I have been involved in the public kink community now for about 11 years. In that time, I have spent countless hours discussing and debating the nature of what it is that we do, and why it is that we do it. And I have found that there are, generally, a few group of viewpoints on the subject. Many people are a mix of more than one of these. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Learn Something’ Category
“Shame Literally Takes Lives” ~ My Speech at RMR
Posted: August 28, 2016 by Isaac Cross in About Me, Advice, Events, Learn Something, Life Log, Philosophy, TechniqueOver this last weekend, I had the opportunity to address the Rocky Mountain Rebellion Convention in Salt Lake City. The theme of the event was “Rebelling Against Shame”. Below is the content of that speech, as well as some additional information.
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[Full Text of Speech]
I joined the kink community on July 16, 2006. In the years since, I have lost track of the many parties, classes and social events that I have attended, but I do know that this is my 26th conference. In that time, many dates stand out, but few more than an evening in November of 2013 when I received a call telling me that a friend in the community had committed suicide.
Across the US, in any given year, 1 in 4 adults will struggle with a mental health problem, but because of stigma, lack of availability, and other factors, only a small percentage will seek help. The good news is research tells us that the prevalence of these issues in the kink community are lower than the general public. However, when people in the kink community do face a mental health challenge, they are far less likely to seek help, largely because they do not believe that their lifestyle will be understood or respected.
In culturally isolated communities like ours, SHAME LITERALLY TAKES LIVES.
That’s why I wear a pin on my vest for suicide awareness and prevention. It’s why our organization in Colorado is working with the NCSF and supporting their Kink Aware Professionals (KAP) list, and it’s why I have spent a huge amount of my time for the last year working to train individuals within the community to recognize the signs of a mental health problem or crisis and offer appropriate assistance. Because in a community like ours, no one should ever have to make or receive that phone call.
The National Behavioral Healthcare Council has set the goal of reaching one million people trained in Mental Health First Aid by the year 2020. I am personally working to see that at least one thousand of those are people within the kink community.
You can help by going to MentalHealthFirstAid.org and finding a class near you. If there isn’t a class near you, CALL ME and I will come and facilitate one.
For everyone who has been lost and for everyone who can still be helped, please do your part.
Thank you.
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National Mental Health First Aid
Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition
MHFA Colorado
The other States in the Rocky Mountain region (Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana) currently do not have a dedicated site for information on local classes. If you live in those states, or any other in the country, you can visit the national website so search for a class near you.
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I am a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. I am authorized to provide this training anywhere in the United States. If you would like to organize a MHFA training for your area, please feel free to contact me.
XCBDSM@gmail.com
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Thank you to all who approached me after the speech offering resources, connections and assistance. I hope to be in contact with you all soon. If you don’t hear from me, please reach out to me.
Shame Takes Lives
Posted: August 25, 2016 by Isaac Cross in About Me, Advice, Events, Learn Something, Life Log, PhilosophyThat’s the title of the speech I will be giving at Rocky Mountain Rebellion this Saturday in Salt Lake City.
When I read that the theme of the event was “Rebelling Against Shame”, I realized there was only one topic I could possibly discuss.
I will post the full text of the speech the morning after. For now, here’s a short teaser.
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In any given year, 1 in 4 adults in the US struggle with a mental health problem and only a small percentage of them will seek help. The good news is research tells us the frequency of these issues are lower within the kink community, but it also tells us that people who do experience problems are less likely to seek help, primarily because they fear their lifestyle will not be understood or respected.
In culturally isolated communities like ours, Shame literally takes lives.
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Look for the full text of the speech Sunday morning, right here.
The Error of Silence
Posted: June 2, 2016 by Isaac Cross in About Me, Advice, Learn Something, Life Log
For those of us to the left of the slash (dominant, top, etc), we often make decisions for the good of our partners without telling them. Even with the best of intentions, these decisions often have the opposite effect if we fail to communicate. (more…)
Guest Post: Looking for a play partner ?
Posted: April 19, 2016 by Isaac Cross in Advice, Guest Posts, Learn SomethingLooking for a play partner ?
By gypsycowgirl (FetLife)
* Re-posted with permission
I want to briefly touch on something I see posted on Fet all the time. People looking for play partners: a top, a bottom, a Dom, a sub, a casual thing, maybe a long term relationship.
As a woman on Fet my profile attracts a lot of people with foot fetishes, it’s just the nature of the game (and my pictures). I frequently have people contact me looking for someone willing to indulge in foot fetish play. I don’t particularly have a foot fetish, (mine is actually stockings and heels) but my profile attract people who do and that’s okay.
I get that people are looking to fulfill their particular fetish, but how about doing some basic investigating first. If someone actually took the time to get to know me, they would find out I don’t really think my feet are pretty. Do they still look great in fishnet stockings and a stiletto; you can be the judge. Believe it or not, the thought of surrendering my feet to someone is much harder to wrap my brain around than the thought of actually having sex with someone….. Weird, I know. (more…)
Colorado: Lifestyle-Aware Mental Health First Aid Training Available
Posted: April 1, 2016 by Isaac Cross in Events, Learn Something, Resources1 in 4 people will struggle with a mental health challenge in their lifetime. That means it’s likely someone you care about will be or has been impacted. Would you know what to look for, and how to help?
Become Mental Health First Aid certified, and join thousands of Coloradoans already part of the movement to increase mental health literacy and reduce stigma. Learn the signs of mental health challenges, how to respond, and how to connect those in crisis with support systems.
Find out more about the MHFA program and sign up to be notified of MHFA training in your area by CLICKING HERE.
Kinky Poly Is Great! (Except When It Sucks)
Posted: December 23, 2015 by Jordyn in Advice, Learn Something, Philosophy, TechniqueEditors Note: For more on this subject, check out the book Power Circuits: Polyamory in a Power Dynamic
I love being poly. It is intrinsic to who I am- it’s as much a part of my sexual identity as being pansexual or kinky. It’s great, it’s awesome, it’s the best thing since sliced bread (which, admittedly, is not that much of a game-changer in my life). So maybe it’s better than sliced bread.
But. All that said- it’s still really fucking hard. Throw in a D/s dynamic on top of that, and things get real weird in a hurry.
|X|C|BDSM| 