Heroes & Pedestals
OMG I LOVE YOUR WORK!!!!!!” All of us encounter people who influence our lives in some ways, whether actors, singers, or leaders in our communities. However, sometimes admiration can turn into hero worship. We can put our favorite online personalities on a pedestal and forget that they’re humans, just like us. While you’re unlikely to meet Tom Hiddleston or Lizzo at your local munch, the people we love in the non-monogamy community might be all around us. In this panel, blogger Kat Blaque, authors Kevin Patterson, MEd of Love’s Not Color Blind and the For Hire series, and Dr. Liz Powell of Building Open Relationships will talk about the dos and don’ts of moving through the world you share with your personal heroes. They’ll help you tear down those pedestals, and find ways to balance respect and admiration with humanity and openness.
Dr. Liz believes that great sex can change the world. They are on a mission to help you have more meaningful, pleasurable relationships in life and work, as well as the bedroom. They’re a coach and licensed psychologist (CA 27871, OR 3068) helping couples and singles develop self-confidence and authenticity in their relationships, whether conventional or non-traditional. Dr. Liz has made multiple media appearances, including in Cosmopolitan, Playboy, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio show Ideas. As a sex educator, Dr. Liz has spoken on many stages internationally including the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists Annual Conference, the Guelph Sexuality Conference, and the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Summit. Their new book, Building Open Relationships, is the newest way they is spreading the Great Sex word. Dr Liz believes that being confident in who you are is the gateway to great relationships and great sex - and great sex, according to Dr. Liz, can change the world. Learn more about Dr. Liz at DrLizPowell.com, Sex-Positive Psych on YouTube and Facebook, and @sexpospsych on Twitter. AND . Kevin Patterson is an active member of the Philadelphia polyamory community. He's been practicing ethical nonmonogamy since August of 2002 after opening up a relationship that eventually became his marriage. In April of 2015, Kevin was inspired to start Poly Role Models, an interview series for people describing their experiences with polyamory. Poly Role Models is part of a drive and a desire to change the way our lives and communities are viewed. It is currently the most diverse and inclusive platform for polyamory available. To continue the discussion of polyamorous representation, Kevin has extended the blog's work into nationwide speaking engagements about how race and polyamory intersect. This has led to the writing of the book, Love's Not Color Blind: Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Communities. Along with co-writer Alana Phelan, Kevin launched a sci-fi novel series, For Hire. The series centers characters of color and as well as other marginalized identities.