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TravisTJustice -> RE: Image (2/24/2005 1:59:25 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth
Don't you think it's time we had something for us? As I said in personal correspondence today I think it's a pity the image most portrayed to the public comes from Jerry Springer. I'm frustrated that in the media, in movies, or TV shows, that BDSM is associated with psychopaths, schizophrenics, or as in the movie "The Secretary", is a function of people with deep psychological or pathological 'conditions'. Aren't you tired of the Jerry Springer Show and it's clones, being considered representative of how your live, or want to live?
I believe this is a serious issue and I'm curious if I'm alone. There may be some amazed to know that what you did last night in the privacy of your home is considered illegal in MANY locations. I wish I had the knowledge and/or expertise to start a grass roots campaign which would evolve into a PAC for us. I think it's time. I know it's needed. What do you think?
Unfortunately, I think you'll find that apathy among kinksters is your biggest enemy. A few of us (here in Australia) went down this road a few years ago and established a national group called Consensual Lifestyles. Its concept was widely supported but when it came to actually organizing anything (dealing with bureaucracy and getting the necessary paper work in order, for example) people ran a mile and left it to the core group to do everything. Also, we found that support from established alternative lifestyles groups such as Gay Pride wasn't forthcoming (we were a pansexual group and they had "issues" with that). The Eros Foundation of Australia (which represents the adult film industry) offered moral support privately, but publicly they distanced themselves from BDSM. There was one particular knuckleheaded "morals campaigner" in government at the time who wanted the entire adult/X-rated video industry shut down. As a compromise, Eros decided to agree to a ban on BDSM videos. So, when a group as large and with the financial muscle of the Eros Foundation can't take on the Gov't head on over BDSM, small grass roots groups face a very steep, uphill battle to gain a voice of any kind. Our group eventually folded after three years (and a number of very successful national lifestyle events) because there weren't enough people willing to volunteer to even form a meeting quorum which meant, legally, we couldn't continue operating.
Some observations in hindsight that you might like to keep in mind:
Our biggest mistake was probably in the assumption the Australian scene "needed" a single representative group. Each capital city already had (and continues to have) its munch groups and social/BDSM discussion groups which are autonomous and do their own thing within the scenes in which they exist. There's also clubs in most places that each conform to and deal with the local laws applicable to them -- laws which vary from state to state. Part of our charter was also to try and establish a national database of kink-friendly professionals. A grand idea, but one that proved to be fraught with problems that made it something of a legal minefield. Kink-friendly doctors, councilors and so on exist, but word-of-mouth is sufficient to make them known to people who might need them.
In a sense, "the scene" isn't one big happy group of like minded people wanting to have an annual public event (like Sydney's Gay Madri Gras, for example) but more a loose collection of smaller groups, most of whom would prefer to remain discreet.
If I was going to do anything like this again, I'd likely consider setting it up similar to the way biker groups exist. A club will limit its membership to 20 or 25 people. When it exceeds this number, a new chapter is formed -- modeled on the first and still connected, but operating as an entirely seperate entity. From time to time, all the membership will get together for outings and even join together with groups from other clubs for similar purposes. By keeping the groups small like this, they're much easier to manage and if membership falls in one branch, it's easy to just kill it off without killing the whole club. I also tend to believe that kinksters probably have more in common with bikers as a group in that many would rather just do their own thing without feeling compelled to be "accepted" by mainstream society.
Whatever the case, I wish you luck, Merc. Feel free to msg me if you want a sounding board for your ideas.
Travis T.
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