April 8, 2003
Contact: Jeremy Johnson (509-929-1817/e-mail: cwu_bsm@elltel.net)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Gene McConnell, a recovered sex addict, and
Kimberly Drake, a former stripper, will present “The Power of Porn,”
at Central Washington University's Samuelson Union Building Cesar
Chavez Theatre on Wednesday, April 9. The free, public presentation is
slated for 8 p.m.
“The presentation is more than just an expose about pornography and
the sex industry,” Jeremy Johnson, director of Baptist Student
Ministries for CWU, says. “It integrates the stories of a former
stripper and a recovered sex addict and provides insight into one of
the fastest growing and most destructive addictions in America.”
During the presentation, McConnell will discuss how pornography and
sexual addiction impacted his life, family and career, while Drake will
address images of beauty and sexuality in American society.
They have been speaking at universities across the country about the
influence of pornography in everyday lives.
“People are often unaware of their longing to experience relationships
through healthy connections,” McConnell says. “Those that are aware of
their hunger often don’t know how to find or create it. Today’s young
people are being lured into making poor choices that lead to addictive
and destructive lifestyles."
McConnell, founder and president of Authentic Relationships
International, is a nationally-known expert on the issues of
pornography, sexual addiction and abuse. He has developed programs to
address these issues, which he has used to lead accountability and
shame reduction support groups for the last 13 years. In addition, he
has served as trainer for therapists, hospital workers, pastors and law
enforcement officers on sexual addiction and recovery.
The CWU presentation of the Power of Porn is sponsored by the
university student organization SALSA (Students Actively Looking for
Spiritual Awakening). For more information, or for persons of
disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509)
929-1817, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.
