HB PDX September Class: "So You Wanna (be) Suspend(ed)?" an Introduction to Rope Suspension

Tickets are "sliding scale" with a suggested price of $15 per person. Paying less is intended for folks experiencing marginalization and that have financial access needs. No one turned away due to lack of funds, email us if you are experiencing financial barriers. Volunteers attend free for work exchange.

This is our September HBPDX Class!

SPECIFIC POLICY UPDATE FOR THIS EVENT as we are doing something a little differently--

• Cis-male tops may not attend. HOWEVER Bottoms/Switches of ALL genders may attend (no one needs to be accompanied) as well as women and gender-expansive tops. Cis-male bottoms who attend HB PDX with intentions to tie, cruise, attend solely to search for a top, or who provide unsolicited advice to attendees, will be removed from the event.
• Photos ok if all in the picture consent. We recommend taking photos against a wall so that there are no questions about who is included
• This will not be a play or tie event (demo, discussion)

CLASS DESCRIPTION

So you wanna suspend or be suspended in rope? What do you need to know? Come solo, in pairs, or in groups and lets find out! This is a demo, discussion, and information class; there will be no tying. We hope to help you start to uncover the who, what, where, why, and how of rope suspension. We seek to empower folks of all shapes, sizes, roles, and types to find their OWN unique path in rope suspension, and will cover relevant information for tops, bottoms, and self-tiers.

Attendees should leave with information, resources for next steps, and helpful risk mitigation strategies.

INSTRUCTOR BIOS

Isha: (She/her) is a queer, switchy rope-human and HBPDX facilitator. She hit the Portland scene 4 years ago after deconstructing from a fundamentalist religious upbringing and is guided by autonomy-seeking, curiosity, courage, and connection. You might see her in: Rope, D/s, EMSM (Emotional and Mental sadomasochism), and Hosting/Leadership. A frequent [neurodivergent/disabled] "info-dumper", she firmly believes we should never gate-keep information.

Nat: (She/her) Hi! I have been doing rope with my partner and friends for around 4 years. I am usually the one in ropes although my ground based tying skills are something I enjoy expanding and practicing. For my partner and I, ground rope is connection, suffering, and sexy, but as a flyer suspension rope has become empowering, dramatic, and even goofy at times.

(demo-suspensions TBD)

PRE-REQS

None, this is beginner friendly and open to all (except cis-male tops).

BRING

• yourself!
• Questions or thoughts you might have about rope suspension. Pre-game by considering why you or others might want to suspend or be suspended.

LOCATION

Studio 201
Portland OR

Street parking is found in the area and numerous bus lines can get you there! Door code will be sent in your confirmation email. Please arrive on-time or early so we can get everyone checked in.

ACCESSIBILITY

Studio 201 is not ADA accessible; there are several steps into the front door, and then a stairwell to the second floor. There is capacity to use the freight elevator (but only after 7 outdoor steps; PLEASE contact us ahead of time to arrange this as it requires extra planning/coordination). There are 2 single-bathrooms available. Studio 201 has large windows (that can open for fresh air) and lots of natural lighting (as well as adjustable overhead lighting), heating in winter, small AC in summer, multiple fans, a variety of seating, floor mats, straps and bamboo for borrowing, and a Conway air purifier.

DRESS

vanilla dress

COVID Precautions

• if you are sick or experiencing flu/cold-like symptoms do not attend. We will refund your donation if desired.
• We recommend rapid testing before attending events, if possible and especially if you have been around large groups of people or have had a secondary exposure but have no symptoms.
• If you test positive for COVID shortly after the event, please disclose it to the event organizer so that they can notify attendees of potential exposure
• We are no longer checking Vaccination cards but we recommend up-to-date vaccination and boosters!

WHO IS HITCHIN' BITCHES?

We are a rope education group led by and for women and gender-expansive volunteers. This is a LGBTQIA+ and POC safer space geared towards marginalized genders including but not limited to cis-women, transgender, bigender, agender, non-conforming, non-binary, two spirit and genderqueer identified folks! We welcome all people who are respectful of and hold space for those involved.

Hitchin’ Bitches PDX strives to decenter the cis male, hetero, white narrative in rope and expand spaces for women and gender diverse folks. Our intention is to foster safer space for tops and bottoms who don’t feel safe or comfortable in cis-male dominated spaces to practice and enjoy rope for themselves.

Other Notes

If you would like to continue to support HB PDX as a volunteer add "@volunteer" as a role on our discord server and/or email HBPDXgroup@gmail.com

Please give us feedback about our events with this form. or by emailing us at HBPDXgroup@gmail.com

If you are interested in teaching a class with us or have access needs for our events, please let us know via email at HBPDXgroup@gmail.com

Stay in the loop with our Newsletter at https://hitchin-bitches-pdx.mailchimpsites.com/