Previously, City on a Hill Press had a dominatrix in the building. Betty X rose to fame in the 2000s by inviting fellow students to spill their guts on their sex lives, kinks, fetishes, desires and relationships (or lack thereof). She wasn’t afraid to be upfront. Betty helped people navigate their curiosities without stigma. I aim to do the same. But first, let me introduce myself.

Hey y’all, I’m Laye Texx.

In the era of dating apps, year-long situationships and the federal administration fucking us, things look a little different for a sex columnist. You have to be open and ready — lucky for you, I am. My goal is to make this column as queer and pleasurable as possible. And, of course, throw in resources for when you need them.


The Current State of Affairs

Growing up, my sex education was shit. I learned most of what I knew about sex by scrolling through Tumblr. In school, sex education was my high school P.E. teacher handing us expired strawberry- flavored condoms. It was harmful, dated and out of touch.

In a discussion with Meg Kobe, the director of Student Health Outreach and Promotion (SHOP), she clarified what middle and high school sex education curriculum looks like. “Even in a more progressive state like California, [it] tends to be fear based — remember the scary STI pictures!? — and very heteronormative,” Kobe said.

Along with the itch to re-download Hinge, late June brought an onslaught of letters from the Trump administration to state governments. Among the letters sent was one to California, demanding that the state government remove curriculum that teaches students about different gender identities from the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), California’s sex education model. As of Aug. 21, the Trump administration canceled a $12.3 million grant for California’s sex education due to state officials refusing the removal. The results of the letter illustrate the rise of conservatism education that specifically targets transgender and gender queer youth.

But let’s be real, this isn’t totally new. Kobe provided insight into how sexual politics bleed into our education. “We use ‘sex’ to sell everything in this country,” Kobe said. “But we certainly can’t talk about it in a developmentally appropriate, nuanced way because of the impact the conservative movement has on influencing so-called morals.”

LGBTQIA+ youth, especially transgender youth, disproportionately experience negative sexual health outcomes such as coercion, dating violence and contracting STIs. Sex education that is detailed, inclusive and all-encompassing will limit the negative sexual health outcomes not only for transgender and queer students, but for all students.

We’re All In This Together

So what does bad sex education mean for students either entering or continuing college? It means that the understanding and practice of safe and fun sex decreases. I’m not going to lie to you; sex in the modern age is confusing.

But through conversation, we can help one another navigate sex, relationships and polycules. We need to have a place for respectful sex forums. It’s about time we felt confident in seeking our desires and knowing the resources available to us.

I know we just met, and it might be hard to trust me. I get it. I’m not a sexpert, and I can’t diagnose you with a STI. Leave that to the professionals at SHOP, the Student Health Center and other health clinics. I’m just a student who’s willing to get their hands dirty and dive into the sexy world of UC Santa Cruz. So let’s get into it. Use this link to submit your questions, anxieties or things you’ve been fantasizing about.