Hello and welcome to the January 2022 issue of Boston's Sex-Positive Newsletter. We made to 2022 and so did you!
Our big news this month is that we are currently looking for a new Sexual Justice Intern. It's 4-6 hours a week, $16/hour, and local to the Boston area. Details here.
Also, we'll be hosting Pleasure Pie Office Hours on Tuesday, January 11 at 7:30 pm virtually. You are invited to pop in for any amount of time if you feel like hearing about what we're up to and/or asking us questions, etc.
If you enjoy this newsletter and want us to keep at it, I invite you to become a monthly donor on Patreon, buy our zines and art and stuff, or buy an ad in the next issue of the newsletter for $35. Any support you are able to offer is splendid!
Also, thank you to Katy Harrison (they/them) for all the work they did on this issue of the newsletter!
With pleasure,
Nicole Mazzeo
pleasurepie.org
P.S. You can give feedback on the newsletter here or give feedback on an event you attended from the newsletter here. We are so curious to hear your thoughts!
P.P.S. If you entered last month's giveaway, check your email! You will have an email from us within the next few days if you won. If you didn't win, we won't email you.
|
|
|
L O C A L + V I R T U A L
|
|
Wed. 1/5: KINK: Healthier Living Thru Art Making: Processing Kink Shaming and Shaming Kink
6:00 pm / Virtual / $20
A workshop where you’ll use contemplative practices and art-making to reflect on unhealthy mindsets and practices in your life as they relate to shame around kink.
Wed. 1/5: PLEASURE: Reclaiming the Sexuality of Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum
7:00 pm / Virtual / $30
Sexual health is often ignored and myths abound during pregnancy through birth and postpartum. This workshop will reclaim sexuality during this important time.
Wed. 1/5: TRANS: TCNE Free Virtual Workshops
7:00 pm / Virtual / Free!
The Trans Club of New England hosts free virtual workshops every week where participants can learn more about topics such as transgender medical care, financial, legal, and political concerns, wellness, as transition advice. Open to trans and/or non-binary folks as well as allies. Registration is required.
Wed. 1/5: LGBTQ+: Poly Bi & Pan Speed-Dating 30's & 40's
7:00 pm / Remnant Brewing (Somerville) / $35
Join Skip the Small talk’s first ever polyamorous speed-dating event for folks in their 30’s and 40’s of all genders who are interested in dating folks of all genders! Like the other speed-dating events hosted by skip the small talk, this event will feature conversation prompts designed to get past "small talk" and into conversations about stuff you actually care about.
Thurs. 1/6: KINK: SIN'SUAL
7:00 pm / Virtual / $0-10
This monthly erotic skill share includes topics such as: kink, leather, BDSM, healthy relationships, spirituality, self care, and much more. This event is open only to the BIPOC LGBTQ+ community.
Thurs. 1/6: ASEXUALITY: Virtual Happy Hour
7:00 pm / Location visible to members / Free!
Join the New England Aces for a virtual, drink optional happy hour. At this event, you have the opportunity to meet other local asexual folks!
Thurs. 1/6: LGBTQ+: Queeraoke
10:00 pm / Midway Café (JP) / $8
Every Thursday night, join for singing, dancing, drinking and fun with your queer community. Proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test required. 21+.
Sat. 1/8: POLYAM: Poly Lunch: Tasty, Accessible, Friendly Conversation
1:00 pm / Malden, MA / Free!
Come meet other polyamorous folks at this lunch and chat, where the group will have a semi-private section of the restaurant to eat and mingle. Closeted and open polyamorous folks alike are encouraged to attend.
Sun. 1/9: BISEXUAL: Bi+ Crafternoon
2:00 pm / Virtual / Free!
Join the Bi+ Community to craft with other bi folks using your own paints, yarn, beads, crayons, origami, embroidery, or any other crafty goodness that you enjoy or want to try. This is a great space to connect and chat with other bi+ folks to start off 2022.
Mon. 1/10: RELATIONSHIPS: Stuck on You: Understanding Attachment in Dynamics
10:00 pm / Virtual/ $15-35
Join this webinar to learn about attachment styles, their formation in childhood, and how to use this information to create and maintain healthy relationships in adulthood. BDSM educator, author, and life coach Devyn Stone will present on this topic and emphasize how attachment is intertwined with interdependence and codependency.
Tues. 1/11: RACE: Race and Gender/Sexuality
1:00 pm / Virtual / Free!
Join this discussion on the intersectionality of race and LGTBQIA2S+ identities to learn about the gender, sexuality, and queerness spectrums as well as how to cultivate safer spaces.
Tues. 1/11: KINK: Playing with F-Words (Fear Play) with Ignixia
7:00 pm / Virtual / $10-20
In this class, folks will discuss the four response types to fear and how to use fear when creating incticing scenes. The class will cover how to ensure that fun and games don’t cross the line into abuse and psychological trauma. Hosted by Ignixia, an internationally renowned professional kink educator.
Tues. 1/11: COMMUNITY: Pleasure Pie Office Hours
7:30 pm / Virtual / Free!
Join your friendly neighborhood sexual justice advocates and writers of this very newsletter, Pleasure Pie, for our January Office Hours! This is a space where you can ask us questions and hear about what we're up to (our current projects and goals, etc.). Also, if you're an aspiring sex educator and would like to ask questions about that, we are happy to offer guidance and resources.
Wed. 1/12: POLYAM: Boston Queer Polyamorous Women’s Group
7:00 pm / Davis Square (Somerville) / Free!
The “Second Wednesday Social” for queer, polyamorous women has been meeting for over 15 years and is open to LGBTQ+ women who participate in consensual non-monogamy (as well as the polycurious!).
1/12-16: TRANS: TCNE’s First Event 2022
Boston Park Plaza Hotel (Back Bay) / $40-330
First Event, hosted by Trans Community of New England (TCNE), is one of the longest running conferences in the U.S. for transgender and gender expansive people and those who love and support them. After 1 year off due to COVID-19, this conference is back for the 41st time in 2022, offering a full conference package or “à la carte” sessions.
Fri. 1/14: TOPIC: Xmortis Future Past
9:00 pm / Xmortis (Cambridge) / $13-15
A night of partying to old school goth, industrial, deathrock & darkwave in your best gothic and fetish attire. Please bring proof of COVID vaccination to be admitted in. Masks must be worn for all indoor activities (except actively eating or drinking), including ordering at a bar or dancing.
Sat. 1/15: PLEASURE: Fingerb!ng: Master the Hand Jive
12:30 pm / Virtual / $20-40
This masterclass will cover the many ways to put your fingers inside of someone with a vulva. There are many tried and true techniques, tips, and tricks for achieving someone else’s internal and external pleasure. There will be a heavy emphasis on the art of communication when it comes to making a lover feel safe, comfortable, and valued to understand what type of approach is best for your partner.
Sat. 1/15: KINK: Kink Educator - From Hobbyist to Pro
6:00 pm / Virtual / $20
In this class, instructors will cover how to go from skill instruction and demos to class creation, and how to promote yourself and maintain work as a professional BDSM and kink educator.
Sun. 1/16: ASEXUALITY: Monthly Aces Social
2:00 pm / Virtual / Free!
A space to meet other Boston-area aces (people on the asexual spectrum). It will start with a small group discussion on an asexuality-related topic, and then open up to a less structured whole-group chat.
Mon. 1/17: TRANS: Victory Programs Black, Indigenous, and Trans Folks of Color Drop-in Space
5:00 pm / Boston Living Center (Back Bay) / Free!
The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is hosting a drop in affinity space for trans people of color. The hybrid (virtual and in-person) space is intended for folks to drop in and out bimonthly to talk and connect with others, watch movies or shows, play games and discuss various topics.
Thurs. 1/20: LGBTQ+: Monogamous Bi & Pan Speed-Dating 30's & 40's
7:00 pm / Remnant Brewing (Somerville) / $35
Join Skip the Small talk’s monogamous speed-dating event for folks in their 30’s and 40’s of all genders who are interested in dating folks of all genders! Like the other speed-dating events hosted by skip the small talk, this event will feature conversation prompts designed to get past "small talk" and into conversations about stuff you actually care about.
Fri. 1/21: TANTRA: The Art of Conscious Connection for Couples
7:00 pm / Best Self Studio (Waltham) / $70-90
The Best Self Studio invites participants to spend a fun, relaxing evening to learn about the Tantric approach to sexuality. This educational date night will be filled with discussions, meditations, guided activities, and meaningful communication games while learning how to be more conscious, connected, and present to your partner.
Sat. 1/22: LGBTQ+: For Queer Immigrants and their Loved Ones
6:30 pm / Virtual / Free!
Join this two part peer-led support space for queer immigrants and their loved ones. The first session will cover the intersections of queerness and immigrant status, particularly through the framework of queerphobia as a colonial legacy, and hold space for folks to share their own experiences.
Mon. 1/24: DANCE: Queer Tango Boston
6:30 pm / Center for Arts at the Armory (Somerville) / $20
Join these weekly queer tango classes including all-level to advanced classes as well as a half hour of informal dancing.
Tues. 1/25: KINK: Foot Domination & Jobs with theDommeKat
7:00 pm / Virtual / $10-20
Learn ways to dominate using your feet including harder and softer sides of foot fetishes: from foot rubs and worship to choking and trampling. This class is designed for people looking to incorporate foot play for the first time, as well as those who are looking to up their foot game.
Wed. 1/26: HEALTH: Something Positive for Positive People: Minimizing STI Stigma with Intentionally Inclusive Education
7:00 pm / Virtual / $30
This talk will present the findings from the Something Positive for Positive People podcast including: non-inclusive STD prevention efforts; direct experiences with navigating stigma; and communication skills that can be integrated into the CDC’s recommended prevention efforts.
Thurs. 1/27: PERIODS: Mujeres and Menstruators United Coalition Kickoff
6:00 pm / Virtual / Free!
Join the kick off convening of Mujeres and Menstruators United (MAMU): a new coalition to convene menstrual activists from across the country to strengthen the movement to end period poverty. At bimonthly coalition meetings, folks will share resources from menstrual activists on the ground working to pass period policy on the local level and organize our collective power to pass the Menstrual Equity for All Act in Congress.
1/27-28: SEX ED: Sexuality Liberators and Movers (S.L.A.M.) 4 Youth Conference
Virtual / $75-250
S.L.A.M. is a virtual sexuality education conference that centers contributions, experiences, and expertise of educators of color. They challenge the isms and institutions that keep sex education white-washed, stigmatizing and ineffective. Join esteemed sex educators, therapists,and clinicians for two-days of critical youth centric skill building workshops.
Mon. 1/31: LGBTQ+: Skip the Small Talk at Trident Books: LGBTQIA+ Speed-Friending
7:00 pm / Trident Books (Back Bay) / $16.50
Speed-friending: it’s like speed-dating, but for friends! If you are looking for more LGBTQ+ friends in your life, this event is a great place to find them. Featuring structured conversation topics designed to get past "small talk" with strangers and into meaningful conversations, and potentially friendships!
|
|
Educate: Apply to give a workshop at local queer community center Haus of Threes. They're looking for anything from performance, to sex ed, to arts, to community organizing, to language, to business skills, etc.
Divest: Do you have a bank account with a bank that doesn't share your values? Big banks like Bank of America are notoriously unethical. Consider making it a point this month to find a bank or credit union that you feel good about supporting and moving your money to them.
Speaking of divesting: Are you familiar with BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions)? The BDS movement fights Israel's oppression of Palestine by calling for people and countries (etc.) to refrain from supporting Israel. BDS is currently calling for a boycott of HP, Puma, SodaStream, Sabra Hummus, and Pillsbury. Learn more about BDS and what you can do to support Palestinian rights here.
Don’t live in Boston? Make a sex-positive newsletter for your city or community! We made this how-to guide.
|
|
|
Jobs in the Sexuality Field
|
|
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers free counseling for people who have been sexually assaulted (and their loved ones).
The Network / La Red provides support for people experiencing relationship abuse.
Planned Parenthood's Sexual Health Counseling & Referral hotline is 877-686- 5772, option #3.
AIDS Action offers free STI testing in Boston and Cambridge. Registration required.
|
The Transgender Emergency Fund offers financial assistance to transgender residents of Massachusetts who need it.
THRIVE Clinic at Harbor Health offers free HIV testing in Dorchester on Wednesdays. They also offer free family planning counseling, menstrual supplies, and more. Reservations are available & walk-ins welcome.
The Sexual Freedom Legal Defense and Education Fund helps people with alternative sexual lifestyles.
Here's a list of culturally competent local resources for LGBTQ survivors.
|
|
Call for submissions: Bi Women Quarterly is accepting writing and art submissions from bisexual/pansexual/etc. women on a rolling basis.
Podcast recommendation: The Sex Ed of Blackfolk (TSOB) is a podcast on race and sexuality. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts.
Conference proposal: The Woodhull Sexual Freedom Summit is planned for this August somewhere near Maryland (road trip!). They're accepting proposals for workshops and panel discussions on all things related to sexual freedom. Proposals are due 2/14.
Want to know how this newsletter started? Here's a page on our website all about it!
Thinking of supporting this newsletter? Fantastic! You can donate via Venmo @NicoleMaz. Thank you very much!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
