Conversio Virium

TES Meeting: Body Image Forum moderated by Sir Guy

Lest you think the BDSM and other alternative sexuality crowds are immune to mainstream influences and societal pressures, just take one good look around you at the media that’s marketed to us and the things we talk about. The fact is, members of fringe cultures like ours still face the same struggles as people firmly rooted in the center of the mainstream.

Furthermore, people face such issues regardless of their gender identity or sexuality; men have body image issues as do women, and tops, dominants, submissives, and bottoms all often struggle with reconciling an idealized image of sexuality with what they personally find to be comfortable and enjoyable.

This week’s general-attendance TES meeting is the “Body Image Forum” a panel moderated by Sir Guy:

A long willowy blonde with legs up to there, clad in skin tight leather, clutching a bullwhip. A muscular, tan and teasing 20 something with a firm butt protruding through black leather chaps. The tiny Asian, bound in colorful ropes, with nary an ounce of fat on her flexible little limbs. These are the images often seen in magazines and films of BDSM practioners. But is this reality? Is there pressure, even within the community, to conform to these images of young, lithe, totally fit practitioners of BDSM and fetish? Join Sir Guy and the panel as we explore body image in the Scene.

Sir Guy has a proven track record of bringing intelligent, thought-provoking discussion to the forefront of the kinky community (like his recent People of Color Forum) and I would just like to take this opportunity to applaud his persistence in bringing even more of these important issues to light!

(Do you know of an event that you don’t see on our calendar and want to share? Please send it in!)

Polyamorous NYC: Exploring Intimacy in Poly Relationships with Kyle Applegate

Just in time to help spread some Holiday love around the table this year Polyamorous NYC is having their regularly-scheduled monthly meeting hosted by the good folks at the LGBT Center. The invitation from Polyamorous NYC‘s announcement list (which I encourage you to sign up for) reads as follows:

If you are in town and are wondering were to go the night before Thanksgiving Day […] I would like to officially invite you to the next Polyamorous NYC meeting on Wednesday, November 21^st from 8–10 PM at the LGBT Center at 208 West 13^th Street, room 412. Admission is $6.00.

The topic will be: “Exploring Intimacy in Poly Relationships,” facilitated by Kyle Applegate.

[…]

“What is unique about intimacy in polyamorous relationships, that doesn’t apply in monogamous ones? Why are poly people often accused of having a fear of intimacy? Does having several partners detract from your level of closeness, or add to it?”

Facilitator Kyle Applegate, is a certified Tantric Coach and Sexual Healer as well as being a Peer/Community Educator specializing in gender studies and diversity awareness. Kyle is also a long-time member of the polyamorous community.

Kyle Applegate isn’t just a generous volunteer for Polyamorous NYC, Tantric Coach, and successful polyamorous community member, but some Conversio Virium members will also recognize him as a fantastic bootblack and volunteer member of events such as Leather Pride Night. Kyle has years of experience and coupled with his great leadership ability this is a meeting I would personally highly recommend.