February letter 2026

Through my window I see a mixture of snow and rain falling almost vertically from the sky. It is time for rubber footwear to step safely into the mudlike mixture of snow, water and pollution. Winking though the falling drops and crystals is the sun, white snow is coloured in yellow. The times of light are imminent, and that may ignite some lights within us.

In a metaphorical sense, we have seen dark times in the landscapes of sex and gender. This darkness has been impenetrable for many. Dark forces of anti- sexuality and anti-diversity have stolen the light from sex and diversity loving minds. The same dark forces have forced content down into these monthly letters, – may it come to an end.

Sexology is alive, organizations that work professionally with sex and gender are alive and EFS is alive. We the EFS, are alive to the extent that we are coming up with our next congress number 18 in the row of biannual gatherings. It is about three and one half months away. Cue words are Sexuality, Society and science: Evidence and facts. The early bird option for attendance is open until March 1^st.

As the story goes, the American twin propeller aircraft DC3, that was first airborne 22. desember 1935, proved to be able to carry more cargo than a priory estimated by science. In that case fact triumphed science.

We who work clinically in the fields of sex and gender, have over decades and generations observed facts that science miss the means to replicate. At the same time science have solved challenges that divergent facts could not assemble into lasting truths. At the same time, we see that lasting truths at times expire.

We are constantly enlightened, constantly reminded of our shortcomings, and that can inspire us to be humble and careful as to what we take for granted.

A sexological congress is a melting pot of science, evidence, facts, personal experiences, encounters with a diversity of human expressions and person to person relations in the mingling areas.

Ideas are born, insights affirmed, doubts displayed and friendships both built and strengthened. To my experience, these congresses shed light, love and amazement, gifts to bring back home.

Societies deliver the needs for sexological competence. This is not necessarily conveyed by the societies’ officisials, rather by people with wishes and needs in the worlds of sex and gender.

Many wishes and needs are not acknowledged by societies at large, and that makes it even more crucial to bring forward through science, evidence and facts.

There is light even in the most hidden corners of minds and of societies. The overwhelming majority of us are sexual in one way or the other, the overwhelming majority of us experience gender in one way of the other. Good and lasting societies open space for this vast plurality within the human state. Our mission as insiders, is to shed light where there is darkness, ignorance, discrimination and coercion.

Sometimes it feels like stepping into cold and ugly mud. My advice is, in the most efficient metaphorical way, to put on some heavy rubber footwear and step into it.

We have such a bright and loving light to share.

Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad

President EFS