Community Matters: Show Your PRIDE!

For Pride in 2017, EQUINOX collaborated with The LGBT Community Center, NYC’s home and hub for the LGBTQA community, to create a short film celebrating the entire LGBTQA Alphabet – twenty-six ways to share who you are and how you love. Because all voices deserve to be heard. 

Watch this powerful five-minute film on YouTube:

The LGBTQAlphabet | Powered By Pride | EQUINOX

Join the CSPC in representing our community at Seattle’s Pride events June 24-25! We are hosting a table at the Capitol Hill Pride event on Saturday, June 24, and we’re hosting a table at Seattle Center and marching in the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 25. This is our time to show up as our authentic selves and celebrate who we are, how we love, and what we stand for. 

More details on exact timing and meeting location will be available in early June. Email pride@thecspc.org to RSVP to march with your CSPC community in the parade or volunteer to help staff the CSPC tables. Help us show our Pride!

Frolic Planning is Heating Up!

The Frolic 2023

August 15–20, 2023

For more information, visit The Frolic website 

or find us on Fetlife at:

https://fetlife.com/events/1283654

https://fetlife.com/groups/224072

All humans 18+ are welcome. You do not have to be a CSPC Member to attend.

Tickets must be purchased online, there are no door sales. Please note: ticket sales for the Frolic are final; they are not refundable or transferable to other events.

This year’s theme is Forge Your Fate - Choose Your Adventures! 

The Frolic is located on a 40-acre private property in Buckley, WA. The gates open Tuesday, August 15 at 10 a.m. and close Sunday, August 20 at 4 p.m.

Your ticket includes entertainment, amazing education classes (including a featured presenter), skill shares, activities, a flea market/swap meet for campers, a place to camp, play equipment, access to fire pits, a community hot tub, meals, and more! The fee covers food, utilities, property and equipment upkeep, porta potty rentals, and all the minutiae involved in planning an event like this, as well as ongoing expenses to keep the CSPC open and kinky for all our members. Your ticket does not include: a shelter*, guaranteed play partners, or parking. (*A large meeting tent will have some non-private dorm space for those without tents. Email frolic@thecspc.org to let us know you need a space.)

Masking is optional and distancing is up to individuals, but we invite you to discuss safety protocols and comfort before approaching someone closely.

The address, rules, and other information to participate will be emailed to you shortly after you register. Please check your email’s spam and/or promotions folders if you don’t see it in your inbox. If you haven't received it within an hour of registering, contact us at registration@theCSPC.org.

TICKETS

Tickets are on sale NOW!

The next tier goes on sale immediately after the previous one sells out. Able to purchase the more expensive tier and help support your CSPC community? You can select the higher priced tiers anytime!

$250 per person Early Bird tickets for the first 30 people

$275 per person Second Tier tickets for the next 30 people

$300 per person Third Tier tickets until we are sold out

*There is limited free ticketing for volunteers working the entire event. You must obtain a registration code from your Lead. 

Need assistance to attend? Volunteer! Email frolicvolunteers@thecspc.org

ADDITIONAL FEES

$50 additional for an RV (hookups are not available)

$50 additional for a tent trailer (includes a parking pass for the vehicle towing the trailer)

$25 Parking Pass — Parking is limited and must be prepurchased. Your parking pass will be available at registration when you check in. 

$10 for a round-trip ride from the Sumner Sounder Station

ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION

Two presenter bios will appear in every newsletter! See all the classes when you buy your ticket!

COMMUNITY SERVICE

We are a community. We ask that everyone participate in one volunteer shift of about 2–3 hours during camp. When you register, you will be asked to prioritize the type of service you would prefer. 

VIP ROOMS

We have four yurts to auction! Imagine spending this Frolic warm and cozy inside at night with your plus-one in a beautifully decorated Mongolian yurt with a queen-size bed. Please keep in mind that your ticket to The Frolic is not included and must be purchased separately. Bidding is for the add-on VIP room only, and is only accessible after buying your Frolic ticket.

Auction Dates :

Yurt 1 (Heart Yurt) - Sold for $525!

Yurt 2 - Auction starts May 2 and ends May 23 (see images below!)

Yurt 3 - Auction starts May 24 and ends June 14

Yurt 4 - Auction starts June 15 and ends July 7

Contacts

General: Frolic@thecspc.org 

Education: froliceducation@thecspc.org 

Entertainment: frolicentertainment@thecspc.org

Security: frolicsecurity@thecspc.org 

Volunteers: frolicvolunteers@thecspc.org 

Meals: frolicmeals@thecspc.org 

Guess My... Parking Pass

Win a FREE Parking Pass for The Frolic!

Rules: Be the first person to find and correctly list all the song titles and their artists in our Frolic Poem! Must send them in an email to frolic@thecspc.org to qualify. Include whether you've bought a ticket or are planning to. We will announce the winner (with their permission) in the following newsletter. 

*Must be going to The Frolic 2023. Non-transferable. 

Frolic Friendship Poem

If you go chasing rabbits and

you know you are going to fall

Lean on me, when you aren’t strong

Do you need anybody? I need somebody to love.

Come with me into the trees

We’ll lay on the grass and let the hours pass

You want a revelation, some kind of resolution

You want a revelation

When the lights go out, and you throw yourself about

In the darkness where you learn to see

When the lights go out, don’t you ever doubt

The light that we can really be

A true true friend helps a friend in need

Go forth and have no fear

Come close and lend an ear

I can’t help myself, no no, caught up in the middle of it

We can be who we are

You taught me something, yeah, freedom is ours

Let it be unity, let it be community

For refugees like you and me

Sing with me, sing for the year

Sing or the laughter, sing for the tears

Sing with me, if it’s just for today

Because The Frolic is still three months away!

My First Frolic

By Tristan

The first few months of my exploration into kink and sex-positive communities were transformative. I grew as I found new experiences and built new relationships and began to build confidence in who I was and recognize my value. But this whirlwind of growth gave me just a taste of what I experienced at Frolic in 2022.

The immersive experience that kinky camping provided me felt like nothing I had ever been through before but was completely comfortable at the same time.

I was able to freely be myself and express that freedom every waking moment until I decided to sleep each night. Being around others going through the same immersion just built on the energy of the moment. We were all “at camp,” and that mindset was spirited and connecting.

There were so many experiences of nudity, sex, kink, learning, voyeurism, exhibitionism, joy, camaraderie, and community across my time at Kinky Acres but I will highlight my firsts:

• My first needle tasting

• My first strip UNO game

• My first skinny dipping in the inflatable pool

• My first classes about kink

• My first time having sex in a tent

Underlying these experiences were relationships. I was able to forge meaningful connections with like-minded people. This was so important to me feeling comfortable being at Frolic and the root of that comes from this simple fact:

Spending time living with my people is the most natural expression of my identity I can experience.

I'm so excited for Frolic this year and I can't wait to experience that feeling again.

Editor's Note:

Tristan will be leading the Finding Your Way Discussion Group on Wednesday Aug 16 at 1 p.m. during The Frolic 2023.

First Frolic Presenters Are Here!

Introducing our first two presenters for The Frolic 2023!

DJ presenting: A Masochist's Guide to Healing Marks

DJ (she/they) is a white, queer, femme, genderfluid, polyamorous, and disabled survivor who lives in Seattle. As a service-oriented bottom, they identify as a little, masochist, experimentalist, and edge player who has been playing with pain, fear, and power for 13 years. From impact, to rope, to rough body play, to all things sharp and pointy, they like to connect with play partners who are both tender and sadistic while exploring the limits of their pain tolerance. With a broad risk profile and a willingness to try most things at least three times (for science!), they often approach play in a fun, curious, and connective way. Outside of the community, they have five years of experience designing, facilitating, and teaching workshops and classes. 

Evelyn Evey presenting: 1) Kinky Psych 101, 2) Hard to Swallow? - Willing Suspension of Disbelief, 3) Rape Play From the Bottom’s Perspective, 4) Avoiding Accidental Consent Injury, 5) Play Harder and Longer!

Evelyn Evey (she/they) is a happily kinky, switchy, sadomasochistic, polyamorous, queer, gender nonconforming experience junkie who lives in Seattle, Washington where she is actively involved with the Center for Sex Positive Culture (formerly served on the Board) and the local BDSM community. She was vice president of the board of directors for the Pan Eros Foundation (formerly known as the Foundation for Sex Positive Culture) and has had various roles with the Seattle Erotic Art Festival. A voracious learner, she has studied Ayurveda, psychology, and acting, all of which have provided her insight and tools for helping others on their own journeys toward finding balance and having fun with their kink.

Broaden Your Mind - 5.4.23

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-positive culture. The list below is just a sampling of some great events coming up in the next month.

May 5

Kinky Queer Comedy ($22.66 | in person)

From the deranged mind of Seattle's Kinky Comedy Queen [Bobby Higley] comes a Kinky Queer Comedy show!!

https://dice.fm/event/d8epq-safeword-glutton-for-punishment-5th-may-kremwerk-seattle-tickets

May 6

Sex-Positive World: DeSTIgmatize STIs (free–$25 | online)

Slaying The Demon of Fear! Join Dr Evalene Molina Dacker to hear the Fool’s journey through the land of sex negative education towards knowledge, liberation and empowerment.

https://www.sexpositiveworld.org/event-details/destigmatize-stis

May 12

Kremwerk: GOCK @ ME ($11.33 | in person)

GOCK @ ME is a dance party by and for trans women and those that adore them. This is a space for everybody to celebrate the divine and the feminine safely in a space not dictated by patriarchy.

https://www.kremwerk.com/upcoming/2023/5/12/gock-at-me

May 12–14

MILF: A Burlesque Tribute ($20–$175 | in person | multiple locations)

We love to celebrate and honor the mom's in our life, and what better way than to celebrate our favorite burlesque moms!

https://www.strangertickets.com/events/136024808/milf-a-burlesque-tribute

https://www.strangertickets.com/events/136021894/milf-a-burlesque-tribute-in-the-flamingo-roomm

https://www.strangertickets.com/events/136023553/beer-for-breakfast-a-milf-brunch

May 18

Consent Academy: Foundations of Consent (free–$25 | online)

Most of us have learned that "no means no" and "yes means yes," but consent goes way beyond that. Join us for a conversation about the foundations of consent, so you can start to practice consent more in your daily life.

https://www.strangertickets.com/events/132427504/consent-basics

May 20

Sex-Positive World - LGBTQIA+ Identities 101 (free–$25 | online)

Learn how to be a better ally to friends, partners and family members who hold a variety of different identities.

https://www.sexpositiveworld.org/event-details/lgbtqia-identities-101

May 21

Sex-Positive World - Awesome Boundaries Around the World (free–$25 | online)

People with the most Awesome Boundaries have the truest friends, the best sex and the least amount of toxic conflict in their lives.

https://www.sexpositiveworld.org/event-details/awesome-boundaries-around-the-world-6

May 22

Trans+ Ropes Meetup and Skillshare (free–$20 | in person)

Rope practice and discussion group for (and by) trans and umbrella folks including non-binary, genderqueer, two-spirit and any other gender divergent identity as well as queer folks who have lived experience with the trans communities.

https://www.pan-eros.org/event/trans-t4t-ropes-meet-up-and-skill-share/?instance_id=5462

June 17

Solstice Parade and Naked Bike Ride (free | start prepping!)

Come be dazzled as community-based, people-powered ensembles parade down the streets of Fremont with giant puppets, stilt walkers, floats, dancers, cyclists, and musicians in this kaleidoscope of joyous human expression. 

https://fremontartscouncil.org/parade

http://www.solsticecyclist.org/

Consent Corner 23.7

By Emma Atkinson 

Hello super sexy readers! Happy May to you! It's the month that comes in like a marmoset and goes out like a mandrill. Of course, your mileage may vary.

I thought I’d use today’s newsletter to summarize the FRIES model of consent we’ve been considering. Planned Parenthood developed the acronym to help us remember what makes up a good consent agreement. Consent ought to be Freely given by all participants and is Reversible by any participant at any time. Ideally, all participants are knowledgeable enough to make Informed and Enthusiastic decisions about Specific activities.  

When you’re having consent-related discussions, can good times be far behind? While life holds few guarantees, taking the time to talk about consent will increase the likelihood that everyone will walk away from an experience with positive feelings. Don’t you want the odds to be in your favor? I thought so.  

Homework: Do you have an experience to share when you used the FRIES model for your benefit or forgot it and wished you had remembered it? Share it with us at: info@thecspc.org.  

“Be excellent to each other.” —Bill and Ted

“Be sexcellent to each other.” —Emma

CSPC Travel Guide Needs You!

By Emma Atkinson 

Here’s a scenario: You’re talking with someone who wants to attend a CSPC event, and they’re unfamiliar with Seattle and the Pioneer Square area where our parties are currently held. They have a hundred questions: Where should I stay if I want a funky boutique hotel experience or a longer-term Airbnb? What are some good places to stay if I’m on a budget? Where can I get coffee or an amazing snack after the party’s over? How can I get to Gallery Erato from my hotel or Airbnb? Are there great/authentic/good value places to eat that you’d recommend? Where should I park? Do you know a barista or coffee shop that cheers up everyone who comes in? What else can I do if I’m spending a weekend in the area?

Your experiences and insight can help us put this travel information together so we can offer it to other CSPC members and members-to-be. Please email your thoughts and suggestions to:  travel@thecspc.org.  

Thank you for taking the time to help others experience the wonderful parties that our members are creating.  

Photo by Sabine Ojeil on Unsplash

CSPC Mandatory Masking Policy Stays in Effect: Decision-Making Process

By Eirikah

As announced in the newsletter on March 16 and on Discord on March 17, the CSPC’s Board of Directors recently revisited the standing policy at the CSPC to require wearing N95/KN95 or equivalent masks at all times during in-person events except when actively eating, drinking, or engaging in a scene. This reconsideration was sparked by Washington State’s announcement that it was lifting the last remaining masking requirements at medical facilities as of April 3. The Board announced that it would consider a change to the masking policy at its April 12 Board meeting, for implementation on June 1 to allow for thorough messaging of the changes before they would take effect.

The result of the vote by the Board on April 12 was to maintain the existing mandatory masking policy at this time. The Board will revisit this issue again prior to September.

The Board recognizes that this decision is very important, as we consider the safety and well-being of our diverse, supportive community. In order to gather data about the impact this decision would have on our membership and volunteers, the Board broadly solicited responses to an online survey between March 16 and April 12 and hosted a two-hour online Town Hall meeting where members could talk with Board members directly about their desires and concerns. 

The proposal under consideration was to change the CSPC’s masking policy from the requirement of KN95/ N95 or equivalent masking when not actively eating, drinking, or involved in a scene to making masking optional, though still strongly encouraged as a method of protecting ourselves and others from spreading Covid and other airborne illness. The CSPC committed to continue providing free masks to those who wished to wear them.

The survey gathered data on the self-reported frequency of respondent attendance and volunteering at in-person events, and then asked how the adoption of an optional masking policy would impact their personal attendance or volunteering: more likely to attend/volunteer, less likely to attend/volunteer, or the same likelihood of attending/volunteering if the optional masking proposal were adopted. We also included an open text field for respondents to share their thoughts and ideas about this issue in writing.

271 people responded to the survey prior to the Board’s vote on this issue at the Board meeting on April 12. The survey data for various groups of respondents is detailed below:

Data table from CSPC Member Survey on Masking, March-April 2023

The comments made by the 17 attendees at the Town Hall meeting on April 3 reflected greater support for maintaining the mandatory masking policy. All of those who spoke at the Town Hall indicated that they had also submitted a response to the survey. Most comments on the survey and at the Town Hall in support of mandatory masking were focused on the health implications for medically vulnerable members; most comments in support of optional masking were focused on reducing consent and connection challenges presented by masking (difficulty reading lips in a hearing-impaired environment, etc.).

The survey construction provided the Board with several key data points toward making this decision. It allowed analysis of projected individual choice in frequency of attendance and volunteering in a specific circumstance (optional masking) with respect to their own current participation levels. It also provided an opportunity for respondents to share their feelings, reasoning, and ideas for other possible solutions beyond the proposal presented.

With the relatively even spread of survey responses by the responding population as a whole, the Board was faced with the question of whether there might be a way to inclusively support members on both sides of this question. One idea shared by multiple sources was to make the masking policy party-specific so that more medically vulnerable folx would still have opportunities to connect with their sex-positive community in a mandatory masking environment, while also providing selected opportunities for those who struggle with reduced communication and connection due to masking to attend masking-optional events.

Of course, this idea would not be possible to implement if all Event Champions were committed to maintaining mandatory masking at their events, so the Events Director queried the Event Champions about their interest in changing the masking policy at their specific event. Of the six Champion teams responding, two of six were interested in making masking optional at their event, with four teams electing to maintain mandatory masking.

With all of this information in mind, the Board drafted the Preamble and Motion below for consideration at the April 12 Board meeting:

Preamble:

• All in-person events currently require attendees and volunteers to wear an N95/KN95 or equivalent mask.

• The decision as to whether to maintain or change the current masking policy is an incredibly difficult one. 

• The removal of the final WA State masking mandate at the start of April was the catalyst for the Board asking the membership how they would like to proceed.

• The feedback collected via the online form indicates a split in membership opinion. 

• 271 responses

• (34% more likely, 37% less likely, 29% same likelihood of attending)

• The feedback also shows that our volunteers are more in favor of keeping masking:

• 70 volunteer responses

• (17% more likely, 39% less likely, 44% same likelihood of attending/volunteering)

• The virtual town hall held on April 3rd leaned in the direction of maintaining our current masking policy.

• Given that there is no clear path forward and that this is such a deeply felt, emotional issue with serious possible health implications, the Board is leaning toward a nuanced policy, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. This policy will allow for some events to continue to require masks while others will have optional masking.

• We consulted with the Event Champions, asking them what policy they thought would best meet the needs of their regular event attendees and volunteers. 

• Any member who does not feel the decision we come to tonight represents their needs is encouraged to volunteer and be the change they want to see

• For example: Propose a new event with the policy you prefer

• The Board strongly encourages all of our event volunteers and attendees to continue wearing an N95/KN95 or equivalent mask at all times other than when eating/drinking, or when engaged in a scene. We will continue to provide masks for those without one. We also encourage our community to stay home if you feel unwell or if you have reason to believe you may be infectious with covid or any other transmissible disease. Please self administer a rapid test prior to coming to our events.

• At present and for the sake of considering this vote, Event Champions have indicated a preference for the following: 

• Fresh Meet, Sense and Sensuality (SaS), F’in Precious, and LaQueer would like to maintain the current mandatory masking requirement

• PPMT and the Myself Party would like to opt for optional masking

Motion:

The Board of the CSPC will change its current mandatory N95/KN95 or equivalent mask requirement at all indoor, in-person events to allow event Champions to alter the masking policy for their event taking place on or after June 1st 2023. Their decisions should be based on their understanding of what is best for their event and/or reflects the desires of their attendees. Any changes in policy for a specific event will need to be approved by the Board and decided before tickets go on sale. Champions of newly created events will consult with the Board and announce their masking policy prior to tickets going on sale. The Board will revisit this policy prior to the September Board Meeting, unless there is a clear need to do so before then.

The Board discussed the implications of this motion at the meeting, with concern for the plurality of members who expressed a strong need for continued mandatory masking, especially in light of the availability of other masking-optional venues in our community. The Board also discussed the long term issues that might arise from making masking policy decisions the responsibility of Event Champions rather than the Board, as well as questions about what future conditions might trigger a change to optional masking if the current conditions are not adequate. As a result of this conversation, the vote that followed was split 4 nay-3 aye, and this motion failed to pass. 

The CSPC will continue to require N95/KN95 masking when not actively eating, drinking, or participating in a scene at all indoor in-person events. The Board will continue to monitor the public health conditions and engage with the community in its decision-making processes. Thank you to all of you who so passionately shared your thoughts and ideas. You help make the CSPC the diverse, supportive, sexual, and sensual community that it is. 

Please send any questions or comments to info@thecspc.org.