In partnership with The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR), arts-based youth performance group, SExT: Sex Education by Theatre, released a brand new music video Bodak Consent on October 2nd, 2018 shining a light on consensual behavior, safer sex practices, and HIV prevention. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview the founder of SExT: Sex Education by Theatre, Shira Taylor. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Shira! Thank you for granting the interview. We’re excited to speak with you about it. What inspired SExT: Sex Education by Theatre and the partnership with Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR).
Five years ago, I walked into one of Canada’s most diverse and over-populated high schools in an immigration destination of Toronto, with the idea of making sex education more comprehensive, relevant, and impactful by emboldening teens to sing, rap, and dance about everything from periods to herpes to mental health. This visit led me to create the peer education program, SExT: Sex Education by Theatre, as my Ph.D. Thesis (Public Health, University of Toronto) to empower youth from communities where talking about sex is culturally taboo to take center stage. Partnering with the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) last spring gave us a national platform. Since May, we have toured our youth created a play, SExT, to over 4600 students in high schools and Indigenous reserves in areas of Canada most affected by HIV/AIDS and released two music videos, “Bodak Consent” and “Tunnel Vision”!
There’s an increase in teen pregnancies and STDs. SExT: Sex Education by Theatre released a music video titled “Bodak Consent” to highlight the topic of consent, safer sex practices, and HIV/STI prevention. Do you believe social media has played a role in the increase of sex among teenagers?
“A boy in my class keeps asking me to send him nudes – do I have to?” This is a real question we received from a 12-year-old girl on tour. One thing I know for sure is that being a teenager in 2019 in the era of sexting and cyberbullying is a new world that requires new and innovative approaches to sex education that answer their questions. The #MeToo movement showed us another powerful side of social media. While social media certainly promote some concerning trends among teens, it has also opened up new channels to communicate positive messages widely, and we are trying to leverage this power with our music videos. In “Bodak Consent,” we parody Cardi B’s hit song “Bodak Yellow.” In the video, SExT peer educators navigate precarious situations such as unwanted advances and the sharing of intimate photos, modeling how to enact consent in healthy ways. In our second music video, “Tunnel Vision,” one of our brave peer educators shares her personal experience with and journey healing from intimate partner violence.
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Recently, 40,000 kids walked out of their schools in Ontario, Canada to protest the sex-ed curriculum repeal. The updated sex-Ed curriculum included warnings about online bullying and sexting, but the protesters, especially social conservatives, took issue with parts of the plan that talked about same-sex marriage, and gender identity. Tell us more.
The sex education curriculum has been a hotly contested issue in Ontario. In 2015, the sex Ed curriculum was updated for the first time since 1998, an era before the internet as we know it. This is a very personal issue for our cast since the community where I started SExT is an immigration destination of Toronto and was the hub of protests opposing comprehensive sex education. Students were pulled from class by parents and “homeschooled” in a local park in protest of the updated curriculum. In 2018, the incoming Conservative government reverted the curriculum back to 1998. In protest, 40,000 young people walked out of class. The sex education debate has traditionally been reserved for parents, educators, and politicians, all trying to “protect youth” from their own perspectives. The government has yet to announce their plans moving forward. With our play and music videos, we hope to show that young people know their realities and know what they need and that they deserve a seat at the table when it comes to decision-making about their health and well-being.
SExT: Sex Education by Theatre Founder Shira Taylor Initiates Reform on Sex Education for TeensWhat has the response been to “Bodak Consent?”
We have been thrilled with the response to our first music video, “Bodak Consent.” When we perform this song live on tour, we receive a similarly enthusiastic response, whether we are performing in downtown Toronto or a remote Indigenous reserve. Our music video has allowed us to reach a much broader audience. I have been contacted by teachers across the country who are now using the video in class to teach about consent. I even had a request to send the video to a remote town in Nunavut in the Canadian Arctic where the internet connection is weak and they don’t get YouTube. The kids there loved the video so much it inspired a school-wide assembly on consent! I also received a really meaningful message over the holidays from a woman who wanted to share that our second music video, “Tunnel Vision” inspired her to enter a shelter for domestic abuse. Very powerful. Messages like that make it all worthwhile.
What has been your biggest challenge in starting SExT: Sex Education by Theatre?
The biggest challenge in starting SExT is the stigma surrounding sex, despite clear evidence that lack of effective sex education has devastating public health consequences. The reality is that some parents are not on board with our open and comprehensive approach on the basis of their beliefs and sociocultural influences. One of my main goals to set is to embrace culture as enriching the sexual health conversation as opposed to as a barrier to discussing these topics. Our show features music, dance, language, and clothing from the diverse countries of origin of cast members including Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Jamaica, Ghana, and Ethiopia. Students need to see themselves represented in the education they receive for learning to be personally relevant and lead to real behavior change. By embracing the rich cultures of our cast, we can make the show relatable and inclusive to peer audiences. Youth chooses to participate because they believe so strongly in the work and we are constantly trying to strike a balance between promoting health and well-being while still showing respect for their parents and culture.
What’s the ultimate direction of SExT: Sex Education by Theatre?
My long-term goal is to expand the reach of SExT’s innovative and impactful approach so that every teenager is equipped with the knowledge and skills to recognize and avoid unhealthy situations. Teens should know their options should they find themselves in a precarious situation, feel empowered to set boundaries, and be able to explore their identities on their own terms. We are currently planning a second National tour in partnership with CANFAR and hope to continue touring widely. Program sustainability is a priority, including ongoing training of peer educators, as well as supporting other communities in replicating our approach. Our mentorship program will create more opportunities for youth to take on leadership positions and grow within our organization. I also plan to continue to leverage youth know-how in creating more online content to expand our reach!
Who are your biggest influences and why?
I was (and remain) a devout musical theatre kid and my career path have been most greatly influenced by the musical “Rent” by Jonathan Larson. “Rent” is a rock musical set during the HIV/AIDS crisis and it changed the course of musical theatre. “Rent” introduced me at a very early age to the power of theatre to educate on taboo topics, while spreading love and inclusivity and I’ve never looked back. I draw my current inspiration from other musical theatre game-changer, Lin Manuel Miranda, whose hit musical “Hamilton” casts people of color to tell the story of America’s immigrant Founding Father, while exploring many poignant political and human themes.
When looking back on your creation of SExT: Sex Education by Theatre, what resonates with you the most and why?
Looking back on creating SExT, it’s learning from and witnessing the growth in our cast that has impacted me the most. Youth dedication to the project is its biggest asset. 10 of our original 19 participants (many of whom admittedly signed up for the free pizza) are still active members, and many have taken on leadership roles. Seeing their passion for the work and watching them impact the lives of youth around the country is really special. Being able to support cast members by turning their challenges and triumphs into art has been my greatest privilege.
In your opinion, how could a teen make an impact on the world?
I think we are witnessing an exciting societal shift, with youth, recognizing the power of their voices and adults starting to listen. We saw it with the brave survivors of the Parkland shooting and the “March for Our Lives” movement, and we are seeing it now in Canada with students being vocal about their right to comprehensive sex education. Peer education is one of the most powerful components of our program. At one show during our tour, a little Indigenous girl in Grade 6 approached one of our cast members after the show and said, “I can tell you’ve struggled because I’ve struggled too. And I think it’s so brave that you put your struggle into art.” We hope our show inspires more teens to do just that.
If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose to create SExT: Sex Education by Theatre? Would you do anything differently?
I would absolutely still choose to create SExT: Sex Education by Theatre. When I walked into that high school five years ago, I had no idea where this adventure would take me. I was planning a short four-month long thesis project. I couldn’t have imagined how deeply my life would be enriched by the group of teens I recruited or how much of an impact we would make five years later! I know it sounds like a cliché, but I really wouldn’t change a thing and am grateful for all of the lessons I’ve learned from my mistakes along the way. Well, actually, I probably would have taken the time to write up my thesis and graduate from my Ph.D.before SExT took off so there would be a lot less nagging at family dinners!
Do you have anything else you would like to share about SExT: Sex Education by Theatre?
Readers can visit our website (www.sexeducationbytheatre.com), follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook (@SExTEdShow) and subscribe to our YouTube channel (tinyurl.com/SExTEdShow). We are currently planning our second tour in partnership with CANFAR (follow @CANFAR and check them out at www.canfar.com) and would love to share our upcoming adventures with you!
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