Justin B. Terry-Smith has been involved in Gay and HIV Activism since 1999. He is an Air Force 9/11 Disabled Vet. Raised in Silver Spring, MD, he now lives in Severn, MD with his husband Phil. He writes an HIV/STI Advice Column for A&U Magazine, is a Contributing writer for thebody.com, a Life Coach and an Adjunct Professor. He has earned his Doctorate in Public Health with a concentration in Infectious Disease.
"I’ve never forgotten that generation that endured the atrocities of #HIV#AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s. Here are five ways that I pay homage to the people that HIV/AIDS directly affected." JUST*IN TIME by
Justin B Terry-Smith - Drph
To see the rest of the article please copy and paste the link below or Click Here
The kinky BDSM / Leather
community is an active social group of kinky people that span the globe!
Most people have a
little apprehension contemplating taking the first step into a community that
celebrates Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, submission, Sadism and masochism but
the reality is that the people in our kinky community are some of the most
caring people I have ever met.
The quality of the
information available about the BDSM Lifestyle varies radically. As you seek
out information about "what it is we do", I have this advice for you:
The most accurate and generally accepted information
will be found in traditionally published books by recognized authors.
The next best information will come from dedicated and
well recognized websites, and in educational offerings at conventions that
are well regarded by the community.
Less accurate and often contradictory information will
be found in group discussions, social networking sites, and local
educational offerings. This information is seldom vetted and is more
likely to be someone’s opinion, conjecture or untested hypothesis rather
than generally accepted fact.
The best education is
often found in a relationship with a good mentor in your local community.
Finding a good mentor is like the problem of finding a good mechanic when you
don't yet know much about cars. Take the time to educate yourself about our
lifestyle first, starting with the many books available.
Ultimately, you want the
knowledge and skill that will allow you to practice BDSM safely, and to build the
type of relationships you desire.
Publications (online or in print)
Leatherati explores our unique lifestyle of contests
and titleholders, travel and events, dining and drinking, entertainment and
shopping and of course, news and opinion. Leatherati is based in LA.
The Leather Journal reports on events and news about
the lifestyle
LetherViews by Jack Rinella
bannon.com Intelligent information, ideas and insights
about the adventurous side of sex and relationships.
Social Organizations
The Eulenspiegel Society (TES) is a NYC based,
not-for-profit organization which promotes sexual liberation for all adults.
Especially for people who enjoy consensual BDSM. It is the oldest such
organization in the nation.
The Society of Janus is a San Francisco based,
not-for-profit education and support organization. It is the second oldest such
organization in the nation.
Black Rose is a Washington, DC based, not-for-profit
organization which provides a forum for the many different expressions of power
in love and play. This can include dominance & submission, bondage &
discipline, sadism & masochism, fetishism, cross-dressing, to name a few.
The Arizona Power Exchange (APEX) is a not-for-profit
corporation that provides education, social opportunities, and support for
adults who are interested in Bondage and Discipline
Desert Dominion is an educational and social group
whose focus is providing information and education for people interested in the
BDSM lifestyle
Avatar is a LA based private non-profit educational
and social club established in 1983 for gay men with an interest in BDSM. We
teach safe, sane and consensual BDSM techniques to anyone interested in
learning.
smOdyssey is a membership organization located in San
Jose, Santa Clara County, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Club X, Inc. is San Diego's largest pansexual leather/
BDSM fetish group. Our primary goal is that of education with secondary goals
of activism and social activities
Masters And slaves Together, International (MAsT)
exists as an education, support and resource group for individuals involved in,
or interested in, the Master/slave lifestyle. The local chapters list will
direct you to the many local chapters of MAsT.
Informational Websites
DomSubFriends is an East Coast members only pan-sexual
group, who share interests in the S&M, BDSM, D/s, and B/D scene.
Comprehensive Internet Directory maintained by
DomSubFriends group; many of the links are dated but there is a wealth of
information here.
Sexuality.org maintained by Society for Human
Sexuality has a variety of sexual resources including some BDSM information
The BDSM Events Page Lists local and national events
LeatherWeb states that it is a lifestyle site
"for the curious and the committed" it is not an easy read but there
seem to be many nuggets of value including notes from classes and
presentations. I am sure it will continue to grow and develop.
Educational Offerings
The Butchmanns Experience is an intensive educational
weekend designed to provide an opportunity for self-discovery in pursuit of
self-actualization. The event includes hands-on training in basic SM practices,
protocol and rituals, and a view of leadership and obedience through the lens
of Master/slave dynamics.
Kink Academy is a comprehensive library of sex-ed
videos for adventurous, consenting adults. Whether you’re new to kink or an
experienced player, there’s something for everyone to learn on KinkAcademy.com.
Social Action Organizations
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF)
fights for sexual freedom and privacy rights for all adults who engage in safe,
sane and consensual behavior.
Kink Aware Professionals Directory (KAP) is a service
offered by NCSF dedicated to providing the community with referrals to
psychotherapeutic, medical, legal and other professionals who are knowledgeable
about and sensitive to diverse expressions of sexuality.
Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance has been hard at work
to combat the prohibition of pleasure, the rollbacks on hard-won freedoms and
protections and to advance an agenda that recognizes the wonderful diversity of
sex, sexuality and our rights to make informed, consensual choices in our
lives.
CARAS is dedicated to the support and promotion of
excellence in the study of alternative sexualities, and the dissemination of
research results to the alternative sexuality communities, the public, and the
research community.
The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University works towards
advancing sexual health and knowledge worldwide. For over 60 years, the
institute has been a trusted source for investigating and informing the world
about critical issues in sex, gender and reproduction.
The ACLU is our nation's guardian of liberty, working
daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the
individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United
States guarantee everyone in this country
The Carter/Johnson Leather Library is a collective history
of various communities who have chosen to live and love differently.
Leather Archives & Museum mission is the
compilation, preservation and maintenance of leather lifestyle and related
lifestyles [including but not limited to the Gay and Lesbian communities],
history, archives and memorabilia for historical, educational and research
purposes.
The Leather Leadership Conference (LLC) is an
organization dedicated to strengthening the Leather/BDSM/Kink/Fetish community
through the development of the leadership skills of community members and
fostering a greater sense of connection between and within community groups
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender Historical
Society (GLBTHS) collects, preserves, and interprets the history of GLBT people
and the communities that support them.
Center for Sex and Culture provides judgment-free
education, cultural events, a library/media archive, and other resources to
audiences across the sexual and gender spectrum. From our San Francisco home we
promote creativity, information and healthy sexual knowledge.
Links below open in another window or tab.
Fetlife.com --- FetLife is free and one of the larges
of this kind of site. It is said that to keep from deteriorating into a meat
market as other similar sites have, they decided to restricted searches for
other users.
Recon.com --- Free to join but requires payment for
many features
Collarme.com --- Free site has good search and free
mail
Bondage.com --- Free to join but requires payment for
many features
Alt.com --- Free to join but requires payment for many
features
Kinkyspace.com A free Social Networking Site for Kinky
Friends
Twitter.com --- Run searched for BDSM, Bondage,
Shabari
