"Today," Ghanima said after everyone had arrived. "We're going to discuss a topic that tends to be near and dear to many of the residents of the island, and one of the things that can be most disconcerting to those not from this era or planet. We're going to discuss genders and sexuality."

"Which may be much less simple than you've been accustomed to," Tahiri picked up, and her calm expression belied how much effort it took to not die on the spot covering this subject with Mara in the class. "Some of you won't need this -- maybe you're taking Mr. Barton's class, or you've learned about the subject before. Some of you might feel pretty awkward about it -- I know I definitely did -- but well . . . you're teenagers. It's a subject that's going to be a little tricky to avoid given your surroundings. So we just want to make sure you're prepared to deal with it, at whatever your comfort level is."

"Biology, on this planet, tends to be fairly straightforward," Ghanima said briskly, keeping her tone and mannerisms utterly professional to provide clinical comfort to her students (and co-teacher). "Generally speaking, humans here tend to be born with either male or female reproductive organs, although intersex personages do occur in all populations. A human's sexual characteristics, however, do not define a person's gender."

"Gender is a person's self representation as male or female -- or somewhere in between or fluid -- or how that person is responded to by social institutions based on the individual's gender presentation. 'Gender' as a term can also refer to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women, and 'masculine' and 'feminine' are often considered gender categories." Ghanima rolled her eyes. "I still do not understand Earth's 'gender roles,' even after almost a decade of teaching here, which I shall firmly blame on your patriarchal society. The ingrained cultural misogyny is utterly baffling on the best of days. Gender is a social construct and contract, not the bits you were born with."

Tahiri had crossed her arms to listen, and was grinning by the time it was her turn to speak again. "I really can't put it any better than that," she said. The grin subsided somewhat, and there was a touch of vehemence in her words when she went on, "Short version: no one else gets to make the call on your identity. Now, as for sexuality, that may or may not be related to gender, and let's just be clear here: not everyone experiences sexual attraction the same way, or to the same degree, and that's fine."

"You can experience sexual attraction to the opposite gender, to your own gender, to your own gender and other genders, or no one at all," Ghanima continued calmly. "This is all perfectly normal. You may experience romantic attraction in the same way, or in a different manner than sexual attraction -- sex and emotional intimacy are completely different things for some people, and that is also normal and healthy for some people. Everyone is different, I cannot stress that enough."

"In regards to being physically intimate: the first thing to keep in mind is that it is always your choice what you do at this school," Ghanima said firmly. "With whom, or when, and even if. Consent is key, as is safety, and you must never feel pressured by your classmates, your partners, or your family."

Tahiri cleared her throat, and if she just happened to not be making eye contact with the students at all, that was a coincidence. "Tying into the consent issue . . . it's also supposed to be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Doesn't matter if it's a serious relationship or just for fun. And if you're ever uncomfortable at any point, you have every right to stop."

"Anyone who says otherwise to any of that, can come speak to me." Ghanima, that smile probably isn't actually reassuring. "Consent also brings up a topic we discussed earlier: the gremlins. Any time someone appears to not be their proper selves, it behooves you to demure any advances. If they mean it, they will offer again at another date." Her smile deepened, suddenly, looking much less serious than moments before. "Even if their proposal for the evening is hilarious and perfect, give it forty-eight hours if they're acting truly strange. By respecting their autonomy and them as human beings, it's a good start to any relationship; platonic, romantic, or sexual."

[OOC: OCD up!]