Las Vegas is known for quickie weddings — and not just between humans.
On April 22, members of the growing ecosexuality movement will host a Marriage to the Earth ceremony during the UNLV Earth Day Fair.
Sociologist Jennifer Reed — a UNLV instructor/Ph.D. candidate who has been researching ecosexuality for nearly a decade and will officiate the ceremony — is available for interviews about the movement leading up to and on the day of the event.
The most common definition of an ecosexual is an environmentally conscious person whose adherence to green living extends to their romantic life. The branch of the movement that popularized it is sometimes called “sexecology,” in reference to its intersection between ecology and sexology.
According to Reed:
- The term “ecosexual” first appeared in the late 90s/early 2000s on the dating profiles of environmentalists seeking like-minded romantic matches. Around the same time, the term began gaining traction in association with the “greening” of the sex toy industry, in which manufacturers began using diposable, environmentally-friendly materials to create lube and toys that previously hadn’t been subject to health regulations due to their status as novelty items.
- While some ecosexuals express an element of eroticism about nature, such as enjoyment of hikes or swimming in the ocean or texture/smell of plants, the main goal is to provide diverse groups with a fun way to engage on the topic of environmental conservation.
“Human beings are a part of nature, not separate from it. A lot of environmental destruction happens because we’re seen as being dominant over the earth or we expect the earth to take care of us,” Reed says. “The ecosexual movement moves to reframe our relationship to the earth as an equal partnership.” - Circa 2008, performance artists began popularizing the ecosexuality movement through a series of public mass wedding ceremonies to nature elements intended to draw attention to specific themes such as coal mining or water conservation.
The Marriage to the Earth ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Monday, April 22 at Pida Plaza on UNLV’s main campus. Visuals include photo stations with "wedding wreaths" decorated for oceans, mountains, and deserts with wording saying "Just Married XXX (choice of the Ocean, the Desert, or the Mountains) #EarthDay2019," and a wedding trellis with the Pledge Allegiance to the Earth as the backdrop. The wedding booth will also have copies of vows to marry the earth for the ceremony.
Media interested in scheduling interviews with UNLV sociology instructor Jennifer Reed should contact UNLV Media Relations at [email protected] or 702-895-3102.
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