Defining Non-Monogamy: Bridging the Gap in the Community (will be presented on Saturday, April 2nd, from noon until 1:10.)
Today we shine a light on another sector that has to deal with intolerance, prejudice and judgement, often from within the very community that should ideally be nurturing and supportive. This session is moderated by Brian Ballard with panelists Mia Martina, Cunning Minx, and Anita Wagner.
The various faces of non-monogamy, from swinging to polyamory to open relationships are often individually defined, meaning very different things to different people.
Too often there is judgement and prejudice by practitioners of non-monogamy, the very same people who seek tolerance in the mono world for their choices, who condemn and vilify people in their own community who may not operate the same way they do. We believe that non-monogamists have the capability to create a much needed shift in social attitudes surrounding relationships, one that is more accepting of alternative lifestyle choices that are custom designed to fit the people who choose them. Building a focused community and determining how to create a harmonious and tolerant mindset that bridges all of these different ways of approaching and experiencing responsible non-monogamy is something to strive for.
Topics -
• The many faces of non-mongamy – swinging, poly, kink, open, et al
• The subgroups’ non-productive attitudes towards each other
• The marginalization of non-monogamists by mainstream groups and organizations
• Why it’s important to build a harmonious community
Brian Ballard
Brian Ballard has been actively pursuing a life of honest and ethical non-monogamy for nearly 7 years. He is passionate in encouraging and inspiring others to find their ideal relationship and life style, and to own and project them completely. Through his work and association with The Martini Society, freedomcommunity and through organizing special events welcoming positive self-expression, play and exploration, he has had the pleasure of watching many people open themselves to new possibilities and new ways of being.
Brian is also founder and artistic director of The New York Rock Opera Company (NYROC), which will open its inaugural season in Fall 2011, presenting a full slate of rock-based musicals and operas with the intention of moving and inspiring audience members to consider new possibilities for themselves and their communities.
He is thrilled to be a part of the first MomentumCon… and to be a part of a loving and successful triad. Jasmine and Lisa inspire Brian to learn and grow every single day.
Mia Martina
Mia Martina is a writer and smut podcaster. Mia’s podcast – I Want Your Sex – is told in the form of a serialized narrative about her adventures at sex parties, her experiences with open relationships, and her tales of modern urban sexuality. As one listener raves, “Mia walks the listener through the door and into a bedroom of complex physical bliss and intense emotion.”
Mia looks to inspire people to explore their sexuality and be open to new experiences. She has taught workshops on non-monogamy and is excited to be a co-host of an erotica reading series in her new home of Austin, Texas. In closing out her ten-year chapter in the big apple, Mia was featured in the 2010 New York Sex Blogger calendar. Aside from the Library of Congress indexing her tweets, Mia’s writing can be found on Nerve, Ravenous Romance and Paper Bag Press.
Cunning Minx
Cunning Minx has been the tireless producer and host of the Polyamory Weekly podcast (www.polyweekly.com) since the spring of 2005, now with over 230 episodes in production. A kinky boobiesexual, Minx founded the show as a resource for the poly and poly-curious to form a community, share experiences and help guide each other on their journeys of poly exploration. And hopefully, also guide each other away from common relationship land mines–or at least share sympathy when they step on one!
Poly Weekly has received accolades from the likes of ErosZine, Fleshbot and the Chicago Sun-Times, and Minx has spoken on poly, kinky and Web 2.0 community-building topics at the Heartland Polyamory Conference, Leather Leadership Conference, Dragon*Con, Galleria Domain 2 and New York’s Poly Pride Day. Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/polyweekly or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/polyweekly
Anita Wagner
Anita Wagner is a passionate polyamory coach, blogger, spokesperson, educator, and sexual freedom activist. She advocates for the interests of polyamorists with enthusiasm and determination, and loves to help them find their poly bliss. She does this via her website and blog at practicalpolyamory.com by providing helpful information in her educational programs, and on her website and blog, on subjects like polyamory and spirituality, jealousy and other pitfalls, poly/mono relationships, and poly for kinky people.
As a veteran community organizer Anita co-founded Chesapeake Polyamory Network, as well as The Institute for 21st Century Relationships, which is the foundation of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, where she also served on the board of directors. She has presented educational programs on polyamory at Good Vibrations, Sex 2.0, Dark Odyssey, Transcending Boundaries, Poly Living, The Floating World, Black Rose, Loving More® Retreat, Primal Arts Festival, Free Spirit Alliances’ Beltane Gathering and Fires of Venus, Florida Poly Retreat, and Washington Area Secular Humanists.
Anita is a faculty member at KinkAcademy.com, a member of the Polyamory Leadership Network and serves as poly community advisor to CARAS – the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Loving More® and Unitarian Universalists for Polyamory Awareness.
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