Our Story

Speak About it was founded by students, for students.

“In 2009, it felt like nobody was talking about consent in a way that even mentioned healthy sexuality or pleasure. We wanted to change that.”

-Shane Diamond, Founder

Flash back to 2009: the hit songs of the year were “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus and “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas, and on the Bowdoin College campus in Brunswick, Maine, students were starting to speak up about sex, consent, and sexual assault. A group of passionate students felt that a drastic culture shift was in order. They realized that nobody had ever spoken to them about how to have healthy relationships, what good sex should look and feel like, and how to have agency over their own bodies. The conversations, if any, that were happening were rooted in fear- focused entirely on what could go wrong instead of what could go right. From this dialogue, an idea sparked, and the seeds for Speak About It were planted! Our first program, a five person theatrical performance, was a hit. First-year students, as well as faculty, staff, and student leaders loved Speak About It. They were moved, they learned something, they laughed. They wanted to speak about it with us and were inspired to make change. We’re happy to say, almost 15 years later, we still get this kind of reception on campuses! Our relatable, shame-free approach caught on, and in 2012 under the guidance and vision of founding Executive Director, Shane Diamond, we incorporated into a non-profit to meet a growing need for inclusive consent education not just in Brunswick, Maine, but across the country. What started as a one-time performance about sex and assault prevention on the Bowdoin Campus has grown into a leading expert in the field of consent education. Since our inception, we have worked with over 650,000 students and adults across the United States.

As our reach grew, Speak About It began offering student leader trainings and discussions alongside the show, to supplement the concepts we introduced. Students were telling us that they loved what they were learning, and to our surprise, they wanted to keep the conversation going. Our shame-free, pleasure focused approach offered a brand new perspective to sex-ed, and we began developing new ways to break the mold. We knew first hand that the kind of sex-ed that students received (if any at all) was often fear-based, outdated, and not inclusive of the LGBTQ+ experience or gender expansive identities. How could we expect young adults to navigate sex and relationships safely and successfully if no one would be real with them about what that takes? Understanding consent is just one part of the equation. To deepen our impact, and expand the reach of our work, we developed more in-depth, conversational workshops on flirting, power dynamics, party culture, identity, and bystander intervention. The introduction of these programs into our framework has helped to ensure that we can “Speak About It” with students and community members of all ages: from teaching middle school students about setting and respecting boundaries, getting real with college students about the impacts of alcohol and sex, to working with retirement facilities and bars and restaurants to help them create a culture of consent in their communities. 

Over the last 15 years, Speak About It has remained true to our roots. The ethos of our “by students for students” origin is palpable in our work, even as we grow and evolve. Our programs are updated annually with feedback from students, and our near-peer approach to education ensures that the young people we serve truly see themselves reflected in our programs. Our strong identity and unique approach has garnered us wide reaching recognition and accolades, and we are proud to have been invited to present as keynote speakers and workshop facilitators at national conferences in the field of sex education, including Ted X Dirigo, Meeting of the Minds, and the National Sex Ed Conference. Our commitment to providing relevant, inclusive, and impactful programs has strengthened our role as a trusted resource for students, educators, and communities across the country. As we approach our 15th year, we’re looking bravely into the future, committed to evolving with the needs of a new generation. Speak About It is excited to continue advocating for a world where healthy relationships and respect is the norm for all!