Audacia Ray's Blog, page 72

Feminist Carnival of Sexual Freedom and Autonomy: Sex & Consent Edition

Back in June 2008 I hosted the Fourth Carnival of Sexual Freedom and autonomy - and I'm doing it again! You can find out more about the Carnival here - this time I decided to get thematic. There's been a lot of fiery and interesting conversation happening over the past month about sexuality and consent, so I thought I'd pull together some of the interesting stuff I've been reading on that subject, especially the spotlights on two controversial men: Roman Polanski and Tucker Max.

First up, a...

Seeking: PT Assistant for Waking Vixen

As I've started to take a deeper look at my present and future, it's becoming really clear to me that I need help. So -deep breath- I'm hiring an assistant. Feel free to circulate this to people who you think might be a match, BUT I am not posting this on job boards and shit, because I want to hire someone from the communities I value.

PLEASE READ ALL OF THE BELOW AND FOLLOW THE APPLICATION DIRECTIONS OR YOUR EMAIL WILL BE DELETED. I know this is long. I've never hired a paid someone for my...

I Want to Tell You About India

The Indian Ocean at sunset, pic by me.

I want to tell you about India.

About:

How in Delhi the salt, spice, heat, and exhaust in the air swirl together in a heavy but enticing way. And when I took my first breath of NYC air at JFK it actually felt fresh.

Being under curfew in Sangli because of communal violence (which is the nice way of saying rioting).

The maleness of public space, and how I bought a new wardrobe so as to be sort of culturally appropriate.

Being deeply wowed by the fiery...

Bi-coastal Sex Worker Literati: Thursday, September 3

In case you're wondering about what happens at Sex Worker Literati: this is a video of a beautiful and devastating story told at the first event in August, by Jodi Sh. Doff. I've been uploading videos of Sex Worker Literati every Tuesday on Blip TV - you can also subscribe to the video podcast on Miro or iTunes.

In the New York Times Book Review on Sunday, August 23rd, Toni Bentley writes this about Jodi Sh. Doff's piece:

"Lele," a piece by Jodi Sh. Doff, who "grew up in the suburbs as someone e

On Dry Spells

A quick follow up to my post about celibacy. First of all - thanks for the many emails and comments here and elsewhere. The post did what I thought it would - opened the floodgates, created conversation around this thing sex positive people aren't supposed to have - a lack of partnered sex (maybe there are too many double negatives in that sentence - ah, fuck it). Also, just wanted to reaffirm - it's ok to be fucked up about sex. It's ok to not be having as much of it as you think you "should."

O

International Adventures: India and a Cultural Exchange

My big news (I mean, other than the NY Times Book Review) this month is that the International Women's Health Coalition is sending me to India. I leave for Delhi on the afternoon of September 4th and return the morning of September 21st. In between, I'll be doing new media trainings for a variety of feminist organizations, plus I'll be writing and shooting video, and especially documenting the work of sex worker activists in rural southern India.

Below is a repost from Akimbo - where I'll be post

What I learned from 6 months of celibacy

There is a phrase I never thought I'd write. Though I didn't start out this past year wanting to have very minimal partnersex (and in the case of the past six months, none at all), at a certain point, it became intentional.

Here's a no-duh statement: sexuality has been one of, if not THE, organizing principles of my life. My own, other people's, the smear of all that together – this is how I've built not just my identity, but my career, my being, my sense of place in the world. Another no-duh sta

Feminist Men and Words that Wound

On Wednesday night I attended a panel on feminist men, put on by Paradigm Shift, a feminist organization I recently discovered that is doing great community building work.

[And before I dig into the ugly stuff, I want to make very clear that I really loved the event, will definitely be going to future Paradigm Shift events, and I was really impressed with not only the organization of the event but also the friendliness of the Paradigm shift staff - they were greeting folks as we came in, which w

NY Times Sunday Book Review Thinks My Writing is Good

Uh, so, that anthology I contributed to? Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys? It's the cover of the New York Times Sunday Book Review this weekend, August 23rd.

And my piece? It gets a prominent mention.

Here's what reviewer Toni Bentley says about my piece, "Hot Flush of Cash and Lust":

Audacia Ray, who now teaches human sexuality at Rutgers University, certainly earned her degree out in the field, having at one point paired up with a woman named Lily as a massage team offering happy endings.

Upcoming: In the Flesh and Sex Worker Literati

In the Flesh is a monthly series hosted by Rachel Kramer Bussel. On August 20th (uh, today. sorry for the last minute action) I'm reading my piece "Hot Flush of Lust and Cash" from the Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys at Happy Ending, 302 Broome Street. The event starts at 8 but you should show up by 7.30 if you want to get a seat. I'll be in fine company too. The other readers are: Featuring art star Reverend Jen, author of Live Nude Elf: The Sexperiments of Reverend Jen, D.L. King, edi