Tag Archives: NCSF

September is National Consent Month!

Facebooktwitter

Partnering with the NCSF, the Arizona Power Exchange is proud to bring you Consent Month!

Please visit the Consent Month Website for contests, merchandise, ideas, and free stuff as we all discuss consent in a positive way!

AT APEX, we focus on consent all month long including…

PEX sponsors [Consent Month][http://consentmonth.com] and focuses on consent the entire month of September!

**Here are some things you might be interested in to support affirmative consent:**

Monday, September 4th STATE OF CONSENT with Susan Wright of the NCSF

Tuesday, September 05, 2017 APEX 101 – SKILLS: COMMUNICATION AND NEGOTIATION

Monday, September 11, 2017 Consensual Non-Consent: Reality vs. Fantasy

Wednesday, September 13, 2017 APEX 303: SKILLS – BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

Friday, September 15, 2017 Consent Themed Photos

Saturday, September 16, 2017 APEX Pre-Party Workshop: Informed Consent in Casual & Pick-up-Play

Monday, September 18, 2017 Consent at APEX

Saturday, September 23, 2017 APEX 29th Anniversary Presentations: Honoring our Volunteersncluding a consent presentation!

Monday, September 25, 2017 Master/slave dynamics and consent

Visit the APEX Calendar for more information!

Got Consent?

Facebooktwitter

The 2016 APEX Kink Karnival is TOMORROW 11/12/16

Facebooktwitter

There is so much happening at the 2016 Kink Karnival! We are setting records for kinky fun!

Below are some of the details on all the amazing things happening at the 2016 Kink Karnival!

Tell your friends you are coming:

RSVP FOR THE KINK KARNIVAL on Fetlife.com
RSVP FOR THE PARTY on Fetlife.com
RSVP FOR THE KINK KARNIVAL ON FACEBOOK.com

Demonstrations, the TRY IT! Stage, and Mini Classes.

Available All Day:

  • Vendors
  • STI Testing
  • Concessions

TRY IT!

We are trying something new and different this year. Our “TRY IT!” Stage is typically in a single location, but our vendors are a huge part of the success of the “Try It” stage, and we want you to see all their cool toys while you try the fetish! So, our TRY IT! events this year will take place in different locations based on the fetish. Your program will show the map, and schedule posters will be up all over!

10:15-10:45am TRY IT! Paddles at CompassRose Creations
11:00am-11:30am TRY IT! Floggers at SlaveBeast Productions
11:15-11:45 Try It! Whips at PocketSnakes
12:00pm-12:30pm Try-It! Metal Impact and Sensation Toys at Rusted Dragon Forge
1:00pm-1:30pm Try It! Canes at Calamity Canes
3:30pm- 4:00pm Try It! Dragontails at The Kink Factory

Demonstrations

We are trying something fun this year with a couple of useful demos. As always, a few surprises are in store that you will just have to wait to see!

11:30am Demo-Flogging Styles
12:45pm 12:45pm Demo: Whip Styles

Mini Classes

Kink Karnival is designed to educate, and this year is no exception. Some mini classes are added to the schedule this year. 15 minutes of information to add to your toolbox of Kink Survival Skills.

11:00am: How to ask for what you want, even when you’re new to kink.
12:30pm: Consent is more than “NOT TOUCHING”.
1:30pm: Kink labels, monikers, and honorifics. When do I choose, what do I call people?

Whip Cracking Contest 1:45PM

Since we have so many amazing whip makers in Arizona like we will have a whip cracking contest! You get 60 seconds to crack your whip as many times as you can! It will be a huge bunch of fun!

If you want to participate, just bring your whip!

STD Testing

APEX cares about you and your health. There will once again be free STD testing and information available on additional health issues at the 2016 Kink Karnival.

APEX is so proud to announce the participation of two AMAZING organizations at the 2016 Kink Karnival:

HIV/ HHIV-Services-IMAGE_0-300x125epatitis Integrated Care Services NATIVE HEALTH and NHW Community Health Center provides no cost HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C screening. We also provide support services, counseling, case management, and prevention services as part of the HIV Integrated Care Program.

A 5sw01 (c)(3) non-profit organization, Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS (formerly Body Positive) was founded in 1990 by Kirk Baxter. The Center’s vision, “leading the fight against HIV and AIDS” is carried out through our mission of reducing infection, improving quality of life and contributing to worldwide research.

The Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS will be bringing us the Condom Bar as well as information and support of your health!

rainbows-festival-2016-31-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell your friends you are coming!

RSVP FOR THE KINK KARNIVAL on Fetlife.com
RSVP FOR THE PARTY on Fetlife.com
RSVP FOR THE KINK KARNIVAL ON FACEBOOK.com

Concessions

Yummy food will be back! We are so lucky to have a concessions vendor who sticks with us. We are thrilled to have them returning to the 2016 Kink Karnival.

Auction and Raffle 2:00pm

Always tons of fun! The raffle and live auction will be back! The Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be doing our Raffle sales again. We can’t wait to see them!

Tickets

For convenience, you can buy your tickets at the Box Office or at the club prior to the event. Presale tickets will close on November 6th at 5pm. Anyone over 18 may attend the Kink Karnival, but YOU MUST BE AN APEX (or reciprocal) MEMBER TO ATTEND THE PARTY. The final orientation opportunity is Friday, November 11th at 6:30pm. There are other orientations prior to the Kink Karnival. Visit the APEX Calendar for additional New Member Orientations.

ALL ACCESS Members do need a ticket to the Kink Karnival, but as always AA Members will attend the party at no charge.
Tickets to the Kink Karnival are $15.00.

 Vendors

Our Current Confirmed List of Vendors is below.

Knotjokin: Starving rope artist providing an utterly tantalizing lineup of innovative rope flogger designs fabricated with undeniable quality that are inexplicably capable of delivering a plethora of uniquely remarkable sensations while bathing in a dazzling spectrum of stunningly brilliant hues. Also, the handles fit in condoms. Visit Knotjokin Rope Floggers on Facebook
Rusted Dragon Forge: Kinky Blacksmith and Custom Metalwork, from Sharp and Shiny to Dark and Twisted
Tickle Your Whimsy: Whimsical accessories.
Calamity Canes: Rattan canes of the finest quality.
The Kink Factory: We make and sell Fun, Sensual, and Sadistic BDSM Lifestyle Tools  Visit The Kink Factory on Facebook
CompassRose Creations: Exotic Hardwood Paddles, Humblers, Toys and Bondage Gear. All handmade by our family. Visit CompassRose Creations on Facebook
MB Leather: MB Leather is known for his floggers, dragon tails, wands, and many other things that you can have fun with. He has been doing this for many years. His toys are found in many states and a couple countries.
Quality Whips by Victor Tella:  Bullwhips, Signalwhips,Single Tails, Snakewhips. Visit Snakewhips on Facebook
Firebird Leather: Leather toys and wearables. Visit Firebird Leather on Facebook
Kyla’s Keepsakes: Steam Punk and kink clothing and accessories. Visit Kyla’s Keepsakes on Facebook
Roger Patterson Whips: Single tail whips and rawhide twitchers
Orchid and Serpent Stores: We sell electric toys, male chastity/cbt, collars & restraints, glass dildos, butt plug tails, jewel butt plugs, other sprinklings of BDSM toys.  Visit Orchid and Serpent Stores on Facebook
Slavebeast Productions: Floggers, Cuffs, Wood Paddles, Colorful Hand Painted Ceramics, and more
Groove: Lingerie and intimate toys and products. Visit Groove on Facebook
Marie Saint-Louis:Psychic medium readings. Visit Marie Saint-Louis on Facebook
Gespent’s Fantasy Gear: Platinum Silicone adult toys and more!
PocketSnakes: Hancrafted whips made in Tucson, AZ. Pocket Snakes, Small whips, Leather & Synthetic
The Tactical Medic: We have used our 20+ years of Military and Industry experience to select products and service for our customers at the lowest prices possible. We ONLY sell products that we ourselves would use (and in most cases have used) in the field. Please browse through our store and shop with confidence. We invite you to create an account with us, or if you like, shop as a guest. Either way, your shopping cart will be active until you leave the store. Visit The Tactical Medic on Facebook
Inquisition Toys: high end leather ankle/wrist/thigh cuffs and collars. I also make a heavy duty metal bondage rack with light weight models coming out in the future. Besides the metal racks, I also have a Saw Horse type wooden bondage rack available. I also will be vending some wooden dungeon furniture and I sell knives.
Master Yeti’s Toys: Custom paddles and custom furniture on request
CheezyKrafts: jack of all trades craftor & kinky toy maker with emphasis on unique bdsm leather items and restraints, sewing, custom knot work and weaving, and unique glycerin soap and bath bombs. I sell cuffs, ball gags, fire floggers, chain floggers, monkey fists, specialty whip crackers (glow in the dark, UV reactive, & silicone dipped), nylon bullwhips & so much more. All my work is hand made by me & most everything is unique in some way. I’m also a professional cake decorator & do leather footware and upholstery restoration. Custom orders welcome!
PassionWolf: Whips etc.
S~W Chainworks: We make and sell custom chain maile works.
Raven Darknights Vintage Straight Razors & Fetish Shaving: Restored vintage straight razors, hones, strops, custom non-toxic shaving soap, knife & razor honing. Visit Raven Darknights on Facebook.com
Lovelies by Lois: Chain Maille Jewelery
Knives by Jefferson James: Knives
Desert Son Enterprises: Bondage Furniture
For Doms Treasure: Kinky jewelry clothing

Community Groups

The Kink Karnival is designed to educate about our Community and lifestyle. We couldn’t accurately represent our lifestyle without bringing together the lifestyle groups that make up our robust and diverse community.

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom:
NCSFLogo_CLEAN_PMS711

NCSF advances the rights and advocates for consenting adults in the SM-Leather-Fetish, swing, and polyamory communities. We pursue our vision through direct services, education, advocacy, and outreach in conjunction with our partner organizations to directly benefit these communities.

Butchmanns Experience:
The Butchmanns Experience is an intensive educational weekend designBE Logoed to provide an opportunity for self-discovery in pursuit of self-actualization. The event includes hands-on training in basic SM practices, protocol and rituals, and a view of leadership and obedience through the lens of Master/slave dynamics.

Butchmanns Experience allows us to explicitly visit areas that challenge and soothe us for the purpose of identifying who we are. Happiness comes from living authentically. When we are ready to be who we truly are, we encounter the next step on our path.

The emphasis of activities is on personal transformation and growth and includes intentional flogging, ritual temporary piercing, the call to serve and be served, and transformational mummification. These activities are further explored through in-depth discussions. The environment is structured to encourage safely entering new experiences, with the instructors and staff supporting each individual’s unique experience.

Southwest Leather Conference:SWLC 2017

We invite you to  spread your wings and let your passions Soar.

Elevate your body, mind and soul with innovative workshops, panels, and discussion groups. Watch the community blastoff at the Southwest Master/slave and Southwest Bootblack contest. Ride the currents with your tribe in our signature Our Place for rituals and meditation. Indulge your flight of fancy in our exclusive nightly dungeons, community sponsored hospitality suite and the rollicking bootblack lounge. Skyrocket your heart and soul at the powerful Dance of Souls.

Soar at Southwest Leather Conference and reach new heights of Leather, Sex and Spirit with your tribe.

RSVP FOR THE KINK KARNIVAL on Fetlife.com
RSVP FOR THE PARTY on Fetlife.com
RSVP FOR THE KINK KARNIVAL ON FACEBOOK.com

Facebooktwitter

September is National Consent Month

Facebooktwitter

Taking a positive approach to consent!

National Consent Month embraces the freedom of expression achieved when informed consent is present.

Arizona Power Exchange, along with the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) sponsors consent month, and we encourage everyone to participate!

Visit the Consent Month Website to get more news and information about Consent Month, and some ideas about holding your own consent event!

In honor of consent month APEX has lots of classes on consent subjects. MANY of them are open to the entire 18+ Community because consent education is NOT just for our members.

Some of the events at APEX this month include education on STI’s and Safer Sex, Consensual Non Consent, Communications and Negotiations, Advanced Negotiations, A “State of Consent” presentation by Susan Wright of the NCSF, Informed Consent, and Blood Borne Pathogens. We also have a fun consent-themed photography event as our Pre-Party Workshop!

Check the APEX Calendar for more information on what is available in September.

Consent Month Events Open To The (18+) Community:
___
Monday, September 5th:
HOW TO GET SOME ASS! AWESOME SAFER SEX FOR KINKSTERS
Tuesday, September 6th:
APEX 101 – SKILLS: Communication and Negotiation
Monday, Septmber 12th:
State of Consent with the NCSF
Monday, September 19:
THE TABOO M/S DYNAMIC CONSENSUAL NON-CONSENT
Monday, September 26th:
YES IS NOT ENOUGH: INFORMED CONSENT IN THE SCENE

___
To Learn More about APEX
To Learn More about National Consent Month
To learn more about the NCSF

 

Facebooktwitter

APEX 2016 Bizarre Bazaar and Community Open House

Facebooktwitter

The Bizarre Bazaar is in just two days!

2016 Bizarre Bazaar Facebook RSVP
2016 Bizarre Bazaar Fetlife.com RSVP

Don’t forget to check out the Bizarre Bazaar Website for the most up to date information, or to get your advanced tickets at the box office (presale tickets online close March 6th.) You can also get advanced tickets at the club until March 10th.


Some performances we have planned for the 2016 Bizarre Bazaar:

Sensual Whips!
A double needle zipper!
Full body casting!
A hook suspension!


APEX Cares about you!HIV-Services-IMAGE_0-300x125

 

 

 

We’re very excited to announce the participation of Native Health and NHW Community Health Center to provide HIV and Hepatitis C screening!


We’ve got some of our Community Represented as well!

NCSFLogo_CLEAN_PMS711-300x117

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom

BE-Logo

Butchmanns Experience

SWLC-2017Southwest Leather Conference

GCSPI-Logo1-300x235

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be in the house to help us with the raffle!


We’ll also have concessions, so you can enjoy lunch without missing anything!


Confirmed Vendors for the 2016 Bizarre Bazaar: visit the Bizarre Bazaar webpage


Toys4Lust:Bondage furniture and leather goods

Master Yeti’s Toys: Custom paddles and furniture

Daddy’s Toy Box: Daddy’s Toy Box provides quality nylon whips and similar items – some of which you won’t find anywhere else. They currently offer premade and custom made para cord snake whips, bull whips, monkey fists, and cat o’nines. They also take custom orders for anything you see in stock but want of in a different color, length, pattern, etc.

Gespent’s Fantasy Gear; Platinum Silicone adult toys and more!

Off Chute Too: The largest men’s underwear store in the state, Off Chute Too offers trendy clothing lines for both men & women. We also have jewelry, greeting cards, calendars, pride items, leather, fun “toys”, dvd’s, books, t–shirts, shorts, fetish–wear, and much, much more!

Rusted Dragon Forge: Rusted Dragon Forge Kinky Blacksmith and Custom Metalwork, from Sharp and Shiny to Dark and Twisted

Firebird Leather: Wearables for the Bold as well as toys and accessories for adults of discriminating tastes. You can also find Firebird Leather on Facebook!

JjFunThings: Canes and dragontails and costumes

CheezyKrafts, LLC: A jack of all trades craftor and kinky toy maker with a special emphasis on unique bdsm leather items and restraints, sewing, custom knot work and weaving, and even bath products and custom glycerine soap. Some examples are unique rope monkey fists, fire floggers, leather locking blindfolds, conductive chain floggers, utility bondage belts, leather locking 1 size fits all beds/people bed restraint system, leather ball gags with interchangeable platinum silicone balls, home grown catnip toys, glow in the dark whip crackers, and so much more! All my products are handmade, hand dyed, and assembled by me, Cheeze. You can also find CheeyKrafts, LLC on Facebook.

Lovlies By Lois: Chain Maille Jewelery

Knives by Jefferson James: Knives

The Kink Factory: Custom Spanking Paddles Fox Tail Butt Plugs Unique Impact Toys Jeweled Butt Plugs Custom Orders

MB Leather: Floggers, Dragon Tails, etc.

Calamity Canes: Rattan canes of the finest quality.

CompassRose Creations: Exotic Hardwood Paddles and Sensation Toys

Inquisition Toys: Handmade leather bondage cuffs, dungeon furniture and knives

The Tactical Medic: We sell military gear and medical equipment. We have used our 20+ years of Military and Industry experience to select products and service for our customers at the lowest prices possible. We ONLY sell products that we ourselves would use (and in most cases have used) in the field.

Pocket Snakes: Creates custom, handcrafted whips and flogs using synthetic materials. Affordable, durable and easy to maintain, our designs range from something you can keep in a pants pocket to 30-foot attention grabbers that fit easily into a small backpack. We can also craft a fire whip or high-voltage bullwhips, etc.

Knotjokin Rope Floggers: Starving rope artist providing an utterly tantalizing lineup of innovative rope flogger designs fabricated with undeniable quality that are inexplicably capable of delivering a plethora of uniquely remarkable sensations while bathing in a dazzling spectrum of stunningly brilliant hues. Also, the handles fit in condoms. You can also find Knotjokin on Facebook!

**Marie Saint-Louis: Clairvoyant. Medium. Author.

Roger Patterson Whips: Singletail whips and twitchers.


Bizarre Bazaar Party

While the Bizarre Bazaar is open to the entire 18+ Community, the Party is only open to APEX Members. There are lots of orientation/membership opportunities before BB on our calendar. As always, the party will include great food and great company!

For the benefit of our membership, the space will stay open from 4pm-8pm so you don’t have to go all the way home!

2016 Bizarre Bazaar Facebook RSVP
2016 Bizarre Bazaar Fetlife.com RSVP

Facebooktwitter

From the NCSF: Results of the Mental & Emotional Health Study

Facebooktwitter
 NCSF-Release-Banner

Results of the Mental & Emotional Health Study
www.ncsfreedom.org
December 1, 2015

University of Alabama and University of Central Florida researchers surveyed over 800 kinky people recruited by the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and found they were mentally and emotionally healthy.

“I was curious about the stereotypes from a mental health standpoint and we found that these kinky people are well functioning, with little mental health concerns,” says Tess M. Gemberling, M.A., Co-Principal Investigator, University of Alabama. “They also have healthy romantic relationships.”

The study, “Psychological Functioning and Violence Victimization and Perpetration in BDSM Practitioners from the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom,” also investigated people’s preferences for BDSM activities and fantasies, and explored whether violence is perpetuated against kinky people. It joins a growing body of research that refutes the stereotype that people who are kinky are inherently dangerous to themselves and others, which is at the root of the discrimination and persecution that kinky people experience.

“I wanted to explore more about how the stereotypes interface with reality,” says Matt R. Nobles, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator, University of Central Florida. “Although more than half of the people in this study have been victims of violence or aggression, extremely few had perpetrated such themselves.”

In the study, 7.7% of participants reported they had been victims of a BDSM-based hate crime, while 10.2% of participants reported they had been victims of an LGBT-based hate crime.

“Parallel to my work with sexual minorities, my interest is in looking at the nature of identity and mental health in a vulnerable group of people,” says Robert J. Cramer, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator, University of Alabama. “Contrary to popular perceptions, our study shows kinky persons are largely mentally healthy when it comes to conditions such as depression, anxiety and suicide.”

The study also confirms that for these kinksters it’s primarily about consensual power exchange, with 98% preferring to take a specific power exchange role during BDSM. The most commonly reported practices were spanking, slapping and biting, and the use of sexual toys and equipment.

“Lawmakers can help by legally recognizing informed consent as the basis of healthy BDSM behavior,” says Susan Wright, spokesperson for NCSF. “BDSM is intended to be a mutually beneficial experience that is done by consenting adults.”

 

Quick Links…

The NCSF Our Website

Donate to the NCSF

See the Original Press Release

 

NCSF Contact Information

NCSF Media Line: 917-848-6544
media@ncsfreedom.org
NCSF Office  Line: 410-539-4824
ncsfreedom@ncsfreedom.org

 

 

Facebooktwitter

Consent Month

Facebooktwitter

While Consent Month may be over (though it was a smashing success!), it is never too late (or early!) to talk about Consent, Informed Consent, and take a positive approach to Consent Education.

We want to give a shout out to our Consent Month Partners at the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) for working so hard year round!

Remember, you can support the NCSF and join the fight! NCSF operates through the financial contributions and volunteer efforts.

APEX and the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) is already gearing up for the 2016 Consent Month. So, start planning events, planning photo shoots, and working on how your group is going to rock consent education in 2016!

Facebooktwitter