Sex shop owner who serves on school board to host courses on sexual 'pleasure' for kids

A Washington state school board director and owner of a sex store will be holding a sexual education workshop inside her store aimed at children and teens under the age of 18, with the youngest age allowed to attend being just 9 years old.

Jenn Mason is the owner of WinkWink, a sex toy shop in Bellingham, Washington. She also serves as the school board director for Bellingham School District.

Mason will be holding four, three-hour sex education workshops for children in her sex shop.

The workshop, titled "Uncringe Academy," will split these prospective students into two age groups: nine to 12-year-olds, and 13 to 18-year-olds, with workshops being spread out over two days for each age group in August.

According to WinkWink’s website, these "workshops are divided by age and presentation of topics will vary for developmental appropriateness."

Topics covered include "gender and sexual identities," "healthy relationships and relationship models," "sexual anatomy for pleasure and reproduction," "What IS Sex? Kinds of solo and partnered sexual activities," and "safer sex practices for all kinds of sexual activities."

Tickets for the event will be offered on what WinkWink says is a "sliding scale," with the cheapest tickets being $5, and the most expensive being $50.

The shop also offers an all-ages open mic event for "queer youth."

Mason's sex shop offers a class called "non-monogamy for newbies," with the tag line: "New to non-monogamy? Check out our upcoming workshop! This is a perfect class for anyone just considering or newly exploring non-monogamy. Taught by therapist Brandie Lourenco, who has loads of experience working with non-traditional relationship structures."

In an email to Jason Rantz Show on KTTH, Mason defended the class offering, saying the topic of sex is "not generally covered as a main topic in this course except as it relates to consent, communication, and safety."

"The class for 9 to 12 year olds is an introduction to topics related to relationships, puberty, bodies, and sexuality. We focus on what makes healthy vs. unhealthy friendships and romantic relationships, the science of how puberty works, consent and personal boundaries, defining 'sex', and discussing why people may or may not choose to engage in sexual activities," Mason told Rantz.

"This course includes understanding the basics of sexual anatomy, including the names and function of body parts related to reproduction and pleasure. We also cover the basics of biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation," she added.

"While some people think of sex as only being when a penis goes in a vagina, 'sex' can really be any activity that a person does with themselves or others to become aroused," she said. "There’s no such thing as 'real' sex and it’s okay if your definition of sex is different from someone else's."

Rantz noted that these classes are being held in her personal capacity as a small business owner, and that the classes are not associated with the Bellingham School District.

According to the Bellingham Public Schools website, Mason was elected to the school board in 2017, winning her reelection in 2021. Her description on the website lists her as a "small business owner," but does not state the name of her shop.

According to Mason's description on WinkWink's website, she received a sex coaching certification through the Sexology Institute.