March 2013

Help Kate Bornstein Stay Alive

by Viviane on 03/20/2025

That’s the title of the GoFundMe campaign that was started by Kate’s friend Laura Vogel:

Kate Bornstein has cancer. The good news, direct from the team of skilled doctors on her case, is that the cancer is curable. However, the treatment plan that gives Kate the best chance of beating cancer is incredibly expensive. Kate has spent the past thirty years helping the rest of us Stay Alive—now it’s our turn to give back. Let’s HELP KATE BORNSTEIN BEAT CANCER AND STAY ALIVE!

This August, Kate was diagnosed with lung cancer. She underwent surgery, after which extensive testing led her doctors to believe that the cancer was gone. However, in February, Kate’s doctors discovered that this was not, in fact, the case. The cancer was back. Since receiving this news, Kate has seen numerous talented physicians and other medical professionals. The consensus is that Kate’s cancer IS CURABLE. However, Kate’s treatment plan is more complicated than most because she has suffered from another kind of cancer–CLL, or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia–for over fifteen years. Kate will undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatment. She will eat according to strict nutritional diet plan and she will take a large number of supplements that will strengthen her body’s ability to handle the chemo and radiation.

Kate has been an inspiration for so many of us. Let’s give something back to her. Please go here to donate something if you can. And please help get the word out. Thank you.

Update: If you’re unable to make an online donation, there’s a P.O. box that’s been set up:

Kate Stay Alive

PO Box 415

NY, NY 10108

email: katestayalive@gmail.com

Tagged as: fuckcancer, Kate Bornstein, stayalive

Midori’s Rope Dojo, Washington DC, April 13 & 14

by Viviane on 03/12/2025

in bondage, Events

Full Weekend Intensive Rope Bondage Dojo® with rope experts, Midori & Delano and the Dojo Cadre team.

COURSE DETAILS:

A Rope Bondage Weekend: A dojo styled intensive from the basic to the introduction of advanced techniques with Midori and Senior Cadre Member Delano.
Want to learn about rope bondage?
Frustrated with short workshops & demos?
Do you want personalized attention to improve every aspect of your rope techniques?
Are you ready for the disciplined approached to take you to the next level?
Have you wanted to know what Midori teaches her personal apprentices?
Are you a total rope beginner with the motivation to move past your hesitation & blow your lover’s mind with hot scenes?
Or have you already lassoed the basics and ready for a real challenge?

In this concentrated weekend you will cover the heart & soul of the rope experience, covering top and bottom perspectives as well. From the very basics to the introduction of advanced techniques of basic safe rope suspension, they’ll put you through the paces and improve your skills.
Your Full Weekend Package Includes:

16+ hours of concentrated instruction from Midori & Delano + trained cadre with lots of hands-on practice.
Continental breakfast both days
Catered lunch both days*
Limited edition commemorative graduation gift
Free admission to the Saturday night play party
Take-home gifts

(* For vegetarians: For those specifying vegetarian meals, we provide ovo-lacto based veggie meals. If your dietary needs are more specific, we encourage you to bring your own meals. There will be a kitchen with fridge and microwave to store your items.)

Saturday, Day 1: Fundamentals of Technique & Scene Dynamics

Safety, rope selection, basic knots, rope care
Basic Two-Column Tie, Body Harness, Sex Bondage, Partial Suspension, Basics of Shibari. Freestyle Bondage
Psychology & Emotional Dynamics of Rope, Dominance & Scene Control
History of Japanese Rope Bondage
Speed Drills

Sunday, Day 2: Mastering Rope

Speed Drills
Problem Solving Skills
Creativity Exercise
Taking Flight: Introduction to safe suspension bondage
It’s in the Details: Hand & feet bondage, dildo/cock harness
Visions & Perversions: Learn to think and create with mastery, art & power & more.

TIME:
Sat. 10am to 6:30pm (doors open 9:30am)
Sun. 10am to 6:30pm (doors open 9:30am)

LOCATION:
The Crucible, 16 M Street, N.E. Washington, DC

Facebook RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/423847614354363/
Fetlife RSVP: https://fetlife.com/events/142948

COST:
US$400 for Singles.
US$700 for Pairs. (Buddies and pals welcome. You don’t have to be a couple for the Pair ticket.
Because of the intensive nature of the material & instruction, this course is limited to only 30 participants.

REGISTRATION
Registration closes midnight, Pacific Time, Friday, March 29.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Full refund (minus processing fee) if canceled by March 28.
50% (minus processing fee) refund if canceled between March 29th and April 5th
No refund if canceled after April 6th.

Hotel: Hotel recommendations will be emailed to registered students.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR DOJO:

Read the FAQ on http://www.ropedojo.com
Be well rested.
Wear comfortable clothing.
Bring large towels, blanket or yoga mats for floor work.
Encouraged to bring floor cushion or comfy folding chair to sit in.
Bring lots of rope & a pair of safety shears. Suggestions on rope you might want to bring:

Please read the FAQ at http://www.ropedojo.com
Special Dojo Rope Kits are available for student discount from http://twistedmonk.com/midorikit.htm. Make sure to give your registration confirmation number. TwistedMonk.com is Midori’s favorite rope vendor.)

Lesbian Sex Mafia presents How to Play with Needles with Lolita Wolf

by Viviane on 03/08/2025

in Events

When thinking of needles, most people remember of going to the doctor and getting shots. Ick! The last thing that they want to do is play with needles. But once one gets over that fear, playing with needles can be a lot of fun. Play piercing can give you a big endorphin rush. Endorphins are those sensations that your body makes to give you a natural high. Long distance runners experience a runner’s high that is very similar. Needles can leave you a different sort of breathless.

Where: LGBT Center, 208 West 13th St. (7th/8th Ave)
When: Friday, March 15, 2013; 8:00-10:00PM
Cost: $5/LSM members, $10/Non members

Fetlife RSVP: https://fetlife.com/events/156534

About Lolita Wolf

Lolita Wolf discovered the BDSM scene back in the late 80’s when “online” meant being on the phone sex lines. She is an activist who defends the sexual freedom for all consenting adults, spreads the word about BDSM, sex and poly, and helps the community grow and flourish. Yet, her goal remains “to have fun.”

Lolita has taught hundreds of classes for organizations and events across the country, including South Plains Leatherfest, Thunder in the Mountains, Dark Odyssey, Kinkfest, Shibaricon and many others. She is well-known for a fun and entertaining style that packs a lot of information into a short class. Lolita is an Emeritus Board Member of of both TES and Leather Leadership Conference. She is a former Chair of Lesbian Sex Mafia and was an honorary member of GMSMA. She is active with National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Leather Pride Night and Open Love NY.

This year she is honored to be giving the keynote at International Ms. Leather (IMsL) and judging International Mr Leather (IML). Her writing has appeared in On Our Backs, Prometheus and Rachel Kramer Bussel’s Lust Chronicles. She has authored two books : Spanking and CBT in a Nutshell and is featured in the Details of Flogging DVD. She also has a chapter in Tristan Taormino’s The Ultimate Guide To Kink. She has also appeared in the New York Times One in 8 Million series: http://is.gd/RIbuhN. Her website can be found at http://leatheryenta.com/

About Lesbian Sex Mafia

Lesbian Sex Mafia (http://www.lesbiansexmafia.org) (LSM) is a social and educational organization for women and transfolk who have a positive personal interest in BDSM with other women. Our tenets are safety, consensuality, confidentiality and the right of women to explore their sexuality as they choose.

Membership in Lesbian Sex Mafia is open to all women 18 years of age or older including gay, straight, bi, and transsexual and intersexed women who live their daily lives as women, and all female-born transgendered persons who have a connection with and respect for the women’s community. For membership information and benefits please visit http://www.lesbiansexmafia.org.

LSM reserves the right to deny admission to non-members it has reason to believe will not abide by the LSM principles of safety, consensuality and confidentiality.

No member is turned away from an LSM event based upon ability to pay. Please contact us in advance to request a scholarship.

Email: lsmnyc@hotmail.com

Voice: 646-450-0576

Tagged as: bdsm, Lesbian Sex Mafia, Lolita Wolf

Laura Antoniou’s The Killer Wore Leather: Book Launch Party

by Viviane on 03/01/2025

in sex

Many People Wanted Mack Steel…But Who Wanted Him Dead?

In Manhattan’s Grand Sterling Hotel, home of the annual Mr. and Ms. Global Leather contest, last year’s hunky but haughty winner lies dead on the floor of his suite, mysteriously wearing only a pair of frilly, bright yellow panties. Cormac “Mack” Steel made a lot of enemies during his year wearing the studded leather sash, not the least being his co-winner Mistress Ravenfyre. But she is not alone—there are over three thousand attendees from all over the world at this year’s event, some of whom had very personal issues with the fallen leather world royalty.

Enter Detective Rebecca Feldblum, who must navigate a world of doms and subs, masters and mistresses, pups and trainers, leather, latex and lingerie, to discover who murdered the late Mack Steel—and hopefully do it before the weekend is over and everyone goes home.

Join noted Marketplace series author Laura Antoniou for a reading and book signing at Purple Passion.

Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2013; 7:00PM

Where: Purple Passion, 211 West 20th Street (Bet. 7th & 8th Aves.)

Be there for signed books and a 10% discount off any additional store purchases!

Facebook RSVP: http://on.fb.me/Wun1wJ
Fetlife RSVP: https://fetlife.com/events/148649

Amazon link: http://amzn.to/XaQyba

About Laura Antoniou

Laura Antoniou is no stranger to the world of BDSM, so recently discovered by the millions of readers engaged in the phenomenon of Fifty Shades of Grey, selling more copies than the Harry Potter books and sending the media into a frenzy. In fact, you could say Antoniou was writing the naughty tales of spanking and bondage way before the 50 Shades author even imagined such things; this year is the 20th anniversary of Antoniou’s 5-novel series, titled The Marketplace. And this year, along with No Safewords, a fan-written collection of stories set in the kinky, pansexual world she created, Antoniou has written her first mainstream novel – and it’s a comedy murder mystery set within the very community so completely lacking in the insular world of kinky Twilight – the venerable world of leather contests!

Perhaps no one but Laura Antoniou could have written this book – having judged too many contests to remember and even produced one twenty-one years ago, Antoniou is well acquainted with the crazy politics, social mores and of course, the spicy play and gossip in what was once a gay-only leather world. And she has taken her vast experience to pen a story that’s both amusing and salacious, poking affectionate fun at the world she lives in – a world much more recognizable than one filled with hard-bodies twenty-something billionaires and virginal college grads.