberta.



Have you received a Woodie Painting Kit from us, but need help getting started?

Its easy! Here’s how:

 

 1. Prep your Woodie.

• Use the sandpaper to prep the Woodie’s surface for painting.

2. Paint your Woodie.

• Use the paints and brushes to personalize your Woodie. (Or use your own paint materials if you prefer.)
• You may wish to use a finishing glaze to protect your finished art piece.

3. Return your Woodie.

• Once your Woodie is completely dry, send your Woodie back to us with the return postage and package provided.

 
Any questions, please feel free to contact us!

Pam Krause, Executive Director
pkrause@calgarysexualhealth.ca
403-283-5580  ext 314

Calgary Gay-Straight Alliance BBQ

Join us at this pre-Pride social event!


Presented by the Calgary Gay-Straight Alliance Roundtable.

This social community meeting is for students, teachers, education staff, community members and their families who care about supporting LGBTQ youth in our school communities!


Free burgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided.

Please bring lawn chairs, sun screen, and a positive attitude!

Wednesday, August 29^th 2012

6:00 to 9:00 pm







Riley Park

10th Street and 5th Ave, just a few minutes walk from the Sunnyside C-Train station




RSVP to:

Lee Allard at 403. 283. 5580 ext. 310
lallard@calgarysexualhealth.ca

Sexual Health for Women who have sex with Women

We all deserve to be healthy - regardless of our gender or sexual orientation. In today's blog, we offer an overview of lesbian sexual health concerns and finding the right healthcare provider.

Whether you're young or old, single or have a partner, gynecological health care is important for all women. Periodic health exams may include breast exams and mammograms, pelvic exams, and other tests and screenings. If you're thinking of having a child, you may wish to talk with your healthcare provider about pre-planning for a healthy conception.


Safer Sex

Women who have sex with women can pass certain infections through sex play including:

• herpes
• HPV
• chlamydia
• scabies
• gonorrhea
• trichnonomiasis
• yeast infections

Barriers can reduce risks.

• Latex barriers (ie. dental dams) can reduce the risk of passing an infection during oral sex.
• Use condoms on sex toys if they're shared between partners. Be sure to follow the cleaning instructions for each toy.
• If you or your partner have sex with men, use protection to reduce your risk of infections and pregnancy.

Finding the right Healthcare Provider

Its important to find a healthcare provider that you feel comfortable with. Coming out is always your choice, however being open with your healthcare provider is important for receiving the best care possible. Here's some tips to help you find a lesbian-friendly healthcare provider:

• Contact us or another local LGBT service-providing organization for referrals.
• Check out potential providers by calling them to ask questions such as "Is your staff trained in lesbian health issues?".
• Drop by potential providers' offices to check the atmosphere in person. Do they have LGBT friendly posters or other materials in the office? Are there any symbols that indicated its a safe space?

(Adapted from "Lesbian Health" pamphlet, Planned Parenthood)

10 Things Guys Can Do About Birth Control

Birth control is not just a women's issue. There's lots that men can do to avoid an unplanned pregnancy.  In no particular order, here's a list of just 10 things:

1. Bring up the subject. Talk to your partner about birth control before you have sex.
2. Learn about different birth control methods to help you make good choices and so you can use it correctly.
3. Use condoms. They are inexpensive, easy to use and you can get them without a prescription. And they also reduce your risk of sexually transmitted infections.
4. Practice putting on a condom to help build your confidence in using them correctly and easily.
5. For birth control methods other than condoms, your partner will need to visit a doctor or a clinic. Offer to go with her.
6. Offer to pay for or share the cost of the prescriptions.
7. Ask your partner if you can help with reminding her to use her birth control.
8. Make a commitment that if you don't have a condom, or your partner forgets to use her birth control, don't have sex. Wait until you're protected.
9. Talk about pregnancy, just in case. Talking about it will show you care.
10. Talk to other guys to share what you know and remind them that by taking responsibility for using birth control, they are showing their partners that they care.

If birth control is a shared responsibility, you'll both benefit!  For more info about your birth control options, please contact us at 403-283-5580 or generalmail@calgarysexualhealth.ca.


(Adapted from "Birth Control: Ten Things a Man Can Do" pamphlet, Journeyworks Publishing)

World Hepatitis Day

July 28, 2012 is World Hepatitis Day, an annual event to promote awareness of hepatitis B and C, two forms of life-threatening liver disease. It is also a day to show support for persons living with hepatitis B or C

In reference to the need to raise awareness about how the viruses are transmitted or what the symptoms are, this year's theme for World Hepatitis Day is "This is hepatitis....It's closer than you think. Know it. Confront it. Get tested."


Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It is spread through infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids.  Some ways it is spread include:

By coming into contact with infected blood (even infected blood on razors or toothbrushes).

By having unprotected vaginal or anal sex with someone who is already infected.

Through oral sex with an infected partner.

From mother to child during child birth.

From sharing needles used for injecting drugs

Check our website for lots of info on preventing, testing and treating Hep B:  http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca/hepatitis_b_virus.html


Hepatitis C also attacks your liver. The virus is carried in the blood, and is passed through blood-to-blood contact. The virus is most commonly spread through sharing or reusing items such as personal items (toothbrushes, razors), piercing or tatooing needles and equipment, and drug -use equipment like needles or pipes. It is possible to pass the virus through unprotected sex if blood is exchanged during activity.

More info on Hep C is available at:  http://www.hepcinfo.ca/en/simple/staying-safe



And for more info on World Hepatitis Day, visit;  http://www.whdcanada.ca/world_hepatitis_day.html

Save the Date: "A Revolutionary Retrospective"

To celebrate four decades of service in Calgary - and to look forward to many more - we will bring together long-time supporters and new friends for a playful and thought-provoking celebration.

With the theme of "A Revolutionary Retrospective", our guests will enjoy a playful exposé of how society's views on gender, sexual orientation and reproductive health has shifted over the past four decades, and how CSHC has responded.

The sexual revolution will be played out - and mirrored by the cocktails, music and legends of the times. Then we'll toast our future as we dance the night away at our after-party.

Our silent auction will include a far-out selection of "woodies" (wooden props we use for condom demonstrations) - custom painted by local personalities and a few celebrities that will take our guests by surprise!

October 25, 2012

Belgo

501 - 8 Avenue SW

Calgary, Alberta

Tickets $75

Stay tuned for ticket sales announcements!

Sponsorship spots are available for this fun and unique event. Please contact Pam Krause, Executive Director at pkrause@calgarysexualhealth.ca for details.

Its Stampede! Ride Safe!

Yahoo! The 2012 Calgary Stampede is officially underway! With the 100th anniversary celebrations this year, the Stampede promises to be even bigger and better than ever before. As always, we're going to be taking in the festivities to help cowboys and cowgirls to Stampede safe!

We're proud to be working with our partners in the Calgary Coalition on HIV/AIDS on some street-level outreach initiatives.


Keep an eye out for our "Put a Condom on Your Cowboy" posters which have been put up around town. If you see one, take a pic and give us a shout out on Twitter at @YYCSexualHealth! It'll be like a treasure hunt! :)


We're also hitting the streets to hand out Love Kits. Watch for our roving teams of volunteers giving out packs with condoms and other goodies.

Happy Stampede everyone! Get out there and enjoy this great city. And ride safe!