A state university is helping its students “sort out sexuality issues” with an annual week-long event featuring a porn film festival and a guest lecture by an activist in the BDSM – or bondage, dominance and sadomasochism – “community.”
Ad last year for Western Washington University’s campus event. |
Western Washington University in Bellingham held its 11th annual National Outdoor Intercourse Day observance this week, with offerings such as condom hunts and a masturbation information table.
The student-run Sexual Awareness Center sponsored events focused on educating students about available resources the school offers on sexual topics, according to the campus newspaper, the Western Front.
“Our goal is to help students sort out sexuality issues with clear and concise information,” said center coordinator Lauren Luttrell, a senior at Western. “We want to get students communicating about sex. This is a perfect opportunity to do that in a safe, fun and open way.”
Lutrell told WorldNetDaily brochures were distributed to inform students of the “repercussions of sex outdoors.”
“It’s so people know, if they choose to do it, what the legal consequences would be,” she explained.
Did anybody “celebrate” National Outdoor Intercourse Day in this way?
“We didn’t see anybody,” she said. “I’m sure some people did.”
‘Alternative’ expression
Meanwhile, guest speaker Allena Gabosch, director of the Wet Spot, a “sex-positive” community center in Seattle, lectured Tuesday on dispelling the “myths” surrounding polyamory – having sexual relationships with more than one person at a time.
Regarded as a “sexual activist,” Gabosch leads a group promoting activities such as the weekly “Pansexual BDSM Play Party” and workshops such as the “Whip Enthusiasts Group.”
In a December interview with the Seattle alternative weekly The Stranger, Gabosch was asked, “How would you describe yourself sexually?”
She answered: “[A] bisexual, polyamorous, masochistic switch who is only submissive to her ‘Daddy.’ I’m currently without a primary partner. But I have two secondary partners, my Daddy and my boi, and several other wonderful people I play with, so I keep quite busy! Recently I’ve become a bondage aficionado, and have spent a lot of time all tied up.”
Gabosch also is listed as corporate treasurer for The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom in Washington, D.C., an organization “committed to altering the political, legal and social environment in the United States in order to guarantee equal rights for consenting adults who practice forms of alternative sexual expression.”
The group’s website says it is “primarily focused on the rights of consenting adults in the SM-leather-fetish, swing, and polyamory communities, who often face discrimination because of their sexual expression.”
Apparently, even Gabosch favors some discrimination, however.
A blurb about the group’s “Women-Only Play Party” states, “It is with our sincerest love, and our desire to create a special, once-a-month women’s space, that we make the following request:
“For those who no longer seek to be women, and are taking personal action to that end, please be respectful of this event. We encourage you to attend other fabulous Wet Spot parties such as the TranscenDance, the Grind or the popular Pansexual BDSM Play Party.”
Presenting ‘objective’ information
Hanako Lombardi, assistant coordinator of the Sexual Awareness Center, was enthusiastic about Gabosch’s appearance on campus this week.
Western Washington University campus |
“She has a voice that really makes you want to listen to her,” Lombardi told the student newspaper. “Her stories make you feel as if you are right there experiencing it. She is very excited to come to Western.”
Lombardi emphasized the activities are chosen to present information to the public in an “objective” way, and students are not forced to attend.
Yesterday, the center planned to present “Pornfest,” which included a display and “Porn and Popcorn,” a showing of award-winning pornographic films along with discussion sessions.
Lombardi told WND the event’s purpose is not to promote pornography.
“It’s providing a safe space for students to come and view films and debates about porn,” she said. “We want them to decide for themselves what they believe porn is – where the line is drawn between porn and erotic art.”
She admitted porn on campus is controversial.
“The Sexual Awareness Center is the one to push the envelope on the topic, but we are going to do it safely and wisely,” Lombardi told the student paper.
The campus Sexual Awareness Center is described on the school website as “An Associated Students Resource and Outreach Program” that “offers confidential support information and referrals on a variety of topics including: sexual health, sexually transmitted infection, birth control and abstinence, sexual harassment, intimacy, and many more!”
In a 1999 interview with the student newspaper, the center’s coordinator at the time, Kerri Sanchez, explained the thinking behind the annual event’s name.
“Even though it has a controversial name, we really promote it as communication because the origin of the word intercourse is an old English word that means communication,” she said.
“It’s actually illegal to have intercourse outdoors,” Sanchez noted, “so that’s why we promote the communications part.”
Lombardi told WND the center planned to show last night the porn film “Urban Friction,” which she described as a “romance.”
An online reviewer of the movie said, “If you are into adventurous sex and fantasy play, this movie is for you.”
A member of the campus chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ, Ann Slothower, told the school newspaper students feel uncomfortable knowing pornography will be shown on campus.
“Pornography does not promote a healthy view of sexuality,” she said. “Human sexuality is completely exploited in pornography. It also promotes sexual violence. I would never support pornography on campus.”
Lombardi said representatives of campus Christian and Jewish groups showed up to hand out literature promoting their view of sexual morality.
“They did their thing, we did ours,” she said. “We each realized the other had the right to be there.”
She described the Western campus as a “very receptive community” where people who want to learn about church and people who want to learn about sexual topics each can find resources.
A taxpayer concern?
Lutrell told WND she is not familiar with the origin of National Outdoor Intercourse Day, but thinks it is observed on other U.S. campuses.
She said funding for the Sexual Awareness Center and this week’s activities, which cost about $400, is from student fees, not tax dollars.
The center’s overall budget for the year is $3,100, she said, which mostly went toward buying condoms, lubricants, gloves and dental dams.
As WorldNetDaily reported, some Pennsylvania lawmakers have tried to block funding to Penn State University for holding similar events.
Last year, the school featured an outspoken advocate of pedophilia and sadomasochism at a women’s health conference. In 2001, campus groups held a “Sex Faire” that included “orgasm bingo” and a “tent of consent.” The previous November they hosted a “C–-fest,” which intended to reclaim a derogatory word for a woman’s body part.
The Western Washington campus newspaper’s online edition included a message board with responses to its article this week on National Outdoor Intercourse Awareness Day.
One reader wrote: “This is what our tax money is paying for? Disgusting!”
Another said: “It’s great to see that taxpayer dollars are so effectively managed. Maybe if our esteemed universities portrayed themselves in a more professional manner serious about educating, the public would respond accordingly when voting to fund education initiatives.”
WND attempted to reach members of the Washington state legislature’s higher education committees for comment, but calls were not returned by publication time.
Some politicians might have little to say about an event condoning freewheeling sexuality.
Gabosch was asked in an interview in a 2002 book called “Trendspotting” whether a shift in “political tides” might cause trouble for her unusual Seattle group.
She said, “Possibly, but you know what, we’ve got politicians as members. Face it, no matter how repressed you may act in your public life, if you are sexual you are sexual.”
“Our world is opening up,” Gabosch continued. “I’ve been speaking for eight years at a local community college about SM and also about polygamy and non-monogamy. Eight years ago my response was a lot more negative. ‘Oh my God, she’s gonna burn in hell … ‘ And I’m very low key when I talk.
“Now I get students coming up to me afterwards asking how do I get a hold of you? I get students in the class admitting to being interested where they never would before.”
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