Adult industry mental health nonprofit Pineapple Support announced today that the organization will host an an LGBTQ+ support group and webinar as part of Pride month in June. Both are free to attend by workers in the adult industry, Pineapple Support said in its announcement.
“Queering Sex Work: Navigating the Industry within the LGBTQ+ Community,” a six-week support group for LGBTQ+ industry professionals will “explore and discuss the role of a sex worker within a sexual identity,” Pineapple said in its announcement.
Beginning on Wednesday, June 24, the support group will also discuss “moving with societal changes like COVID-19 and maintaining self-care physically, financially, as well as in relationships.” The support group will be cohosted by Andrew Pari and Julie Schiffman, LGBTQ+ and trauma therapists with experience serving the adult industry.
The webinar is titled “Pride From Inside: Staying True to You and Those Around You” and will “focus on the ways we can build and create connections through different avenues within the LGBTQ+ community while addressing relational challenges and safety issues, whether online or in person.”
The hour-long webinar will be hosted by Samantha Willis, Julia Schiffman and Hayley Krenzke on Wednesday, June 17 at 8pm EST.
“Human connection is foundational in our relationships, both in how we engage at work and in other parts of our lives,” said Leya Tanit, founder of Pineapple Support. “It becomes even more important with how we maintain pride in who we are and how we move with others. As part of Pride month, we want to make sure the LGBTQ+ performers and industry professionals are supported.”
Pineapple Support was founded by Tanit in early 2018, in response to losses in the adult industry from depression, addiction and other mental illnesses. The organization, which is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit in the United States and a registered charity in the UK, says it has so far connected over one thousand adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost, therapy, counseling and emotional support.
The Queering Sex Work support group will begin on Wednesday 24 June at 12:00pm EST. For more information and to sign-up for the support group, visit Pineapplesupport.org/support-groups.
The Pride From Inside webinar will take place on Wednesday June 17 at 8pm EST and is scheduled to last one hour, but may extend. For more information and to sign-up for the Pride From Inside webinar visit PineappleSupport.org/webinars.
