Episode 08. In Search of Our Mothers’ Sex Ed (ft. Mariotta Gary-Smith)

Black femme folk have ALWAYS been part of the sex ed profession, even when their work wasn't exactly recognized as such. For this inaugural season finale of TSOB, Dr. G sits down with Mariotta Gary-Smith (she/they), sexuality educator and Co-Foundress of WoCSHN, the Women of Color Sexual Health Network. Together they unpack what sex ed & pleasure look like for burgeoning Gen-Xers, while Mariotta provides continuing evidence of how amazing things happen when Black people gather together.

Click here for episode transcript.

Episode Question to Ponder: Who are your favorite Black femme sexuality educators?

Homework: Reflection Exercise!

Guest Bio:

Mariotta Gary-Smith (she/her/they) is a 2nd generation Oregonian (Portland) & a 3rd generation social justice agitator. While her family history seeded her interest in social
justice, she added public health & human sexuality to it – and it came together smoothly for her in high school. During that time, Mariotta was an active youth health advocate and peer educator, and served on several local youth councils, including the Planned Parenthood Teen Council (in Portland, OR.), and as a National Board Youth Representative for NARAL (now NARAL Pro-Choice America). After graduating, Mariotta completed degrees from Agnes Scott College (BA), and the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University (MPH), respectively. In the fall of
2008, she was one of 5 nationally selected scholars for the 2008-2009 Inaugural Class at the Center of Excellence for Sexual Health (CESH) Scholars Fellowship Program at Morehouse School of Medicine (in Atlanta, GA.).

In 2009, Mariotta co-founded the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WoCSHN; pronounced ‘wok-shyn’) – which is an online-based, collective organization for women/femme-identifying/gender expansive sexuality professionals of color. She’s an AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educator, Counselors & Therapists) Certified Sexuality Educator, past AASECT Annual Conference Co-Chair (2016-2017), and a past Associate Editor for the American Journal of Sexuality Education (AJSE).

In 2012, Mariotta was asked to be a member of the Founding Advisory Committee of the We Are BRAVE! Project, a project housed at Western States Center (Portland, OR.). This WOC (Women of Color) collective laid the groundwork for the innovative We Are BRAVE! cohort program and model for individual leaders and organizations who committed to implement an RJ (reproductive justice) lens and framework as a part of their active engagement and coalition building. This important work was - and remains - a core piece of the local political movement that resulted in Oregon passing the
Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) in 2017 – the most progressive reproductive health law in the United States.
Mariotta has a well-earned reputation for informative, thoughtful, challenging and honest presentations, workshops and trainings about racial justice and equity, sexuality and social critique; and provides collaborative consultation with national organizations about racial justice in sexuality education and the field of Sexuality.

With over 20 years of experience working in collaboration with people/organizations across various identities & perspectives, Mariotta remains deeply committed to curating, facilitating & sustaining spaces that support clear & accountable learning on the intersections of social justice, sexual health, equity and “actionable agitation”. She’s fully invested in her ‘passion work’ – to focus on Black folks/Black sexuality and move their experience from the margins to the center. 

References (content)

Momodu, S. (2018, January 25) A Different World (1987-1993). Retrieved from https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/different-world-1987-1993/

Wilkerson, I. (2011). The warmth of other suns : The epic story of America's great migration. New York: Vintage Books.

References (People)

Bass, T. The Southern Sexologist. https://www.tanyambass.com/

Thompson, C. Cashawn Thompson, Mother of #BlackGirlMagic. http://cashawn.com/

Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WoCSHN). http://www.wocshn.org/