Whew, it's July already.
Foundation building continues: I've got a complete first draft of our Bylaws ready to go out to the Board and our tax lawyer. I'm also reviewing feedback from the Board on our budget and fundraising plan. Plus, we have a couple of events coming up for folks on the East Coast:
On July 15, I'm hosting a conversation with njoy co-founder Greg DeLong at teasecraft-boston in Somerville. Get ready for an njoy-able behind-the-scenes look at starting a sex-toy company, from design to manufacture. All the details are at https://www.facebook.com/events/624256204390705/ .
On July 23, I'll be presenting "Hacking Sex: Toys, Tools, and Tips for Empowerment and Pleasure," at 7pm as part of the HOPE XI conference in New York City. I'll cover recent developments in sex/tech including crowdfunded sex toys, a patent troll, open-source sex toys, and 3D printing, with plenty of resources for folks new to sex-positive DIY. The details for that event are at https://www.facebook.com/events/1582116295420854/ .
If you're able to make it to either of these events, please come say Hi!
I couldn't quite muster my usual enthusiastic greeting this month -- June was Pride Month, but between the murder of "Goddess" Diamond, the Pulse shooting, the Istanbul airport attack, and now the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in July (plus any tragedies I missed as this newsletter went to press) -- I really can't even. Because I'm queer but white and well-educated, it's not my place to editorialize; instead, this month we'll highlight the voices of queer people of color on recent events:
- Episode 4 of npr's Code Switch Podcast: How LGBTQ People of Color Are Dealing With Orlando
- "After the Orlando Shooting: Finding Hope and Healing As A Gay Latino" by Julián Bugarín Quezada via Black Girl Dangerous
- "5 Facts That Will Absolutely Infuriate You About Police and Racist Violence" by Maisha Z. Johnson via Everyday Feminism
Thank you for being here with me another month, and thanks for doing what each of you need to do to take care of yourselves.
Peace,
~Kit Stubbs, Ph.D.
You can follow the Effing Foundation for Sex-Positivity on Tumblr, Facebook, or Twitter. For more sex-positive goodness, check out my personal blog and Twitter (@vortacist).