Few folks know the name of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman in the United States who became an unlikely (and non-consenting) hero of medical research, including the fight against an infection that killed her. Since it’s Black History Month, we’re going to chat about Henrietta Lacks, who ended up making a profound contribution to sexual health research (and beyond). In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year-old mother of five, was diagnosed with cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the only local hospital that treated Black people, at a time of racial seg ..read more

Term position until March 30, 2024 with possibility of more hours on second grant. Remote work possible with occasional in-person meetings if needed. We are looking for someone to undertake the reimagining of our policy and procedures manual to ensure our framework and policies are equitable to all folks connected to our organization, including Staff, Volunteers, Board Members, and Clients. This will be done in collaboration with many stakeholders including members of oppressed groups, and an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) consultant. Our policy manual was inherited from the local wom ..read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – South Shore Sexual Health stands in opposition to the 1 Million March for Children planned for September 20, 2023 across Canada, including here in Nova Scotia. We are against this movement because: a) it is rooted in anti-trans disinformation that frequently uses terms such as “grooming”, “gender ideology”, “indoctrination”, “chemical castration”, and “surgical mutilation” to discredit human rights and medical treatment for gender expansive folks; b) many of its adherents wish to cancel comprehensive sexual health education in our schools completely, as well as informat ..read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – South Shore Sexual Health is troubled by recent social media posts being shared locally that allege members of the Pride community are harming children and youth. This cruel disinformation is profoundly dangerous to everyone’s well-being and safety, including that of the youth it claims to be protecting. All of us must publicly uphold the hard-earned categories of human rights such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. The 2SLGBTQAIP* community has been disproportionately targeted by groups and individuals working to undermine sexual and reprod ..read more

First, what is a crisis pregnancy centre (CPC) and why should you care what it does? A crisis pregnancy centre targets people facing unplanned pregnancies—however, the majority of them are actually religious, anti-abortion organizations devoted to eliminating abortions. The so-called “accurate” information they give about contraception, emergency contraception, and abortion is not in agreement with top experts in the field. It is often outdated, or simply false. While these centres claim to be non-judgmental, they are often against sex outside of heterosexual marriages. Often, people get into ..read more

Our Board of Directors is looking for a volunteer treasurer to take over on our board. If you eat, sleep, and breathe numbers, we’d like to talk to you. We have an energetic, compassionate Board and we’d love to have you join us. To apply, visit here. We’re also looking for a volunteer bookkeeper (who may be the same person). Typical duties involve accounting entries, bank reconciliation, HST remittance, and more. If you’re interested in providing this service for free or at a charity-friendly cost, we’d love to hear from you. Call 902 527 2868 or email southshoresexualhealth AT gmail.com. Tha ..read more

We are currently advocating for increased funding to sexual health non-profits here in Nova Scotia—including here on the South Shore. A little background: Sexual Health Nova Scotia, our parent organization, applies annually for a discretionary grant through the provincial Department of Health and Wellness. It’s my understanding this discretionary grant no longer exists for new applicants, but has been grandfathered in for traditional recipients, including Sexual Health Nova Scotia (formerly known as Planned Parenthood). At one point, our monies were tied to Public Health and Health Promotion ..read more

Our annual general meeting is just around the corner, and we’re looking for enthusiastic, like-minded folks who want to make their community sex positive and just a little more awesome. Duties & Responsibilities Championing our mission and core values, such as being sex positive, pro-choice, and social justice minded. Preparing for and regularly attending board meetings either in person or by Zoom. Contributing to fundraising activities and funding opportunities. Partnering with and overseeing the Executive Director to ensure organization is run effectively, meets legal requirements, and ..read more

A little late, but here I am! My name is Jace, and I am a transgender man. If you ask Julie or Leigh at the office they’ll tell you my nickname there has become the Trans Ambassador, due to my knowledge of gender-affirming gear, where to find it, and how to make some of your own. I have been teaching Julie about different websites to get the gear from and different types of gear long before she decided to hire me for her winter student placement. I am pro-choice, sex-positive, and honestly, I basically just say “Your body your choice, as long as it’s not hurting you or those around you.” I am ..read more

boric acid: a white acid that is used as a weak antiseptic and fire retardant (noun) For better or worse, people get medical content from social media. Let’s just say it isn’t always, um, accurate. First off, we always recommend talking to your medical professional prior to taking or inserting any substance, even natural ones. (Especially natural ones.) The latest craze is putting boric acid in your *clears throat* kitty. Some TikTokkers are praising boric acid as the next best thing for your vagina. They claim boric acid is great for: yeast infections smell and odour itchiness bacterial vag ..read more