Night at the Sexies

By Jolie Prom

On October 4th, 2008 a menagerie of advocates, journalists, and regular party goers huddled around the elevated walkway, turned temporary stage, at the downstairs lounge of Splash (one of New York’s notorious gay oriented night clubs), to celebrate the recipients of the 2008 Sexies Award.  The atmosphere was a mix of sultry and energetic.  The room was mostly candle lit with a couple of neon glowing lights scattered around walk ways, and behind couches.  The people were friendly and delightful and the awards ceremony was an added addition to the warm feeling of sexual unity spreading throughout the lounge, like wild fire in the northwest Californian hills.

Above: Lolita Wolf Photo by Eugene Mim

Above: Miriam Axel Lute (Founder of the Sexies) Photo by Eugene Mim

The ceremony was headlined by Lolita Wolf who introduced the winners and organizers with tenacious grace in her hardcore ballerina ensemble, topped off, like a cherry on a sundae, by a sparkling silver tiara.  Among the speakers was Carol Queen, PhD, cofounder of the Center for Sex and Culture, who said in regards to participation “Hell yeah, and then I said Fuck yeah, and then I said, How can I help?”  Queen spoke about the lack of sexual venues for journalism and media and the need for sexual expression in communities and publications.  According to Queen “there are too few people out there who don’t know the options available to them.”

Judith Levine, author of Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children From Sex, also spoke at awards about the perils and predjudices faced by sex journalists.  After her speech the winners were announced and, those who could make it, arrived on stage to receive their awards.  The crowd was in median frenzy and the night then subsided into raffle drawings, drinking, and conversations with the winners and judges. 

The Sexies Award was started by organizer and journalist MiriamAxel Lute.  These awards recognize sex-positive journalism and media publications.  Miriam tells how the Sexies started.  “I was looking for a place that might give me an award for something I wrote, and I knew the regular press association wasn’t going to do it.”  The Sexies Award is an inspiring event for Sex Advocates and writers who would otherwise be branded and maimed in regular journalism and media culture and a great achievement for the Sex Community.*

Find out more about the Sexies at www.sexies.org

For more photos of the Sexies Check out the Gallery!

*Video Coverage of the Awards will be up shortly.

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