Home » Newsletter

Category: Newsletter

Newsletter: First Quarter 2020

The first quarter of the year always includes the required tax and other filings needed to keep our tax-exempt status.  Some of this is tedious, but obviously necessary.  We are doing well financially.  We received $11,205.15 in donations balanced by $2239.00 in expenses, that is a gain of $8966.15.

Guidestar.org is an organization that collects data on nonprofits to help donors make informed decisions.  It adds a bit of transparency about what we are doing, on what we spend our money, and our goals.  We were able to advance from Bronze to Silver and on to Gold this year. View the DSREI Guidestar Profile.

Gold Seal of Transparency

 

 

 

 

This quarter we continued working on several projects:

American College of Sexual Medicine and Health (ACSMH)
We are continuing to make ACSMH (offering sexual medicine education and training courses for healthcare professionals) a reality.  Stay tuned for further news.  Landi Cranstoun, MD (our Executive Director) and I are still working on an academic paper concerning the policy of some medical boards to ask about a history of paraphilias as part of the licensure process.  Our new ACSMH lapel pin has run into some production problems, but we are working it out.  We are also beginning to create content for the organization.

Kink Guidelines Group
The Kink Guidelines group has finished a final draft of the guidelines. We are turning our attention to writing an academic paper to give these guidelines even more exposure.

The New Normal
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is a new novel virus which causes COVID-19 the disease and has led the world to shelter in place.  I expect in 9 months we are going to see a baby boom, more distressed relationships, and maybe more exploration of diverse sexualities.  To protect patients, my staff, and my colleagues we closed the office and I am trying to figure out telemedicine.  What does this have to do with diverse sexualities?  Google Pornhub, then “coronavirus porn” and check out a “new” genre of porn.  Actually, it resembles a cross between latex/rubber fetish and medical porn.   If we are ever visited by aliens, I wonder how long it will take for alien porn to appear.  This is what I think about when I should be writing this newsletter.

In San Francisco, all the barbers are closed due to the pandemic. I could not stand it any longer, so I shaved (actually buzz cut) my hair.  Here is a picture, do not laugh or cry, it will grow back.  I know I look tired; I was.

Charles Moser

 

 

 

 

For good news, Peggy J. Kleinplatz, PhD, (a member of DSREI’s Education Advisory Committee) just had a new book published Magnificent Sex: Lessons from Extraordinary Lovers.   The book will be available on Amazon.  And essentially simultaneously, an academic journal article she co-authored based on the same material on how to help patients clinically was published.  View the article. She deserves the accolades.

Unfortunately, there is also some other news, not so encouraging, concerning my practice.  View the letter that I am sending to my patients.  I plan to continue leading DSREI, no matter what I do.  I am not sad; I know I will reinvent myself again.

Be safe and take care of yourself,

Charles Moser, PhD, MD
President
Diverse Sexualities Research and Education Institute

Newsletter: Fourth Quarter 2019

This may be a first, but the newsletter is on time!  Well actually, I was trying to get it out for Giving Tuesday, but obviously failed at that.  Just a reminder that December is Diverse Sexuality Month.  All donations to DSREI will be listed in both the 2019 and 2020 list of contributors.  A Christmas gift donation honoring someone else (or you) is the perfect way to support DSREI and give someone a unique gift (especially for those for whom it is impossible to buy anything).

This quarter DSREI continued with a lot on the projects we discussed last time.

American College of Sexual Medicine and Health
We are moving forward on ACSMH (offering sexual medicine education and training courses for healthcare professionals).  Stay tuned for further news.  Landi Cranstoun, MD (our Executive Director) and I are still working on a paper to be submitted to an academic journal concerning medical boards who ask about a history of paraphilias.

Kinky Guidelines Group
The Kinky Guidelines group has finished a final draft of the guidelines, check it out. We are looking for feedback.  We will be writing an academic paper to give these guidelines even more exposure.

Turkey Conference
DSREI sponsored the 2nd International Anatolian Congress on Neuroscience and Sexual Health, in Istanbul.  It was a great experience and I learned a lot.  DSREI is working towards an agreement to help train Sex Therapists, Sex Counselors, Sex Educators, and Sex Researchers in Turkey.  We will be working in collaboration with other organizations in Turkey and Europe.  Stayed tuned.

Volunteers
DSREI is run by volunteers and we need more volunteers.  If you are interested in helping, please let us know.  DSREI can only grow if everyone helps.  We realize that life can intervene, but think about helping.

Think About Donating
We know there are many good causes out there, but no donation is too small.

Happy Holidays!!

Newsletter: Third Quarter 2019

It has been another busy quarter, I know I say that every quarter. Time does fly when you are having fun.   So this is what we have been doing.

American College of Sexual Medicine and Health
The formation of the American College of Sexual Medicine and Health (ACSMH) is progressing.  ACSMH is a project of the DSREI and will be offering sexual medicine education and training courses for healthcare professionals.  ACSMH will be collaborating with our sister/brother/sibling organization, The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance (TASHRA), to make this happen.

ACSMH is dedicated to raising the awareness of sexual medicine and health as an essential component of all healthcare. We plan on creating a series of courses leading to certificates in Sexual Health.  We emphasize that we will not be certifying people, only courses, programs, and attendance at these courses.

A draft of the new ACSMH logo is below, this is not the final version, so please send us feedback.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kinky Guidelines Group
DSREI continues to work with the Kinky Guidelines group, we are presenting to major psychotherapy and sexology groups, and soon will be submitting the paper to an academic journal.   This is an important groundbreaking project.

Diverse Sexualities Month
December is Diverse Sexualities Month, how are you planning to celebrate?  Please let us know, prizes for the best ideas can be awarded.  December is also the end of our fiscal year.  I hope you will consider donating to DSREI.  We have done quite well on our limited budget but there is lots more we want to do.  In case anyone is concerned, the donations only pay for DSREI’s expenses.  Everyone associated with DSREI is a volunteer.  If anyone knows of a real fundraiser (professional or not) who wants to help, I will personally arrange for the heavens to open and the angels to sing your praises.

Turkey Conference
DSREI is sponsoring the 2nd International Anatolian Congress on Neuroscience and Sexual Health in Istanbul Turkey, November 16th and 17th, 2019.  It is a long way to go, especially with Turkey’s incursion into Syria occurring as I write this.  Everyone, well most everyone, is assuring me that it is safe.  It will be a cutting edge conference and there is such a great hunger for information about sex and diverse sexualities.  The conference will be in English and interpreters will be available

Going back into Private Practice
I am settling in to my new office and everything and everyone has been welcoming and great.  There have been a few bumps in the road, not unexpected, but I am excited about this new chapter in my professional career.

They said it could not be done, but I am going back to paper charts.  I am just using the computer for online prescriptions and research.  Most physicians hate their EHR, but are afraid to give it up.  Wish me luck.

My new contact information is:
Charles Moser, PhD, MD
1199 Bush Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-921-8210 (office)
415-921-0387 (fax)
My website is https://docx2.com

Hopefully, next quarter’s email will be on time. I know I say that every quarter.  If someone wants to be the Newsletter editor, I will happily (and quickly) move aside.

Newsletter: Second Quarter 2019

It has been another busy quarter.

DSREI was a platinum sponsor of the Multiplicity of the Erotic (MOTE) conference in Chicago, which was a great conference.  The focus was on Diverse Sexualities both academic and clinical issues.  The next one will be in two years and we recommend you try to attend.  In the off years there is Positive Sexuality Conference put on by Center of Positive Sexuality.  MOTE is sponsored by our sister organizations, CARAS and TASHRA.  You can sign up for the MOTE listserv by sending an email to MOTE+subscribe@groups.io

DSREI is also sponsoring the 2nd International Anatolian Congress on Neuroscience and Sexual Health in Istanbul Turkey, November 16th and 17th2019.  It is a long way to go, but it is really a cutting edge conference and there is such a great hunger for information about sex and diverse sexualities.  The conference will be in English and interpreters will be available.

DSREI is proud to sponsor the formation of the American College of Sexual Medicine and Health (ACSMH) and that Landi Craunston, MD is its new executive director.   ACSMH is dedicated to raising the awareness of sexual medicine and health as an essential component of all healthcare. Supporting, educating and training health professionals and sexual medicine specialists.  Of course ACSMH will have a special emphasis on Diverse Sexualities and Genders.  More information will be forthcoming soon.

DSREI continues to work with Kinky Guidelines group, we are presenting to major psychotherapy and sexology groups, and soon will be submitting the paper to an academic journal.   This is an important groundbreaking project.

I am also proud to announce that Caitlin Stouvenot is our new Social Media Princess (we chose that title together).  DSREI desperately needs a social media presence and we are lucky to have Caitlin.

On a personal note, after 25 years I am moving my office across town.  I have an opportunity to help create the St. Francis Memorial Hospital Gender Affirmation Surgery Center of Excellence.   I will be leaving the Sutter West Bay Medical group and moving back into private practice, specializing in Sexual Medicine, if interested check out my website.  My new contact information is:
Charles Moser, PhD, MD
1199 Bush Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-921-8210 (office)
415-921-0387 (fax)

Here is a link to a brand new article in the NY Times Magazine, about non-binary people – a great in-depth read:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/magazine/gender-nonbinary.html

And here is a link to a blog posting about managing kink discrepancies within relationships, an important topic that gets little research and training:
https://www.learnsextherapy.com/blog/managing-kink-incompatibilities-in-relationships

Hopefully, next quarter’s email will be on time.

Newsletter: First Quarter 2019

It has been a busy few months.  The Kink Guidelines Group is hard at work and is now using our site for donations.  Check out their donation page.

We are also working with the APA Consensual Non-Monogamy Task Force.

DSREI is now 1 year old, doing well, we actually have money in the bank.  No one is more shocked than our president.

DSREI is a platinum sponsor of the Multiplicity of The Erotic Conference May 24th in Chicago and If anyone from DSREI is attending, make sure you introduce yourself to Charles Moser and Mary Moss (two of our board members).

Other News:
People may be interested in some new papers, just published.

  • Moser, C. (in press).  DSM-5, Paraphilias, and the Paraphilic Disorders: Confusion Reigns. Archives of Sexual Behavior.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1356-7.  Published online 21 February 2019.  download the paper
  • Moser, C. (2018).  Paraphilias and the ICD-11: Progress but Still Logically Inconsistent. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(4), 825-826.  doi.org/10.1007/s10508-017-1141-z.  download the paper

After practicing in the same office for 25 years our President (me, Charles Moser) will be going back into private practice (he is currently employed by the Sutter West Bay Medical Foundation).  New address and contact information will be forthcoming.  He also will be working with the new St. Francis Memorial Hospital Gender Institute. He will be speaking and helping to organize the Gender Affirmation Conference in conjunction with the SFMH Gender Institute and WPATH.

We welcome everyone who wants to work on Diverse Sexuality issues, participate, and volunteer.  If anyone wants to make a tax deductible donation, we will arrange for the angels to sing your praises.

Newsletter: December 2018

December is Diverse Sexualities Month and we are making a fundraising push to make a good year a great year.  December is DSREI’s birthday, we are one year old.  We have worked hard and have many plans for next year.

If you go to the website, on the DSREI Donor Page you will see everyone who donated to us this first year.   This page will be kept for posterity, but a new page will start in 2019. Everyone who donates in December will be listed on the page for 2018 and 2019.  If you donate $2500.00 or more in 2018 you will be a “Founding Partner” and will be acknowledged every year.

If you want to see how much you donated already (donations are cumulative), please go to the Donation History Page page, and follow the instructions.  If having problems, let us know and we will help.

DSREI is working with Kink Guidelines group to create guidelines for helping professionals working with clients with Diverse Sexualities.  DSREI is also supporting the American Psychological Association’s The Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (Division 44) Consensual Non-Monogamy Task Force.  We look forward to working with these and similar groups to fulfill our mission.

The DSREI Forum is up and running. check us out .

Charles Moser and Mary Moss (both DSREI Board Members) are working with CARAS’ Institution Review Board (IRB).  IRBs are part of the process to do research and protect research subjects.  In the past IRBs associated with universities or other groups have been particularly hard on projects involving Diverse Sexualities strangling research.  We join with CARAS to help researchers create better research and protect the rights of the research subjects.

We are negotiating with the International Academy of Sex Research to give an award for the best student abstract pertaining to Diverse Sexualities at their annual conference in Mexico City.  More information about this award in our next newsletter.

Newsletter: September 2018

The September 2018 DSREI Newsletter
This newsletter will keep you up to date on the latest happenings at DSREI.  We originally thought we would be using a new newsletter template, but we are quickly learning that everything takes longer than expected, which is why the September newsletter is in October.  We are also open to suggestions for a catchy name for our newsletter, any ideas?

This quarter, DSREI was quite involved in the Kink Guidelines project.  A number of people associated with both groups presented a panel on the need for kink guidelines at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting.  Our session was very well received and attended.  DSREI in partnership with Kinky Guidelines project will process donations for the group.

  • Richard Sprott (who is also a member of DSREI’s Education Committee, as well as CARAS  and TASHRA)
  • Anna Randall (who is a TASHRA Founder and a wonderful person)
  • Peter Chirnos (who initiated the Kink Knowledgeable project, to train therapists )
  • Charles Moser, hope I do not need to introduce myself again at this point.
Also at the APA meeting was Russell Stambaugh and Susan Wright (a member of the DSREI Advisory Board) from NCSF, who bestowed the 2018 Race Bannon Advocacy Award on Race Bannon (who is also on the DSREICommunity Advisory Board) in front of Harvey Milk’s old photography studio.

The 2020 Diverse Sexualities Book Award competition is underway, we already have two book submissions (or at least two publishers have said they will submit books).

DSREI became an endorser of International Pronoun Day, which is on 10/17/18, check it out.

DSREI has launched an online discussion group for researchers, educators, and clinicians who work with Diverse Sexualities, to help us all communicate.  We are happy to announce the signup on the dsrei.org website is active.

We considering other email groups to promote the mission of DSREI.  December is Diverse Sexualities Month, any ideas on how we can best publicize it.  As always, we are looking for your input.

Hopefully, the December 2018 Newsletter will be on time.

Newsletter: June 2018

The June 2018 DSREI Newsletter

This newsletter will keep you up to date on the latest happenings at DSREI.  We originally thought we would be using a new newsletter template, but we are quickly learning that everything takes longer than expected.  We are also open to suggestions for a catchy name for our newsletter, any ideas?

In May, Susan Wright (Chair of the Community Advisory Committee) and Charles Moser presented at the Positive Sexuality Conference in Burbank.  The conference was great, but one of the highlights was meeting with members of other 501(c)(3) organizations with similar goals.  The major accomplishment of the meeting was elucidating our purposes so we did not conflict with each other.  The following groups were represented at the meeting. Please check them out.

We are also working with the Kink Practice Guidelines group to create guidelines to educate therapists (among others) about working with kink clients.  The group presented at the recent 2018 AASECT conference in Colorado and another presentation is planned at the American Psychological Association conference in San Francisco in August.

Announcements

We have designated December as Diverse Sexualities month.

The International Classification of Diseases, Eleventh Edition, has removed sadomasochism, fetishistic transvestism, and fetishism from its list of diseases.  Gender Incongruence (Gender Dysphoria in the DSM-5) was moved from the Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders section to the section on Conditions Related to Sexual Health.  This is a major step forward, but with every two steps forward, there is one back.  For the first time, the Impulse Control Disorders section included Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder.  To get another perspective on problems with these diagnoses, please see:

Moser, C. (2017).  ICD-11 and gender incongruence: Language is important.  Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46, 2515–2516.  DOI 10.1007/s10508-016-0936-7.  link

Moser C. (2018).  Paraphilias and the ICD-11: Progress but Still Logically Inconsistent [Letter to the editor].  Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(4):825-826. doi: 10.1007/s10508-017-1141-z.  link

We have created the DSREI Book Award. The announcement is below and will be posted on the DSREI.org website shortly.

The Education Committee and the Board of Directors conferred the “Distinguished Advocacy Warrior” award on Gina Ogden, Ph.D. A picture of the award is below.  We plan to honor others in the coming months; we should honor those who came before us.  We are working on the criteria for our research and education awards.

Expanded Statement of Purpose:
Why do we need DSREI?  In a discussion with one of our volunteers — (you can volunteer as well) — she questioned why transgender people were an area of focus for DSREI.  She correctly pointed out that the transgender community has made significant gains recently.   Nevertheless, the gains have been made primarily for individuals who choose to transition from male to female or female to male.   The transgender community has a variety of other segments who have not received as much attention.  There are also nonbinary, gender nonconforming, gender fluid, gender queer, and agender individuals.  Part of the mission of DSREI is to support research and education about all gender configurations.  DSREI wants to increase the visibility and focus on all Diverse Sexualities — not just those that have achieved some acceptance.

Lapel Pins:
We have logo lapel pins!  It deliberately has no lettering so that people will ask about it.  We will send one to anyone who requests it under the condition that you wear it, discuss the importance of DSREI when people ask about it, and direct them to our website (https://dsrei.org).  We are requesting a donation to cover our costs, please be generous, but we will send the lapel pins whether you donate or not.  You will also need to send us your postal address, even if you think we have it.  Please see a photo of the pin and the cute little felt bag it comes in below.

2020 Diverse Sexualities Book Award Competition

The Diverse Sexualities Research and Education Institute (DSREI) is pleased to announce the 2020 Diverse Sexualities Book Award competition, nominations are being invited now.

The goal of the award is to recognize the best recent book that contributes to the understanding of Diverse Sexualities (sexual identities, sexual orientations, sexual behaviors, sexual interests, gender identities, gender orientations, gender expressions, relationship identities, relationship orientations, and relationship structures not accepted by the dominant culture).

The award will be announced July 24th, 2020.

Please feel free to forward this notice copying the DSREI Book Award Chair, Peggy J. Kleinplatz, Ph.D. at kleinpla@uottawa.ca.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Content of the book must be related to Diverse Sexualities
  2. The book must be in English and must have been published in the years 2017, 2018, or 2019. It may have multiple authors or be an edited work. Previously submitted books are eligible.
  3. Authors or publishers are required to send five copies of the book for review to the members of the Book Awards Selection Committee of the Diverse Sexualities Research and Education Institute.
  4. For further details see the information below. For questions, please contact Peggy J. Kleinplatz, PhD, Chair of the DSREI Book Award committee at (613) 563-0846 — not via email.

How to Nominate a Book

  1. Nominations for the DSREI Book Award may come from any individual, organization, or publisher.
  2. The deadline for submitting nominations is January 1, 2020.
  3. Nominations should be sent to:

Diverse Sexualities Research and Education Institute
2261 Market Street, #622
San Francisco, CA 94114
or send us an email.

The books should be sent directly to the members of the Awards Selection Committee.

1. THE AWARDS
Diverse Sexualities Research and Education Institute (DSREI) has established a book award to be given to the author(s) or editor(s) of the best books published in English related to the understanding Diverse Sexualities: At DSREI’s discretion two awards may be given, one for books addressed to the public and the other for books addressed to professionals (Educators, Researchers, or Clinicians).
Nominations for the DSREI Book Award should be made to the Chair who will then transmit the information to the appropriate committee members (see below).
The award winners (including multiple authors or each of the editors of an edited book where there is more than one editor) will each be given a plaque and their names will be listed on the DSREI website. There will be no monetary award.

2. FREQUENCY
The award will be given every two years.

3. THE SELECTION COMMITTEE
The awards will be made by the selection committee, chosen by the DSREI Education Advisory Committee. The members of the selection committee will be chosen by the DSREI Book Award chair in consultation with the DSREI Board of Directors. If a member of the DSREI Book Award committee has published a book that is being considered by the committee or has any potential conflict of interest, that person will absent him/herself from any deliberations concerning that book.

4. ELEGIBILITY CRITERIA

  1. Content of the books must be related to the understanding of Diverse Sexualities.
  2. Books must have been published in the calendar years 2017, 2018, or 2019.
  3. Books must be in English, but may have been translated from another language.
  4. Collections of previously published works would not be eligible.
  5. Authors/editors are eligible regardless of having previously won another book award.
  6. Books must be readily available from bookstores, public libraries, or university presses. Self-published books will not be eligible.
  7. The decision of the selection committee as to whether a book is eligible shall be binding.

5. CONDITIONS OF THE PRIZES

  1. Any eligible book which is nominated for a DSREI Book Award shall not qualify unless the publisher or author(s)/editor(s) agrees to provide up to five copies of the book to DSREI at no cost for each member of the selection committee.
  2. The publisher must agree to include in any advertising for the book that it has been awarded the DSREI Book Award, for the given year.

6. SUBMISSION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES:

  1. Books received after the final deadline of January 1, 2020, will not be eligible.
  2. Receipt of submissions will be acknowledged in writing by DSREI.
  3. Submitted books will not be returned and will remain the property of the reviewers.

7. FINALISTS

  1. Up to five books nominated (in each category, if both popular and professional book awards are conferred) will be noted as Honorable Mentions as well as the winner(s) of the DSREI Book Award. The Award will be announced July 24, 2020 on the DSREI.org website. Publicity directed towards the public and organizations of sexuality professionals, announcing the winners of the DSREI Book Awards will be the responsibility of DSREI.
  2. The selection committee will consider the shortlists and the winners in private deliberations. Publishers, authors, and editors should be aware that they will receive no advance notice of the finalists or the winners.

______________________________________________________________________________

DSREI Book Award Committee Chair:  Peggy J. Kleinplatz, PhD (Chair) (613) 563-0846

Preliminary Newsletter

16 May 2018

Dear Folks,

This is a preliminary Newsletter; the Official First Newsletter hopefully will be published in June and quarterly thereafter.  As you can imagine, launching an organization and website like this is a big task, with lots of issues.

We are already being called out, because the quotes on the website were from “4 white cishet men.”  Actually Kinsey was bisexual and Hirschfeld was gay (possibly trans).  I am not sure about the others, but at least my critics should get their facts straight (pun intended).  DSREI is about excellence in research and education, not identity politics.  Nevertheless, we are striving to add more People of Color and a variety of diverse sexuality practitioners to our committees, because we want all perspectives. The quotes used will change from time to time, so expect other identity groups to be represented.

Possibly the most complicated task for me is fundraising for DSREI.  We are giving money and awards to researchers and educators, so why should the public or even other researchers and educators want to make a donation?  Of course, without donations what we can do is quite limited.  We realize we are competing with many other deserving charities, but we feel we fill a special niche.

The rules for 501(c)(3) charities require that a significant amount of money raised will come from small donations, so no donation is too small.  Check out our donation page to see how you can honor people or events, or get Amazon to donate without it costing you anything.

We are interested in what you would like to see from DSREI and how we can garner more support.  We have ordered lapel pins with our triangle logo.  We hope people will wear them with pride.  When people ask what it is, it is a perfect opportunity to discuss diverse sexualities.  We are thinking of other ideas, “Make America Diverse Again” baseball caps, DSREI belt buckles, mugs, etc.  We welcome your ideas.  These items will be associated with donations, but it is also a method to getting our name out there.

A number of people have asked how they can help.  Possibly the easiest way is to talk about diverse sexualities with friends, colleagues, family, and patients.  If you have any special talent (advertising, public relations, investing, fundraising, social media, etc.) we need you.  If you want to edit or write the newsletter, I will be eternally grateful.  We need people to catalog new research on diverse sexualities to create a database.  We need people to be on the lookout for innovative and excellent educational programs, to which we can refer people.  We are open to any other ideas you might have.

Take care,

Charles Moser, PhD, MD
President
DSREI