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Erica Smith, Sexuality Education and Consulting

in the time warp between Christmas and New Year's

Published about 1 month ago • 2 min read

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This is mostly a Purity Culture Dropout™ Queer Support Group email so feel free to disregard that part of the email if that's not your thing!

Greetings from my parents' house, the day after an ice storm, where I've been wearing the same clothes for several days (?) and perusing end of year sales that I have no business perusing!

I hope that you're having a relaxing week, whatever that looks like for you. I don't have too much work to do this week, other than filling up these groups and tending to my beloved PCD Private Community (new members welcome!)

I'm also reading a memoir by Melissa Duge Spiers about growing up in Seventh Day Adventist purity culture, called Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows. (She just published an article called I was taught to protect my virginity at all costs. Instead I decided to seduce the town's star athlete! if you want a taste of her writing!)

I also finished listening to Elizabeth Gilbert's All The Way to The River - it stunned me and I'm going to be thinking about it for a long, long time. Up next: Tia Leving's new book, I Belong To Me: A Survivor’s Guide to Recovery and Hope after Religious Trauma.​

Are you reading anything good?

Groups begin at the following dates below. There are four day and time options to choose from:

  • Tuesdays at 7pm ET (starts 1/13/26) 1 spot left
  • Thursdays at 9pm ET (starts 1/8/26) 5 spots left
  • Sundays at 11am ET (starts 1/11/26) 2 spots left
  • Mondays at 8pm ET (starts 1/12/26) 6 spots left

Each meeting is 90 minutes long. The total cost of the 8 weeks is $450 per person. (This breaks down to less than $40/hr).

A payment plan is available- if you can't pay the total cost when you sign up, you can pay in 3 installments.

Most of the questions I get about these groups are from people asking if they're a good fit for them- mostly because "I'm not entirely sure if I'll fit in, or what if I'm not actually LGBTQ+?"

And my response is always this: While you're the only person who can decide what is right for you, I especially welcome questioning folks. We all start somewhere, and why not begin with an encouraging cheerleader in your corner and a group to explore with?

It doesn’t matter what letter of the LGBTQ+ umbrella you are, or whether you’re out or not. Or how old you are! I love a late bloomer. 

"Growing up in purity culture and evangelicalism often felt like choices were stripped away from me. What Erica gives me every single time she educates is informed choice. She teaches without bias or leanings, gives you all the information, and then reassures you that any choice that feels right for you, in this moment, is the right choice. (It still feels mind blowing for me!) She also gives validation in spades. Erica is clearly passionate about helping those of us who have gone through purity culture find healing on the other side. She believes us, fights for us, and cheers for us. Erica created a space for me that has no shame and no pressure. I can come and be my complete self without worry of feeling stunted; and that is because she leads her groups with such an open compassion and kindness that is permeates whatever space she is in. Her positive impact in my life will stay with me forever."

I can't wait to meet all of the new group members, including YOU if you sign up!

And for now maybe I should get off the couch and take a shower? Meh.

xo

Erica

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600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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Erica Smith, Sexuality Education and Consulting

The Purity Culture Dropout™ Program

I developed the Purity Culture Dropout™️ Program to help people learn all of the sex education that they missed growing up in purity culture- sex ed that is accurate, queer inclusive, trauma informed, compassionate, and comprehensive. I have worked with hundreds of people to help them learn about healthy sexuality after high control religion. Subscribe if you're curious about / invested in shame free sexuality education that's specifically tailored to the needs of people coming out of high control religions and purity culture. Expect information not just about healthy sexuality and upcoming programming, but also cultural commentary on sexual politics in the US. I'm a sex educator with 25 years of experience and I'm excited to share that with you.

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