YNOT – As part of its commitment to providing accurate information about sexuality, Good Vibrations will host the 2012 Sex Summit in San Francisco in October. Featuring authors and educators from many disciplines, the summit will examine the relationship between sex and the media, health, pop culture and politics during a series of panel discussions and keynote presentations.

Author and research scientist Debby Herbenick, award-winning journalist Brian Alexander, and sex therapist and lecturer Marty Klein are among presenters already confirmed to participate in the first-of-its-kind, one-day conference that is expected to attract journalists, academics, sexologists, authors and the public.

“We are eager to see how this phenomenal line-up of thinkers, writers and activists will contextualize the role of sexuality in contemporary culture and politics, especially given the pre-election relevance of these issues,” said Dr. Carol Queen, Good Vibrations’ staff sexologist, chief cultural officer and conference co-curator. “This year more than ever, sex is being used as a political football, and this country needs all the incisive analysis it can get. I am beyond thrilled to be working with these presenters, and it is utterly exceptional to have them all in the same room at the same time.”

Among the primary questions the summit will address is “What can we look forward to in the landscape of sex, and where are we now?” Panels and keynote speeches will explore themes in four tracks: Regulating Pleasure: Sex, Politics and Censorship; Outspoken/Unsaid: Sex and the Media; Pills, Profits and Pleasures: Sexual Health and Pharmaceuticals; and Sexual Stargazing: Sex and Pop Culture.

The conference, part of a festive weekend of sex-positivity that also incorporates the Good Vibrations Independent Erotic Film Festival shorts competition, will take place Oct. 27 at the Marriott Marquis in downtown San Francisco. Following the day’s panel discussions and presentations, attendees may continue the conversation and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of San Francisco at a hosted cocktail reception in the hotel’s bar and lounge from 6-9 p.m.

For more about the summit and to register, visit GoodVibesSexSummit.com.