It’s time to register for Kollege... Kinky Kollege! A Pansexual BDSM Institute of Higher Yearning September 19 to 21, 2008 - Chicago, IL Register NOW! Kinky Kollege 2008 has a NEW Kurriculum and Kampus! This Kollege semester will be the biggest & BEST ever! Our new Kampus will feature: A 26,000 SQ Ft Play Space – 5 Times larger than last year's! New This Year – Separate Men-Only Dungeon World Class 4-Star Luxury Hotel Special Low Hotel Room Rates for our Group Huge 4000 Sq Ft. of shopping in our new Kinky Vendor Marketplace New & fresh Klasses from 101 to PhD World Renowned Kinky Educators from all over the USA Kick-Off Frat Party Freshman Orientation Play Space Tours Kollege Kafeteria – Great food served hot Don't miss out on this great pansexual education and play weekend! Register at: www.kinkykollege.com

States Condemn Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

(New York, June 6, 2008) - The General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, taking a crucial step to end the silence around violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Americas, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on OAS member governments to ensure that the resolution is implemented in their countries, and to continue their support for sexual rights internationally.

The governing body of MAsT:International has published a mission statement and and statement of core values. These documents apply to all chapters of MAsT:International and have been endorsed and adopted by MAsT:Twin Cities

The entire text is posted here for the information of the community.

The ABCs of sexual orientation
By Hardy Haberman - Contributing Columnist
Apr 17, 2008 - 3:42:36 PM

From LGBT to BDSM, sexual identity is about a life, not a lifestyle

Sometimes I think we could drown in the alphabet soup in which we live.

First there was GL, or LG for Lesbian-Gay. Then it was expanded to LGBT, a term I often have to explain is not a sandwich, but means Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender.

Then comes the whole world of leather and fetish, to which I belong as well, and you have BDSM, or SMBD as some folks prefer. Either way it stands for Bondage-Dominance-Sadomasochism, or as some prefer, Bondage Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadomasochism and Master-slave.

It’s all very confusing and for an old fossil like me; I just like to abbreviate it to kinky.

Now, I understand that kink is not everyone’s cup of tea, and you can take that however you wish. But it raises an important question: What is and what is not “sexual orientation”?

For me, I believe my kink is a big part of my sexuality, and as such, it’s part of who I am. In fact, most of the books I have written dwell at length on that issue since it is the one that always prompts the most questions when I am speaking to various groups.

Do You Belong in the BDSM Community?
By Sensuous Sadie

A while back, my dear friend Graham bestowed upon me his entire collection of kinky toys. Some of it I already had such as the crops and cuffs, but a few items were wonderfully new: a horsehair flogger and a round passing chain, so heavy yet cool against my skin. I was surprised that he would give all this away, after all you never know when the need might arise. And then, I wonder how it is that anyone can come into the scene and go back out. My BDSM orientation is like being lesbian; it’s hard wired in. I figure by the time you actually have a locked chest in your livingr oom filled with leather accouterments, you pretty much have committed yourself to the lifestyle.

Graham has often said that he felt a bit false in the scene, maybe didn’t belong there, a belief which he bases on the behavior he observed at public events. The Dominants who clearly couldn’t control themselves, much less anyone else; the emotional dramas played out from weekend to weekend; and of course the usual smarmy politicking and gossiping. Unfortunately, I can’t really disagree with any of that.

This was posted to the South Plains Leather Fest yahoo group as something given when the poster was given his first leather. It is posted here as a tool for people to use.

The following is extracted from the Second Life Herald, a publication devoted to the online game Second Life. It is posted here to reflect one person's opinion with regard to the differences between cyber BDSM and what they see as the "material" world of BDSM. It is provided solely as the opinion of one person with regard to this topic

Kinky Demographics of SL BDSM Community

Why do virtual Doms accumulate a fleet of subs?

by Victorria Paine

To the consternation of some residents, alternative lifestyles featuring some element of what falls under the umbrella term "BDSM" are very common in SL, and much more "in the open" than in the material world. While the presence of this community, and its visibility in particular, has created controversies among SL participants, as someone who has had experiences in the material world community as well as the virtual one, it's been very interesting to note some of the differences and distinctions between the two communities. It's helped me to understand some of the real benefits of the virtual alternative community, as well as some of its serious dysfunctionalities.

There seems to be a feeling by some, that "love" lessens dominance.
That tenderness equates somehow with a lessened sense of "Mastery".
Rubbish. Dominance and submission are emotional states, constantly in
flux within a relationship. They may be aided by physical play such
as SM, but I need never lift a hand to be dominant.

Being someone’s submissive is a gift, gifts are given freely, therefore when I give myself to the one whom I chose to follow, and it is freely and willingly. In return for my gift, the one to whom I pledge my gift will protect, nurture and cherish me.

Domination/submission...what it means to me
by
phoenix

After visiting sites that have to do with the Dominant/submissive relationship, and comparing them with my life experience, I have found the following. If “vanilla” relationships followed the example of this lifestyle there would be less dishonesty, less unhappiness and fewer breakups. To me, this lifestyle demonstrates those most important attributes that keep a relationship strong; it is safe, sane and consensual.