If all you want for the holidays is a space to unleash your desires and fantasies, you needn’t wait for Santa.
SEXx Interactive will host QT Erotica Literary Salon 6-8 p.m. Nov. 30 at Flow State Coffeebar in Kensington. The event will provide the chance — and the space — for participants to be their full erotic selves.
The brainpower behind the event, Elicia Gonzales and Susan DiPronio, are aiming to create a space where erotica is more inclusive and to remind people “just how vital it is to our community.” They said queer erotica differs from the cis-hetero variety in that the physical acts and imagery play along with the tease.
“Our aim is to create a platform of individuality and acceptance — a space for us to be the full sexual beings we are,” said Gonzales.
The pair became interested in hosting an erotica salon after DiPronio texted Gonzales a photo of the book “Strange Desires,” which features authors such as William Faulkner, Thomas Mann and Mark Van Doren. They expect to host up to 12 community members reading classic erotica and original writings, providing “a great opportunity to share their erotic fantasies.”
Gonzales and DiPronio said it was important for SEXx Interactive, in its role as a collective dedicated to ensuring and preserving sexual freedom as a basic human right, to be inclusive of and accessible to everyone.
“We know that fighting for sexual freedom must include all people,” said Gonzales, who created the initiative — also known as SEXx — with Dr. Timaree Schmit, inspired by TEDx. The first event took place in 2014 in honor of National Masturbation Month. Since then, the organization has expanded to bring in more members and now hosts a variety of events including conferences, workshops, art exhibits and dance parties.
Mainstream erotica isn’t usually centered around queer/trans stories, noted Gonzales and DiPronio, adding they’re intent on creating a space for queer/trans erotica to be more accepted within many different sexual identities and expressions.
“Especially in this toxic sociopolitical climate, with attacks in the form of political and actual violence, it’s so important to create intentional spaces where people can commune, explore, be vulnerable, connect — and maybe even get some ass,” said Gonzales.
For more information, visit www.sexxinteractive.com.