Conversio Virium

Film Opening: Sex Positive – The Richard Berkowitz Story

On June 12^th, the S&M and sexuality documentary film Sex Positive—The Richard Berkowitz Story opens at the Quad Cinema on 13^th Street here in Manhattan. David Oliver Cohen, the film’s producer, wrote to CV to tell us a little about the film:

The film explores the origins of safe sex through the eyes of Richard Berkowitz, a former S&M sex worker turned AIDS activist and writer.

The film is an essential educational tool for younger generations who have no real concept of how safe sex came about during the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. Richard Berkowitz is credited as co-writing the first safe sex manual in the world, “How to Have Sex in an Epidemic,” with activist Michael Callen. Richard is still around and is actively spreading his message about safe sex.

There is a large portion of the film that deals directly with Richard’s work as a dominant-for-hire.

(Emphasis added.)

I first heard about this documentary when Clarisse Thorn published her interview with the star and brought up the very good point, what does it mean to be sex positive? Safer sex practices such as the use of condoms were not always so endearingly looked upon as symbols of sex positive activism. In fact, decades ago, the opposite was true and sex involving physical barriers was exceptionally stigmatized.

As David says, the film Sex Positive is an exceptional educational tool because it documents the history of how we got to where we are. I’d encourage you to see and support the film, watch the trailer, and maybe even bring your friends along and start a discussion about sex positivity.

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

Lesbian Sex Mafia: Spanking Techniques from Sensual to Discipline with Lady Sabrina

In a few weeks, the Lesbian Sex Mafia will be hosting Lady Sabrina as she teaches us about the intricacies of spanking.

Some people think of spanking as the least challenging of BDSM skills, requiring the least knowledge. It’s not flamboyant like singletails or edgy like knife play so it can’t be as exciting. However, in the proper hands, spanking can be a slow, sensuous climb to orgasm or a sharp, harsh discipline. It can be used to create a loving, hands-on scene, reduce the strongest person to tears or re-create a cherished fantasy.

Lady Sabrina will show how spanking can be a valuable tool in your arsenal as she discusses the different styles of spanking, value of role play, safety and use of toys.

Where: The LGBT Center, 208 West 13th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues

Cost: $5 for members; $10 for non-members

About Lady Sabrina

Lady Sabrina has been a member of the BDSM community for over 15 years presenting for TES, Knot4Everyone, DSF, Black Rose, John Jay College, PEP and others. A BDSM educator, she’s presented on such topics as Designing Protocols, slave training, scene etiquette, flogging, hot wax, Basic Dom Skills, etc. and has acted as an informal Mentor to many in the scene.

Having a love of paddles, floggers and books, Lady Sabrina supports her habit by selling BDSM gear and fetish wear at events like Folsom Street and Leatherfest through her business, My Lady’s Toys.

Lady Sabrina is currently on the Boards of TES, NY Leather Weekend,MAsT Metro NY, Cercle des Dommes and East Coast Leather Town Hall.She’s also a member of ONYX Pearls, LPN, SCONY and FM Masters. Lady Sabrina is honored to be the recipient of the 2008 Pantheon of Leather Northeast Regional Award.

About Lesbian Sex Mafia

Lesbian Sex Mafia is a social and educational organization for women and transfolk (see membership description below) 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 www.lesbiansexmafia.org.