Ms. LaVie's Beliefs and Values

As counselors, medical professionals, educators, group facilitators, artisans, dancers and community organizers, Ms. LaVie and all teachers at Ms. LaVie's School of Loving Arts believe in the following statements related to healthy human sexuality. These values and beliefs provide a foundation for all the work we do.

1. All of us are sexual beings, all of our lives, from conception until death.
2. The ways in which we express our sexuality are infinite.
3. Everything we do, say, think, believe, value, talk about, get involved in is affected by our sexuality, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.
4. Sexual energy and life-force energy are the same. Sexual energy permeates all areas of our lives and is nourishment for the totality of ourselves - body, mind and spirit.
5. Within each of us exists a Divine Feminine aspect and a Divine Masculine aspect that live in balance and create the polarity that is sexual attraction.
6. The integration of sex-positive values leads to attitudes and conversation that support healthy sexual beliefs and behaviors.
7. The creation of a sex-positive world is possible.
8. It is essential that all human beings develop the ability to experience and express love with conscious intent.
9. Sexual intercourse between two adults is a part of sexuality and a part of intimacy, but sexual intercourse does not equal intimacy, nor is sexual intercourse the same as sexuality.
10. Intimacy is a process, not a goal. Sexual intimacy is not something to be given lightly; it is an experience to be earned by each from the other. Intimacy grows as it is cultivated from dignity, respect, caring, and tenderness.
11. Sex, i.e., sexual intercourse and other sexual activities, is for both recreation and procreation. Pleasure is to be valued equally.
12. Most of our taboos about sex have as a basis that sexual activity must make babies and any activity which does not make babies, is therefore wrong.
13. Our parents or caregivers are our primary sexuality educators. Whether or not we have ever had any formal course work in sexuality education, we have nevertheless been receiving such education all of our lives.
14. Information is empowering and we can never get too much information about sex, sexuality or ourselves.
15. We are entitled to receive sexuality education throughout our lives and to do so in ways that respect our personal boundaries, values and beliefs, and that nurture and empower us.
16. Sexuality information needs to be current, medically accurate, culturally appropriate, age-appropriate and wholistic. It needs to include skill-building, decision-making and information that enhances critical thinking skills and encompasses all aspects of life.
17. By building positive sexual self-esteem and body image through open discussion and positive approaches, we can de-emphasize the shame which the U.S. culture brings to sexuality and sexual expression and especially to women.
18. The culture of North America in which we live is both obsessed with sex and frightened of sex. All of us, therefore, get mixed messages about sex.
19. Our models of sexual health derive, for the most part, from our families of origin. It is a task of adulthood to choose whether those models are in our best interest or whether we must develop new models.
20. Sexual health is equal in importance to the health of other body systems. We recognize that physical health cannot be separated from the psychological, emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspects of life.
21. Individuals are free to decide for themselves what sexual activities they will engage in and must realize that those decisions have ramifications for society.
22. Every individual has the right to say "yes" to sex when they want to engage in sexual activity and the right to ask for what they need or want. They also have the right to set up any boundaries they need to have in place to help them feel safe.
23. Individuals of all sexual orientations should be free to celebrate their sexuality and grow in self-respect and sexual self-esteem.
24. A value is an expression of what one believes to be worthwhile; they are very personal. Disagreement among people about a belief does not imply that someone must be wrong.
25. There are alternative ways to view the world and sexuality that are defined by cultures different than the dominant European culture of the U.S.