Internet flame wars, naked people in Berkeley, fativism, shamrock-spangled stripper heels. Oh yep, that’s this week in sex events.
Hot and Heavy reading
I’ve made no bones about the fact that I love Virgie Tovar’s. That’s why I’m starting this week’s list with a shout-out to her reading that’s going on in, oh, 1.5 hours — I have that much faith that her anthology’s tales of fat sensuality and sexuality will rock you. Hot and Heavy’s contributors include an A-list of BBW’s, so feel free to cop a copy while you’re over there (and check out my René Magritte-inspired vibrator art, part of this month’s “Bling Your Vibe” art contest.)
Thu/14, 6:30-7:30pm, free. Good Vibrations, 1620 Polk, SF. www.goodvibes.com
“Incarnating for an Evening with the X-plicit Players”
YES we know that body freedom isn’t necessarily a sexual thing (checkout the Crocs evident at any public nudity rally in SF and ask yourself if those activists are trying to get laid.) But it is connected to sexual freedom — trust that our fear of the naked body has a lot to do with the push to keep sexuality out of the conversation. Anyway, tonight’s film screening about the ninth annual Nude and Breast Freedom Parade in Berkeley should be entertaining. It was put together by the X-Plicit Players, a performance group that does educational production in the buff.
Fri/15, 8pm, $8-15. East Bay Media Center Performance Space, 1939 Addison, Berk. www.xplicitplayers.com
“Anarchism, Pornography, and Being an Ally: Conflict and Collaboration in the Past, Present, and Future”
Perhaps you caught wind of the controversy kicked up by Native scholar and longtime feminist Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz when she pulled out of her speaking gig at this year’s Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair over concerns about the venue this year: the hangar that Kink.com rents out for events in its Armory location. Though no other presenter or vendor pulled out over BDSM, the Facebook debate that followed was acrimonious, important, and veered on disrespectful among members of both sides (really, there were about 1,000 sides) of the BDSM/Kink.com debate.
Hopefully this will be an opportunity for healing. Held off-site so as not to offend anyone uncomfortable with the Armory, the program for this discussion includes a look at the history of pornography and feminism, words from pre-selected speakers on healthy debate and sex worker support, then a moderated public discussion on same.
Sat/16, 6:30-8:30, free. California Institute for Integral Studies, Room 304, 1453 Mission, SF. bayareaanarchistbookfair.wordpress.com
“Top ‘O the Mornin” at the Gold Club
We have this fantasy that this St. Patty’s Day extravaganza at our fave SoMa strip club will be less douche-y than other green downtown festivities. Maybe it has to do with the dashing security? At any rate, there will be snacks: in addition to the famous free lunch buffet ($5 if you count the cover to get into the club) that the Gold Club usually has Monday through Friday, it will be serving up a breakfast free-for-all 8-10am, and strippers, and an Irish piping band, and riverdancers, and happy hour prices at the bar all day. May your $1 bill be plentiful, and may you tip the dancer $20.
Sun/17, 8am-2am, $5. Gold Club, 650 Howard, SF. www.goldclubsf.com
“Thinking Outside Your Box: Creative Adult Marketing”
Social networking may be the key to spreading your word about your adult business, but not if you’re shitty at it. M. Christian teaches about selling your writing and basic bondage skills, an interesting background to bring into this seminar on how sex workers can get the word out about their services.
Tues/19, 7-10pm, check website for price. Center for Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission, SF. www.sexandculture.org