School Board Director’s Sex Shop Offers Sex-Ed Classes for 9-Year-Olds
A sex shop in Bellingham, Wash. — owned by the director of the local school board — is hosting a sex-education class for children as young as 9 years old.
Jenn Mason, owner of WinkWink Boutique, is once again running her “Uncringe Academy” program despite previously receiving backlash for the class’s explicit content curriculum for minors.
The program offers two classes — one for 9- to 12-year-olds and another for 13- to 17-year-olds. The courses first gained notoriety in 2022 when eagle-eyed internet users spotted the inclusion of sensitive sexual topics in the program’s public description.
The 2022 course was described as a two-day workshop, covering topics such as “Sexual anatomy for pleasure and reproduction,” “What IS sex? Kinds of solo and partnered sexual activities,” “Safer sex practices for all kinds of sexual activities,” and “The ethics and realities of sexualized media and pornography,” according to an archived version of the WinkWink website.
At the time, the store faced criticism over the curriculum. A store employee told a local news outlet there were 17 voicemails on the store phone when employees arrived at work one morning. Protesters have also gathered outside the store in opposition to the course.
“Our sex education classes are based in empowerment and information, rather than shame, fear, and judgment. We use an accepting, informing, and affirming framework,” WinkWink’s current description of the event reads. “Our focus is helping youth and their families to feel comfortable around these topics so that young people can better advocate for their own bodies, health, and well-being.”
The sex-shop owner, who has also served as the director of the Bellingham school board since 2017, is listed online as the instructor of the sex-education classes. She is described in her board biography as a small business owner who works with nonprofits.
According to web archives reviewed by National Review, the sex shop has since toned down its sexually-explicit curriculum in response to the criticism it received in 2022.
In 2023, the event posting for “Uncringe Academy” did not explicitly describe the curriculum. After clicking on the option to buy a ticket, however, the event description then included more information about the content of the class for 9- to 12-year-olds. Topics included, “What IS sex and why do people have it?” “Sexual anatomy for pleasure & reproduction,” and “Gender & sexual identities,” to name a few.
National Review asked Mason if she changed the curriculum or made the curriculum less public in light of the criticism she received, but she did respond by the time of publication. The school board also did not immediately respond to National Review‘s request for comment.
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On the ad for the classes, which are scheduled to take place on June 23 and 24, WinkWink notes “parents [are] welcome to attend, too,” suggesting parental attendance is not required for classes across both age groups, regardless of the sensitive nature of the curriculum.
WinkWink is a “woman-owned, local & indy, not creepy inclusive sex shop,” according to the boutique’s website. Part of that inclusivity, the website says, is including people of all ages; patrons are only asked for identification to verify age if they are attempting to purchase a product that has legal age requirements.
“It’s probably pretty obvious, but being open to all-ages doesn’t mean young children are shopping with us. In practice, ‘all-ages’ means older teens or seniors!” the website reads. “Consider that just because Home Depot is all-ages, 5-year-olds aren’t showing up in droves to buy chainsaws, just because they can.”
Also in 2022, WinkWink hosted an event called, “Outspoken: Queer Youth Open Mic Night,” which encouraged minors of all ages to attend and perform.
“All queer youth (0 to 18 years old) are invited to share poetry, music, or a story at our open mic night celebrating youth pride!” the event description read.
On Mason’s campaign website for the school board race, she touts her ownership of the sex shop.
“I’ve spent my entire career working for our community’s well-being—for nearly 10 years I provided victim advocacy and consent education in schools—deeply connecting me with student concerns. I’m now a certified sex educator and the owner of WinkWink, where I work to create a safe, inclusive space for all people,” the website says.
Despite offering sex-ed classes for school-aged students, Mason has previously said her shop is not connected with any of the work she does for the school.
Still, her personal beliefs appear to color her administrative decisions. In 2021, she failed to take action after parents in the district complained that a teacher read first-grade students I am Jazz, a book about Jazz Jennings, a boy who transitioned as a child and now acts as an influencer and advocate for transitioning children.
