From Raw Story:
Obama US Attorney expected to stand behind federal gay marriage ban, plaintiffs say
“The gay rights law group that convinced a federal district court judge Thursday to strike down a federal ban on gay marriage has told the New York Times they “fully expect” the Justice Department to appeal the decision — a move that could shatter Obama’s image in the gay community and cost his party millions of dollars in donations from gay donors.
“Lawyers on various sides of the issue said it was a certainty that the government will appeal and likely that the cases will reach the Supreme Court,” Politico added Friday.”
If they do appeal won’t it come back to bite them during the next elections? With all the support he had in the gay community during his campaign this seems like a bad move.
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From Viviane’s Sex Carnival:
Submissions Wanted: Women’s Words on Their Orgasms
“Midori is seeking submissions for a special writing project:
I turn to you, dear readers, for some juicy material needed for a very special project. I am collecting women’s accounts of the physical experience their orgasms. I’m really hoping that some of you can help me out with this. Feel free to pass it on to any women or lists with women who might be interested.”
More details about this project at the link above.
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From Gay Rights:
The Worst Fears About LGBT Violence in Uganda May Be Coming True
“There has been a lot of focus on Uganda over the past year, as the country debates an anti-homosexuality law, orchestrated in large part by a strong American evangelical presence in the country, that would institute the death penalty or life imprisonment sentences for Uganda’s LGBT population. Among human rights activists, the concern all along has been that rampant homophobia in Uganda, fueled by radical religious elements, would lead to wanton violence against Uganda’s LGBT population, as well as straight allies.
Unfortunately, those fears may be coming true. Over the weekend, the body of a volunteer with Integrity Uganda, a pro-LGBT organization, was found in a pit latrine. The body was beheaded, and comes amidst news that a priest who delivered a sermon in support of LGBT people has also gone missing.”
This situation just seems to be getting worse and worse. Most likely the US church that is stirring up this hatred think they’re doing “God’s work”. What clueless assholes.
Posted by Vixen as News at 11:47 PM CDT
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Seal Press sent me two books to review.
Good Porn, A Woman’s Guide by Erika Lust
“Porn: For so many women it is a dirty word, a taboo topic. Even with the prevalence of porn in the world today, so many women are still afraid of it—unsure of what exactly porn is, what constitutes “good” porn, and why it should matter to them.
Good Porn is a women’s comprehensive guide to porn—what it is, what types are available, and why men and women enjoy different styles. With her poised expertise, author Erika Lust examines the films, the industry, and the phenomenon, making porn more accessible to women. Lust breaks away from the assumption that porn is for men only—examining the role of women within the porn industry, from female directors to the stars themselves. She addresses the myth that one can’t be a feminist and still like porn, offers insight on the educational and erotic value of porn, and covers the benefits of porn in heightening women’s sexual appetites. Sharp and honest, Good Porn breaks away from women’s previous assumptions of porn, opening a new discourse on sexuality and relationships.”
Hellions: Pop Culture’s Rebel Women by Maria Raha
“Who is the iconic rebel? Is it a character from the legacy of James Dean or Clint Eastwood, or maybe a Beat Generation writer? Better yet, is it a woman?
Modern pop culture and the media have distorted the notion of rebellion. Classic male rebels appear sexy, nomadic—naturally rebellious—while unorthodox women are reprimanded, made to fit unrealistic roles and body images, or mocked for their decadence and self-indulgence. In order to appreciate our legacy of female rebels—and create space for future cultural icons—the notion of rebellion needs to be reevaluated.
From Madonna and Marilyn Monroe to the reality TV stars and hotel chain heiresses of the twenty-first century, Hellions analyzes the celebration of pop culture icons and its impact on notions of gender. Looking at these past examples, Hellions expands upon the definition of rebellion and offers a new understanding of what would be considered rebellious in the celebrity-obsessed media culture of the twenty-first century.”
I’ve started Hellions first because I love reading about rebellious women.
Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 11:02 PM CDT
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From this gallery. I like this photo. Her hair makes the picture look almost surreal.
Posted by Vixen as Sexy Sensations at 11:54 PM CDT
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The latest issue of $pread Magazine is out and I’m in it. I wrote up an interview with Jesse Cox for the Style section. I didn’t write the Crafty Courtesan article this time. They’re taking it in a more crafty=clever groove. But maybe I’ll get another crafty pattern in there again.
Want to subscribe to $pread? It’s a pretty awesome magazine and you don’t have to be a sex worker to enjoy it. You can subscribe at their store.
Posted by Vixen as Sex Workers at 10:43 PM CDT
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“You make me feel important.”
-semi-regular client
Posted by Vixen as Quote Book at 11:18 AM CDT
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A few years ago I wrote about a Great Session I did in person. This year I have a perspective from the other end-I had a shitty in person session. (I’ll call the client Shitty Client.)
The session started off promising. My sex worker friend J pulled me in as a second Mistress. We’ve worked together before so I was looking forward to it. Sessions with another sex worker are typically easier and more fun.
SC is a new client for J. She warned me that he’s rather ADD in his desires and a chain smoker. Neither of those things are a deal killer and both of us felt confident in the session.
We got the hotel that day and dressed up in our respective roles-me as the Mistress and her as the Switch. The plan was that we’d both dominate SC part of the time and then I’d dominate them both.
Minutes before showing up SC calls and asks us to go get ice for him. We were already decked out in our session clothes and told him he could get ice when he got here. He complained about that when he showed up. I didn’t think this a big deal at the time but looking back I see it as a bad beginning. But the session had started.
The reason for the ice? SC had brought some whiskey. A quick look at J told me that she was just as surprised by this as I was. I’ve met with clients that have served wine during the session and was fine with it. But this just felt different. He pulled out a flask and demanded cups.
I suppose I should segway a tad and talk about SC’s demands. He had a style of speaking that was very demanding. Even if he was following orders and playing submissive he’d still demand something of us. Again, not a deal killer but it was just another quirk that ruffled my feathers.
Anyway, SC wanted all of us to drink. I’ll drink some wine during sessions, sure. But hard liquor? That didn’t seem like a good idea. J had a real excuse of no alcohol because of medication. But SC made it clear that the session wasn’t starting until one of us drank with him. J and I exchanged glances. I’d drink some of the whiskey.
There is something special about working with another sex worker. During a session we can send messages to each other through nods, winks, nudges, etc. Throughout this session J and I were “talking” this way.
I practiced safe drinking by grabbing the flask before SC could open it. Pretending to faun over the label I inspected the cap to make sure it hadn’t been opened. The sound of the label breaking was a relief. I poured myself a little bit and poured SC more. He picked it up and poured more alcohol into my glass. J fake joked that the Mistress couldn’t get drunk. SC didn’t take the hint and told us we should smoke and drink together first.
Sometimes I took real sips from my cup, other times I just let the whiskey wet my lips. When SC started urging me to drink faster I just let the whiskey spill down my chin and neck while he wasn’t looking. Another time I strutted around the room to show off my skirt and dumped the alcohol down the sink.
While I was handling the liquor, J was dealing with the smoking. She’s a light smoker; I’m a nonsmoker. She lit up with SC who turned out to be quite the chain smoker. He’d smoke one after the other, lighting the new one with the old. I noticed how J managed to smoke less. She mostly let her cigarette burn in the ashtray. When she did pick it up she inhaled lightly. And every time SC put out his cigarette she’d put out hers, even if it was only half way burned. SC would then light her another. By the end of the session my throat hurt from all the smoke in the room.
After settling into the drinks and cigs SC paid us our fee. “Make sure you count this,” he said as he handed us our fees. It was one of those awkward moments-counting right in front of him would be sort of tacky. It looked like the right amount so we didn’t.
SC kept stalling on starting the kink play. We tried to introduce different activities but he’d complain that we were rushing things. Then while drinking he’d complain that we hadn’t started. “I’ve paid you enough for three weeks,” he told us several times. That was ludicrous but we didn’t point it out. The look on J’s face told me she was thinking the same thing I was-he’s going to dick around with the time.
He had wanted golden showers and lots of them. One good thing about the alcohol was that it filled up my bladder fast. But SC wouldn’t get started. Finally I stood up and said I’m peeing NOW and grabbed a container.
Though he insisted on golden showers he balked at being ordered to drink it. My patience was being tried. Why was he being so difficult!?! Once he sipped the glass of pee though he drank it right up.
Another problem started shortly after the first golden shower. SC had roaming hands. Different sex workers have different boundaries. If you go see a stripper there’s rules on where or if you can touch her. It’s the same with a mistress. SC didn’t respect boundaries at all. Over and over he tried grabbing our breasts and asses. I can’t tell you how many times I redirected his hands but I can tell you it was frustrating. He knew what he was doing too. He’d wait until I was distracted with spanking him to try to grab a handful. Eventually I had J hold his hands while I swatted his ass.
Near the end of the session SC started complaining about the time. Dammit, we were expecting that! He said we had 4 or 5 hours with him. I was still thinking of a rebuttal when J took charge. She dropped all pretense of mistress and spoke in her don’t-fuck-with-me voice. She reviewed the whole deal-the fee, the time, the agreed on play. SC tried to protest and she reviewed it again.
He switched tactics. “Well if you don’t want to stay I guess I’ll be here all alone.” Argh!!! One way to quickly piss off a sex worker is to fuck around on the agreed on deal during the session. I was quietly fuming.
We tried wrapping up, even spinning a “to be continued” fantasy in case he wanted to see us again. SC was having none of it. He just pretended that the session wasn’t ending. Again, J took charge. She matter-of-factly told SC we had to get going and started getting dressed in her normal clothes. I followed her lead and got dressed myself.
SC wasn’t moving. “Maybe I’ll take a nap and you’ll play with me when you get back,” he said. We told him that was fine and even pulled back the covers on the bed. It was our hotel room and we were leaving him in it!
We took all our toys and the room keys and left. As we walked to J’s car she said-Oh my God, never again!” I agreed.
When we got in the car I had a feeling we should count the money. Sure enough SC shorted me $60. Not enough to go back and complain but it was just one more shitty thing for him to do. J picked up the hotel tab for me since I got shorted which was a sweet gesture. Sex worker solidarity baby!
I drove by the hotel later that day to make sure SC had left. He was driving out as I was driving in, though I don’t think he recognized me. Ironically, SC asked for another session shortly after this one. Apparently he had “a great time playing with you girls”. That was a surprise to hear considering his actions during the session conveyed the opposite.
Posted by Vixen as PSO Confessions at 11:34 PM CDT
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“Happy Freedom Day” is what Jesse and I like to say to each other on the holiday. Then we typically launch into some bitching about politics, a tradition with us. Since it’s Freddom Day let’s see how the freedom of press is holding up these days. Not so good it seems, especially in relation to the BP spill.
First up, a YouTube/CNN clip of Anderson Cooper reporting on BP censoring reporters.
First Amendment Has been Suspended
“As BP makes its latest attempt to plug its gushing oil well, news photographers are complaining that their efforts to document the slow-motion disaster in the Gulf of Mexico are being thwarted by local and federal officials—working with BP—who are blocking access to the sites where the effects of the spill are most visible.”
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In case the YouTube video goes down I’ll include a text version:
From First Amendment Coalition:
BP, Government Criminalize Media Efforts to Access Spill
“COOPER: “the Coast Guard today announced new rules keeping photographers and reporters and anyone else from coming within 65 feet of any response vessel or booms out on the water or on beaches — 65 feet.
Now, in order to get closer, you have to get direct permission from the Coast Guard captain of the Port of New Orleans. You have to call up the guy. What this means is that oil-soaked birds on islands surrounded by boom, you can’t get close enough to take that picture.
Shots of oil on beaches with booms, stay 65 feet away. Pictures of oil-soaked booms uselessly laying in the water because they haven’t been collected like they should, you can’t get close enough to see that. And, believe me, that is out there.
But you only know that if you get close to it, and now you can’t without permission. Violators could face a fine of $40,000 and Class D felony charges.
What’s even more extraordinary is that the Coast Guard tried to make the exclusion zone 300 feet, before scaling it back to 65 feet””
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From the ACLU:
Respecting the Press and Public Access During the BP Oil Spill
“We’ve heard countless stories of journalists trying to cover the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico being denied access in one way or another. Whether they’re trying to fly over the spill to take photos, gain access to the oil-covered beaches, or take pictures of the dead animals washing ashore, a “media clampdown” continues despite federal government assurances that access is “uninhibited.”
One BP representative told a Mother Jones reporter that BP could restrict access to the Elmer’s Island Wildlife Refuge because “it’s BP’s oil.” And many reports indicate that local law enforcement has actually been cooperating with BP to restrict journalists’ access to the spill.”
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From Raw Story:
BP, cops detain reporter for taking pictures of oil refinery
“A photographer taking pictures for ProPublica was detained Friday while shooting pictures in Texas City, Texas.
The photographer, Lance Rosenfield, said that shortly after arriving in town, he was confronted by a BP security officer, local police and a man who identified himself as an agent of the Department of Homeland Security. He was released after the police reviewed the pictures he had taken on Friday and recorded his date of birth, Social Security number and other personal information.”
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From AlterNet:
BP Is Destroying Evidence and Censoring Journalists
“While President Obama insists that the federal government is firmly in control of the response to BP’s spill in the Gulf, people in coastal communities where I visited last week in Louisiana and Alabama know an inconvenient truth: BP — not our president — controls the response. In fact, people on the ground say things are out of control in the gulf.
Even worse, as my latest week of adventures illustrate, BP is using federal agencies to shield itself from public accountability.
(snip)
With oil undisputedly hitting the beaches and the number of dead wildlife mounting, BP is switching tactics. In Orange Beach, people told me BP wouldn’t let them collect carcasses. Instead, the company was raking up carcasses of oiled seabirds. “The heads separate from the bodies,” one upset resident told me. “There’s no way those birds are going to be autopsied. BP is destroying evidence!”
The body count of affected wildlife is crucial to prove the harm caused by the spill, and also serves as an invaluable tool to evaluate damages to public property - the dolphins, sea turtles, whales, sea birds, fish, and more, that are owned by the American public. Disappeared body counts means disappeared damages - and disappeared liability for BP. BP should not be collecting carcasses. The job should be given to NOAA, a federal agency, and volunteers, as was done during the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.”
Posted by Vixen as News at 11:23 PM CDT
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The NYC Sex Blogger Calendar is now a group on FetLife. You can find it here. Sign up if you’re planning on going to the release party as they’re taking a headcount. I’m hoping to go!
Posted by Vixen as Musings at 11:21 PM CDT
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Reader Tinka sent me a bunch of great links covering the events at the latest G20 protests. I’m so grateful when readers send me tips! (email me at radicalvixenatgmaildotcom)
She originally sent me one link and when I wrote back asking some questions she sent me back a long list of links. Instead of rewriting it I’m just going to repost it here. Thank you!
Tinka says:
“- the Black Bloc anarchists were supposedly cop plants. It seems unlikely, the only evidence that’s been offered about this is that the boots of the anarchists were the same as the riot police. Though it would not be the first time in Canadian Protests that it happened. At the Montebello, Quebec NAFTA summit in 2007 police posed as anarchists.
*Vixen says-I’m inclined to believe they were cop plants*
- the Police were supposedly ordered to not stop the rioters, despite having more than enough force to do so,
- the conditions of the detainment center. More and more people are coming out with their stories of their arrests and time in the center.
- this has been the largest mass arrest in Canadian history though I have had trouble finding the number of people that had charges laid against them. From my understanding it is under 200 though.
- the media seemed almost wary to report on the situation. The local news did a piece about how the people were reporting the news. They basically stated that anyone with a cellphone can report the news and that the population had been doing just that through youtube and blogs.
- one person account of reading a police manual for the event from over an officers shoulder, though it seems to lack credibility.
- this is the most horrible account of the events I’ve read so far. pictures of this girls arrest were all over the news and newpapers
- story of ten friends, post being detained
- Toronto graffiti of Harper dressed in riot gear. One of my friends during the events was referring to the riot police as “Harperian Stormtroopers”
- Detainment center finally opened to Media
Previous to this there were no photos aloud in the center. Detainees were had phones and cameras confiscated (which is part of normal procedure, though many never received their property back) and police were simply ordered that no photos were permitted outside of processing purposes.
- the police have put a display of “weapons” confiscated at the protests. Which include some LARP gear and items from unrelated events
- Justin and Lex from the original link I sent you are keeping their blog updated”
Posted by Vixen as News at 11:50 PM CDT
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