This post was updated February 27 at 9:38 a.m.

After a year’s hiatus, Sex Week returned to UCLA Feb. 10.

The annual event devoted to promoting sex positivity on campus was hosted during week six by Sexperts, a committee under the Student Wellness Commission of the Undergraduate Students Association Council working toward educating students on sexual health and wellbeing, and the Health Education and Resource Team (HEART). The week’s events included a Sexperts and Shenanigans comedy show, a drag workshop, a body image workshop, a nutrition workshop, an open mic night and a presentation about decriminalizing sex work.

One main goal of Sex Week is to promote more open conversations regarding sex and give the community a space to openly express themselves, said Marlee Palacios, a co-director of Sexperts.

“For this event, it just means destigmatizing pleasure and destigmatizing having conversations surrounding sex,” said Palacios, a third-year psychology student. “Why can we talk about brushing your teeth, taking a shower and not masturbating?”

Feb. 13, representatives from Sex Workers’ Abortion Navigation Services (SWANS) – a local Los Angeles group that works under the organization Sex Workers Outreach Project Los Angeles and offers financial and emotional support for those seeking an abortion, according to their website – presented about decriminalizing sex work, the future of abortion access and reducing sex work stigmas.

“We felt with everything going on, they would be a great group to work with because this is something that’s really an often overlooked topic,” said Saral Patel, a graduate student in social work and public health and the treasurer for the Reproductive Health Interest Group.

Jennifer Wagman, an associate professor of community health sciences at the Fielding School of Public Health who attended the talk, said events spreading sexual awareness are especially important for college-aged students.

“People between the ages of 18 and 25 have the highest level or prevalence of experiencing sexual violence,” Wagman said.

Following the presentation, representatives from SWANS fielded questions from the audience about performing ethical research about sex workers. Wagman said sex workers often do not get a voice in making many of the policies that impact them.

The final event of the week, a drag show and open mic night, was held in the Northwest Campus Auditorium and hosted by UCLA alumnus and drag queen Lorelei – who did not give their full name. The show was followed by an open mic where students read poetry and performed karaoke.

Lorelei said their time at UCLA gave them opportunities to gain new perspectives and experiences and said it was important to have spaces on campus where students can express themselves.

“I think that having a space for Sex Week and having a space for drag queens and having a space for queer people in general, or just people from all different walks of life, to come together is important,” Lorelei said.

Lorelei, who performed at the event, included their renditions of “Mariners Apartment Complex” by Lana Del Rey, “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga and finished with “Popular” from the musical “Wicked.” The night closed with everyone in the audience dancing on stage and singing “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston.

Finn Kovi, the program manager of HEART, said they helped organize a Drag 101 Workshop that was a precursor to Thursday’s drag show. Kovi said while the goal of Sex Week was to build community and have fun, it was also important to touch on the more serious and political aspects of sex.

“I think it was a great way to frame how to free ourselves a little bit, and how we think about gender and how we’re in queer community,” Kovi said.