LOS ANGELES — Chaturbate wrapped its first annual Health & Wellness Week this past Sunday, closing out a seven-day event featuring "fun, kinky and informative workshops" covering mental, physical and spiritual health, specifically for Chaturbate broadcasters.
"As a community-centric platform, our goal at Chaturbate is to provide our broadcasters with informative and educational resources so they can lead healthy and happy lives. We were very pleased with the turnout and response we got from the Chaturbate community and have decided to make this an annual event,” COO Shirley Lara said.
"The health and wellness of Chaturbate broadcasters is one of our top priorities," she added.
Health & Wellness Week kicked off with a support group for broadcasters, hosted by Pineapple Support therapist Elliott Endre, and ended with "Queer Sex-Ed: LGBTQ+ Sexual Health," moderated by professor and sex educator Angela Jones, PhD.
“It was a pleasure to host Chaturbate’s 'Queer Sex-Ed' workshop during health and wellness week. I am so grateful to have been in conversation with such amazing broadcasters," Jones said. "The open and honest dialogue was both moving and informative. Panelists provided critical information regarding resources and tips for caring for our sexual health as LGBTQIA+ people."
The live events were hosted by Chaturbate from September 20-26; each day featured a different workshop geared toward overall wellness, including "Yoga for Sex," "Cooking for Sex," and "Meditation for the Soul," among others, livestreamed at 12 p.m. (PDT).
"I was overwhelmed by the support and response from the community of broadcasters,” said Jessica O'Reilly, PhD, a sexologist and relationship expert who hosted a "Business of Sex" workshop during Health & Wellness Week.
"These conversations about relationships, mental health and physical well-being are essential across all industries — and especially important in the adult industry where performer voices and needs ought to be amplified," O'Reilly continued. "I feel lucky to have shared space and a microphone with Colby Chambers and Mickey Knox, and Honey and Tom [aka 19Honeysuckle]. Kudos to Chaturbate for prioritizing the relational, mental and physical health of their broadcasters. I feel very lucky to have been a small part of it.”
Chambers and Knox, both Chaturbate broadcasters, praised the week's focused agenda.
"It was refreshing to see an industry leader focus on the models in such a way. In addition to the direct benefits models got from the event, we think stuff like this goes a long way to educate and spread awareness that this is a legitimate profession, made up of living breathing human beings, not just sex bots,” they said in a joint statement.
The panels from Health & Wellness Week are now available on Chaturbate's Vimeo channel; follow the platform on Twitter.