Papa Bear - Sexual Health Educator and Advocate for Marginalized Sexualities

The Sanctuary

Papa started in Public Health as a volunteer HIV and STI tester, counsellor and PrEP navigator at an outreach centre in the heart of downtown Denver, CO around fifteen years ago. He quickly became known as a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people, and people that practiced alternative sexualities such as non-monogamy and BDSM/Kink.

Throughout his career Papa Bear has worked in HIV and STI Prevention for AIDS Service Organizations and Federally Qualified Health Centers, managed a State Health Department's HIV prevention program, and is currently contracted by the CDC to provide Capacity Building Assistance and education to health departments, medical providers, outreach workers, and other HIV and STI stakeholders across the country.

He was honoured to present on the unique sexual healthcare needs of people who practice BDSM/Kink to the public health community at an international conference in Washington D.C. in 2023 and 2024.

Papa Bear has made it his personal mission to bring sex-positive, stigma-free, sexual health education to the BDSM/Kink Community as well as other often overlooked minority sexual communities while also being a political advocate protecting our right to be who we are.