Two Boston University graduate interns believe they’ve concocted the perfect potion to talk to their peers about sexual taboos, simply by adding a dash of Harry Potter to the discussion.
On Thursday, as part of a monthlong sexual health and education program called “Frisky February,” Michelle Goode and Jamie Klufts, will step into the world of wizardry for a discussion of consensual intimacy during an event titled “Sex-ed at Hogwarts.”
“A lot of students entering college don’t actually get a foundation in sexual health, so we are going back to the basics, and finding ways to loop in references and scenarios from Harry Potter,” said Klufts, who works with Goode at BU’s Wellness and Prevention Services program.
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The idea for the magical mashup came when Klufts and Goode realized that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling missed an opportunity in her writing to address questions about sex that most students have when in junior high and high school.
“How can you have a school full of wizards and not talk about sex and sexuality?” said Klufts.
Klufts and Goode said they’re planning to cover sex-related topics at the event using every book from the Harry Potter series.
The hour-and-a-half long class will use topics, situations, and even vernacular from the books as examples to discuss topics including responsible drinking, contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases.
“We’re using the references as an opening and avenue to get the conversations started,” said Goode.
Goode said students seem excited to engage in a discussion that destigmatizes sex by relying on familiar characters and storylines.
She said more than 80 people have signed up for the event so far.
Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @steveannear.