YNOT – Some days it just doesn’t pay to be a consenting adult in search of a worthy cause.Ask Theresa “Darklady” Reed, the perennial voice for polyamory and sex-positive living in the Pacific Northwest. For the past nine years, Reed has hosted the annual Portland Masturbate-a-thon, a combined fundraiser, tip-of-the-hat to sexual high spirits and emphatic “fuck-you” to prudes. The event has enjoyed its share of controversy, but nevertheless it has carried on.
This year, the 10th anniversary year, circumstances conspired against the Portland Masturbate-a-thon at never-before-seen levels. First, the date became problematic. Organizers solved that glitch by moving the event from National Masturbation Month in May to June 12, a shift of about two weeks.
Then the event lost its original venue. No problem. Reed and her co-conspirators moved the fundraiser to a nightclub that promised even bigger and better digs. That idea was foiled when the nightclub and the City of Portland got into an escalating scuffle over Masturbate-a-thon’s alleged “perversion.”
Ever the optimist, Reed simply flexed her considerable moxie and decided to return the event to its roots as a house party. Ergo, on June 12, Portland’s 10th Annual Masturbate-a-thon will take place a Darklady Estates and Wonderground, located approximately two miles from the now-unavailable nightclub and a mere two blocks from Portland’s infamous Pirate Flag House.
Annually attracting 250-300 guests from a multitude of sexual, social, professional and personal backgrounds, Portland’s 10th Annual Masturbate-a-thon — this year themed “Back to Basics, and What’s More Basic than Masturbating in a Basement?” —intends literally to pack the house with sex-positive socializing, non-coital sexing and charitable fundraising, Reed said. Special attractions are expected to include Thrillhammer, Sybian, and Monkey Rocker rides by guests and porn stars Noname Jane, Amber Chase and Sophia St. James, as well as RealTouch demos.
San Francisco DJ Zulu and Portland DJ Ralphaliscious will contribute mood-enhancing mixes, and a wandering gypsy swing duo will provide softer sounds throughout the soiree, while the Naughty Barber offers intimate shaves, the Naughty Baker serves up oral delights, the Tarot Wizard shares glimpses into the future and Sola, April Flores’ one-woman video, adds visual inspiration.
“While it would have been wonderful to have partied in an upscale nightclub, the Darklings and I agree that bringing [Masturbate-a-thon] back home for the 10th anniversary feels good,” Reed said. “The Portland version of this event started in my home, so it’s appropriate to celebrate it there yet again.
“Regardless of location, my guests are the ultimate reason for the success of my events, and I’m delighted to welcome them to my humble Estates,” she continued. “Returning to the historic BYOB-potluck nature of this party favorite will allow us to focus more on the delicious art of self-pleasure, including an array of innovative erotic stimulation devices. It will also leave us with more pocket money to put toward silent auction items, which will help the worthy local and national sex-positive organizations we’re supporting this year.”
A percentage of the door, in addition to all silent auction funds and donations of hygiene, household and pet supplies and food collected during the event, will benefit Esther’s Pantry, the Woodhull Freedom Foundation and the newly formed adult-consumer focused non-profit organization, Free Speech Alliance.
Event sponsors include Fascinations, Taboo Video, HotMovies, GrrlToys, X-Rated Toys, Cascade AIDS Project and Wet.
Sponsors, silent auction donors and others interested in contributing to or participating in the 10th Annual Portland Masturbate-a-thon are encouraged to contact Reed for details.
Reed plans to host a pre-thon “naughty karaoke” social Thursday, June 10, from 7-11 p.m. at GLBT/BDSM-friendly Julia’s Café, located at 2130 NE Broadway in Portland.
More information about the Portland Masturbate-a-thon and other Darklady events is available at Masturbate-a-thon.org and Darklady.com.
