Ticket Cap Reminder

With cold and flu season rapidly approaching (if it isn’t already here), we want to remind you that in the months of December, January, and February we will be capping parties at 100 tickets. This is especially important for the parties that sell out consistently — looking at you, Fresh Meet and LaQueer — and will also mean that parties that don’t usually sell out might do so in these months! We encourage you to grab tickets early if you want to attend parties, and take advantage of the Ticket Transfers channel in the Discord server if you are looking for last-minute tickets or want to offload tickets you bought. 

Another great way to get into parties is to become a volunteer and sign up for events! You can find more about how to get started as a volunteer on our website. Please note that the volunteer approval process is not instantaneous, so get started soon so you’ll be ready to go when your favorite party hits the calendar. You have to have an active membership in order to volunteer, so make sure you’re up to date before you submit your volunteer application. 

Lastly, thank y’all so much for continuing to stay home when you’re not feeling well. It’s a huge bummer to miss a party, but we see everyone taking the necessary steps to protect yourselves and each other, and the community is a lot better for it. 

Stay safe and stay sexy, even in the depths of cold and flu season! 

Event Arrivals and Departures

Arrival Reminder

When attending an event with a New Member Orientation (NMO), please be aware of your impact. If you arrive while the NMO is still in progress, keep noise levels to a minimum. Talk only as loud as necessary to complete registration. 

Once you move from the registration area to the main area, please wait quietly for the NMO to end. Save conversation for when the event has started or take it outside the building. 

If the downstairs is open, you may proceed there to socialize, put your items in lockers, or use the restrooms. Please be aware that play is not permitted before the event start time and that early admittance to the downstairs is not always possible due to the demands of setup. 

Members are welcome to attend NMO with a regular member ticket, just let the registration volunteer know that you are a member so they can look for your name on the correct registration list.

End of Event Reminder

All play should wrap up at least 15 minutes prior to the end of the event. Attendees should be ready to exit the building by the event’s listed end time.

The only people remaining in the building after the listed end time should be volunteers involved in strike, trash removal, or with Event Coordinator permission, such as attendees waiting in the reception area for their transportation to arrive or to provide transportation for a volunteer. 

This is not a new rule, rather it is a return to enforcing our already existing policy. Thank you for your understanding.

Broaden Your Mind

Other Community Events to Enjoy!

The CSPC throws amazing parties and hosts many important discussions on various topics. But luckily, we live in a place where there are many more options to dive into sex- and body-positive culture. The list below is just a sampling of some great events coming up in the next month.

We include non-CSPC events in every issue. If you have an event suggestion or feedback from a past event you’ve attended, please email Marissa at newsletter@thecspc.org and it might make it into our next issue!

Editor’s note for all events*

As a reminder, these are non-CSPC events. We include them as a way to open your mind to other experiences, but we have no control over them, their content, or their missions. We encourage you to vet other organizations to see if they are places you would feel comfortable, and we appreciate feedback if we have listed an organization/event that does not appear to share CSPC values.

November 20

Seattle Pride | Transgender Day of Remembrance (free | in person)

Presented by UTOPIA Washington, Seattle Pride, and Green River College. Join us as we honor our trans and gender-diverse siblings whose lives were taken too soon by anti-trans violence and systemic harm. This event will feature an all-trans lineup of performers who will guide us through a powerful celebration of trans lives, resilience, and community.

November 22

Pan Eros | Stronger Than You Think: A workshop on CBT in a kink context ($40+ | in person)

Having conducted field research on cock and ball torture (CBT) for nearly 50 years, Daniel presents their non-scientific findings for your consideration and entertainment. This workshop will include a survey of cock and ball bondage, different methods of torture and CBT safety considerations as well as a brief overview of a few of the off-the-shelf CBT toys commonly available.

November 22

SEA-PAH | Best in Show! (free | in person)

Best In Show returns! Our dog show style fundraising event is back on Saturday, November 22nd at The Lumber Yard! Pups and Handlers compete in a series of challenges in front of a panel of esteemed judges. But the audience can “bribe” (donate money) to change the score of their favorite contestants. The money raised from this event goes to benefit Lambert House.

December 1

Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center | World AIDS Day Fundraiser (free | in person)

Join us on Monday, December 1 for the 22nd Annual Stronger Together: World AIDS Day Event at Centilia Cultural Center. Gather in community and remembrance of those lost to AIDS-related complications while celebrating how far we have come and looking to a future that's stronger than HIV.

December 6

Pan Eros | More Holes in Friends, Uping the Intensity: Stacking, twisting, and tying off needles ($30+ | in person)

During this class we will learn specific intermediate needle techniques through some lecture and hands-on practice. Students need to have a basic understanding of piercing and blood-safety precautions, these will not be covered in this class. Experience piercing in a shallow and a deep manner will be a helpful skill to have prior to taking this class. We will cover stacking needles and making “buttons,” tying and corseting needles, and making needles more intense during penetration, while under the skin, and during removal.

December 9–11

The Beacon Cinema | Bye Bye Love ($15 | in person)

Lost and nihilistic drifter Utamaro chances upon Giko, a female-presenting shoplifter who immediately catches his eye. One thing leads to another and the couple soon find themselves on the lam for murder. This provides for a delightful pretext to explore notions of societal malaise, free love and gender fluidity in a rapidly evolving 1970s Japan, as both Utamaro and Giko begin to know each other on the road by way of a variety of encounters, alternating between surrealistic, psychedelic and sexual.

December 11

Theatre Off Jackson | Revelry!: A Night Of Drag And Other Shenanigans ($35+ | in person)

Help us ring (and sing!) in the holidays with a one night only variety show featuring drag, music, dance and campy surprises. Have your picture taken with a not-so-nice Santa and participate in some of our opt-in games. Cash bar and concessions will be available throughout the night.  This event is come-as-you-are casual, but festive attire is highly encouraged! All proceeds benefit Lambert House LGBTQ+ Youth Center in Seattle.

December 14

EnFemme: A Sissy Sioree ($35+ | in person)

Come one, come all to the pinkest and frilliest party of the year! Come celebrate all things sissy with us! From the folx who brought you Diapers and Drinks, YML, Dom(me)icile, and The Clubhouse, we have a new event up and coming. En Femme: A Sissy Soiree is a celebration of all things feminine, frilly, soft, poofy, and joyous! This is a social mixer with light BDSM play allowed. Think light spankings for the naughty and service for the maids. Admirers might be able to find a special sissy to coo over as well!

So You Want to Be a Board Member?

By Skitty

Fantastic! The Center for Sex Positive Culture needs you. You are the Center. The Board is always looking for folx who want to step up, take on more responsibility, and help chart a path forward for this organization that we all love so passionately. To assist with getting you more involved, here are some things you should know.

Why does the CSPC have a Board of Directors?

The Center for Sex Positive Culture is a 501(c)(7) nonprofit, operated in a manner consistent with maintaining that tax-exempt status. We are a membership-based community center for the benefit of sex-positive culture, focusing on Seattle and the surrounding areas. Here is our mission statement:

• The Center for Sex Positive Culture creates spaces to celebrate, develop, and explore sexuality and sensuality among a diverse, supportive community.

We are required to have a working Board of Directors, including the Executive Offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, with a minimum of seven Directors. We may also have up to two Community Directors (chosen by Membership).

What do individual Board Members do?

• Board members typically volunteer between 10 and 40 hours per week, on top of attending events and any other volunteer roles they take on (such as EC, Champion, Online Host, etc.). 

• Basic duties include:

• participating in weekly Board video calls

• preparing for, and attendance at, the monthly Board Meeting

• engaging in a yearly Board Retreat (intensive, day-long work meeting)

• serving on committees and disappearing task forces (DTFs)(e.g., building committee, document creation/revision DTF)

• managing special initiatives

• participating in fundraising by volunteering as staff, donating or procuring items, or making financial contributions

• directing recurring seasonal events (e.g., CSPC Pride, the Frolic)

• attending/leading one-on-one and small group meetings

• answering emails — so many emails!

• writing reports, creating documents, compiling spreadsheets

• monitoring CSPC social media, engaging when necessary, and keeping a professional tone and attitude

• liaising with other organizations and individuals sharing a similar or related mission

• Executive Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer) and Division Directors (Events, HR, Operations, and Communications) all handle a ton more responsibilities related to their role, contributing many additional volunteer hours per week.

• All Board Members are expected to take on an initiative of their choosing, or a Directorship, or an Executive Office, after a few months of settling in and getting a feel for the basic responsibilities of being a Board Member.

What qualifications does a person need in order to be a Board Member?

There is a lot of flexibility with respect to the qualifications required to be a Board Member. This is on purpose — to help remove barriers and promote diversity in leadership. That said, a few things are necessary.

All Board Members must be willing to:

• consistently devote productive time to the CSPC

• maintain communication with the other Directors

• serve the three-year term for which they have been elected

• allow their full legal name to be made available in public record

• provide their current address, phone numbers, and email address to the Board

• fill out a conflict of interest form, understand the implications of their personal, financial, and other volunteer relationships, and be willing to answer questions about those relationships

• maintain an active CSPC membership

• execute the documentation required for membership and Board participation

Recommended qualifications:

• minimum one year of active CSPC membership

• extensive volunteer experience within the CSPC, including leadership positions (demonstrates characteristics required for successful Board participation)

• periodic attendance at Board Meetings (demonstrates an interest in, and understanding of, the workings of the CSPC)

• work experience relevant to the role of Board Member

• volunteer experience outside of the CSPC

• education, apprenticeships, certifications (in whatever — all of these really do count!)

• life experience and the ability to demonstrate how that is applicable

What are the characteristics of a successful Board Member?

The CSPC is a diverse community and so are Board Members. That said, there are a number of characteristics needed to be successful and effective:

• consistently demonstrate a solid understanding and application of consent culture, commitment to consent culture, and a willingness to engage in ongoing consent education

• demonstrate an impeccable practice of confidentiality

• behave with emotional intelligence

• when applicable, disagree productively in the appropriate venue

• ability to collaborate and communicate electronically or have a willingness to learn how to use Proton, Google Drive, docs, spreadsheets, forms, etc.

• consistently represent the organization, adhering to the mission statement and House Rules

• think and act independently

• be highly motivated

• be reliable

• be dependable

• follow through on commitments, responsibilities, and projects

What else do I need to know before applying?

Volunteering as a Board Member is an enormous responsibility. It is not for the faint of heart. You will be a public-facing representative of the organization, both within our events, and outside of the community. Much of your work will go unrecognized and will often be criticized. There will be much you cannot speak about publicly — ever. It will change the way you interact with the rest of the community. Some of the things you can do as a regular Member, you cannot do as a Board Member. For your entire term, and quite a while after that, everything you do or say will be interpreted (rightly or wrongly) as coming from “the Board.” It is, at times, exhausting.

All that said, being a Board Member is an honor and a privilege. It is an opportunity to connect with membership in a unique way, and provides a profound opportunity to shape and change the organization. It is an act of service that will forever change you and the way you view this beloved community.

What is the application process?

• Reread the above information and consider whether this is the right time for you to put your name forward. We will always need new Board Members — next month, next year, next decade… There is no rush. 

• Engage with current and/or past Board Members, asking them about their experiences and any questions you may have.

• Fill out the Google Form.

• Include some sort of résumé. This can be along the lines of a customary business résumé or some other format that provides information as to your skills and experience relevant to the work of a Board Member. If this, or any aspect of the application process is preventing you from putting your name forward for consideration, please let us know. Assistance can be provided or accommodations made.

• Demonstrate your ability to represent the community in a respectful, informed, and civil manner. This includes the ways you interact with others at CSPC events, on social media, and in the surrounding sex-positive community.

• Demonstrate your ability to lead by becoming more involved: 

• If you haven’t already, volunteer to take on other leadership positions within the CSPC. If you are not sure how, ask someone in leadership, preferably in the area that interests you the most.

• Check out our monthly Board Meetings and if applicable, participate during the attendee comments period. Get to know the inner workings of the organization, the Board Members, and help us get to know you and your vision of the CSPC.

What if this isn’t the right fit? How do I make a meaningful contribution to the organization?

Not everyone is best suited for the role of Board Member. Not everyone wants to serve on the Board. That doesn’t mean you can’t contribute to the CSPC in a substantial, meaningful, and enriching way. The CSPC needs volunteers in every capacity. If you see a need, bring forward your ideas of how you can make changes in the community.

Approach this as you would when considering a new play partner. Think about what you have to offer, what attracts you to the other person, what kind of play you are interested in, and then negotiate a scene or a relationship that can be enjoyable and fulfilling for both of you. As with play, you may not end up with the scene you first envisioned, but hopefully something even better!

Please direct questions and feedback arising from this article to: president@thecspc.org

Broaden Your Mind

Other Community Events to Enjoy!

The CSPC throws amazing parties and hosts many important discussions on various topics. But luckily, we live in a place where there are many more options to dive into sex- and body-positive culture. The list below is just a sampling of some great events coming up in the next month.

We include non-CSPC events in every issue. If you have an event suggestion or feedback from a past event you’ve attended, please email Marissa at newsletter@thecspc.org and it might make it into our next issue!

Editor’s note for all events*

As a reminder, these are non-CSPC events. We include them as a way to open your mind to other experiences, but we have no control over them, their content, or their missions. We encourage you to vet other organizations to see if they are places you would feel comfortable, and we appreciate feedback if we have listed an organization/event that does not appear to share CSPC values.

October 13

Stoup Brewing Capitol Hill | Board Gayme Night (free | in person)

A weekly meetup for the LGBTQIA+ community hosted by Seattle Gaymers.

October 16

Papaya Project | Sex Trivia ($12+ | in person)

This monthly event is the best way to learn about and celebrate pleasure, queerness, and the science of sex! We kick off the evening with a brief introduction, then dive right into sex trivia. All identities and backgrounds are welcome. Trivia questions cover a wide variety of sex and sexuality-related topics, so get ready to challenge yourself, learn something new, and have a good time. A portion of event tickets will be donated to the Gender Justice League.

October 16–19

Northwest Film Forum | Seattle Trans Underground Film Fest ($30+ | in person)

We have STUFF to show you! The first ever Seattle Trans Underground Film Fest is happening Thursday October 16th through Sunday the 19th, 2025. Full schedule, including more information on attending, ticketing, and screenings, will be announced in September. Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to stay up to date, and hear what else is coming at the Northwest Film Forum!

October 16 – Nov 8

Acrobatic Conundrum | THREADS ($25+ | in person)

Conundrum invites you into a tangled world, by turns emotive and exhilarating. Rope papers the walls, rope becomes an animate object in the hands of a clown, rope elevates dance-storytelling into the air. THREADS is a circus opus featuring six performers and a musician, an exploration of connection, love, and endings — a story strung with grace and daring that will leave you inspired and curiously alive.

October 18

Lesbian Chronicles LIVE ($33+ | in person)

The Lesbian Chronicles podcast hosts Alli and Melisa were both married to men and came out later in life. They will share relatable stories, interview a sex therapist and other special guests to answer your questions, and keep us entertained all night! Whether you're in the middle of navigating your own sexuality journey or just want to be in community with other queer women, this event is for you. Let's laugh, cry, and celebrate together. In addition to the event on Saturday, we've created optional events on Friday if you'd like more chances to meet new people!

October 20 – November 11

Beacon Cinema | Forget Everything, Adore Me, and Adore My Flesh: The Cinema of Monika Treut ($15 | in person)

Ever since the release of her debut feature Seduction: The Cruel Woman in 1985, Hamburg-based filmmaker Monika Treut has devoted herself to depicting and documenting queer lives on screen, exploring the mysteries and ambiguities of gender, and transgressing repressive sexual mores and ideas. Fiercely controversial in her native Germany – where Die Zeit once proclaimed that “films like Monika Treut’s are destroying cinema” – Treut found much more acceptance for her work in the burgeoning queer film festival and independent film scenes in America, leading to several decades-long collaborations with queer icons such as trans poet Max Wolf Valerio and “post-porn modernist” Annie Sprinkle. Treut’s films stand as fearless explorations of sex and gender that trace the more taboo and less documented arcs of queer history of the late 20th century.

October 25

Pan Eros Foundation | "Oops!" Harm Reduction, Intimacy, and Learning in Kink ($35+ | in person)

Scenes are made and broken by how you adapt to the unexpected. Sometimes this means heading off or recovering from a major problem, but much more often it's small things. Nothing ever goes exactly the way you planned. External events happen, gear fails, ramifications occur. People make mistakes and are complicated. You can pre-think safety, own what happens, make course corrections, communicate, and choose to learn. These are things you can do before, during, and after play to decrease the risks of harm, and increase the benefits of error.

Broaden Your Mind

Other Community Events to Enjoy!

The CSPC throws amazing parties and hosts many important discussions on various topics. But luckily, we live in a place where there are many more options to dive into sex- and body-positive culture. The list below is just a sampling of some great events coming up in the next month.

We include non-CSPC events in every issue. If you have an event suggestion or feedback from a past event you’ve attended, please email Marissa at newsletter@thecspc.org and it might make it into our next issue!

Editor’s note for all events*

As a reminder, these are non-CSPC events. We include them as a way to open your mind to other experiences, but we have no control over them, their content, or their missions. We encourage you to vet other organizations to see if they are places you would feel comfortable, and we appreciate feedback if we have listed an organization/event that does not appear to share CSPC values.

September 13

SADS - The Identity and Art of Clowning ($20+ | in person)

An immersive celebration of movement, identity, and visual storytelling through the medium of clowning. Join us for the incredible debut of Vitz's amazing Sad Clown Photography Series! We are excited to feature clowns of all stripes and sizes to celebrate. Hosted at the amazing Mountain Room, where we will feature many clown performances from local performers that roost right here in Seattle. There will be laughs, tears, and amazing stories to be told!

September 18

Papaya Project | Sex Trivia ($12+ | in person)

This monthly event is the best way to learn about and celebrate pleasure, queerness, and the science of sex! We kick off the evening with a brief introduction, then dive right into sex trivia. All identities and backgrounds are welcome. Trivia questions cover a wide variety of sex and sexuality-related topics, so get ready to challenge yourself, learn something new, and have a good time. Proceeds go toward Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center.

September 20 and 24

Beacon Cinema | In the Realm of the Senses ($15 | in person)

In the Realm of the Senses by the always provocative Japanese director Nagisa Ōshima, remains one of the most controversial films of all time. Based on a true incident, it graphically depicts the all-consuming, transcendent—but ultimately destructive—love of a man and a woman (Tatsuya Fuji and Eiko Matsuda) living in an era of ever escalating imperialism and governmental control. Less a work of pornography than of politics, In the Realm of the Senses is a brave, taboo-breaking milestone, still censored in its own country.

September 20 and 27

Consent Academy | Consent Advocate Training ($80–$120 | online)

Consent advocates help create more consensual spaces by educating and providing support when something goes wrong with consent. It's a specialized role most people can learn to do with the proper training, support, and practice. If consent advocacy is something you're interested in, please join us for a two part training around the skills needed to do this work, including communication, intervention, and trauma-awareness.

September 21

Pan Eros Foundation | Practical Application of Floggers ($45–$100 | in person)

Want to create a great flogging scene? Not sure about the basics? Know the basics inside-and-out but think there might be something more? This experiential flogging workshop is for anybody that thinks they've got something to learn. We'll discuss the foundations, practice basic and non-basic strokes, and cover how to turn it all from a collection of techniques into a scene.

September 26

The Lumber Yard Bar | Diapers and Drinks (free | in person)

The Clubhouse is thrilled to announce DIAPERS AND DRINKS, Seattle's biggest ABDL event returns to the Lumber Yard Bar on Friday September 26th! Starting at 8pm the bar will officially switch over to an ABDL themed event and you can show up and wear whatever ABDL, Ageplay, or Kink attire your heart desires.

October 1

Papaya Project | Spicy Speed Dating for Queer Femmes & Thems ($15 | in person)

Looking to make new connections while exploring different perspectives on identity, relationships, sexuality, and pleasure? If you're a femme, non-binary, trans person and age 35+, this event is for you! Let’s come together for a night of meeting new people, making friends, and maybe even finding a spicy spark or two (or three).

October 4

Pan Eros Foundation | Holes in Friends: An introduction to needle play ($30–$75 | in person)

Come learn the foundational skills needed for all levels of needle play, from mean/sadistic needles to decorative/artsy scenes to predicament play as well as  other pokie shenanigans. This class will focus on safety considerations, supplies, how to use them and where to get them and the technique on how to pierce someone by the end of class. Needle play carries an element of risk, learn what some of the significant risks are and how to mitigate them.

October 16–19

Northwest Film Forum | Seattle Trans Underground Film Fest (tbd | in person)

We have STUFF to show you! The first ever Seattle Trans Underground Film Fest is happening Thursday October 16th through Sunday the 19th, 2025. Full schedule, including more information on attending, ticketing, and screenings, will be announced in September. Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to stay up to date, and hear what else is coming at the Northwest Film Forum!

October 17 – Nov 8

Acrobatic Conundrum | THREADS ($25+ | in person)

Conundrum invites you into a tangled world, by turns emotive and exhilarating. Rope papers the walls, rope becomes an animate object in the hands of a clown, rope elevates dance-storytelling into the air. THREADS is a circus opus featuring six performers and a musician, an exploration of connection, love, and endings — a story strung with grace and daring that will leave you inspired and curiously alive.

Reminders for cold and flu season

Hi kinksters! We want to remind you that cold and flu season is quickly approaching, and as such, we have some reminders for you. 

1. All parties will have a reduced ticket cap from December through February, so make sure you’re picking up tickets to your favorite events early! 

2. We always have KN95 masks available at the registration table for in-person events; masking is a great way to cut down on seasonal illness transmission if you’re wearing them correctly. 

3. Taking a COVID test prior to attending in-person events is a great practice! 

4. If you don’t feel well before an event, you can email registration@thecspc.org to let them know you’re ill and you will get a credit for a future event.

5. If vaccines are available to you, consider getting your annual flu shot and COVID booster. 

Please help us care for ourselves and each other by taking precautions wherever you can. Thank you for your community care!

2025-2026 Board Elections

At yesterday’s public board meeting, we held elections for officers and directorships, and we are proud to present our new(ish) Board positions! Congratulations to these Board Members, and thank you for taking on a(nother) year of responsibility and leadership.

Officer Positions: 

• President: Vanessa (she/her)

• Vice President: Huckleberry (she/they)

• Secretary: Mina (she/her)

• Treasurer: Huckleberry (she/they)

Division Directors: 

• Events Director: Jadzia (she/her)

• Operations Director: Vanessa (she/her)

• Communications Director: Ari (she/they)

• HR Director: VACANT

Letter from the President

Letter from the President

Hey folks,

I'm honored and humbled to be the next President of the CSPC. This organization has helped me discover so much about myself, and I'm thrilled to continue our mission of being that place for others to do the same in the coming year.

As many of you know, our mission is "to create spaces to celebrate, develop, and explore sexuality and sensuality among a diverse, supportive community." I want to focus briefly on that last bit.

As much as I can help foster it, it's up to all of us to create that diverse, supportive community we want to see. Some of that is simple things everyone can do: respecting folks’ identities, letting folks express themselves how they want, and not yucking someone else's yum. The rest is countless hours from hundreds of volunteers doing amazing work behind the scenes to make that community possible. That's everything from helping us run parties, leading discussion groups, and administering our systems to keep us up and running.

To those who have volunteered before, you have my deep thanks. If you have spare time and want to volunteer to keep this fabulous community going, check out the Volunteering tab on our website.

Thank you, and I look forward to the year ahead.

Vanessa