Favorite Figure: Sinclair Sexsmith
The reason I chose Sinclair Sexsmith as one of my favorite figures is threefold:
First of all, it was through my avid devouring of Sinclair’s original erotica that really inspired me to question and push the boundaries of my own sexuality, and explore many things, including an asymmetric balance of power. The erotica that they write, as well as the collections that they edit, have inspired some intrigue in things that I had previously not considered.
Second, Sinclair Sexsmith has a deep knowledge of so many topics, and can eloquently and enthusiastically speak to a broad range of sexuality. First of all, Sinclair has a masculine-of-center identity, and lives a personal definition of butch identity. They are a top, and can speak to many BDSM practices, and is constantly exploring their boundaries with their partners, including an asymmetrical balance of power and impact play. In the Sugarbutch Chronicles, Sinclair’s blog, they boldly share deep thoughts about how difficult some explorations are. Opening up their relationship and sharing every raw difficulty and wonderful joy for anonymous readers to learn from is a wonderful skill that I appreciate very much.
And finally, meeting Sinclair (see below) and seeing them lecture and perform in person was pivotal in the development in my queer identity, and I began to have a deeper understanding of the identity and roles I wanted to possess, as well as what roles and identities I am attracted to.
Happy Birthday Betty Dodson!
Betty Dodson is one of the founders of the Sex Positive Feminist movement. She is an advocate of masturbation, and I absolutely adore her power, her enthusiasm and her refusal to be censored or ignored. She has published Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving and Orgasms for Two: The Joy of Partnersex. She’s also a sex therapist, sex educator, produced several films and appeared in several documentaries.
Happy Birthday Betty!
If we could grow up knowing that the genitals are beautiful parts of our bodies, we’d be proud, we wouldn’t have shame, we wouldn’t have sexual guilt. - Betty Dodson
Other Favorite Figures:
Clarisse Thorn
Favorite Figure: Clarisse Thorn
Clarisse Thorn is a Chicago-based sex-positive writer and activist. She was honored last year as one of SlutWalk Chicago’s Sex Positive Chicagoans, which held this bio below:
She’s a writer that has published a number of sexuality-related articles online. Her main blog is at clarissethorn.com, plus she writes a sex and gender blog with Time Out Chicago. She recently published a book called Confessions of a Pickup Artist Chaser. From the description:
She spent years researching pickup artists. She observed their discussions, watched them in action, and learned their strategies. In Confessions of a Pickup Artist Chaser, Clarisse tells the story of her time among these Casanovas, as well as her own unorthodox experiences with sex and relationships. She examines the conflicts and harmonies of feminism, pickup artistry, and the S&M community. Most of all, she deconstructs and reconstructs our views on sex, love, and ethics — and develops her own grand theory of the game.
Another notable project is that she co-created the Sex+++ Sex-Positive Documentary Film Series at Jane Addams Hull-House Museum. Every second Tuesday of the month, they show a documentary about sexuality and host a discussion afterwards. There have been films about everything from BDSM, to gay parenting, to butch lesbians of color, to sex worker activist organizing.
Some of Clarisse’s Links:
Sex+++ Film Series Facebook page
ClarisseThorn.com
Clarisse on Twitter
jessicavalenti:
My documentary with the Media Education Foundation on The Purity Myth is coming out soon! Check out page nine in their latest catalog…
I am so excited to see how this documentary enlightens a larger audience than the book has been able to!
tristantaormino:
I feel so overwhelmed with gratitude at the amazing people who’ve endorsed Take Me There. Wow, just wow.
“Take Me There is a smokin’ hot sampling of sassy smart smut that took me where I’d never been before in print—this is the most gender-diverse erotica collection I’ve ever seen anywhere.”
—Susan Stryker, Ph.D. Director, Institute for LGBT Studies, University of Arizona
“Finally, a book that has something for everyone whose gender and sexual fantasies don’t fit into the usual boxes. I loved it. WOOF!!”
—Buck Angel® Pioneering Filmmaker, Educator, and Advocate
“As someone who is androgynous-identified, it feels positively monumental to hold in my hands an erotica anthology where trans* desire is not the token, but the topic! In making our desires visible—within our own communities and beyond—our gender expressions, our fantasies, our very lives are made real. Take Me There brings us HERE.”
—Jiz Lee, GenderQueer Porn Star
“There are multiple theories of desire out there; many histories of sexuality; lots of studies of sexual practices, but, until now, there were few accounts, fictional or otherwise of the multiple ways that queer people eroticize gender variant bodies. This collection is hot and steamy, boiling with new lust, bubbling with new languages of desire, new ways of naming the body, different modes of telling each other “I want you.” Ask what you need from this book, it will take you there. I promise.”
—Jack Halberstam, author of Female Masculinity
“Finally, a satisfying resource that more of us can offer, with a sly smile, when they ask us what exactly we *do* with one another.”
—Scott Turner Schofield, author of Two Truths and a Lie
Ahh so much love for Tristan Taormino, this sounds simply fabulous!
