Sexologist and sex therapist Dr Giriraj Ramnanan, called Dr “Raj” by most, is set to open a museum on the history of sex on June 23, and he is hoping to have at least 5,000 visitors between then and the end of the year. Entitled the Trini Erotic Museum, the gallery will cater strictly to people 18 years and over.
Ramnanan said the museum, the first of its kind to be set up in the Caribbean and in a third-world country, would educate the public on the origins and records of sex.
“In all developed countries there are museums. There are about 20 of these museums throughout the world. No third-world country has anything like this.
“What the museum will be dealing with is different ancient artefacts, manuscripts, photographs, carvings, printings from way back until now. It also has to do with the era of porn, how it has developed over the last 100 years or so with the advent of the movie camera, also education on STIs which is an important part of the museum. So the museum is really to give a lot of information. We have a lot of books that were donated, we have a library.”
Ramnanan’s library has over 1,000 books from a major collector, and other items in the museum came from the company from which he sources most of his usual goods and from his travels. He would also like people who have artefacts, tapestry, photos etc at home, and artists such as Carnival bandleaders to donate temporarily or permanently, and anonymously if they wish.
He felt a museum is important, as people in this country have access and are exposed to materials of a sexual nature that are not educational in themselves. People lack knowledge of the history of sex, he said.
“For example, the meaning of the Kama Sutra (popular ancient Indian text on sexual technique, human sexual behaviour, and love) is instruction in love, but people believe its main function is to talk about various positions,” he pointed out.
“Sex is not only about fornication, there’s a history attached to it. If you think about the history of mankind, it is the history of sex because mankind came about because of sex,” Ramnanan said.
The museum, where people pay an entry fee, will not only present histories but explain the sexual connotations of items on exhibit. While some explanations presented may spark controversial debate, Ramnanan said he would be ready to provide substantial evidence and data. His intention, he said, is not to insult any race or religion.
A sculpture on display at the sex museum to be launched by Dr Giriraj “Dr Raj” Ramnanan.
He said the museum, located on Samford Road near the Piarco airport, was also meant to entertain.
“The entertainment aspect is seeing something you have never seen in your life,” he said.
Suggesting other benefits of the museum, Ramnanan explained that since curiosity drives tourism, the museum would appeal to some tourists coming to Trinidad, thereby generating foreign exchange, it would create employment and adult students pursuing related courses could take advantage of having excursions to the museum.
He said his following in the Caribbean, for example, may wish to see what such a museum in Trinidad and Tobago holds or those who come for other activities like cricket or Carnival may make the museum one of their stops. He added that others who do not have such liberties in their own countries may visit the museum here.
“Everybody likes sex in one form or the other. Some persons are shy about it and some persons are very open about it,” he said.
Across countries, religion, laws and social norms influence how willing people are to discuss issues related to sex. Researchers rank Sweden as the most open and liberal in terms of attitudes about sex. Studies indicate that Scandinavian students are more tolerant of premarital sex than North American students (Grose, 2007). Data involving 37 countries showed that non-Western societies like China, Iran, and India “valued chastity highly in a potential mate,” while Western European countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Sweden “placed little value on prior sexual experiences” (Buss, 1989).
In Sweden, sex education is part of the school system, beginning around age six, and there are few restrictions on sexual images in the media.
Some researchers see the country’s openness about sex as having a positive effect on rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease that are among the world’s lowest (Grose, 2007).
Despite the conservative nature of some countries, when it comes to having museums with sexual themes, there are listings for Amsterdam in the Netherlands, New York, Las Vegas, Italy, Russia, Japan, and China. There is also a one-room display in India set up to educate on sexual health in response to a surge in HIV/Aids cases in 2002 and numerous artefacts and material on the theme can be found throughout Africa, Ramnanan said.
Erotic Love Poems of Greece and Rome.
Museums aim to collect, preserve, interpret, and display objects of artistic, cultural, or scientific significance in order to educate and entertain the public. They are meant to show every aspect of life and culture, and people usually visit museums to find out about how people lived in the past because they are curious about the country they are visiting or to enjoy culture and art.
In the Netherlands, there are two sex museums–The Temple of Venus in Amsterdam, the world’s first and oldest started in 1985, and Red Light Secrets. The Temple of Venus explores sensual love through the ages and is said to bring displays together in an organised, tasteful and interesting way.
The Museum of Sex in New York focuses on “the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality.” It contains galleries, artefacts, reading materials, games, and rides. Exhibits are presented in an educational format but sometimes display explicit content.
Some people question the purpose of such museums, while others raise strong opposition. When founder Daniel Gluck was planning the Museum of Sex, the New York State Board of Regents rejected its application for non-profit status, claiming that the idea of a “museum of sex” made “a mockery” of the concept of museums. They were other objections from religious leaders pointing out diseases resulting from promiscuity, but there has been no religious opposition following its 2002 opening.
Though the topic of sex remains taboo in Trinidad and Tobago, Ramnanan felt this country was the most “open” in the Caribbean when it came to matters of sex. This could be because of the diversity of the people, who are generally more tolerant of each other and other things in general, he offered.
Ramnanan, who is a certified sexologist and sex therapist, also believes he has made some inroads in this area by educating the public through his radio programme “Sexplosion” for 19 years, which ended with the advent of COVID, and through television programmes on most local channels for 20 years. He has also done various lectures and appearances and has been a pioneer in establishing businesses related to sexual health and entertainment.
The copy of the Kama Sutra brought from India by Dr Giriraj “Dr Raj” Ramnanan’s forefathers.
Sexologists research and study people’s sexual behaviour and feelings teaching and doing workshops, and advising about problems regarding their clients’ sexual experiences. Sex therapists are licensed mental health professionals who have extensive education and training in counselling on sex and intimacy issues. They also work with other medical and surgical specialists to address the medical causes of sexual issues.
Ramnanan, who shared that he wanted to be involved in teaching others about sex-related issues from a young age, has clinics in St Augustine, Central and south Trinidad and treats males, females and couples with sexual dysfunctions, as well as people who cannot get pregnant who are referred by doctors, psychologists etc.
Locals would be responsive to the museum, he said. His many followers and supporters had already shown an interest.
“I have about 5,000 in various WhatsApp groups. Over 1,000 people responded that they are excited to visit,” he said.
The sex expert, who has had legal disputes with customs in their “interpretation of the law” while importing sex toys, said he has had no legal issues in opening the museum itself.
“I have no issues as it pertains to the laws of Trinidad and Tobago with the police because all my stores are legal, everything that I do is legal. I was investigated by the police for two years when I first started because they couldn’t believe somebody came out so bold and brash about sex. I have not done anything illegal,” Ramnanan said.
He said he would write about topics like sexual dysfunction as a teen and sell it to others, and that he has kept the Kama Sutra his forefathers originally brought from India. His wife, whom he has known for 48 years and married to for 38, is one of the few people who understood his passion for the study of sex education and entertainment, Ramnanan said.