Be heard on the issues that matter most to you!
I have never been a girly-girl. In middle school I never had the right hairstyle or knew how to wear my clothes the way the popular girls did. In high school and college - and since - I have developed my own style of course (perhaps more an anti-style) and while I very much like my image I have certainly never thought of myself as model material. At least not until recently. I must say that having been asked to participate in the Sex Blogger Calendar has changed the way I see myself, at least part of the time.
To put it mildly: I loved doing the photo shoot. I had a blast. I loved being made-up for the camera. I loved having my hair styled. I loved putting on fishnet stockings and high heels and a corset. I loved covering all that up with an incredible tuxedo jacket donated by my long-time mentor and goddess Carol Queen (said donation brokered by her partner and my dear sweet friend Robert Lawrence), and I loved the fact that Kenball, the floor manager-DJ-lights-technician at the Slipper Room said to me, "Are you a burlesque performer? You look familiar." Um. No, I'm not. But boy do I wish I could say "Yes, I am!" A blush and a "thank you" were about what I could manage.
The day started at the Lower East Side Thompson Hotel where Tess and Diva had a room. When I arrived our hair stylist Danny K and Stormy, our makeup artist, were already at work. Danny K was fabulous. The gleam in his eyes when I confessed that not only did I not have any idea what I should do with my hair but that I did not own a hairdryer or a curling iron was priceless. "If I hurt you... pain is beauty" was his mantra and while he didn't hurt me once I was convinced that he would take pleasure in doing so if it would create an extra drop of glamour. He and Stormy worked so well together in such a small space getting so many of us put together that I was sure they'd worked together for years. No. First time. Masters, both of them!
When we were sufficiently done up we walked the block and a half to the Slipper Room where we met Jezebel Express (our stylist and an amazing burlesque performer in her own right), darren Mayhem (photographer's assistant and excellent photographer in her own right) and Stacie Joy, our photographer extraordinaire, who was, indeed, a joy to work with. I have never been comfortable in front of a camera and Stacie made me not eased my discomfort but actually made me feel like I belonged there. She also ran the shoot with such efficience and command that we finished early even though we'd had our time in the space cut short unexpectedly by one hour! You have never seen anybody ride herd so effectively on a bunch of unruly bloggers!
Of course I also felt more comfortable because of the amazing energy generated by those unruly bloggers. There I was with 11 of the most interesting, attractive, and intelligent sex writers and educators in the city, each of us quite different from the others yet committed to the same ideas: that sex is not shameful, that sex workers deserve respect and that individuals acting together can make a difference. I always enjoy talking with Audacia Ray, Jamye Waxman, Tess, Rachel Kramer Bussel and Lux Alptraum, Twanna Hines, people I got to know at Viviane's Perverts' Saloon meetings. A few weeks ago I also got to meet Desiree and Diva when we went shopping for costume pieces. At the shoot I especially enjoyed meeting Mariella and Riese and getting to know Sinclair a bit better.
Some hints at what you will see in the calendar:
And of course there was so much more, but you really must by the calendar to see it all.
And somehow I felt like I fit in there, in my tuxedo jacket, corset, stockings and heels, pink lipstick and hair all wavy around my face. There was a particularly lovely moment as I was perched on a bar stool and Sinclair rather chivalrously and rakishly at the same time knelt down before me to admire my shoe that I was inspired to place the unfamiliar yet newly exciting high heel just where Sinclair's very butch necktie crossed what I know must be a very strong chest and I stared down the length of my calf and felt a kind of femme thrill that makes me all of a sudden comfortable with these words:
Want a peek at the newborn pinup?
No, the image doesn't get bigger, and no it isn't high resolution. It is courtesy of Sinclair and we were forbidden to use flash and it was low light and this is what you can have until you buy the calendar. ;)
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...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
Simply put, you rock... I'm so excited for you! ;) I remember you telling me in your office about the tux- gosh, you were so excited about it. :) I can't wait to see the pics! I bet you looked simply stunning!
And I'm really glad you got to feel like the beautiful glamorous femme fatale... I can recall the first time I felt I was actually femme. I had been convinced I was butch. Ha. Little did I know... LOL
Mina Meow
This is such an exciting and inspiring project. The preview photo you posted is great; can't wait to see the rest!
I love when this type of grassroots organizing happens and produces something really amazing.
It was so great reading your version of this, Elizabeth. What a wonderful day that you get to have immortalized!
Mina, Amber, Ellie, thank you so much for your enthusiasm! I think it's going to be a gorgeous calendar and I'm incredibly excited to be a part of it. Not only was it flattering to be included and fun to dress up but I feel like I peeled away a layer covering up a part of myself that I barely knew existed. The public affirmation of that is wonderful. Can't wait to see the results!
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
This will sound ridiculous to those who know me in my non-glamourous-everyday-life self: OMG!! I just saw the proofs and I am SO excited about the photos and the calendar and is that really me in those shots?!? :) Even more kudos to Stormy, Danny K, Jezebel Express, Stacie Joy and darren Mayhem. I wouldn't believe it was me if I hadn't been there myself!
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
I so can't wait. That's quite a teaser there, Elizabeth...
Feel free to read whatever's left of my own thoughts at Crowded Head, Cozy Bed
The Boy in JanieBelle's head
I'll be needing a new calendar anyway.
Outis, I have seen my proofs. I have sneaked a peek at the proofs of a few other bloggers (well, okay, it wasn't so sneaky - we were helping each other decide). Let me say that you need several new calendars. You need calendars for you and for each and every one of your friends. These are not to be missed. Not only are the bloggers stunning but the photographer is amazingly skilled and we all look better for the incredible talents of our stylists. They are all thanked above, but further kudos can't hurt, right? They were:
Stacie Joy, photographer
Danny K, hair stylist
Stormy, aka Jo Boy, makeup artist (username: mkp2418 email service: yahoo)
Jezebel Express, burlesque stylist and prop mistress extraordinaire
darren Mayhem, photographer's assistant (and man did she keep things moving!)
and Kenball from the Slipper Room who kept us all in line and made sure we had lights and music and no intruders :)
Outis1970, yes, you need this calendar. Trust me.
;)
Elizabeth
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
Well, all right then! Hard to resist your sales pitch.
and I went and bought the calendar and even bought a day.... Now there is to be a prize that I guess I bought too early to be entered into the drawing (though what I would do with a vibrator is beond me...)
Then this blog and I'm blind. Any hope of a braille issue coming out next year?
Seriously, I bought the calendar because of the important work it suports and the important visibility it will give to the work... still wish I would be able to see it... I am giong to be pushing my CCTV and 44" monitor and screen magnifier to their limits and inspecting the calendar in one inch squares blown up to fill the screen. Wierd, huh?
Keep up the work and I'll keep engaging people in conversations, they may get upset, but few are willing to hit a blind guy in public and it gives me a respite from my other project that does get me hit occasionally...oh well, freedom isn't freedom if it's free:)
Everyman's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind...
Actually when you bought your calendar and your day you were entered into a different drawing - that was for a beautiful erotic print by Lochai. This drawing for the vibrator might have been a more useful one for you. I imagine there will be others as we have other sponsors with things to give away. Perhaps you need to buy calendars for friends as each drawing is announced? ;)
I'm curious about how the calendar will look the way you will be viewing it. A braille version for next year, hmm? We'll have to get the engineers on that ;)
I'm glad you're still out there doing your work. Challenging sex offender registry rules is certainly difficult and important work. I'll be blogging shortly about the Sex-Positive Journalism Awards where I saw both Judith Levine and Debbie Nathan (authors who've both written about the dangerous unintended consequences of our attempts to protect children from sex), who've been critical of the use of sex offender registries, and who are board members of the National Center for Reason and Justice, fighting to help those who've been falsely accused of sex crimes.
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
I love it! I can send calendars to some of our 'convinced' legislators. Too bad it is too late to dedicate a day to them! Still, I like the idea of sending calendars to friends. Have to stumble around and find the link to make the purchase.
Thanks for the reference to my fight. Know that I am here to support your fight and do what I can to make this a healthier society by opening all our 'closet doors'. I guess if people don't want to see what is in there, they might try not looking while they take the time to clean their own closet.
As to how I will 'see' the calendar, I'll send you some screen prints that are completely virus scanned.
I've had an idea. Of course my set of double hurdles makes finding employment somewhat problematic. Then there is the American With Disabilities Act. Can't be denied work that I can otherwise accomplish because of my disability. How's this: Beauty Contest Judge. I think a braille approach might even be more effective than the current merely visual approach.
Everyman's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind...
Can I have a copy of that calendar :) ?
The order buttons are right there on the side bar. You can have as many as you like!
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
Some of your favorite sexy bloggers and sex educators are putting on their burlesque acts in this 2009 calendar. All proceeds will go to Sex Work Awareness. I've seen the proofs and while they're being carefully guarded I can tell you that this is going to be one hot calendar! The photography is gorgeous and the bloggers are stunning. Click here for our write up and here for my reactions to the shoot itself. Follow the calendar on Twitter or on its blog. Order yours early!
NYC Sex Bloggers Calender - $20 (US Shipping)
NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar - $20 (Canada Shipping)
NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar - $20 (Overseas Shipping)
