The Year of the

Part 3

Silver Lining

Cerritos College

Spring 2009

Burning

How Dianne Pirtle supports sex, love and marriage for all

Barriers:

And in this issue she opens up about sex, love and marriage and what it means for her students. Some of you are probably wondering, what does she know that the rest of us dont? Well, for those who have taken her for a human sexuality class, you learn she knows a hell of a lot more than you do. In just one semester, Pirtle breaks down the barriers of what unhealthy love is and replaces it with the roots that build a healthy relationship. She teaches human sexuality in a way that makes it comfortable to discuss topics in class that are often misunderstood or controversial. She is an activist and an advocate for equal marriage rights and is a perfect example of how education makes a difference. On the cover there is a burning bra, which represents the barriers Pirtle is breaking down, in her life and in her classroom- barriers caused by the misconceptions and stereotypes students grow up to believe. She rids us of the obstructions that blind us into questioning what normal sexuality is and how it defines who we are. By the end of her class, you are left bare and free to truly understand what pure love is and how the very act alone can teach the youth that hate and violence do not need to be tolerated in order to be loved. -Tanya Bermudez

Lets talk about SEX Pirtle Knows Sex.

DONT TRASH THE PAPER

Reuse it instead. Heres how:
1. Line a bird cage 2. Paper mache crafts 3. Moving day 4. Fly swatter 5. Cleaning windows 6. Wrapping fresh fish 7. Hats for shade 8. Toilet paper in a pinch 9. Spontaneous umbrella 10. Inform yourself

Check out more of this issue at www.cerritoswingsmagazine.blogspot.com

Published by the Cerritos College Journalism Program

$1

562-860-2451 ext. 2617

1 2009

AI L

PR

MAGINE

that...

Defying the conventional standards of what love is can be hard enough, but teaching it to Americas future professionals is a task entirely worth the effort for one instructor

replace those concepts. Talking about sex isnt the easiest thing to do and it certainly isnt the funniest, but Pirtle defeats all the challenges of reaching out to students of different ethnic and religious backgrounds and makes it possible to learn about what sexuality is. Former student China Fleming, a liberal arts and speech communications major, said The most important thing I have learned in her class is to be tolerant of people, being respectful of all people and realizing that we all have different paths. While Pirtle isnt in class being a love sex guru, she is out living her teachings with life partner Susan Walshe, a licensed marriage and family Therapist. Though Walshe proposed to Pirtle, they

Sex Sells

Sexuality has been taboo in society for generations, which has led to many stereoLove Evolution types and misconceptions, often carried well Teaching Human Sexuality during a time into college years. Luckily for Cerritos College of popular discontent to gay marriage doesnt students, sociology instructor Dianne Pirtle keep Pirtle down. unravels the threads of hate, violence and She believes that the meaning of marriage ignorance that often form examples of love and is evolving, I think its the word that bothers sexuality. people and a lot of students associate marriage My hope is that I open the door to what with religion and theyre not connected. healthy love is. Pirtle feels that religious institutions have In the classroom, Pirtle is calm and colpeople confused with what marriage is. lective as she prepares for lecture. Her casual For me its a civil rights issue, not a relidemeanor makes for a comfortable environgious issue. ment, and after years of teaching Human Whatever the issues at hand may be, Sexuality, Pirtle has created a technique true to students open up about their experiences and her personality. Once an activist I cant learn sexuality from a lesbian! Im not a lesbian. What does she know? for organizations such as ACT UP, an AIDS awareness group, and the Womens Action remain unmarried. Because of the recent balare more often willing to share their ideas with Coalition, a womens rights group, Pirtle now lot initiative outlawing same-sex marriage in Pirtle. focuses her advocacy in the classroom instead California, the marriage may not happen In a project titled Students Speak, Pirtle of on the streets. anytime soon. publishes papers written by former students on Pirtle explained that as she became older However, they have established all neceschild sexual abuse, gender identity and relashe wanted to redirect her social and political sary legal papers such as wills and a power of tionships. action. Many of us didnt grow up knowing attorney to solidify their union. Pirtle feels these personal stories, submitwhat healthy love looks like. Oh love means Walshe is often a guest speaker for Pirtles ted anonymously, are a way to reach out to you fight, love means you get mad, love means class and feels Pirtle is passionate about her other students who may relate and feel alone. you leave. So we grow up with those concepts, beliefs and isnt afraid to stand up for them. This type of communication is something she said. I consider part of my job is trying to In the classroom she makes a great that Pirtle practices even in her personal life

impact on a more personal level by interacting on a smaller scale, Walshe said. She is willing to let the students get to know her and hear about the struggles from someone who has a personal stake in the outcome.

Photos and Words by Tanya Bermudez

and her partner sees the correlation. Practicing love and compassion with the people in your life is the most important thing you will ever do, Walshe said, adding that open communication may be a way to help overcome some of the discrimination these students face. Even Pirtle has been subjected to discrimination and has had to deal with attacks and threats. I was probably in my early thirties and I had two women who wanted to beat me up because I was a lesbian. And Im like, what you want to fight me? It blew my mind, she said. It was shocking to me that there were people out there who didnt know me that would want to hurt me because of who I loved. While Pirtle is working toward resolving the civil rights movement for the gay community, by being such an effective human sexuality instructor, she also feels she is making movements everyday toward ending domestic violence, bigotry and sexual abuse. But to do so Pirtle admits that she purposely waits until the last day of class to come

out to her students. For the last few years I have waited to come out as a lesbian because I was concerned that they would come in saying I cant learn sexuality from a lesbian! Im not a lesbian. What does she know?

The Sex Talk: What Students Should Know The myths and facts of birth control use To determine realistic expectations for relationships and the ability to recognize positive forms of support Relationships go through trials of differences How to practice safe sex How to be healthy sexually How to communicate with potential or current partners about what is sexually acceptable How to get contraceptives The risks of unprotected sexual activity That there are different types of sexual identities
source: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

Pirtle tries to break that stereotype by letting her students form their own opinions of her throughout the semester, being very careful to discuss her personal life in a very neutral way. With so many cultural differences, its important to Pirtle to make sure she reaches out to as many students as possible. I have students that are from every different background, every different religion and have all these different concepts of what love is, what sex is, and how they fit together; so I talk about all these things in the class. Through it all Pirtles priority remains intact. My goal is to teach students, to open the door just a little bit to get them to try and look and understand.

Modern Worlds

www.cerritoswingsmagazine.blogspot.com

AudioSlideshow: Dianne Pirtles personal pics

that chronicle her activism

Sex Master : See what Dianne Pirtle has to say

about love, sex, same-sex marriage

Opening Up: Student Justin Maguadog gives

you a look into his thoughts on sex