I am delighted to have put together this amazing group of folks for the following panel discussion at Playground Conference (Saturday November 9, 2:45–4pm)!
How We End a Relationship [panel]
with Dr. Stephen de Wit, Dorianne Emmerton, Niya Bajaj & Jon Pressick (mod)
As much as we don’t want to think about it, relationships end and break-ups have to happen. This situation might come with heartache or relief or shock–or all of the above. The stories of how our break-ups happen can be downright cringe-inducing. This panel will address how we can try to make our break-ups better for everyone to move on easier.
Panelists
Dr. Stephen de Wit, D.H.S., M.P.H., is a Board Certified Sexologist through the American College of Sexologists. He holds a Master of Public Health in Human Sexuality and a Doctorate of Human Sexuality. Stephen’s commitment is that all people live a sexually empowered existence free from unhealthy stigmas, standards, ideals and norms. Stephen is the founder and creator of the Sexual Freedom System a system that allows people to create the sex life they have always wanted. Stephen is regularly featured in national newspapers and television shows providing relevant, thought provoking sex education and information.
Dorianne Emmerton is known as a “queer about town” in Toronto. She writes stories that are usually fictional and sometimes erotic. She reviews theatre and is a host on CIUT’s Sex City. Find out more about her writing at www.dorianneemmerton.com or find out more about the general workings of her brain by following her on twitter @headonist.
Niya Bajaj wears many hats, dabbling in communications strategy, fundraising, brand building and figuring how people can get what they want from life more efficiently. Her interest in the world of ethical sexual expression began when she was invited to become a counselor at the University of Toronto’s Sexual Education & Peer Counselling Centre. Her work prompted her to specialize in Sexual Diversity Studies. She published two academic papers and founded the Sexual Diversity Studies Students Union annual conference and chaired the inaugural conference which featured Dr. Carol Queen as they keynote presenter and provided a platform for academics and practitioners including Lord Morpheous and Andrea Zanin to share their lived experiences. While she has been out of the limelight since then, she continues make small changes in the world and to share her best advice with her readers – while targeting it at Dear Toronto Boys – at their request. She is normally addressing new graduates on their career direction at the University of Toronto, or speaking on panels about the benefits of a strong social media plan as part of fundraising campaigns. She is happy to stretch her speaking skills and put her academic hat back on at Playground this year. Find her on twitter @destiniya or on the internet at deartoboys.tumblr.com.
Jon Pressick is the editor of Cleis Press’ Best Sex Writing series and a host/producer of CIUT’s Sex City. He is an award-winning sex writer and frequent contributor to various blogs, publications and most recently, books. Jon blogs incessantly at his own blog Sex in Words. He also organizes various sex-related community events and loves writing his Choose Your Own Sex Adventure books. Find him there and on Twitter @sexinwords.
