Via Fantasti.cc

As it happens – found the thread while trying to do similar research about the Administration’s first year.

Mina Meow - image by Ian Rath

For over a year now it’s been on my mind to create a similar resource for stories about a topic that currently occupies a great deal of my thought.  Finally yesterday I took the plunge and purchased a domain.   Beyond the Birds and the Bees will be an online resource where people can share accounts of conversations between parents and children on the topic of sexuality. We’ll explore how people have taught their children about sexuality, how they’ve been taught, what’s effective, what’s not, and what’s downright funny.

Eventually I hope the site can represent thousands of experiences as diverse as naming body parts, coming out to family members, learning about the mechanics and the emotions of sex, dealing with abuse, teaching methods of birth control, disclosing assault, celebrating puberty, handling sex as it relates to disability and even discussing menopause with our mothers and daughters.   I want it to be a place where folks can go for information, shared experiences both wonderful and horrifying, and of course laughter.

Beyond the Birds and the Bees. Like AAG herself and her blog – this promises to be sexy, funny, immensely practical, and occasionally infuriating.

She’s written three novels available on Lulu -including Mercy: A BDSM Romance

From the Lulu page:

Lucy Merritt has always defined herself by her body, whether dancing in a small avant-garde company or posing for art. But she has always felt as if something is wrong with her, as if something is missing. She has never been in love. Suddenly, in the darkness of the theater wings, a strangely affecting man enters her life. Matthew Norris, rich, handsome patron of the dance company, has decided that he wants Lucy for his own. He makes her an offer that both frightens and compels her, and they soon begin an affair characterized by only two requirements, beauty and truth. But how truthful are Matthew and Lucy? How much of Matthew’s strenuous brand of love can Lucy endure? And how long can their rigid Dom/sub relationship stay frozen in time, never growing, never moving forward? Mercy contains explicit scenes of dominance and submission, discipline & training, bondage, group sex, oral sex, anal sex & double penetration, menage a trois, and both harsh and loving bdsm scenes.

Her other available novels are Cait and the Devil, and Owning Wednesday a BDSM Romance.

Via Fetlife.

Erin Sinclair

Sarah Blake. Photograph by Ian Rath.

via Ian Rath at Fetish Nation

Dr. Annie Sprinkle and started by the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA as a memorial and vigil for the victims of the Green River Killer in Seattle Washington. International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers has empowered workers from over cities around the world to come together and organize against discrimination and remember victims of violence. During the week of December 17th, sex worker rights organizations will be staging actions and vigils to raise awareness about violence that is commonly committed against sex workers. The assault, battery, rape and murder of sex workers must end. Existing laws prevent sex workers from reporting violence. The stigma and discrimination that is perpetuated by the prohibitionist laws has made violence against us acceptable. Please join with sex workers around the world and stand against criminalization and violence committed against prostitutes.

In the United States, there’s a Washington march and rally, but if you can’t make that, Annie Sprinkle has a list of other things you can do:

On December 17th, people around the world will be calling attention
to hate crimes against sex workers, namely prostitutes. Here are some
suggestions and options for ways to participate. Or by all means,
make up your own.

1. Do something of personal meaning alone at home; take a ritual
   bath, or simply think about those who have died, light a candle,
   make a wish, have a cry, call a friend and discuss the topic, etc.
   
2. Write a short personal quote or a statement about violence against
   sex workers and send to the SWOP web site for
   them to post.
3. Send a donation to a nonprofit group that helps sex workers
   stay safer.
4. Organize a public memorial event in your town. If not, choose
   a place, and time, where you can gather. Make an email letter and/or
   flyer and get it around with news of the event. Invite people to
   bring writings, stories, readings, thoughts, related news items,
   poems, performances, etc. Make a circle at the event. Take turns
   sharing. This will make for a wonderful memorial and be great for
   consciousness raising and outreach as well.
5. Organize a panel discussion about violence towards sex workers.
   You can ask a church or other community space if you can do it there.
6. Send news of this event to any and all press you know, so the
   word gets out that there are people who care about murdered sex
   workers, and who are concerned with the safety of sex workers out
   there today.
7. Attend one of the events which is listed on the SWOP web site.
8. If you know any sex workers, send them some information about
   self-defense.
9. Send a personal email letter to people telling them how you
   feel about violence against sex workers and the women who were murdered
   by serial killer Gary Ridgway. Or email this letter around.
10. Read Daisy Anarchy’s poem, click
    here, to yourself or to friends, or at one of the public events. Or email it around.