Today we’d like to introduce you to Irma Garcia.
Hi Irma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a queer sexual health educator from Texas. I lead the abortion access work at Jane’s Due Process—a non-profit dedicated to helping Texas teens access abortion and birth control. I got into this work because ever since I was a child, I have always had a passion for women’s & gender studies, social justice, and sexual health. I majored in Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin but it was my minor (Women’s & Gender Studies) and my human sexuality classes that sparked my interest to go into sex education. I am really a human sexuality nerd! My first post-grad position was being a counselor at an abortion clinic in Austin, which gave me the professional experience to talk to folks about their sexual & reproductive health. During this time, I was also a birth doula for people of color in Houston and Austin. Then as of approximately four years ago, I started working at Jane’s Due Process as the client services manager and sexual health educator.
Besides having the academic background, I also have a long list of lived experiences that enable me to lead these conversations. I was raised in an environment where culture and religion played a major role in the development of children in our community. I was told that purity and respectability was of the upmost importance and that my virginity must stay in tact before marriage. Later on I learned that it was family trauma that was being projected onto me (and other children of the community), while deeply knowing that who my authentic self was would be nothing like who they wanted me to be.
I created Dirty South Sex Ed out of the desire I’ve always had to help people, specifically from my community (marginalized Black and Brown folks, including undocumented people), heal from sexual shame. I wanted to democratize the medical information I learned and make it palpable and relatable to people in my community. Apart from everything I’ve mentioned, we must also discuss geographical context– being in the Bible Belt affects all of us who live here. It’s not just how you grow up and what you’re told at home, it’s also societal messaging that adds an entire layer to our sexual psyche. The messaging in The South is mostly conservative and against bodily autonomy (as many have witnessed in the last several months since the Texas abortion ban went into effect). I use my platform as a way to educate and combat sex-negative ideas in hopes of creating a healthier community of people who have been historically discriminated against and thus can experience pleasure on their own terms.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My mental health was affected when I decided to make human sexuality and reproductive rights a career, because usually, immigrant parents only see paths such as law, medicine, engineering, nursing, etc. as acceptable or best and I obviously didn’t do that. My parents didn’t approve, because which Latinx parent wants to answer the question of “what does your child do?” “Oh, she teaches Sex Ed and helps people get abortions”?! However, I did it anyways. I dealt with their disapproval and shame for a while, with protestors at previous jobs, and still occasionally a few trolls here and there (but it comes with the internet territory), but it doesn’t bother me anymore. What matters most to me is my community; without them, Dirty South Sex Ed would not exist.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I lead the abortion access work and am the sexual health educator at Jane’s Due Process. I am extremely proud of what I do because there is no job like it. I always tell folks it’s a very niche position and I love talking about it. I am basically the only person in the state that manages judicial bypass cases for teens. I’m really proud that I get to do something extremely radical.
Dirty South Sex Ed is the passion project that blew up. The state of sex education in Texas is unfortunately subpar and marginalized communities suffer the most as a result, therefore this platform has been tremendously welcomed. People truly have been yearning for it.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Oh, so many folks to name! My entire community has been there for me through all my ups and downs. I always say that I was blessed with the best friends in the entire world honestly. The first person who I love so, so much is my friend and mentor (she worked at Jane’s Due Process before me). Her dedication and compassion constantly inspires and motivates me.And of course, every single person I have the honor of working with at Jane’s Due Process. They are amazing and experts at what they do.
Contact Info:
- Email: irmalgarcia@sbcglobal.net
- Instagram: @sexedwithirma
Image Credits
Riley Reed, Woke Beauty (two photos that have the nature background).
