From February 13th to 16th, join us in the Student Union Building (SUB) for four days of education, entertainment, and resources centered on informed and empowered sexual wellness and expression!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
All events are free entry unless noted! Registration is recommended to secure your spot, as space availability is limited!
SACRED BODIES: A SEX-POSITIVE ART EXHIBIT
FEB 13 – 16 | MICHELLE PUJOL ROOM (SMALL SIDE)
Sacred Bodies focuses on honouring the vessels we live in and empowering our sexuality. This exhibit displays various media of works from artists from around Vancouver Island with many pieces focusing on themes of queerness, authenticity, and relationships. For many artists this will be their first time displaying their art. Sacred Bodies aims to create a safe, inclusive space for artists and art enthusiasts of all experiences
Exhibition Hours:
Tuesday, February 13: 12pm – 5pm
Wednesday, February 14: 10am – 5pm
Thursday, February 15: 10am – 5pm
Friday, February 16: 10am – 12:30am
MARKET & COMMUNITY FAIR
FEB 14 & 15 | MICHELLE PUJOL ROOM (LARGE SIDE)
Come check out booths from local adult retailers, sex-positive artists and makers, sexual health providers, and community support organizations!
Open 10am to 5pm, Wednesday February 14 and Thursday February 15.
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
FEB 14 – 16 | VERTIGO
GROOVEFEST (18+)
FEBRUARY 14 | 8:15 – 11:30PM | UPPER LOUNGE
It wouldn’t be SEXPO without a fabulous variety show!! This year we are reviving a very special event — get ready to let your freak flag fly for the return of the iconic GROOVEFEST!!
Groovefest is a fun fabulous event that was run by the Gender Empowerment Centre, (previously the Women’s Centre) from 1996 until 2004. In Groovefest, diversity is celebrated as we explore alternatives to western societal standards of beauty and safe living, without compromising politics and fun. Be out and proud, be diverse and beautiful on your own terms!
Join us on February 14 in Vertigo from 8:15 – 11:30 for a flamboyant evening of drag, burlesque, music, circus performances, and more!!
Hosted by GEM & the UVSS, with harm reduction support by Good Night Out.
Dress code is nothing less than your most extravagant and sexy self: wear what makes you feel good and let yourself shine!
This is a TICKETED 18+ event. Click here to purchase your tickets; this is a show you won’t want to miss!!
WHERE CHAI MEETS T: A QUEER SOUTH ASIAN TALK SHOW | HOSTED BY TAHA QUERESHI OF SOCC
FEBRUARY 15 | 7 – 9 PM | VERTIGO
A one-night-only live talk show event where host Taha Qureshi sits down with three special guests to dive into conversations about Queer existence, resistance and persistence in South Asian communities.
Featuring:
With guests: Joban Dhanoa, Karleena Parmar, and Aafiya Bhayani
Featuring a Bollywood drag performance by Bad Shah!
Click here to register!
FLUX: THE MOTION OF A SHIFTING WORLD | MUSIC – DANCE PARTY – CHANGE
FEBRUARY 16 | 8PM – 12:30AM | VERTIGO
The cherry on top of all of our scrumptious SEXPO events is, of course, a delicious dance party!!
Featuring some of our community’s most talented music-makers, FLUX is a night of movement for the dreamers, the grievers, the ragers, and (as Adrienne Marie Brown would say) the pleasure activists.
Hosted by GEM & the UVSS, with harm reduction support by Good Night Out!
Join us in Vertigo on Friday, February 16 from 8pm -12:30am for a multi-media journey as we experience and co-create the motion of a shifting world. 💜
This is a 19+, licensed, ticketed event. Tickets are on sale now: click here to purchase yours!
SEXPO FILM FEST
FEB 13 & 16 | UPPER LOUNGE & CINECENTA
Join us for screenings of three iconic 90’s queer films!
ADOLESCENCE OF UTENA | Free Screening & Discussion
February 13 | 11am | SUB Upper Lounge
With an introduction and facilitated discussion by Sebi Costello (she/her).
In this anime movie based on the television series, teen girl Utena Tenjou (Tomoko Kawakami), who is new to the Ohtori Academy, disguises herself as a boy to fulfill her ambitions. She soon encounters trouble thanks to her ring that bears the Mark of the Rose, a sign that she’s a skilled duelist. This does not escape the notice of Touga Kiryuu (Takehito Koyasu), her former love who has a similar ring — nor the vice president of the student body (Takeshi Kusao), who challenges Utena to a duel.
Click here to register!
THE WATERMELON WOMAN | Free Screening & Discussion
February 13 | 7pm | SUB Upper Lounge
With an introduction and facilitated discussion by Sebi Costello (she/her).
An aspiring black lesbian filmmaker researches an obscure 1940s black actress billed as the Watermelon Woman.
Click here to register!
BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER | Screening
February 16 | 5pm & 7pm | Cincenta
With an introduction and facilitated discussion by Sebi Costello (she/her).
Now regarded as an LGBTQ cult classic But I’m a Cheerleader follows 17 year old Megan (Natasha Lyonne), whose family and friends are starting to figure out she has feelings for girls rather than guys. After an intervention about her budding sexuality featuring Ru Paul as an “ex-gay,” Megan is sent to True Directions, a conversion therapy camp. Instead of being “cured,” Megan meets the girl of her dreams, Graham (Clea DuVall).—CBR.com
Tickets available for purchase at the Cinecenta box office! For more info, click here!
PANELS & WORKSHOPS
FEB 13 – 16 | UPPER LOUNGE, VERTIGO & MPR (LARGE SIDE)
ROPE PLAY WORKSHOP: PRESENTED BY ENRAPT LEATHERCRAFT (18+)
FEBRUARY 13 | 2 – 4PM | UPPER LOUNGE
A 2 hour hands-on course on the basics of rope play, to introduce you to the art and help you get the hang of it!
Click here to register!
TRANS ID CLINIC | PRESENTED BY PRO BONO STUDENTS CANADA
FEBRUARY 13 | 5 – 8 PM | VERTIGO
The Trans ID Clinic is a group of volunteer law students and lawyers who provide legal information and assistance to folks who want to legally change their name and/or gender marker.
Trans ID Clinic requires registration in advance—those who are interested in the service should send an email at pbsctransid@uvic.ca to book an appointment.
The project is led by Nico Golinski, and Kai Fig Taddei.
READING CIRCLE: IF I GO MISSING | PRESENTED BY NSU
FEBRUARY 14 | 11am – 12pm | UPPER LOUNGE
February 14 is the annual memorial march to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people. In recognition of this day, we are hosting a reading circle of “If I Go Missing” by Brianna Jonnie with Nahanni Shingoose.
It is a graphic novel based on a letter written by a 14-year-old Brianna to the police detailing who she is, how Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit folks are often treated differently by authorities, and how if she goes missing it was not by choice.
NSU community members will be reading the book together; and other Indigenous women and Two-Spirit members of the UVic community are welcome to read as well. We will be serving coffee and tea.
Click here to register!
Please join us after the reading for a free smoked salmon and bannock lunch, from 12:15 – 1:30pm, co-hosted by NSU, AVP and GEM.
COLONIZATION & GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE | A PRESENTATION BY CAROL BILSON
FEBRUARY 14 | 2pm – 3:30pm | UPPER LOUNGE
Join Carol Bilson, Director of Operations and Outreach Coordinator of the Anti-Violence Project, for a presentation on the connections between colonialism and gender-based violence.
This event is drop-in only (no registration).
ACCESSIBLE SEX TOYS WORKSHOP (18+) | PRESENTED BY SSD
FEBRUARY 15 | 2 – 3:30pm | UPPER LOUNGE
Click here to register!
EMBODIED RECOVERY & SURVIVAL-CENTERED CARE | PRESENTED BY AVP
FEBRUARY 16 | 11:30am – 1pm | MICHELE PUJOL ROOM (LARGE SIDE)
Delve into crucial aspects of survivor-centered care, focusing on the transformative impact of embodied recovery in the context of Gender-Based Violence. Our panelists will explore the significance of prioritizing embodied care in enhancing the effectiveness of interventions, unraveling its pivotal role in fostering holistic recovery.
Panelists:
Riven Gail—Volunteer Coordinator at the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre.
Meggan Oliver—Physiotherapist.
Click here to register!
KINK & DISABILITY PANEL (18+) | PRESENTED BY SSD
FEBRUARY 16 | 1:30 – 3:30 | MICHELE PUJOL ROOM (LARGE SIDE)
Click here to register!