by Emma Atkinson and Rachel Drake

Hello lovely readers, and we hope you’re relishing all the juicy aspects of Pride.  Doesn’t it seem like the world is opening up a little bit?  There are more people out in parks, gathering in small groups, and enjoying what the Pacific Northwest has to offer at this time of year.  

Question:  you see a friend who you haven’t seen since pre-COVID - what do you do?  You want to give them a big hug, but what’s the new etiquette?  You can’t assume that your own comfort level with physical contact is the same as your friend’s comfort level.  

We like to suggest that right now the world is giving us opportunities to hone our consent skills.  Could we ask our friend:  would you prefer to hug, bump elbows, high five, or share a smile?  Could we ask:  are you huggable?  Imagine how impressed your friend will be as you flex the consent muscles you’ve been building in our time together.  What’s even better is knowing that the consensual greeting can be followed by what’s really important - reconnecting with a loved one.

Homework:  savor Pride celebrations, find a way to ask about physical contact that feels good for you, and look for chances to practice good consent.  Please, and thank you.  

We give our consent for contact at:  info@thecspc.org.

“Be excellent to each other” - Bill and Ted

“Be sexcellent to each other” - Emma and Rachel