Vulva Gala: LA Artists Parade Handmade Vulva Costumes in Church
The second Vulva Gala took place on August 15 at the First Congregational Church in Long Beach, California, attracting an audience of 400 and featuring 30 artists adorned in hand-stitched vulva costumes. Organized by the School of Sexuality Project, the event presented anatomical models that explored themes of body, identity, health, and religion, including a work that criticized ICE's treatment of pregnant women. Founded by Bridgett Khoury in 2020, the initiative seeks to enhance sex education through art and community engagement. This year, artists received their models in February to convey personal narratives about the influence of religion on perceptions of body and sexuality. Khoury intends to grow the gala next year and auction costumes to support future initiatives due to financial constraints from funding cuts.
Key facts
- Second Vulva Gala held on August 15 at First Congregational Church in Long Beach, California.
- Approximately 30 artists from Los Angeles paraded in handmade vulva costumes.
- Event created by School of Sexuality Project, founded by Bridgett Khoury in 2020.
- Around 400 people attended the gala.
- Costumes included piercings, religious references, and protest messages, including one against ICE violence.
- Khoury's father hand-sews the anatomical models in various skin tones and shapes.
- Works distributed in February; artists transformed blank canvases into personal narratives.
- Plans to expand gala next year and hold versions in other US cities, including Washington, DC.
- Costumes to be exhibited and auctioned to fund future activities.
- Trump administration changes to Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program cut funding for non-abstinence-only sex education.
Entities
Artists
- Bridgett Khoury
Institutions
- School of Sexuality Project
- First Congregational Church
Locations
- Long Beach
- California
- Los Angeles
- Washington, DC
- United States
Sources
- Dasartes —