I’m Jealous of Yale’s Sex Week

I try to think about Buck Angel on rotten days especially. Ever since he came last August to The Smitten Kitten, the very thought of him makes the day seem less long, the coffee a little fresher, and the mounting paperwork seem like nothing. Buck is a light in the world whether he is caring for his team of dogs at his home in Mexico, donating money to Haiti, or producing some f*cking hot porn. Having struggled in his early life, transitioned to male, and become a icon in the porn industry, Buck offers a unique, and often challenging, perspective within the sex industry. He makes porn that he likes to make, with people he likes to work with, and at the end of the day, he controls the show. He even has time to start a Body Building Website. Damn that man never tires.
So I have been following the mounting discourse around his presentation at Yale University. Yale hosts a biennial Sex Week, where they offer an amazing spread of events ranging from sex and religion to appearances by porn stars like Buck. Oh and there is free STI testing. For some Alums and students this is an exciting event, supporting the discussion on the sex industry, sex, and sexuality, others are upset by a guest such as Buck Angel, porn being not an academic topic in their minds, and a few are upset that there exists a sex week at all. One forum member comments, “Bringing in a porn star to speak at sex week is like bring mark mcgwire to speak at a diet and exercise conference - that is unless the more legitimate reasons for sw are really just a cover for perpetuating the systems of dominance and image manufacturing purveyed by the commercial sex industry”. Buck Angel is a business man no doubt, he understands what sells and what doesn’t, he gets the internet versus DVD thing. But, he also continues to be a radical presence in the sex industry, creating sex positive, inclusive porn, when so many are not. This presence, like so many others mentioned on this blog (Tristan Taormino, Madison Young, Pink and White Productions) are rallying against system of dominance in its own language, resemantizing Porn, creating more and better.
Plus it is really really really hot stuff.
I wish I went to Yale or had the budget of Yale to put on such an event. Hanging out with Tristan, Buck, and Madison for week doesn’t sound to shabby. I am glad to have met these people who are doing such great work and who happen to be smart and kind individuals. I know their presentations will be radical, well thought out, and a bit funny too. Have fun at Yale!