Gallery Carre
An open letter to the Kink Community
Feb 9th, 2025 by Viviane
[crossposted with permission from Fetlife]
An open letter to the Kink Community,
We recognize the greater significance that this weekend held within the Central Ohio Kink, and National Kink communities. With the coming together of our community, and the help of the NCSF, Winter Wickedness Was a HUGE success! We had over 400 people in the space, and the Host Hotel could not have been kinder.
We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support for Winter Wickedness. It was beautiful to see this community working together to defend what we are all trying to create. WW, and scores of other kink, BDSM and Leather events, groups and gatherings are essential for sharing what it is that we do in a legal, safe, sane and consensual environment. It is imperative that we continue to think globally, and work to defend and promote Kink, Leather and BDSM gatherings and events in our local, state and national arenas.
The calls to the hotel, and the corporate office assisted in offsetting the smear campaign that a few fanatical right wing individuals had mounted, as they attempted to mobilize their grassroots efforts within their community. We recognize that their efforts were attempts to play on the fears of their constituents by the misinformation that they were spreading. In this day and age, it is truly unfortunate that there is still this intolerant mindset.
We in the Kink/Leather/BDSM lifestyle do what we do because we are seeking a greater connection, a more focused and honest power exchange, and a creative way of loving and caring for each other. There is no reason whatsoever that we need to be embarrassed or ashamed of what it is that we do. We are consensual adults, making choices about our personal sexual orientation and expression. This is a personal choice, and is not anyone else’s concern. We do not impose our beliefs or lifestyle on others, but openly share should we be asked.
Like the GLBT communities, we too adamantly refuse to be forced to hide because of the ideology of a few fanatics. We are law-abiding, tax-paying, citizens of our respective communities. We are first class citizens, who happen to enjoy a creative expression of our sexuality. And we are “coming out” to stay. Furthermore, we refuse to accept any treatment that is discriminatory, demeaning, or shaming.
AIS, our gatherings and events are extensions of friendship, love, and acceptance. We are simply trying to create a safe, fun, educational and consensual gateway for adults who are open-hearted, honest and desire another form of communication and sexual expression. What we have found is that many people are grateful for this avenue. They have come away from our events with a more open way of connection, a new discovery of their needs, wants and desires, and a renewed relationship with themselves, life and others.
Times are changing, and we hope for the better. This fact that Winter Wickedness was a huge success, despite adversity, within a traditionally conservative local community, gives us hope. We are continuing our search for bliss. We look forward to our future work in the community to educate and share the truth of what it is that we do.
Sincerely,
Barak & Sheba Owners
Adventures in Sexuality