Spread Magazine, Sydni Ellis and lots of Sex (workers...)

Last night, Venus Vegas and myself (Essin' Em) trekked up to NYC to attend the Spread Magazine 8th Issue Launch Party, because none other than the beautiful and intelligent Sydni Ellis, who also writes a column for www.hotmoviesforher.com, was going to be reading an article she had written for Spread Magazine about her spanking experience with the amazing Kelly Payne.


After a brief foray in Chinatown (a new experience for me, a Colorado Native), we made our way over to the poetry club at which the event was held, which was packed to capacity. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from an event that promised readings and performances from women in the sex industry (sex workers, porn stars, artists, actresses, directors, activists, writers, and more).  However, once the performances began, I was just awe-struck at the amazing people on the stage...from women talking about their experiences on sets, why they liked porn, how they got into the sex work industry, setting down "to-do" lists for sex workers advocacy, and more.  It was so invigorating to hear this collaboration of women coming together to embrace women, sex, sexuality, sensuality, feminism, equality, beauty, and really, just life in general.  Absolutely outstanding and it gave me hope for the future of sex in this world.

I was also privledged to hear Sarah Katherine Lewis reading from her book "Indecent: How I Make It and Fake It as a Girl for Hire"; another smart, goregous and all around lovely woman from the industry (plus, she liked my hair; clearly she has taste!); a great stage presence, plus fabulous writing made her reading hold everyone's attention thoughout the performance.

All in all, it was just a wonderful experience that left me almost on an endorphine high, talking to Venus Vegas the whole way back about women coming together to accomplish things, and how one can love sex AND be a feminist at the same time, and how we wished there were so more of these things happening around the country.

I can say for sure that I'll be subscribing to Spread, and hopefully keeping in touch with all of the beautiful, intelligent and empowered women I met at this event.