It was a beautiful evening in June when we walked NYC’s High Line with Figleaf of Real Adult Sex discussing our ideas for a new sexuality conference.  Diva and I had been mulling it  over ourselves for a while, motivated and inspired by Amber Rhea’s Sex 2.0 and the Sex in America panel at NYC’s Open Center.  We knew we were close but had not quite nailed down what our concept would be and how to combine these two amazing events.  When Figleaf suggested what was missing was relationships, all the pieces came together.  After all sexuality and feminism don’t exist in a vacuum but amid a myriad of relationships.  And so, Tied Up Events is  now happy to announce MOMENTUM: Making Waves in Sexuality, Feminism and Relationships Through New Media, a conference taking place on April 1st to April 3rd, 2011 in Washington, DC.

MOMENTUM explores how the phenomenal growth of online communication has given rise to an amazing amount of sharing, learning and experimenting with different expressions of sexuality, relationships and feminism. MOMENTUM provides a safe place to listen, discuss and learn about the ways the web has impacted our sexuality without the fear of reprisal or shaming. It is a space for acceptance and appreciation of diversity, including for those in the LGBTQ, sex-work, BDSM and non-monogamous communities.

During MOMENTUM we will discuss ways to bridge the baffling dichotomies our culture creates around sexuality. While on one hand we have unprecedented sexual freedom, on the other we continue to police sexuality with a frightening vigor. Abortion laws, restrictions on gay marriage, abstinence programs, medicalization of sex, fear of pornography and prosecutions for teenage sexting are examples of one side of the spectrum. The discomfort that strives to make us keep our sexuality hidden conflicts with the use of sex — especially the female body — to sell everything from food to cars to “performance enhancing” products.

Each participant will leave the conference with new perspectives, new connections, and a plan to carry the MOMENTUM forward into 2011 and beyond.

We’re now calling for presenters to submit their ideas for sessions at MOMENTUM.  Please explore the official site, MomentumCon.com, where you’ll find all you need to know, including how to submit a proposal for a session, how to register to attend, and how to take advantage of early bird pricing.

Fascinations has generously agreed to be the primary corporate sponsor of MOMENTUM and we want to thank them very much for their support of this event.

If you think the site absolutely rocks as much as we do, that’s only because of the help, guidance and technical know-how of Dangerous Lilly and the website design skills of AAG.  We’re indebted to you both.

A special evening of film and video shorts that celebrate and explore a wide diversity of sexuality will screen on Thursday, August 5, 2010 as CineKink, “the kinky film festival,” comes to the ClintonStreet Theater (2522 SE Clinton St, Portland) for a one-night stand.

7 PM – YES, MISTRESS
At 7:00 pm, the shorts program YES, MISTRESS looks at female domination from
several angles. Among the offerings, THE PAWN LAYMAN (F.P. Lenze, 2007,
Germany, 5 minutes) presents a desperate man trying to sell some of his most
intimate possessions in a pawn shop. ANTI-SAMARITAN HOTLINE (A. Tad
Chamberlain, 2009, USA, 23 minutes) is a comedy about death, despair,
suicide and sadomasochism. TRAMPLING MX-BEAR (Gabriela Granados, 2009,
Mexico, 5 minutes) features Mistress Lady G and her bear begging for
redemption, and GIRLS ROCK (Steven S., 2008, USA, 4 minutes) has two women
vie for dominance on a New York City rooftop. In TAXI: DOMME (by Marie
Angel, 2009, USA, 7 minutes), a wealthy New Yorker hires a sophisticated
domme to tease and torment her in the back of a taxi. SERVICE (Julie Simone,
2009, USA, 2 minutes) explores the Domme/sub dynamic through language. In
HOUSEKEEPER (Ben Lumpkin, 2009, USA, 12 minutes) a corporate couple’s
marriage is saved when a dominatrix takes them hostage, while in LIBIDOLAND
(Julie Keck & Jessica King 2009, USA, 15 minutes), a couple discovers the
consequences of allowing fantasies to override common sense.

9 PM – BEST OF CINEKINK/2010
And at 9:00 PM, BEST OF CINEKINK/2010 is a showcase of works deemed by jury
to be the best at CineKink’s annual festival. This year’s award winners
include a ukelele-playing kinkstress in THE PINKY SONG (Rick Ferguson, 2009,
USA, 3 minutes), a musical tribute to new love… and the revelation that
you “like it kind of kinky.” BALLOONS (Charles Nuckolls, 2009, USA, 15
minutes) is a documentary look at what one might think of as an innocent
children’s play-thing. In HANDCUFFS (Erika Lust, 2009, Spain, 7 minutes), a
woman gets caught up in a voyeuristic scenario and in COVERAGE (Jef Taylor,
2008, USA, 29 minutes), the events of September 11th, 2001 create a sexual
obsession that threatens to destroy a relationship. HUNGRY FOR LOVE (Ruckus
Skye, 2009, USA, 17 minutes) traces the explorations of a 72-year-old widow
as she unearths a startling memory from her past and WALKING THE DOG (Luigi
Campi, 2009, USA, 11 minutes) follows the adventures of a young woman
pressured by her boyfriend to attend a secret sex club.

ADMISSION
Admission is $8 per screening, $12 for both; 18 and over only.

INFO
For more information, advance purchase tickets and the full program line-up,
visit http://www.cinekink.com/tour/pdx

SPONSORS:
National tour sponsors for CineKink include B-Side Entertainment,
MakeLoveNotPorn, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, njoy, Scarleteen and
Tied Up Events.

“The Female Gaze” erotic film competition is seeking quality videos that depict sex and sexuality from a woman’s perspective, a viewpoint that is still rare in erotic film.

“Even in 2010, most porn is made for men,” says webmistress Karen Jones. “For The Girls has always been about making a space for straight women to enjoy adult material. We’ve long been encouraging women’s voices within the adult sphere, first with our ongoing commitment to erotic fiction and now with this erotic film competition. We’re looking forward to seeing fresh ideas and positive interpretations of women’s sexual experiences.”

Films can be explicit or softcore, must be shorter than 10 minutes and must also include the signature item, the number seven. The winner receives $400 and a screening at the Cinekink Film Festival in New York.

“We’re very proud to be teaming up with the Cinekink Festival for this competition,” said Ms Jones. “Cinekink showcases some of the most groundbreaking erotic films and it is also well-known for its support of female directors and female-friendly adult films.

“I also hope to encourage the work of new directors through this competition,” Ms Jones said. “The more perspectives we have within erotic film, the better it is for everyone.”

One of the main reasons Diva and I get so excited about the calendar project is that it gives us a chance to give back to the community that has supported us for so many years.  Giving feels good.  Giving feels right.  Being part of a community is not just taking what the community has to offer and connecting with others with similar beliefs, but it’s also about using our collective consciousness to team together and offer assistance to those less fortunate or in real need.

Aglow with the spirit of generosity and humanitarianism (or is that glitter?), we find March 2010 calendar model and HyperGender Burlesque queen, N, selflessly slaving away to organize a benefit show, Guyz and Dollz, for MADRE’s Haiti relief efforts.  Make sure you show up at China 1 NYC ( 50 Avenue B, between 3rd and 4th St) on Sunday, June 13th at 8PM for a show, that like all N’s shows, will light up your world and your heart and leave you feeling every so glittery.

doors open 7:00pm, show at 8:00pm
$15 in Advance, $20 at the door
$15 with FLYER!
Advance tickets recommended at Brown Paper Tickets

VENUE: China 1, 50 Avenue B, New York, New York
F V Trains to 2nd avenue, R W 6 trains to Astor Place

N of Hypergender Burlesque fame teams up with several LGTBQ communities in the CROSS-OVER event OF THE YEAR! Lesbians, Gays, Queens, Kings and everything in between donate their time as we team up with Madre to help those in need in Haiti! Led by famed drag queens Harmonica Sunbeam and Tyra Allure Ross, this all-star cast includes Vogue Evolution from America’s Best Dance Crew, Rose Wood, Charlie Demos, Switch N’ Play, Jerymiah Versali, and more in this one time extravaganza!

Hosted by Harmonica Sunbeam & Tyra Allure Ross - Guests Include: VOGUE EVOLUTION (Seen in America’s Best Dance Crew), Rose Wood, Tyra Allure Ross, Harmonica Sunbeam, Switch N’ Play, Bambi Galore, Go Go Harder Faster Stronger, Charlie Demos, Tiah Carrera, Carmen Carrera, Jerymiah Versali, & N.

Waxie Moon

After a day spent at the rooftop topless pool,  yes, life out here in the desert is that rough, we excitedly piled into a cab and made out way to the Onyx Theatre, located in the Commercial Center, for the first day of screenings.

Lisa Vandever & Dr. Carol Queen arrive at Cinekink Las Vegas

Yesterday’s schedule was Waxie Moon, Bring It, and My Sexuality: A Sensory Experience.  The best thing about an alternative film festival, besides the rather obvious – seeing amazingly fresh films that explore viewpoints outside the “norm” – is the ability to interact with the artists directly involved in making these works.  Seeing a film and then hearing the back story -what ran through the actor’s mind, why the director filmed a scene in that manner, what led producers with no formal training to start making films – really helps you to look at what you’ve just seen greater understanding, bringing a new depth to the experience. If you have an insatiable intellectual curiosity, alternative film festivals are for you.  So come on, Las Vegas, get your butts and brains down to the Onyx today because we have another day of amazing programming for you.

That said, I now have to gush about Waxie Moon.  We first met Marc Kenison, in glorious Waxie regalia, glitter, lashes and a vintage suite everyone coveted, at the Erotic Heritage Museum for the wine & chocolate gala. But hearing him and director Wes Hurley talk about the film was truly one of the highlights of the day.  Instead of talking about it, I’ll leave you with a Youtube clip of one of the many outstanding performances in the film.

After the film, Marc told us how he was uncomfortable that day, the stones made walking in high heels a challenge, the water was frigid and a random dog was tagging along making him nuts.  And yet, once he saw the completed piece, how much he felt indebted to Wes for understanding the character even more than he himself did.  Watch. And then search out Waxie’s other videos on Youtube and should you have the opportunity to see Waxie Moon, seize it.

Cinekink panel discussion at Onyx Theatre

A panel discussion, with Lisa Vandever, Jessica King, Julie Keck and Dr. Carol Queen, moderated by UNLV’s Dr. Lynn Comella, followed My Sexuality:  A Sensory Experience, where we learned that this wonderful film which explored the sexual side of five very diverse women was a student project.  Astonishing.  Carol, by pointing out that the self esteem building experiences these women went through all focused on very traditional images of femininity, got me wondering what it would look like and what the women’s reactions would have been if in addition to learning pole dance and getting fitted for corsets, they’d been asked to butch it up.

And so begins another day.  Albeit one that started two hours earlier then I would have liked.  My Mac apparently prefers East Coast time and I jolted awake thinking it was 9:30 AM not the 6:30 it actually was.  When she came back carrying our Starbucks venti bolds to discover my little timing error, Diva was not at all amused.

Today’s programming begins at 1PM and includes Yes, Mistress, a film shorts program that asks (and sometimes answers!) the question: “How may I be of service?”  Swingers, S&M Judge and Best of Cinekink, a special screening of shorts deemed the year’s best. The jury-selected awards were determined during the latest run of CineKink NYC.

Right now, we have Cinekink’s Lisa in bed with us as we finalizing details for tonight’s Wine & Chocolate Benefit Gala.  If you’re in Las Vegas it’s the place to be tonight.  Aside from the wine, chocolate, Original Sin Cider, performances by Alicyn Packard, Carol Queen, rope demos by Reverse Tensionz and films shown in Erotic Heritage’s theatre, we’re delighted to also bring you very sensual gyrations of gothic belly dance troupe Fuego Fusion.  And other surprises are always possible.

In the meantime, here’s a little photographic preview of some of the things you’ll see at the museum tonight.

Too bad Nina had to fly out last night, we'd love if she'd been able to stay longer

It’s May 1st, yes, it really is May already and that means there’s less then two weeks till Cinekink starts its national tour at the Onyx Theatre in Sin City.  Las Vegas, here we come!  And we hope you’re coming too.

Thanks to the magic of Twitter, we know that we’ll be joined by a Norwegian journalist, (@tm0rk) covering the event for Cupido magazine (go there and enjoy some of the excellent photography, look for the word bilder when you’re surfing around) and if the European contingent can make it, we hope those of you stateside will take the opportunity as just one more reason to give yourselves some much needed leisure time though with our kinky, fun packed schedule you can rest when you get back home.

The festivities begin Thursday, May 13th when you’ll find us, joined by Carol Queen, Alicyn Packard, Reverse Tensionz and more at the Erotic Heritage Museum for the most bad ass benefit ever. When Carol Queen worked at the Lusty Lady theatre in San Francisco it wasn’t yet a unionized worker-owned club, but the smart, frisky women who worked there were just as fascinating as the men with sexual secrets who filled the booths wanting to “talk to a real live nude girl.” Queen tells all in her performance piece “Peep Show,” which she’ll excerpt for your pleasure!

Alicyn’s hilarious The Pinky Song can be seen on YouTube but being at this benefit will afford you the opportunity to see it live, while teasing your taste buds with chocolate, quenching your thirst with wine, Original Sin Hard Cider and watching living works of art and erotic rope bondage demos by Las Vegas’s premier rope club, Reverse Tensionz.  And that’s not all, to whet your appetite for the rest of the weekend, we’ll be screening films by J M Darling, Courtney Trouble and others in EHM’s theatre.  Of course, we’ll end the evening with a raffle with prizes provided by Kink Academy, njoy, MauiKink (you can practice some of those rope skills you’ll see demonstrated if you’re the winner of this fine, hand crafted rope) and much, much more.

The most budget friendly way to buy tickets is to get an all events pass, which at $50 ($40 for students and seniors) entitles you to attend this benefit, all showings at Onyx and the closing party back at EHM on Saturday night.  So what are you waiting for?  Buy your tickets here!

NEW YORK, NY –

Billing itself as “the kinky film festival,” the event will run May 13-15, 2010 and offers, in addition to individual screening rates, budget friendly all-festival passes and special student/senior pricing. CineKink, now in its seventh year, is an organization dedicated to the recognition and encouragement of sex-positive and kink-friendly depictions in film and television. Works presented at CineKink will range from documentary to drama, comedy to experimental, mildly spicy to quite explicit – and everything in between.

The festivities begin Thursday, May 13th, at 8:30 PM, with a wine and chocolate gala at the Erotic Heritage Museum - www.eroticheritage.org – 3275 Industrial Road, Las Vegas, NV – 702.369.6442 – that includes film shorts by noted photographer, JM Darling, an erotic rope bondage performance by Reverse Tensionz, and an extra special performance from Peep Show by Dr. Carol Queen and of The Pinky Song by Alicyn Packard, along with other fun and kinky surprises.  Funds raised from this benefit will go to support the museum and Cinekink.

The festival then moves to Onyx Theatre (953 E. Sahara, #16, Las Vegas, NV, 702.732.7225 – www.onyxtheatre.com) on Friday, May 14 through Saturday, May 15, with several different film and video programs scheduled for each day. A panel discussion featuring ULNV’s Dr. Lynn Comella, Good Vibrations’ Sexologist Dr. Carol Queen and director Felicia Giouzelis will follow Friday’s 6:45 screening of My Sexuality: A Sensory Experience.

The full festival schedule and tickets to the festival are available at  http://www.onyxtheatre.com/nowplaying/cinekink-the-kinky-film-festival.htm.

THURSDAY

Start off the festivities on Thursday, May 18 at 8:30 PM by joining us at the Erotic Heritage Museum for a benefit like no other. Complimentary hard cider generously donated by Original Sin Cider, wine and chocolate will tempt and tingle your taste buds while performances by Reverse Tensionz, Dr. Carol Queen and Alicyn Packard serve up visual and auditory stimulation.  Film shorts from the festival and JM Darling will play in the museum’s theatre, tantalizing you with just a taste of what to expect when the festival moves to the Onyx Theatre.  We’ll end the festivities with a raffle, giving you the chance to win erotic objects from Njoy, specialty rope from MauiKink and much more.

FRIDAY

Kicking off Friday, May 14 at 3:00 PM, WAXIE MOON features Boylesque sensation Waxie Moon taking the world of neo-burlesque by storm in this hilarious and thought-provoking portrait of one artist’s unlikely journey. Preceded by the short, THE SHEEP AND THE RANCH HAND, a funny, sexy romp in which a woman dreams she’s been transformed into a sheep.  At 5:00 PM, a special industry showcase, BRING IT!, features a dazzling array of talent from today’s adult cinema, each representing a wide range of genres and visual styles, all stepping up with a hot sampling of their recent creative endeavors. At 6:45 PM, the documentary, MY SEXUALITY: A SENSORY EXPERIENCE, shines light on five ordinary women from different backgrounds, sexual preferences and past experiences as they experiment with five deliciously different activities intended to boost both sense of self and sexuality. This screening is immediately followed by a panel discussion featuring the film’s director, Felicia Giouzelis, UNLV’s Dr. Lynn Comella, Sexologist Dr. Carol Queen and others.

SATURDAY

Cinekink concludes its Las Vegas kick off off Saturday, May 15 at with four screenings.  Beginning at 1:00 PM it’s YES, MISTRESS, the film shorts program that asks (and sometimes answers!) the question: “How may I be of service?”  At 3:00 PM, SWINGERS has first-timers Diana and Julian inviting a couple they’ve met online to join them for an adventurous weekend in the country. At 5:00 PM we present S&M JUDGE, a compelling drama in which a respected judge finds his job, reputation and family life in jeopardy after he and his wife begin to explore sadomasochism. And, closing out the festival’s regular screening schedule at 7:00 PM it’s BEST OF CINEKINK featuring select shorts deemed the years best during the festival’s latest run at CINEKINK NYC.  Head back to the Erotic Heritage Museum after the last screening for a closing party that will go until the clock strikes midnight. This party is free to those with who purchased an all events pass or attended the Thursday fundraiser (with stub or other proof) and $10 for all others. With a DJ, cash bar and other entertainment still to be announced, you’ll end the festival surrounded by your fellow revelers while benefiting the museum.

For more information and advance tickets, visit the Cinekink page at www.onyxtheatre.com/nowplaying/cinekink-the-kinky-film-festival.htm or call 702.732.7225.

Advance tickets and passes may be purchased via the Onyx website http://www.onyxtheatre.com/nowplaying/cinekink-the-kinky-film-festival.htm or by calling 702.732.7225

Ticket prices for each regular screening are $10; single day passes for either day are $20 ($15 for seniors and students). An all screenings pass is available for $30 ($20 for seniors and students). Admission to the Wine & Chocolate Fundraiser at the Erotic Heritage Museum is $25.  And our best value, for a weekend of non-stop kinky entertainment, is an all events pass, with access to all screenings, the wine & chocolate gala and the closing party is $50 ($40 for seniors and students).

I just wanted to send my dearest and most sincere thanks to all of you who attended the Femina Potens benefit on March 19th that was organized by the amazing crew at Tied Up Events.

It was such an incredible experience getting to connect with all of you, have tons of sexy fun with chocolate, nibbles, wine and the amazing talent of JM Darling to capture it all.  Devoted fans, art lovers, amazing burlesque performances by N and I was even able to share some of my dirty girl performance art with all of you.  We had gorgeous women, dapper men, delicious androgyny and intelligent open minded kinky people gathered to support an artistic vision.

This vision to provide a space for dialogue and exploration around the intersection of sex, art and gender is realized at Femina Potens Art Gallery in San Francisco.  This nonprofit arts organization is approaching its 10 year anniversary and we have your support to thank for allowing us to keep the doors open to the community in which we serve.  A community that seeks an alternative, a community of sex workers, women, feminists, kinksters, trans folk, gender queers, sexual outlaws, pornographic pioneers, artists, visionaries, and activists.

We are in communication with spaces in NYC to start East Coast curation as well and we plan on holding further events and benefits with Tied Up Events.  We will keep all of you up to speed on our upcoming events and hope to see you in the future.

With all of my love, heart, kisses and orgasms,

Madison Young