I won’t bore you the history but suffice to say, I had all but given up trying to spread much of the sentiments you have so masterfully conveyed here. Though I’ve only been in this “lifestyle” for a blink like yourself, I’ve been here long enough to experience leadership roles and education, as well as agenda driven community principals and abuse of power. At this point in my life, I just kinda wanted to avoid “politics”, after having spent several years trying to voice many of these same messages, only to feel they were falling on deaf ears.

Respect and Responsibility, Honor and Tolerance are all perfectly defined in your speech and I wanted you to know I heard them. I heard them and I have to believe I’m not the only person in that room that did.

Thank you Sarah, for the time and heart you’ve put into this. More importantly for me, I know that I’m not alone in a sea of diversity and cliques, where some are more concerned with where to trade a plate of food to share, for a place to play, rather than worry about the most basic of common grounds we should share as a “community”. Informed Consent.

Thanks for reminding us that this is what WE make, and we share the responsibility to make it great.

Respect,

~W

There is so much going on and we are really looking forward to seeing “Leadership in Action”!

CC

Sometimes the hardest people to ‘correct’ (or call out poor behaviors on) are ourselves – and our close friends. I’ve had the same experiences; catching myself denigrating a group of people for what I perceive as their lack of highly evolved ways of thinking. Not fun; but good for growth.

Phantom

I think that sex toy stores are the “minute clinics” of sexual health for American adults, and until we start getting certification and training en masse, most sex toy store employees will continue to function as lay educators. I used to think this was a sad fact…but your post made me realize the cultural importance of lay educators of all sorts (although I do dream of the day when all sex toy store employees have gone through sex educator training!).

I really appreciate the sentiments in this post, and the shout out as well! Thanks!