Call for Grant Proposals on Race and Sexuality - Center for Positive Sexuality

The Center for Positive Sexuality is pleased to announce a call for submissions for four small grants to support research on race and sexuality. 

Race and sexuality are intricately connected, as are so many other aspects of our individual identities. To ignore the impact and experience of race in sexuality research is to forget a crucial element of our identities - and the harm that comes from this ignorance disproportionately affects people of color, particularly women, gender non-conforming people, and trans people of color.

We recognize here that positive sexuality research must include non-white participants and communities, and that work that centers people of color is particularly important. Throughout US history white supremacist infrastructure and power have systematically deprived people of color, particularly Black people, of access to just, affirming, and comprehensive sexual health resources, leading to many disparities by race. In addition, people of different races and cultures have diverse, unique, joyful, and humanizing experiences with sexuality that are equally deserving of scholarship and recognition. Therefore, to do justice to issues of sexuality we must talk about race and we must center the voices of people of color in this work.

Thanks to generous donations from Jasmin.com and Dr. James Elias, we are proud to offer research funding for external projects for the first time. This year we will dedicate these funds to work on positive sexuality that centers Black people, indigenous people, and other communities of color. We have four $1,000 grants available. Proposals that center Black sexuality are especially welcome.

To support equity in positive sexuality research, grant funds can be used for anything that makes the research possible, including research and living expenses, travel, and/or other necessary expenses.

Criteria for Submission

The Center for Positive Sexuality approaches our work through a framework called the 8 Dimensions of Positive Sexuality. You can read more about this model in our article, Introducing a Multidisciplinary Framework of Positive Sexuality (Williams et al., 2015). The key components of this model are that:

(a) “positive” refers to strengths, wellbeing, and happiness;

(b) multiple disciplines and methods to understand sexuality are welcomed; 

(c) individual sexuality is unique and multi-faceted; 

(d) application of professional ethics is necessary; 

(e) open and honest communication is necessary; 

(f) positive sexuality is humanizing and inclusive; 

(g) positive sexuality encourages peacemaking; and 

(h) it has applications across multiple levels of social structure. 

A brief (3 page maximum) proposal is required explaining the proposed research, a timeframe for its completion, and how it relates to one or more of the 8 Dimensions of Positive Sexuality. Applicants must also submit a proposed budget and a resume or curriculum vitae. 

Proposals will be evaluated by the Board of Directors based on the following criteria: 1) quality and feasibility of work proposed, 2) centrality of research on communities of color; 3) connection of research to one or more of the Dimensions of Positive Sexuality, and 4) potential for impact on communities of color.

Who Can Apply?

Proposals are welcomed from researchers at any level, including community members unaffiliated with academic institutions, and anyone can apply. We welcome submissions from new researchers without a publication record. Researchers from marginalized communities are especially encouraged to apply; please feel free to comment on your identities and how they relate to the work you are proposing.

What CPS Will Provide

  • Grant funding

  • Timely and clear communication

  • Research support from one or more of our volunteer Research Assistants (as available)

  • Promotion of your work via our website and social media

  • For projects that require IRB approval, assistance is available via our collaboration with the CARAS IRB

  • Option to submit for publication in the Journal of Positive Sexuality

Responsibilities of Grantees

Recipients of grants will be expected to:

  • Use funding in a manner congruent with what was proposed in the budget

  • Provide photos and biographies to help us promote your work

  • Check in with CPS about progress of your research, and how we can help

  • Public acknowledgment of funding from the Center for Positive Sexuality


Submissions

Proposal submissions are due by August 1, 2020. Please email the following to amanda@positivesexuality.org in a single collated PDF:

  • A brief (3 page maximum; single-spaced) proposal, including:

    • Explanation of proposed research 

    • timeframe for project completion

    • Explanation of how proposed work relates to one or more of the 8 Dimensions of Positive Sexuality (see above)

  • Proposed budget

  • Applicant’s resume or curriculum vitae

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