Godless Perverts Social Club in Oakland! Discussion Topic: Sex, Politics, and Religion

We’re having a Godless Perverts Social Club in our wonderful downtown Oakland location on Thursday, September 15! Our discussion topic for this evening: Sex, Politics, and Religion. As the 2016 election enters its closing months, the intersections of sex, politics, and religion are more visibly volatile than ever. Come join us for a discussion about current events and how secular progressives can respond with solutions that aren’t based on religion, misogyny, or sexual stigma.

Some of the important issues we’ll be talking about include:

* Proposition 60: Should porn actors have to wear condoms and other protection on set? At first glance, it sounds good, but this proposed law has been broadly opposed by adult actors and models throughout the industry, even those who already work with condoms in all scenes.
* Pre-exposure prophylaxis: New drugs may allow prevention of HIV/AIDS by taking medication before unprotected sex. There are exciting possibilities, but some organizations are opposed. Are there reasons for opposing this treatment, or is it just old-fashioned slut-shaming?
* The HPV vaccine has shown remarkable success in reducing rates of cervical cancer. And yet, ten years after it was first approved, many parents are vocally opposed to letting their children get the vaccine, claiming that it will encourage sexual activity.

The Social Club will be on Thursday, September 15, 7-9 pm, at Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe, 1805 Telegraph Avenue, next to the Fox Theater (and right near the 19th St. Oakland BART station). Rudy’s Can’t Fail is a fun, friendly space that serves meals, small bites, beer, cocktails, soft drinks, and desserts. We’re meeting in the back room/ dining car, which is ridiculously cute: the dining car has somewhat limited space, probably enough for all of us, but it’s a good idea to arrive on time if you want to be sure to get a seat. Admission is free, although we do ask that you buy food and/or drink at the venue if you can. The Oakland Social Clubs are on the third Thursday of the month (First Tuesdays are still in San Francisco at Wicked Grounds.)

Community is one of the reasons we started Godless Perverts. There are few enough places to land when you decide that you’re an atheist; far fewer if you’re also LGBT, queer, kinky, poly, trans, or are just interested in sexuality. And the sex-positive/ alt-sex/ whatever- you- want- to- call- it community isn’t always the most welcoming place for non-believers. So please join us! Hang out with other nonbelievers and chat about sex, sexuality, gender, atheism, religion, science, social justice, pop culture, and more. All orientations, genders, and kinks (or lack thereof) are welcome.

Godless Perverts presents and promotes a positive view of sexuality without religion, by and for sex-positive atheists, agnostics, humanists, and other non-believers, through performance events, panel discussions, social gatherings, media productions, and other appropriate outlets. Our events and media productions present depictions, explorations, and celebrations of godless sexualities — including positive, traumatic, and complex experiences — focusing on the intersections of sexuality with atheism, materialism, skepticism, and science, as well as critical, questioning, mocking, or blasphemous views of sex and religion.

Godless Perverts is committed to feminism, diversity, inclusivity, and social justice. We seek to create safe and welcoming environments for all non-believers and believing allies who are respectful of the mission, and are committed to taking positive action to achieve this. Please let the moderators or other people in charge of any event know if you encounter harassment, racism, misogyny, transphobia, or other problems at our events.

If you want to be notified about all our Godless Perverts events, sign up for our email mailing list, follow us on Twitter at @GodlessPerverts, or follow us on Facebook. You can also sign up for the Bay Area Atheists/ Agnostics/ Humanists/ Freethinkers/ Skeptics Meetup page, and be notified of all sorts of godless Bay Area events — including many Godless Perverts events. And of course, you can always visit our Website to find out what we’re up to, godlessperverts.com. Hope to see you soon!