57 Sex Surrogacy

Sex surrogacy is a therapeutic approach that involves a trained professional engaging in sexual activities with a client with the goal of helping the client to overcome sexual difficulties or improve their sexual functioning. In some cases, this may involve clients with disabilities who are seeking to improve their sexual experiences or increase their sexual confidence.  The legality of sex surrogacy varies by country and sub-national jurisdiction. In Canada, sex surrogacy is considered to be a controversial and unregulated field, but in the Netherlands, for example, sex surrogacy is recognized as a legitimate therapeutic practice and may be covered by health insurance.^[1]  Flekszorg and Stichting Alternatie Relatiebemiddeling are both non-profit foundations, collectively providing sex surrogacy to a few thousand clients annually.  There are other smaller organizations that provide these services, ranging from expensive private billing to publicly subsidized options. The issue is obviously not without controversy, with issues of informed consent sometimes being muddied with respect to adults with intellectual disabilities.  Attitudes toward prostitution complicate the issue as well, whether from feminist or conservative perspectives. Journalist Marguerite Ward notes, “I don’t want a world where it’s easier for disabled people to visit sex workers, I want a world that sees disabled people as sexual and valid prospective partners.”^[2]

Closer to home, the Disability Action Hall has teamed up with Centre for Sexuality to create the initiative Right to Love, which acknowledges that persons with disabilities are sexual beings, and promotes healthy choices about love, relationships, and sexual health.^[3]  One of the Right to Love group’s major victories was a ten year campaign to amend the Government of Alberta’s Vital Statistics and Life Events Modernization Act (Bill 29) for represented adults to marry without using a doctor’s note.^[4] Much of this work is now being championed by the Centre for Sexuality, as well as supporting the acknowledgement of intersectionality for people who identify as queer and disabled.^[5]

To learn about the Centre for Sexuality educational courses, webinars, training and counselling for all ages, refer to Appendix C: Resources.