Bask in the July Hotness of Femme Dominion!

Join us for Femme Dominion, a BDSM play party for Femme identified Tops and all the people who adore them. Get your kink on and get in some socializing with like-minded pervs in a Queer centered space. Bask in the many glorious forms that Femme can take, especially when it takes charge.

Play equipment and places to get intimate abound with seating scattered throughout the space to optimize the sweet voyeur/exhibitionist dynamic of public play. If last month is any indication, expect a wide variety of sensual, sexual, and solidly S/M scenes all night long.

We’ll start each evening with a social hour to help you climatize into our erotic world and enjoy some slightly less distracted interactions. We’ll also have name tags and red wrist bands for flagging to ease introductions and help those folks interested in pick-up play find each other.

This is a Queer centered, but not exclusionary, party focused on Femme Dommes and all the lovely people who appreciate our particular attentions as well as those who simply prefer Femme led spaces. We embrace Femme in its many varied manifestations inclusive of, but not exclusive to, gender identity.

Come explore ours or your own.

Get your tickets here! Not yet a member? Get a New Member ticket here–includes orientation, your first month’s membership, and entry to the party!

There will be no tickets available at the door for this event, tickets are only available through pre purchase online. Registration for this party is limited to a maximum of 120 tickets and we have sold out in advance of every one of our events so far so please plan accordingly. We are always looking for reliable volunteers to help with setting/cleaning up as well as registration and monitoring. If you are able to help in these capacity please reach out.

Consent Corner 2.16

by Emma Atkinson and Rachel Drake

Hello lovely readers!  Whew, wasn’t June Pride-tastic?  We’re still basking in the glow of celebrating with several thousand or so of our kindred spirits.  We hope it was amazing for you as well. 

July 4th, “Independence Day,” was a few days ago, which is a complex and difficult holiday for many people, especially those whose personal autonomy is not recognized in this country. Thinking about this inspired us to make a modest proposal. How about if on the other 364 days we celebrate Interdependence Day?  

Interdependence is the concept that two or more people, species, or things are mutually reliant  on each other. We’re all connected to each other in so many ways! It seems only prudent to remember and celebrate these connections and work extra hard to uphold personal autonomy when and where we can. Autonomy is the right to decide what happens with your own mind, body, spirit, and experience. If you know someone is struggling with recent events, ask them how you can best support them and their sense of personal autonomy. Having a discussion to update a relationship framework and consent agreements can be very empowering and an unexpected gift.

We have a whimsical illustration for this idea. Alice in Wonderland’s friends Mad Hatter and March Hare sang an Unbirthday song to her. They helped her understand that her Unbirthday is any day other than the day of her birth. Unbirthday presents can be given on those days and they can bring unexpected delight to the giver and the recipient. Who doesn’t like an unexpected delight?   

So, Happy Interdependence Day from our Corner to you! We’ve got boatloads of delight ahead for you as we celebrate our interdependence and talk more about autonomy in upcoming editions.  

Homework:  How will you or have you celebrated Interdependence Day? Please share your thoughts with us at:  info@thecspc.org.  

“Be excellent to each other” - Bill and Ted

“Be sexcellent to each other” - Emma and Rachel

Instant Party (Just Add Volunteers!)--The Origins of The Luv Shack / OMG SX!

by Teeebone

In mid-December of 2010, a mass email went out to the CSPC Volunteers calling for Party Champions and Event Coordinators for three new parties beginning in January. One party had already been approved, but two other parties needed to be created from scratch. The details for these new parties were as follows: A third Friday Main Space party, 8PM start time, something like the Hump or Erotic City, and a fifth Friday party to be held in both the Main Space and the Annex / RAW Dungeon, scheduled to start in April and be held as a quarterly event. The Office stated they were open to suggestions and ideas, providing a chance for anybody to create the new party that they had always wanted.

After reading the email, I felt inspired. Erotic City had been canceled in the summer of 2008, and the time was right to add a new sex-focused party on a Friday night. The email exchange was fast and furious:

“I'm throwing my hat into the ring for the proposed third Friday sex-focused party. Erotic City shall rise again, with a few tweaks and updates. But I can't do it alone, LOL.”

The internet brainstorm session continued for a couple of days, and within less than a month we had a crew put together and a cool name for the new party: The Luv Shack! I had learned a lot from my years of running the Hump on how to build a team, put out publicity, and organize a work schedule, but one other vital component that helped pull things together was being a known quantity at the CSPC. I had reached that level where folks wanted to join my team.. is a magical thing when that happens, and I’m grateful that it did. Some of the people who stepped up used to volunteer with Erotic City back in the day, and they were glad to see a new party taking its place.

In setup and organization, the party was very similar to the Hump, though instead of a two-hour social followed by a four-hour party, it was just a six-hour party. There was a social area with snacks, a cuddle/romp pile, the dance floor, an exhibitionist area, and of course the Back Room for those who wanted some privacy. On January 21st, 2011, The Luv Shack debuted with an attendance of 94 folks plus staff. Afterwards, the rave reviews came pouring in:

"Well, the Luv Shack debut was... AWESOME! Thanks to Teeebone and everyone whose hard work went into making it happen! The initial showing of more than 90 folks was fantastic! I hope that you were there checking it out. And if you are not, be sure to stop by next month!”

These are the kind of reviews an Event Coordinator or Party Champion strives for. Luv Shack continued rolling on until September of 2012, when it was rebranded as OMG SX! The crew had gotten the sense that the party needed some new energy, so we changed things up by adding a cafe theme to the social area, a change in DJs, a dark couch corner, and a dedicated massage station.

I continued working as EC/Champion of OMG SX! until January 2015. After four years, I passed the mike over to somebody else who ran the party until the CSPC closed shop in September of 2016. They kept the energy going by introducing some new innovations like the Venus Suite and the Legendary Fuck Tent, and they were also able to bring in the younger members of the CSPC membership into the party.

All in all, I consider Luv Shack / OMG SX! to be an excellent example of a successful, long-running party. Thanks to everybody, both volunteers and attendees, who helped make it happen!

Until next time... :^)

Interested in starting a party of your own? 

The first step is becoming a volunteer! Begin this process by completing the online volunteer orientation and volunteer application form here! 

Next, share your great idea with the CSPC’s Events Director at EventsDirector@theCSPC.org to get your party started!

Research Survey Opportunity--Race & Kink

Are you a kinky person of color? You may be eligible to participate in a CARAS-endorsed anonymous online survey about your experiences! We are currently looking for more survey participants to better understand racialized experiences and perspectives within the kinky community. 

This research will amplify and center the voices of kinky people of color, and results may benefit the larger community. Ms. Mina Beveney (mlbeveney@widener.edu), a doctoral candidate at the Center for Positive Sexuality and Black psychotherapist , is seeking participants for a 20- to 30-minute survey that will ask about experiences of racial or ethnic discrimination, sexual self-concept, and coping.

If you are a person of color age 18 or over that has participated in in-person BDSM spaces or contexts in the United States within the past 24 months, please follow this link (https://rebrand.ly/RaceKinkSurvey) to find out more and participate. Participants may choose to enter into a drawing to win one of four $25 gift cards.

Thank you for your interest in this research!

CSPC Volunteer Social--In-Person This Saturday, 6/18!

The President and HR Director would like to invite you to an afternoon and evening of fun at Skitty's home in Woodinville, between 4 and 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 18. Feel free to bring a guest, lounge outside in the sun or shade, play games on the grass, bring your favorite tabletop game, and sit around the fire table roasting s'mores and singing songs.

We'll have pop, juice, and water, and we'll be serving hamburgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs. We encourage you to sign up to bring something to share at the potluck.

All past, present, and future volunteers are welcome. If you are new to volunteering, fear not. You do not need to have worked a volunteer shift, but you do need to have an active Volgistics account. See our Volunteering web page (https://thecspc.org/volunteering) for the simple steps to become a volunteer. Outdoors, masks are optional. Indoors masks are optional with a negative same-day rapid COVID test or PCR test within 48 hours.

After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to sign up for the potluck (optional) and the address. Carpooling can be arranged on Discord or through the Volunteer Google Group. If you plan on arriving by bus, arrangements can be made to pick you up from the Woodinville Park & Ride. If you have any questions, please contact Skitty at skittycspc@gmail.com. 

Check our website at https://thecspc.org/events/2022/06/18/volunteer-social to register.

Pride is Coming! Pride is Coming!

by Cass

Update!

🏳‍🌈

Want to join in and march with us? Click to read our Pride Parade FAQ.

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Update! 🏳‍🌈 Want to join in and march with us? Click to read our Pride Parade FAQ. 🏳‍🌈

Yaaaassssss honey! It is Pride Month and we are LIVE!

The CSPC is ready to shine! We would love for our fabulous and lovely CSPC members and volunteers to come see us on Capitol Hill on June 25 and march with us in Downtown Seattle on June 26..

ARE YOU READY? This is our moment to stand up and show out!

The CSPC is sponsoring a table at the Capitol Hill events on Saturday, June 25. Come see us on Broadway between Mercer and Republican, just a few tables up from the Beer Garden in the Blue Zone.

The Seattle Pride parade will be Sunday, June 26, in Downtown Seattle.The Parade will start at 11:00 am, but we’ll be gathering earlier. This year we are #109. Our registration tent will be located at Safeco Plaza on the west side of 4th Ave between Madison and Spring. Our march time is TBD.

What you will need if you wish to participate:

• Proof of vaccination is A MUST. Your actual card or picture on your phone will work. 

• If you are not vaccinated you must have a negative PCR test result 48 hrs before the event. Bring the printout.

• If bringing a fur baby, bring poop bags! And keep them on a leash.

Also to note: We will not be asking the unsheltered to move. We are in their space and will respect them and their space. If you are uncomfortable with the possibility of having to interact with the homeless population DO NOT COME.

And most importantly–wear comfy shoes!

If you wish to participate (and we hope you do!) please email pride@thecspc.org.

Love you all–we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Come Party with Us at LaQueer: Pride Edition!

It’s time for LaQueer: Pride Edition! We’re ready to welcome the CSPC’s queer community for safer kinky and sexy fun as we celebrate the full rainbow of authentic love and desire. We welcome all kinds of play that are allowed under the CSPC’s rules, and welcome people all across the various spectra of queer identity. We will have rope suspension points, kink equipment like spanking benches and racks, and space for everything from cuddles to needles.

In addition, post-pandemic we will be providing materials to help you flag your level of willingness to interact with others. This is to help everyone feel safer returning to large group social events, and to increase accessibility for members of our community who struggled with socialization even before spending over a year at home.

All of us on the team love the community this party built before the pandemic. We want to see that return and build on that to make it even stronger. This is the queer party you’ve been waiting for, back and better than ever. During Seattle’s Pride 2022, come party with us!

WHEN: 8 p.m. to midnight

WHERE: The Gallery Erato, located in Pioneer Square at 309 1st Ave S.

COST: $25

WHO: This event is for queer folx and their friends! “Queer" here is used as an umbrella term for anyone who identifies as not-heterosexual or not-cisgender.

If you aren't queer and are not attending with a queer person, we invite you to join us at a different event. We know our parties are less frequent than usual, but we ask that you respect our intention to create a queer space with this event.

There will be no tickets available at the door for this event, tickets are only available through pre purchase online. Registration for this party is limited to a maximum of 120 tickets.

Want to come? Get your tickets online now!

Not yet a member? Get your tickets that include New Member Orientation here!

Consent Corner 2.15

by Emma Atkinson and Rachel Drake

Hello, most esteemed readers!  Thank you for cuddling with us in this most consent-filled of corners.  

It’s June and that means Pride.  It’s a time for you to bask in the wonder that is you, with all of your lovely individual qualities.  And, while you’re at it, you can take some time to bask in the wonder that is your community, with all of the weird and wild people who are part of it.  We’re hoping that your community has a relatively high percentage of weird and wild people because, in our experience, they tend to be the most fun!  

We hope to see you at the Capitol Hill and Seattle Center Pride events on June 25 and 26 - we’ll be there!  And we’ll be at (and in) the Pride parade in Seattle on Sunday, June 26.  Celebrations abound all month long and celebrating with your community can create an upward spiral of even more joy and mutual appreciation.  

You’ll probably see some people you know, only you may not have known some aspect of them that is evidenced in a Pride celebration.  Remember that you need their explicit consent to refer to this new knowledge in the world at large.  Just because you know that they are XYZ (kinky, queer, ethically non-monogamous, poly, leather, etc.) doesn’t mean that they are out to the world.

Many people have justifiable concerns about how their employers, their family, or others in their community would react to this new knowledge.  A simple or playful tag on social media can cause people serious issues.  Even in this day and age, some people have morality clauses in their work contracts, others may be grappling with custody issues, and still others may find their housing situation suddenly jeopardized.  Please be mindful of how your words and actions can affect others’ lives.  

Homework:  Please celebrate your Pride in all the ways you possibly can.  Remember to celebrate mindfully and let a focus on consent be your guide.  We’d love to hear your favorite Pride stories - send them to:  info@thecspc.org.

“Be excellent to each other” - Bill and Ted

“Be sexcellent to each other” - Emma and Rachel

Hump History Year Four: Going Fourth!

by Teeebone

The Hump started its fourth year with much fanfare and great expectations after tying with the Grind for the Member's Choice Award in early January. And those expectations were right on target, because 2011 brought in more people, more challenges, and even a crisis that would affect the Hump in the future...

On January 21, 2011, (the Friday before the Hump's Third Birthday/Anniversary) I got to debut my first "solo project," a sex-focused party scheduled on third Fridays called Luv Shack, though later on it would be rebranded as OMG SX! Basically, it was set up to be like the Hump on a Friday night, from 8pm-2am. (Stay tuned for more deets on this party in a future article!)

In April, TK began her EC training. While she was one of our favorite DJs, she also was involved in a number of other parties and projects, like Monday Madness. After this training, she started helping out with the EC duties for the Hump as well.

During the spring and throughout the year, there was a push to promote CSPC events, news and networking through CenterSpace, a website run by the CSPC with user accounts for CSPC members and some basic web page editing capabilities for posting events. The site didn't get as much traffic as FetLife did, however, which by this time had become the unofficial go-to site for many CSPC members.

In July, an incident occurred at the Hump that would change the party forever. A little background first: Once upon a time, impact play was actually allowed at the Hump, just as long as it wasn't too noisy– as in not louder than the dance music. That night in July, a group of attendees thought it would be a really great idea to have a rather loud impact play scene in the Back Room (which was reserved for sex on its many mattresses or its sex sling) for about two hours, much to the detriment of everybody else.

Some attendees belatedly came to us to tell us about it that night and the next day after I had sent the EC report with the details, the Director notified us of an email from one of the attendees. She then recommended that we no longer allow impact play at the Hump, though playful birthday spankings would still be permitted, and asked that the definitions of sex-focused activity and BDSM-focused activity become more detailed and enforced.

That was on Thursday. Over the next two days I analyzed and re-wrote the rules for both the Hump and the Whump to better define what was expected at both parties. Suspensions, rope bondage and sensation play that didn't involve breaking skin would still be allowed at the Hump. The Whump rules were then written to match the rules of a typical CSPC BDSM-focused party. Since the Hump was held in the Main Space and the Whump was held in the RAW Dungeon, there was a degree of separation between the two to help create a different environment for both. By the end of the weekend, the new rules were up on CenterSpace and FetLife.

In October we celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day (October 19) by having a Pirate Abduction Taster at the Whump. Members were encouraged to sign up as pirates or abductees with prep and negotiation done with the staff. It was truly a unique one-of-a-kind event.

On December 23, 2011, a new party put together and championed by TK called Power Play Mixed-Tape debuted and was such a big hit that it was given the third Saturday slot on the CSPC schedule for the next year. TK put me on as the closing DJ for this event, a post that I still hold to this day.

On January 18th, 2012, the Hump's fourth year ended with the party being canceled due to one of the Seattle area's rare snow-pocalypse weather events that make all road travel hazardous for everybody. 2011 was a difficult year, especially during late July, but all the hard work was worth it whenever we read a sincere thank you note like this one:

The Hump...Thank you :)

Thank you for this wonderful space. Thank you for the beautiful middle eastern and other beats. Thank you for a fun opportunity to put on some belly dancing pretties and dance for my man. It was my first night there to play. Ever. And it was WONDERFUL! Thank you for the strawberry scent in the back room and the nice curtains that provide a semi-private space... But a little voyeuristic too. Heh. A very special night. Looking forward to my next visit…

Until next time… :^)