In a letter to be published later this month in a noted journal, Spitzer offers “the gay community an apology.” He says that regrets for the study have remained with him for years and led to sleepless nights.

Read the article at The New York Times

“It’s what every teenager needs to see,” Ruth commented. Here at Erotic Vancouver we agree. You’ll find the latest media story in the kerfluffe below.

Here at Erotic Vancouver we’ve linked to articles on the museum show Sex: A Tell All Exhibition before (see Science and sex ed in a rational society) and after its debut at the Montreal Science Centre and an exhibition in Saskatchewan we’d hoped it might make its way west out here to Vancouver. But the exhibition made its way to Ottawa first, to The Canada Science and Technology Museum, where it quickly raised the ire of Canada Heritage Minister James Moore, who, on Wednesday, first labelled the exhibition “insulting to taxpayers,” suggesting that the exhibit had no place in the science and technology museum, before stepping back on that criticism on Thursday.

As a result of the Minister’s criticism (which, implicitly or not, carries with it the possibility of a funding cut for the institution) and in the wake of about 50 complaints that the Museum received, the age of unaccompanied admission for the exhibit was raised from 12 to 16. In addition an animated video providing information on masturbation was pulled from the exhibit.

Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore

It’s interesting that a minister in the Conservative government feels that fewer, and older, children should be considered responsible enough to view this exhibit than sex and educational experts believed, at the same time that said government argues that more, and younger, youths should be considered adults for criminal sentencing purposes.

Read about it at The National Post

Read about it at the Winnipeg Free Press

UPDATE: Sexhibition: Tory senator slams Heritage Minister read it at the Ottawa Citizen

Titled Can a Better Vibrator Inspire an Age of Great American Sex, it details the new American sexual revolution, one taking place in small company boardrooms and design labs and in high end retail stores.

Ethan Imboden, founder of Jimmyjane, holds an electrical engineering degree and a master’s in industrial design. After a successful corporate career he discovered the world of sex toys and thought “This can be done better.” There have been great sex toys before: the German designed Eroscilator, the Japanese Rabbit (whose design has been knocked off more than any other sex toy’s). But Jimmyjane was the first to add such style and grace to sex toys that British department stores are willing to show them off in their display cases next to perfumes and cosmetics, and they’ve become sought after items in the Golden Globe Awards’ gift suite.

The revolution will be motorized.

Read the story at The Atlantic

It seems the Taboo Sex Show is still too risque for some Fraser Valley residents.

Taboo happened this past weekend where show participants were told that women going topless would have to cover their nipples or face removal from the show by Tradex staff. Tradex head Ron Howardson made it clear that this was not an internal decision by Tradex staff, but one that originated with the city. So, while British Columbia courts decided in 2000 that what was good for the goose was good for the gander when it came to going topless, it seems that Abbotsford city officials are slow to join the 21st century.

Perhaps the Abbotsford city council was worried that those who had threatened to protest the show would storm the Tradex if they learned that their were nipples on display inside, but they needn’t have worried since the protesters never materialized. At least, none that would stand by their convictions: two incidents on Saturday night lead those of us at the show to wonder if some undercover puritans had decided to make an appearance.

First up was when Tradex staff came to inquire about the ages of two of the girls manning some of the tables in the dungeon. Both were in their early 20s, but a complaint had been made to Tradex staff that two “definitely under age” girls were present in the dungeon. Maybe under age, possibly under age, girls who looked under age—these are complaints we would have understood. But the “definitely under age” suggests impure thoughts on the part of the complainants to Erotic Vancouver!

Yup, folks, not only do Vancouver kinksters keep underage sex slaves, we’re so confident about getting away with it that we drag them out to public trade shows!

The girls’ IDs were produced, venue staff were understanding, and everyone went back about their business. At least until the police arrived.

Subsequently, the police said, somebody had called to report that there were two under age girls present in the dungeon, that the Tradex staff refused to do anything about it, and–just to raise the ante a little bit more–that the girls “were being forced to do things.” Yup, folks, not only do Vancouver kinksters keep underage sex slaves, we’re so confident about getting away with it that we drag them out to public trade shows!

The police officers were entirely professional and respectful, and from the moment they arrived they explained they had to follow up on these sorts of complaints but they weren’t accusing the girls or the other dungeon participants of anything. Everything was explained,  the police asked if anyone visiting the dungeon had harassed anyone staffing it in anyway and told us to call if we had any problems.

All in all Erotic Vancouver thinks Abbotsford would be an entirely more positive and permissive environment if only all its residents were as open minded as the city’s police and Tradex staff.

Hot Sexy Events: May 14 – 20

If you’re looking to sum up something Hot & Sexy in a single word, you’d be hard pressed to do better than sTeam.

Happening Thursday, May 17, sTeam is a bathhouse event for all genders. It’s being held at M2M on Granville street, which boasts an open playroom, glory holes, a large steam room, open showers, plus sling rooms, double rooms, single rooms and the porn lounge. You’ll find details on Facebook, or you can visit the sTeam Collective website. Advance tickets are available at Little Sisters for $15, or they’re $20 at the door.

Friday May 18 Geeks After Dark returns to the Cellar Nightclub for a show they call Falling With Style! Previously they’ve done super hero burlesque, sci-fi burlesque, Harry Potter burlesque and this show they’re promising to show us a whole new world. We’re not sure what that means, but we expect it to be geek-out-super-hawt! More details can be found on Facebook. Remember to get there early: doors are at 6pm, the show starts at 6:30 and it’s followed by a dance party at 7:30pm.

Saturday May 19 Vancouver’s hottest night of all,  NOIR Fetish Ball, is on. (Full disclosure: I am on the team that runs it. Still, that’s what people are saying!) Check out the night that puts fetish front and centre and practically in your lap, with the dungeon and the dance floor located side by side so that the energy of the one feeds the other, and letting you maximize your voyeuristic or exhibitionist urges.

This month’s NOIR features a fire play demo at 10pm, the kinky sound stylings of Logik and dj://spaz, and the promise of something entirely new from the organizers. Check out the NOIR website for more details or visit their Facebook event listing.

The night has a strict fetish dress code, so be sure to undress to impress!

Sunday May 20 Xtra! Presents HARD: A Leather & Fetish Ball at Club 560. The list of whose involved in putting this on reads like an award winners acceptance speech! Xtra! Vancouver Men in Leather, Five Sixty, PONI and Priape join forces to bring you what is billed as the biggest leather and fetish event on the West Coast of Canada. Feauring DJ Cesare Napoli (Toronto) and Vancouver DJs Nick Bertossi and Landon James, with performances by MANTRA and dungeon/safe play space, with equipment courtesy of NOIR. You’ll find the event details on Facebook.

In case you don’t get your fill of fun at HARD itself there will be an official after party at Steamworks.

That’s it for another week of Hot Sexy Events here at Erotic Vancouver. Be sure to check back next week to see what the city has to offer. Know something that isn’t on the list that you think should be? Let us know about it in a comment.

Novelist John Irving

For many bisexuals the statement “I knew that no one person could rescue me from wanting to have sex with men and women,” from In One Person‘s narrator Billy Abbot, will ring true. As will Irving’s depiction of a lack of understanding for such yearnings and views, not just from the heterosexual majority but from much of the gay community itself.

But rather than go on about the novel and what it means here, I’d urge you to do what I’m going to: grab a copy and start reading.

Read the Vancouver Sun’s coverage of the novels release

Read the press materials from Publisher Simon & Schuster

Hot Sexy Events: May 7 – 13

Each time we prepare the list of Hot Sexy Events we’re amazed by just how much Vancouver has to offer, week in and week out, to those looking for some exotic and erotic good times; this week is no exception, including an embarrassment of riches this upcoming weekend.

When it comes to consistent and quality adult sex education the first name that springs to mind for most is The Art of Loving. This week is actually a quiet one on their calendar, with just three seminars taking place, Fearless Flirting on Tuesday, Foreskin 101 on Sunday, and our pick of the week’s educational offerings taking place on Wednesday: Pussy Massage. You can read up on all of the Art of Loving’s classes on their website, as well as checking out everything their store has to offer. The Pussy Massage class runs Wednesday night, beginning at 7:30. You’ll find all the details here.

Two weekend long events happen May 11-13. First up, here in Vancouver proper, is Vancouver Kink Con. It kicks off with a pot luck dinner on Friday night, several workshops on Saturday, followed by a play party on Saturday night, and winds up with a Sunday brunch. All of the events except for Brunch are being held in an east side home, but from small beginnings to great things commence. Here at Erotic Vancouver we’ve got an inkling this is one of those things. You’ll find the details on Facebook.

Out in the Fraser Valley it’s time for the Taboo Sex Show presented by Canwest Events. After facing near cancellation, the Fraser Valley show was revived in the face of an outpouring of community support. Who says Abbotsford is a quiet, sleepy little town?

You’ll find Erotic Vancouver present in the show’s dungeon, along with Metro Vancouver Kink, NOIR Fetish Ball, Sin City and Fetish Fridays, dishing up information and a little bit of play for the assembled crowds. If you’re looking for more information on the show visit the Taboo website, and if you’d like to volunteer to help out in the dungeon you can contact Reive via info at noirvancouver dot com. ( Spelled out to avoid spam bots–please replace words with symbols as needed.)

Speaking of Sin City, this Saturday May 12 is one of their twice monthly parties. Whether you’re a complete newcomer or a regular enthusiast, and no matter how you like to spend your time in public, there is a place for you to claim as your own. It features two dance floors, a lounge and seating area inside, a large outdoor, private, covered patio overlooking Blood Alley and, of course, the dungeon, fully kitted out with a variety of sturdy, padded bondage gear and plenty of viewing space for the voyeurs at heart. Check out Sin City’s new website for details on the party.

If you know of something else that you think should be on our list of Hot Sexy Events for the week feel free to let us know by adding it in the comments below.

Vancouver has it’s own festivals, the Vancouver International Writers Festival and Word on the Street, and Erotic Vancouver holds out hope that erotic readings will play a part them in the future.

Read the whole article at The Ottawa Citizen

Hot Sexy Events: April 30 – May 6

When it comes to dance for our money it rarely gets more Hot & Sexy than burlesque, and if you feel the same way you’re in luck this week because May 3-6 is the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. Taking place over four days at The Rio and Vogue Theatres, and wrapping up Sunday with a special members-only Pyjama Party at the Biltmore, this year’s festival features Miss Indigo Blue, who is Miss Exotic World’s Reigning Queen of Burlesque, Chicago “boylesque” star Jett Addore, Miss Nude Universe 1975 Tiffany Carter, BC’s own burlesque legend Judith Stein, plus a host of local stars and up-and-comers. In addition to some great performances the weekend features a line up of classes on Saturday and Sunday. For lover’s of burlesque it’s a not too be missed week of events!

For those into or curious about polyamory Thursday May 3 is the Poly 101 Pub Night, taking place at St. Augustine’s Pub on Commercial Drive. It runs from 6:30 until 9:30 pm, but skip out a little early and you can catch the opening night of the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival.

Saturday May 5th Metro Vancouver Kink brings you not only their monthly Vancouver Dungeon party from 8pm-1am, but also an early evening workshop that’s a-not-to-miss for anyone looking to improve their S&M skills. When Things Go Wrong: What To Do and What to Learn is presented by Max & Russell of Seattle. (This link now goes to the webpage for the workshop here in Vancouver, rather than an one in earlier one Seattle that it originally did.) Erotic Vancouver had the opportunity to attend a seminars by Max at the Westward Bound conference earlier this year, and it wasn’t just amongst the best seminars I attended that weekend, it was amongst the best I’ve attended ever!

It’s the sort of program school districts throughout Canada and the US could learn from, and hopefully one that will be the model for more to come.

Read the story at The Globe and Mail

Blake Spence, program co-ordinator/educator, with WISE Guys. Credit: Bolin, The Globe and Mail