Thank you Pride

I am so glad I volunteered for the Pride Parade here in Edmonton.
This was my first Pride Parade. Up north the city refuses a parade permit, and so far no one has fought it. I admit, it never occurred to me to take a role in this and help organize one anyway.
When I volunteered for the parade, I was still seeing myself as hetero, with a dose of being comfy with women and their bodies. I have, till now, been in long term, monogamous relationships with men. I did not volunteer for my own sexuality, but because I believe that sexual autonomy is a human right, that being able to take joy in your sexuality is part of being a healthy human being. I am passionate about sexuality.

The point was to support something that celebrates sexuality.
Then, I was there. Surrounded by people of ALL TYPES of sexuality. Working with people from all backgrounds, religions, lifestyles, genders, sexualities and oh my flipping gawd.. it was amazing.

I realized ... This parade is not just for those who identify as being part of the sexualities included in "quiltbag". This parade is for everyone.

It is for the very JOY of sexuality, that we each can walk our own path and find someone to walk with us. That we can express ourselves in a way that is fundamental to who we are, not in a prescribed way.
It is a celebration for the folk who have fought tooth and nail for the right to love in ways that fulfill them. It is pride in our bodies, pride in our relationships, pride in our gender, pride in our individual ways of expressing our sexuality.
This parade was for all of us. The parade advocates for public awareness that love, sexuality, gender-these things are fluid, they are personal and they are as varied as the colours of a rainbow, with the divisions between labels being a bit blurry. The parade advocates for honest and proud sexual education for children, for challenging societal views of 'normal', for creating space that is SAFE to stand up and say, "This is me. I love me.".
I was absolutely astounded by the church floats, the religious groups that came out to publicly support Pride. I was shocked to see TD, RBC, Home Depot, Winners and other large businesses not only taking part, but singing, dancing, and PROUD to be there.
There was close to a hundred thousand people there. It was a family friendly event with loot being handed out, people singing, laughing, smiling, cheering and demonstrating that sexuality is not something to be hidden, shamed, criminalized-it is part of humanity. That from whatever part of the spectrum you are on, be it highly sexual to asexual, be it from straight to gay, your sexuality is YOURS, unique to you and that is fantastic.

Thank you to the folk who made this event happen, to those who work so hard to ensure that it continues, year after year.

Update on Sex Positive Centre

Update: Sex Positive Centre

What this is about.

There has been some discussion going on here about a sex positive space here in Edmonton.
Initially the conversation centered around having a space in which playing (dungeon) and sex could both be permitted. The conversation continued to include some community minded ideas of supporting our larger community, not merely making a fuck friendly dungeon-which is exciting!

What Is Happening:

There is a highly motivated group of persons who are working their backsides off to create a Centre for Sex Positive Education and Events.
This space will ideally (still viewing spaces, but so far looks good):

• Have a suitable space for groups to book for meets (up to 25 people) with or without kitchen access.
• Have suitable space for small workshops (up to 30 people), Larger workshops (up to 100 people)
• Be membership based. Members will have access to workshops hosted by the centre and reduced rates for parties and events hosted by the centre.
• Be volunteer based. Volunteers will be able to choose their availability. Their services and time will be rewarded with passes to events/workshops/training etc.
• Be inclusive. This means that the centre will welcome and strive to be supportive to persons of all sexualities, all genders, and all backgrounds.
• Have a play space that is used for parties and available to book for other communities and their events. This play space will, depending on the event, permit sexual activity.
• Endeavor to work with the existing communities and those that are formed, in order to be supportive and inclusive.
• Host fundraisers for sex positive communities in Alberta
• Include a dungeon, social areas, kitchen, gender neutral bathrooms and showers, water sports areas, meeting rooms and lockers.
• Host nights that are exclusive to certain groups (and their guests) as part of creating a safe space. (Example, having a night that is for Transgender folk and their guests only, or an event that is for Pups and their Handlers. These groups will be organized by persons who are part of those groups with our support.)
• Have strict policies governing behaviour with a zero tolerance policy for bullying, harassment and so on. Racist,sexist, homophobic, heterophobic, bi-phobic, gender-phobic, leather-phobic, sex-phobic, size-phobic, ageist or other prejudiced remarks and attitudes will not be tolerated.
• Have strict rules governing sanitation of play areas including clearly identified zones in which wet play and condom free play etc are permitted.
• Follow the laws and regulations as they apply to our adult members only center.
• Participate in fundraising for non profit organizations.
• We are looking at contracting out the kitchen space. Interested? Contact us!

What you can do as an individual

• Volunteer!
• Make Suggestions
• Share your concerns
• Share with persons on and off Fetlife so that as many people as possible can give input.

If you would like to help, or take part is some way, or suggest resources, groups to contact, volunteer, etc please contact me. aropedeevil@gmail.com

Are you a Group Leader?

If you are a group lead and are interested in utilizing this space, let us know what will work for you (space requirements, what sort of fee structure works for you ETC). We want this centre to HELP the existing groups thrive by providing a venue that is suitable for use by many. None of us claim to know what the various groups and clubs need-we need your input now!

Also...

This is not MY exclusive club. This is a group venture, I am just the one gathering public input on Fetlife. Don't want to talk to me? You can message Veronica-Lodge or Firm-Hand-Buddha Or Missy77889 or Kinky_Carpenter .