Pro Domme Research

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Grace, a Pro Domme in the Orlando area, is doing some exploratory research regarding the habits of clients who purchase the services of Pro Dommes.

She would like to use the information to help the industry at large, as very little research exists on the topic today. The survey functions to get some idea of how clients of different demographics find Pro Dommes.

At the end of the survey, it asks if you would like to participate in a more in-depth interview. Please fill out that portion if you would like to contribute to connecting more quality clients to Dommes that match their desires.

The information that you share here is private and will only be used for statistical analysis. If you choose to share your email, it will only be used to contact you for a more in-depth interview.

You can learn more here or take the survey here.

Awareness Calendar for November

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Month:

  • Adoption
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Bladder Health
  • COPD
  • CRPS
  • Diabetes
  • Diabetic Eye Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Family Caregivers
  • Gluten-Free Diet
  • Healthy Skin
  • Home Health Care
  • Hospice & Palliative Care
  • Impotency
  • Lung Cancer
  • Manatees!
  • Marrow
  • Mouth Cancer
  • Movember
  • Native American Heritage Month
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Prematurity
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Stomach Cancer

Day/week:

  • International Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Awareness Day (1)
  • National Stress Awareness Day (4)
  • National Diabetes Education Week (4-10)
  • Patient Blood Management Awareness Week (6-10)
  • National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day (7)
  • Intersex Day of Remembrance (8)
  • World Freedom Day (9)
  • World KC (keratoconus) Day (10)
  • Mouth Cancer Awareness Week (11-17)
  • World Pneumonia Day (12)
  • National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (12-18)
  • Home Care Aide Week (12-18)
  • Global Antibiotic Awareness Week (13-19)
  • COPD Day (14)
  • World Diabetes Day (14)
  • World Prematurity Day (17)
  • World Pancreatic Cancer Day (17)
  • International Survivors of Suicide Day (17)
  • National Adoption Day (18)
  • Restorative Justice Week (19-26)
  • Transgender Day of Remembrance (20)
  • GERD Awareness Week (20-26)
  • National Day of Mourning (23)
  • Unthanksgiving Day (23)
  • National Day of Listening (23)
  • National Espresso Day (23)
  • Native American Heritage Day (23)
  • International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25)
  • International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29)
  • International Self-Harm Awareness Day (30)

Have You Heard of the Sick Theories Conference?

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

pale pink poster with black and white square floral design on top half, bottom half: “Sick Theories” in script, with additional text - ‘A trans-disciplinary conference on sickness and sexuality - WHEN November 8-9, 2018 / WHERE Jackman Humanities Building 170 St. George st. - University of Toronto / KEYNOTE Johanna Hedva / FIND US sicktheories.com // sicktheories@gmail.com - poster illustration by Sabrina Scott, poster design by Hannah Browne

Sick Theories is a two-day trans-disciplinary conference by and for those who identify as sick, disabled, and mad happening at the University of Toronto on November 8th and 9th, 2018. Organizers Margeaux Feldman and Lauren Fournier have put together forty activists, academics, writers, artists, and educators who will discuss the relationship between sickness and sexuality through panels, workshops, a keynote, an art exhibition, and artist roundtable.

Feldman, a writer, educator, activist, and English Literature and Sexual Diversity Studies PhD student at the University of Toronto, conceptualized Sick Theories after her fibromyalgia diagnosis and subsequent focus on books about chronic illness. Seeking community beyond the written word, she found a collaborator in Fournier, a writer, curator, and artist.

With focuses on performance and embodied art practices, sick representations, matters of care, and sick pleasures/sick futures, the conference covers a wide array of presentations and discussions. The conference’s keynote is a discussion with contemporary artist and author of Sick Woman Theory Johanna Hedva on their new book On Hell. Panel and workshop topics include: Renee Dumaresque’s “Queering Chronic Vulvar Pain: Erotic Potentialities Cited in Suffering”,  “Calling in Sick” with Taraneh Fazeli, and Clementine Morrigan’s “Fucking Crazy: On Complex Trauma, Surviving Sexual Violence, and Living My Best Slut Life”. In addition to two days of panels and workshops, there will be an artist roundtable, screenings, performances, including works such as Gloria Swain’s Madness & Black Lives Matter, Kristel Jax’s Drone Therapy, and Lynx Sainte-Marie’s Children of O. There will also be a closing reception at historic queer book store and community event venue Glad Day Bookshop.

postcard with 'I don't feel good" written in blue, purple, and red watercolour style against a beige cloth backdrop - photo credit: Yuli Scheidt

Sick Theories is unlike many other conferences not only in its content, but also in its approaches. As finances are often a barrier to access, admission is free. With all tickets sold out and eighty people (and counting) on the waiting list, conference organizers are seeking a larger space. The cost of a larger venue, as well as the costs of other important accessibility considerations, require additional funds which are outside of the scope of a free event. Margeaux Feldman explains: “Unfortunately, the world we live in is deeply inaccessible. As a student-led initiative, Sick Theories has been dependent on grants from the University of Toronto. But the grants that we’ve successfully applied for do not begin to cover the costs of providing adequate ASL [American Sign Language] interpretation or the costs of CART (Communications Access Realtime Translation) — well exceeding what we’d budgeted for.”

To raise the necessary funds, Feldman and Fournier have put together a GoFundMe. With a flexible goal of $5000, the page offers gifts to donors, including Sick Theories tote bags with illustrations by Sabrina Scott, a “Sick Babe” necklace made especially for Sick Theories by Fierce Deer (made with a 14k gold-filled chain), and book bundles, which includes a signed copy of Johanna Hedva’s On Hell, Hana Shafi’s poetry collection It Begins With the Body, and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha’s book of essays, Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice.

stack of blue, white, and pink books on white brick structure - photo credit: Yuli Scheidt

Feldman adds: “With this GoFundMe, we want to ensure that everyone in the disabled and sick community can be present and comfortable throughout Sick Theories.”

Find out more information about Sick Theories

Support Sick Theories’ Accessibility Fund on GoFundMe

Reach Margeaux Feldman

Ways You Can Help Trans, Non-binary, and GNC People

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Updated on Oct 30, 2018

Content note: this post contains anti-trans sentiments, fucking cishet patriarchy bullshit, food, suicide/crisis hotline & violence mentions. If you need help, you can call 877-565-8860 (US), 877-330-6366 (Canada), or find resources in your country here. Unless I know someone’s pronouns, I use ‘they’ to be most neutral.

trans flag with purple text boxes on top and white text: "Ways You Can Help Trans, Non-binary, and GNC People" - "Chronic Sex"

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a few days. Honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to sit down and really work on it, though.

There are over a million and a half (roughly) trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming people in the United States. Unfortunately, we’re far from tolerated – people want us dead. This is not embellishment by any means. We’re very rightly afraid for our lives and well-being.

Along with removing trans people from the health department site, the Department of Justice has told the Supreme Court that discriminating against trans people in the workplace doesn’t violate federal law. And, now, this administration is trying to strong-arm the United Nations to change ‘gender-based violence’ to ‘violence against women,’ effectively eliminating protections for us around the world.

We have very few rights around the world as it is, and it’s terrifying to see people willing to roll them back. You can’t say you’re doing things to protect the country while attacking literally everyone who isn’t a allocishet dyadic abled rich while man.

I know that people are wondering what we can do in the face of this stuff. Well, like I did last year for natural disasters, I did what I do best – pulled together ways you can help. I hope to keep this post updated for the foreseeable future while we’re facing terrifying odds, and will add a note at the top with when I’ve last updated.

 

photo of people at a rally with a transparent purple overlay and white text: "ACTION"

 

VOTE

I know not everyone is able to vote. I won’t shame y’all for that, but apathy? That won’t do. Until the purge starts (which is a terrifying thought), the most power we have is through exercising our rights to vote, protect, and speak up. Please do so.

There are a record number of trans and queer candidates this year. Take a minute and seee if any trans candidates are up for election in your neck of the woods.

Contact Your Reps

A super easy way to do this is through ResistBot. All you have to do is text RESIST to 50409 – or send it to them via Facebook Messenger – and they’ll help you contact your local and national officials. What I really like about this is that it makes it easy to keep in touch with officials. They’ll also text you to remind you to speak up, and that’s pretty great for us brain fog peeps.

Of course, if you can visit or call on your own, that’s awesome, too! You can double check who you’re represented by here.

As a quick heads up, email isn’t as effective even though it’s easy. That’s why I like ResistBot and how they turn your text into calls or faxes.

Whatever way works best, just make sure to do it.

Educate Yourself

There are a lot of people who would like to be better allies to the trans/GNC community. The best way to do that is either to ask one of us open to sharing information with you or educate yourself. It shouldn’t always be on a marginalized group to educate privileged people about their oppression, especially when there are so many resources out there if you search correctly or find the right kinds of sites to learn from.

GLAAD has a great primer on how to be a better ally. I’ve got a post about genders you should check out, too.

Other sites that have great pieces:

Educate Others

After you’ve learned about trans issues, take steps to correct misconceptions. Take a stand because, unless people learn, we can’t move forward. When you hear transphobic/misic remarks, spend time to share the true with people.

Sometimes, that means speaking up in public. Other times, that might mean being the uncomfortable voice of truth at Thanksgiving. Honestly, it’s the best way to feel like you’ve earned pie!

Speak Out

Come with us to rallies and protests. Go with us when it’s dangerous. Check in on us.

Use any privileges you have – especially if you’re cis – to tell people about how gender isn’t a binary, immigrants aren’t evil, and more.

Standby

When we’re able to formally comment against the legislation, we’ll need allies to help make an impact. You can follow the Transgender Law Center for more information on Facebook, Twitter, or through their site or email list.

Volunteer

You can find spaces near you to volunteer, thanks to The Trevor Project.

 

 

photo of change in the background with a transparent purple text box and white text: "DONATE"

 

Continue reading “Ways You Can Help Trans, Non-binary, and GNC People” →

Maintaining Healthy Relationships Despite Chronic Illness

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Growing up in the era of cartoon princesses led a lot of us to believe some misguided things about love. Love wasn’t explained to us as being work, but simply as a feeling. Our ideal partners would show up and lift curses for us, making us whole and ‘normal.’

Not only is that far from reality, it also leaves out those of us with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

Relationships take work. Relationships with chronic illness are like taking on two full-time jobs at once.

Thankfully, there are ways to make relationships go more smoothly.

Read more at Mighty Well

S2E14: Mari of Sick Sad World

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

a black background with bright swirly lines and text: Chronic Sex Podcast | Season 2, Episode 14 | Mari of Sick Sad World

Today, I’m talking with Mari. They are a writer, podcaster, and model living in Toronto. We talk about their spooky podcast, Sick Sad World, and how it got started. Like all great conversations, we touch on languages, colonialism, bullying, and the hope we both have in the younger generation.

Make sure to check out their site, Indivisible Writing, and their Twitter. You can listen to Sick Sad World here (or wherever you catch your pods) and stay in the loop by following the show’s Twitter account. Consider supporting Mari & Jasmine’s work on Sick Sad World on Patreon.

Pieces mentioned in the show:

Oh! And don’t forget to take this survey on chronic pain & kink!

Continue reading “S2E14: Mari of Sick Sad World” →

Don’t Miss The Next Crip Bits!

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Join Sins Invalid on Facebook Monday, October 15th at 9:15 PM Eastern/6:15 PM Pacific. Patty Berne and Nomy Lamm will be discussing beauty on the latest installment of Crip Bits:

What does it feel like to be open to and in awe of beauty, and why does it matter? What does it mean to live a life in devotion to beauty and liberation? How do we hold our beauty as sacred while refusing to entertain the commodifying aspects of conventional beauty standards?
Patty Berne and Nomy Lamm will discuss the revolutionary possibilities of crip beauty, as well as the limitations of beauty as a political motivator. They will share about their own beauty practices, including makeup and adornment, body tending, altar keeping, music, art, song, prayer, performance, sex, magic and ritual.
The event will take place on Facebook Live – if you are logged into FB when the event begins and follow the Sins Invalid page, you should receive a notification when we go live. Otherwise, you can find the event by clicking the “video” tab on the Sins Invalid page at the time of the event and after.
Make sure to go like Sins Invalid on Facebook, and join in on Monday.

Survey on Chronic Pain & Kink

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

sunny picture of a femme person in a field with an orange overlay and white text: Survey on Chronic Pain & Kink - Chronic Sex

Caroline Ballinger, a psychology student working in Dr. Karen Beale’s lab at Maryville College, is working on their senior thesis. They are researching the ways that people living with chronic pain cope and how that relates to their sexual behavior and satisfaction. This research survey has been approved by the Institutional Review Board and can only be taken by people who are 18 years old or older.

If you choose to participate, there is a link below that will take you to a 30-minute anonymous survey. You will be asked specific questions about sex and your chronic pain. Some of the questions are of a very sensitive nature, but please answer the questions as accurately and honestly as possible. If at any point during the survey you decide that you no longer want to participate, you can choose to stop taking the survey with no penalty.

If you would like more information about this topic, resources will be shared at the end of the survey, and you may contact Caroline Ballinger with any questions or comments, or you may contact her supervisor Dr. Karen Beale.

You can complete the survey here.

I took it and it was super easy. I hope you’ll consider taking it, too.

S2E13: Galia of Cerebral Sexuality

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

B&W photo of a head with nerves and veins with white text: "Chronic Sex Podcast - Season 2, Episode 13 - Galia of Cerebral Sexuality"

Today, I’m talking with Galia – a sexual behaviorist and communication coach. She wrote a guest post a few weeks ago about her work and consent with intellectual disability. Make sure to check out her site and follow her on Twitter.

We also talk about Kate Kenfield’s Tea and Empathy cards – she’s currently running a Kickstarter!

At the end, I suggest learning about trigger warnings. Thankfully, I wrote a post about that!

Continue reading “S2E13: Galia of Cerebral Sexuality” →

Awareness Calendar for October

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Month:

  • ADHD
  • AIDS (December is more popularized as AIDS awareness month, but October is a secondary month)
  • America Pharmacists
  • Breast Cancer
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Depression Education and Awareness
  • Disability Employment
  • Domestic Violence
  • Down Syndrome
  • Dwarfism
  • Dysautonomia
  • Dyslexia
  • Emotional Wellness
  • Ergonomics
  • Eye Injury
  • Gaucher Disease
  • Health Literacy
  • Healthy Lungs
  • Home Eye Safety
  • LGBT History
  • Liver
  • Long-Term Care Planning
  • Medical Librarians
  • Medical Ultrasound
  • Menopause
  • Niemann-Pick Disease
  • Organize Your Medical Information
  • Orthodontic Health
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Physical Therapy
  • Pregnancy and Infant Loss
  • Residents’ Rights
  • Rett Syndrome
  • SIDS
  • Spina Bifida
  • Talk About Your Medicines

Day/week:

  • International Day of Non-Violence (2)
  • Child Health Day (2)
  • National Primary Care Week (2-6)
  • World Cerebral Palsy Day (3)
  • World Animal Day (4)
  • National Taco Day (4)
  • World Cerebral Palsy Day (6)
  • Mental Illness Awareness Week (7-13)
  • World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (8)
  • Indigenous Peoples’ Day (9)
  • World Mental Health Day (10)
  • National Coming Out Day (11)
  • National Depression Screening Day (11)
  • Bone and Joint Health National Action Week (12-20)
  • World Thrombosis Day (13)
  • Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (13)
  • National Dessert Day (14)
  • International Infection Prevention Week (14-20)
  • Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day (15)
  • National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (15)
  • White Cane Safety Day (15)
  • Global Handwashing Day (15)
  • National White Cane Safety Day (15)
  • National Healthcare Quality Week (15-21)
  • World Food Day (16)
  • World Spine Day (16)
  • National Health Education Week (16-20)
  • World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day (19)
  • Asexual Awareness Week (19-25)
  • World Osteoporosis Day (20)
  • National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day (21)
  • International Stuttering Awareness Day (22)
  • Respiratory Care Week (22-28)
  • Lung Health Day (25)
  • Intersex Awareness Day (26)
  • World Stroke Day (29)
  • World Psoriasis Day (29)
  • Lung Health Day (31)