ONLINE: Creating Inclusive Kink Spaces for BIPOC

Diving deep into the complexities of allyship within the kink community, this workshop, guided by the experienced BIPOC, Queer, neurodivergent DEIB consultant Lilithfoxx, confronts the challenging realities faced by BIPOC individuals in spaces of alternative sexuality. Despite outward appearances of acceptance, many BIPOC kinksters encounter systemic barriers, microaggressions, and subtle biases that detract from their freedom and expression in what should be safe and empowering environments. This workshop is an opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful learning, develop empathetic communication skills, and understand the nuances of allyship in a community context.

Diving deep into the complexities of allyship within the kink community, this workshop is guided by the experienced BIPOC, Queer, neurodivergent alternative sexuality and race DEIB consultant Lilithfoxx, and Chris Merchant, multicultural and internationally licensed mental health professional with 10 years of experience as a subject matter expert in DEI and leadership consulting for Fortune 500 companies. Together, they confront the challenging realities faced by BIPOC individuals in spaces of alternative sexuality. Despite outward appearances of acceptance, many BIPOC kinksters encounter systemic barriers, microaggressions, and subtle biases that detract from their freedom and expression in what should be safe and empowering environments. This session is a call to action, moving beyond performative gestures and diversity statements to enact real change and foster genuine inclusivity.

Lilithfoxx and Chris Merchant, LPC bring their personal and professional expertise to the forefront, offering a roadmap for creating kink spaces where BIPOC individuals are not just welcomed, but actively celebrated and supported. This workshop is an opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful learning, develop empathetic communication skills, and understand the nuances of allyship in a community context.

Workshop highlights include:

• Beyond Diversity Statements: Understanding the limitations of performative allyship and the importance of actionable steps towards inclusion.

• Identifying and Addressing Bias: Techniques for recognizing hidden biases and microaggressions and strategies to mitigate their impact in kink spaces.
• Cultivating Empathetic Communication: Building skills for empathetic, inclusive dialogue that fosters understanding and connection among all community members.
• Creating Supportive Environments: Practical steps for constructing spaces that not only welcome but actively support and celebrate BIPOC participants.
• Accountability and Continuous Improvement: Approaches for maintaining accountability and encouraging ongoing efforts towards genuine community inclusion.

‘Creating BIPOC-Inclusive Kink Spaces’ is an essential workshop for anyone involved in the kink community who seeks to transform their spaces into bastions of true inclusivity and support. It challenges participants to reflect, learn, and take concrete actions to ensure that the community becomes a haven for BIPOC kinksters, characterized by respect, understanding, and genuine allyship.

Join Lilithfoxx and Christ Merchant, LPC in this pivotal journey towards creating more inclusive, empathetic, and supportive kink spaces where every individual can freely express and explore their sexuality without fear of bias or exclusion.

PRESENTERS:

Lilithfoxx (she/her) is an accomplished Board-certified sexologist, educator, and professional speaker with a specialized focus on alternative sexuality, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion, and cultural competency in clinical, academic, and research settings. Presently, she is engaged in pursuing her AASECT Sexuality Educator certification, and is a student at The Kinsey Institute, demonstrating her commitment to the field and professional growth. Identifying as a BIPOC, Queer, and neurodivergent individual, Lilith brings a unique and valuable perspective to her work. This personal insight has been key in developing her specialty areas and contributing to a more inclusive conversation about sexuality and relationships. Lilith’s connection to alternative sexuality extends beyond her professional work. For over a decade, she has identified with kink and polyamorous communities, even stepping into the roles of community organizer and educator in these spaces for the past five years. She is also a skilled workshop facilitator, delivering sessions on relationships, sexuality, intimacy, and inclusion. Her workshops have reached global audiences through conferences around the world, ensuring a wide and diverse range of perspectives in her audience. Lilith draws on her experiences as a proud former sex worker to inform her professional approach and expertise, fostering a deeper understanding of the varied facets of sexuality. Her insights and expertise have been recognized and featured in major publications such as Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Glamour, Kinkly, Ask Men, Mashable, and many more.

Before her foray into sexuality education and consultancy, Lilith enjoyed a successful decade-long career in digital marketing. As a senior-level digital marketing director, SEO-specialist, web developer, and business consultant, she worked with businesses spanning from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. She continues to utilize these skills, providing marketing and business consulting services to sex-positive and adult-industry businesses.

Through her professional endeavors, Lilithfoxx continues to inspire, educate, and foster a more inclusive understanding of sexuality, relationships, and intimacy.

Chris Merchant (He/him) is a multicultural, internationally licensed mental health professional with over 15 years of experience in the field of psychology. Chris’s professional background includes a decade in organizational psychology where he collaborated as a subject matter expert for diversity, equity, inclusion, and as a leadership development consultant for C-suite executives in multiple Fortune 500 companies. In the clinical arena, Chris has ample experience working in community mental health as a licensed professional counselor (LPC), providing evidence-based counseling services for disenfranchised populations. In his personal life, Chris is a fierce advocate for the creation of inclusive spaces focused on empowering BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Kink & Fetish, and Ethical non-monogamous individuals through access to education on mental health, sexuality, and social justice. Today, Chris is the proud owner of Polaris Behavioral Services, a 100% virtual counseling practice serving the entire state of Texas, specializing in providing adult individuals, couples, and polycules, with inclusive, compassionate, knowledgeable, and authentic mental health services.

TICKETING:

https://forbiddentickets.com/events/wicked-grounds/5e59df0631

We offer a sliding scale, so that cost is not a barrier to attendance.

The regular ticket is $30. This is what most people should pay. Choose the level you can comfortably afford.

Patreon members at the VIP+ level may get discounted tickets for $10. Just see your Patreon membership emails for this month's discount code. Find out more at Patreon.com/WickedGrounds!

If cost is a barrier at any level, please use the "Volunteer List" to request a free scholarship ticket. We will award as many scholarship tickets as we can on a space-available basis.

ACCESS:

This will be a live, online class offered through Zoom. To participate, you will need to download the free, basic version of the Zoom app before the class! This class will be recorded and is available for later viewing.

Ticketed attendees can also request the recording to watch at another time.

Zoom now provides closed captioning which will be available for this event.