Sex Positivity - Degrees of Activism
I consider myself to be a sex positive person. I am accepting of other sexual and gender orientations. I respect that my kink may not be your kink, and vice versa. I am open to the notion that there are many different sorts of relationships and families.
Back in the early 1980s, I volunteered briefly for Planned Parenthood. I wrote letters to the editor. I joined and volunteered at the women's resource centre at my local university. I dabbled in different sorts of sexual activity when I was young to broaden my own horizons. I read gay fiction, bought Play Girl magazine, bought my first corset, bought my first tube of lubricant and thanks to the invention of the VCR was introduced to porn.
Over the years, I supported friends and loved ones to be themselves. Soon my own comfort levels were pushed to the limit as a loved one came to terms with her gender issues. I had a chance to discover whether I loved someone for her gender presentation or for who she really is. I also learned what it was to part of a same sex couple in small town Canada.
I joined the local Gays and Lesbians for Equality (that was before Bisexuality and Transgenderism registered in the name). I attended meetings and reached out to others. I wanted to be an activist as the lack of services and discrimination my loved one was encountering was unacceptable. I made the issues the subjects of my academic course work at the time, which brought my activism into my work place. I did extensive internet research. I did education sessions for medical and mental health staff. I coached the mental health team and got consumers involved. I helped develop educational brochures for individuals, their families and their health care providers. I opened the doors of my home to folks who needed someone to talk to at midnight.
Fast forward to last year when I finally stepped out of the kinky closet. I joined Fetlife. I finally went to a munch. Then I went to another and so on. I've met other kinksters for coffee. I "came out" to my partner. Eventually I did a couple of informal presentations at a small, local Unconference on “Coming out as kinky” and “Subspace 101.” I started this blog.
I admire folks who have found a way to earn a living in a manner that is consistent with being sex positive, whether through blogging, writing, presenting, educating, researching, selling sex toys, erotic jewellery or some combination of the above. One of these days, I hope to be in a similar position and am actively working towards that goal. And the beauty of the internet is it is simple to find example of others out there from which to draw inspiration and ideas.
Yesterday I discovered a charismatic and interesting individual who is extremely sex positive, and describes himself as an artist, author, educator, gender explorer, artist and shaman. Lee Harrington is living proof to me that activism, passion, creativity and spirituality can come together in an amazing way. Rather than spoil your own process of discovery, I encourage you to check out his website and listen to one of the podcasts. Visually the web site is interesting and easy to navigate, but you need to hear his voice to really appreciate his passion, energy, ideas and down to earth approach. Check him out at: http://passionandsoul.com/
In closing, I challenge you to consider how you can be more sex positive and leave you with the following suggestions:
1. Get on Twitter and follow sex positive individuals and organizations. Re-tweet sex positive information and messages to your own contacts.
2. Support local activist groups by donating to fund raisers or donating your time.
3. Support sex positive bloggers by promoting their blogs. Tell your friends. If you can and the option is there, make a small monetary donation to your favourite blogger. If they have books for sale, check those out. If they have relevant content ads posted, check those out. Help them to keep doing what they do.
4. Join a local activist or online group and participate in your local alternative sexuality community
5. Support recognition campaigns like World AIDS day, Pride Day/Week celebrations, etc.
6. Find out what political candidates think, for example, around discrimination, sex education, inclusivity, etc. before you vote them in office.
7. Educate yourself! Join helpful websites like SexLifeCanada. Learn about the issues and tell others.
8. Participate in work place, school or community initiatives that promote inclusiveness of LGBTQ, sex education, tolerance, etc. "Walk the talk" in your own day to day life.
There are degrees of activism open these days like never before. Figure out what works for you - then do it!
This is post #117 on From Beneath the Rose