Aren't you fed-up with garbage, full-of-shit sites where nobody actually communicates, such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter? Do you wish your old friends who've migrated to those sites would return to LiveJournal? The the_lj_revival community has been set up with that aim in mind, and you are invited to join it. If you are already on LiveJournal and still have a Facebook profile, and would like to see more people returning to LJ or setting up accounts here, we invite you to post a link to this community on your Facebook Timeline. If you would like to find out who is still using LiveJournal and make contact with those who are already here, you are invited to copy and paste the 'about me' questions on the profile page and post them with your answers to the community.
Community Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities
2nd Annual Alternative Sexuality Conference
May 21, 2009
CALL for PROPOSALS
Leather, kink, B&D, S&M, polyamory….. Non-traditional sexual practices, lifestyles and identities have become increasingly visible in recent years. With more portrayals on television and in movies, as well as in literature and music, clients are feeling increasingly comfortable about bringing “forbidden” sexual issues to psychotherapy.
This conference is designed to provide theoretical perspectives, clinical practice recommendations, and opportunities to discuss the challenges encountered in psychotherapy with individuals and couples in the alternative sexuality communities. The conference will also provide a venue for researchers and graduate students to present their investigations on these communities, identities and sexual practices.
The conference is the result of a partnership between the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities (CARAS) based in San Francisco/Washington DC, and the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Institute (SOGI) at the Center on Halsted located in Chicago. Proposals are now being accepted for the second annual conference, which will be held at the Center on Halsted on the Thursday proceeding Memorial Day. Submissions must be received by February 1, 2009.
The day-long conference will include lectures, panel presentations, roundtable discussions and poster presentations. 60 minute and 120 minute sessions formats are under consideration. Suggested topics include: history and philosophy of BDSM culture, separating BDSM practice from abuse, separating practice from pathology, co-morbidity factors, issues of transference/counter-transference, impact of BDSM practices on clients with trauma history, edge play dynamics, concepts of consent, theoretical constructs, literature reviews, early research findings, therapy with polyamorous relationships.
Presenters will be offered discounted registration fees, but they will not be otherwise compensated. Applicants will be notified regarding the status of their proposals by March 15, 2009.
Write SOGI@CenteronHalsted.org or call 773-661-0739 for additional information and application forms.
Register for BR '08 before rates go up on October 1st!
BR Members (& Reciprocal Groups) Until Sept 30--$140; Oct 1-30-- $150
Non-members Until Sept 30--$160; Oct 1-30-- $180
When you register, don't forget to reserve your room at our 4-star hotel. BR's locked-in rate ends on Sept 30. Reserve your room today to ensure you're just an elevator ride away from all the fun!
And coming September 22nd...
BR '08 PARTY PACKAGE – Already have plans Halloween night? Do your children count on you to see them in their Dark Knight/Hannah Montana costume and go trick or treating, making you miss putting your own freak on? For just $300, spend the whole day Saturday enjoying BR's wide variety of classes, party as long as you want in the amazing playspace, then go upstairs and crash in your hotel room for the night. Package includes a Saturday day pass to the event and one hotel room for Saturday night. The BR '08 Party Package is available for purchase for a limited time starting on 9/22 at www.brevent.org.
BR Event Day Passes – available for purchase on 9/22
Congress is holding a hearing today regarding the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy of the military. What's sad is that it takes major recruiting shortages, not violations of human rights, to prompt such a hearing.
The former state employee, Vandy Beth Glenn, was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder the same year she was employed in the public sector. After consultations with physicians, she decided to pursue a sex change. To aid in her transition, her physicians indicated she should start dressing as a woman all the time, including during work hours. Her first appearance as a woman was on Halloween, when other employees were also dressed in costume. She had informed her employers of her plans in advance. She was informed after the fact, however, that her behavior couldn't be tolerated in the workplace, as it was immoral. She was then fired. From what I could tell, her job didn't even involve that much contact with the public. She was working as a writer/editor.
Lock Up Your Dates... BR '08 and Halloween are coming!
As we sweat the hot summer days away, don't forget BR '08 is just around the corner. Scheduled this year for October 31-November 3, it lands squarely on the scariest weekend of the year. Plan to spend the weekend in downtown DC, attending classes, meeting friends, and spending time in our huge play space. Combine your Halloween costume with your best fetish wear and attend the banquet and celebrity auction. Dress up in pony gear or your littles attire and show off. Stay in the newly renovated hotel where you'll be able to socialize and have private time on your own terms. Shop in our expanded vending areas. It's all here, where you know Black Rose knows how to throw a kink event.
Register today at www.brevent. org
BR '08 Missing it would be... Scary! October 31 - November 3, 2008 Washington, DC
Trendy self-help and spiritual groups are popping up all over that tout the advantages of being sexually liberated. Their leaders often point to the harm caused by sexual repression, including an increase in sex crimes. However, this awareness of sexual needs and expression often gets channeled into practices which are clearly designed to gratify the guru, rather than fulfill the needs of the student. The following article, Sex therapy: the return of free love, from Times Online discusses this trend.
This article from the BBC discusses the public perceptions and insider perspectives on BDSM. While there's no shortage of individuals frightened by this form of sex play, people are coming forward in defense of the practice and its practitioners.
Well the first is about an arrest of a stripper, not usually fun; however, she was pole dancing on the subway in Chile, stripping to her undies to protest cultural repression.
High gas prices reduce disposable income and have a direct effect on the sex industry. The response? According to this article from Yahoo! a Nevada brothel is offering rebates! Now if I could only get a rebate for waiting in line at the DMV! ; )
The second link regards the controversy generated by two writers from Jezebel.com, Tracie Egan & Moe Tkacik. The link is to an entry on the Huffington Post, Jezebelism, by Lizz Winstead, who some will recognize as one of the co-creators of the Daily Show. Many feel the Jezebel writers are being irresponsible at best, touching off debates on what feminism and sexual rights mean in the present era. Personally speaking, I'm seeing a bit of a rift between more traditional "feminists" who feel that every aspect of adult entertainment degrades women and the "neo-feminists" who simply want women and men to be free to explore as they see fit. The traditional feminists see the neo-feminists as undermining their cause, and vice versa. Obviously, there's no simple solution apparent here.
the_lj_revival community has been set up with that aim in mind, and you are invited to join it. If you are already on LiveJournal and still have a Facebook profile, and would like to see more people returning to LJ or setting up accounts here, we invite you to post a link to this community on your Facebook Timeline. If you would like to find out who is still using LiveJournal and make contact with those who are already here, you are invited to copy and paste the 'about me' questions on the profile page and post them with your answers to the community.