(This info is courtesy of one of my readers, Mark, who sent me this email over the weekend while I was out of town - I wanted to let you all know about it, and ask you to check it out and consider sending an email or two and let Billy Bush & NBC know your thoughts)

Access Hollywood, a syndicated entertainment news program produced by NBC Universal, aired a piece last weekend on Oscar award nominee Mo’Nique’s open marriage to Lee Daniel. The segment focused on how the “debate” was playing out in the media, but afterwards Billy Bush, the host, takes it upon himself to begin preaching about marriage and quotes Hebrews 13:4, saying “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

See for yourself! Take a look at the Mo’nique segment, and the commentary/preaching afterwards.

Please contact them!

On Twitter:

Host Billy Bush http://www.twitter.com/billybush

Executive Producer - Rob K. Silverstein http://www.twitter.com/robsilverstein

Via email:
Senior Press Manager - Mandy Ellis Mandy.Ellis@nbcuni.com
NBC Feedback feedback@nbcuni.com

Hey folks! I’m about to hit the road on tour for February and early March, and I wanted to let you all know where I’ll be heading - Dallas, St. Louis, New Haven, New York City, Washington DC, Denver, Boulder, and Ontario! If you’re in the area for any of my events, please come out & see me - and let your friends know about it, too!

Until then,

Tristan

————–

February 4-7
Creating Change Conference
Dallas, TX
Tristan will be one of the featured presenters at the Sexual Liberation Institute, one of the day-long institutes at Creating Change, the annual conference of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force. She will also be a panelist on several panels related to sex within the LGBT movement. As we look around at our fierce battles to win marriage rights, establish and protect our families, and secure the economic well-being of our diverse households, one is struck by the near-erasure of LGBT sexuality in these struggles, and by the silencing of frank dialogue about sexual diversity and sexual practices in our communities. Do we still believe that LGBT people have a unique contribution to make in American life in the areas of sexual liberation and sexual expression? Or is our desire irrelevant to the quest for “equality”? This year’s Sexual Liberation Institute will focus on desire – our individual desires: how we have shaped them and how they have shaped us. The personal is still political. Come to this workshop and find out how to connect the dots between claiming your power in the bedroom and seizing power in the streets or the halls of justice.

February 7-11
Sex Week at Washington University
St. Louis, MO
Tristan will be the featured guest at Sex Week at Washington University. More details to come.

February 13, 7:00 pm
Sex, Gender and Pornography Panel
New Haven, CT
Moderated by Lux Alptraum, guests (all pioneers in progressive porn production) discuss how gender has influenced their roles and aspirations within the adult film industry. Panelists include creator of alt porn site BurningAngel.com, Joanna Angel, Feminist Porn Award-winning director/educator Tristan Taormino, Feminist Porn Award-winning director, Madison Young, FTM Trans pornography pioneer Buck Angel, and cross-over/breakthrough star Sasha Grey.
Location: Yale University, SSS 114, New Haven, CT
Info: Sex Week At Yale

February 14, 1:00 pm
Beyond Monogamy: The Case for Open Relationships
New Haven, CT
Relationship and sex expert Tristan Taormino offers a bold new strategy for creating loving, lasting relationships. Drawing on in-depth research, interviews with over a hundred women and men, and her own personal experiences, Tristan explores the real-life benefits and challenges of open relationships in her new book. With her refreshingly down-to-earth style and sharp wit, Taormino argues that we must question the fairy tales and challenge the myths we’ve been taught about love, sex, intimacy, and commitment- only then can we create relationships that are honest, fulfilling, and really work.
Location: Yale University, WLH 208, New Haven, CT
Info: Sex Week At Yale

February 20, 3:00 pm
Rough Sex at CineKink Film Festival
New York, NY
CineKink presents “Bring It!” a showcase of adult industry films, including Rough Sex. Here’s your chance to see a scene from Rough Sex (”Stranded” starring Satine Phoenix and Derrick Pierce) on the big screen! Along with it, see excerpts from Carlos Batts’ Behind the Red Door, Frisk Me directed by Madison Young, Courtney Trouble’s Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out, and Whorrey Potter and the Sorcerer’s Balls from director Dominic Ford.
Location: Anthology Film Archives - Courthouse Theatre, 32 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Admission: Buy tickets here or a Festival all access pass here
Have you seen Rough Sex? Please let others know by rating it or reviewing it, you can comment on the CineKink/B Side’s official page for the movie!

February 26-28
Dark Odyssey: Winter Fire 2010
Washington, DC
Join us for the 7th Annual Dark Odyssey: Winter Fire. This unique event features nationally known presenters, top-notch workshops, infamous special events, incredible vendors, unbelievable playspaces, and an amazing Saturday night dinner banquet and show featuring the Wet Spots. Come. Experience. Ecstasy.
Admission: See website. The earlier you register, the better rate you get!
Info: info (at) darkdodyssey.com

March 4
The Expert Guide to Sex Toys with Tristan Taormino
Denver, CO
Are you looking to liven up solo sex, hit hot spots more easily, or give your partner new sensations? Sex expert, writer, and adult filmmaker, Tristan Taormino, author of The Big Book of Sex Toys, wants to help you use toys and other accessories to take your sex life to the next level! She’ll share her picks for the best lube, vibrators (including compact, clitoral, wearable, insertable, dual-action, and luxury vibes), dildos, strap-on harnesses, butt plugs, men’s toys, G-spot and prostate toys, sensation play tools, bondage, and more! She’ll talk about creative ways to use toys and other sexy goodies to transform your bedroom into an erotic playground. Plus, you’ll be able to ask her all your burning questions in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. Join Tristan as she takes you on a tour of all you need to know to have sensational, mind-blowing sex!
Location: Fascinations 2680 S. Havana Street, Suite G, Aurora, CO 80014
Admission: free and open to the public
Info: colten (at) puckerup.com

March 5-7
TRANSforming Gender Conference
Boulder, CO
Tristan will give the Keynote Speech and facilitate a workshop at this annual conference produced by the GLBT Resource Center of the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Info: details to come.

March 11, 7:30-9:30 pm
Advanced Anal Pleasure Workshop
Toronto, ON, Canada
Are you ready to take the next step in anal pleasure? Tristan Taormino, sex educator, adult filmmaker and bestselling author of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women, is ready to take you there! In this popular workshop, Tristan will discuss many advanced topics, including: the ins and outs of anal penetration; prostate stimulation; anal sex positions; strap-on anal sex; orgasms through anal penetration; extended butt plug wearing; and anal fisting. Plus, there will be an extensive Q&A.
Location: Come As You Are - 416-504-7934
701 Queen Street West, Toronto, Canada, M6J 1E6
Admission: $35/per person (Sliding Scale is Available). Pre-registration is required for all workshops. All genders welcome.

March 12, 7:00 pm
Keynote Address
Porn Reborn: New Movements and Markets in Pornography
Toronto, ON, Canada
Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at The University of Toronto and the Sexual Diversity Studies Student Union (SDSSU) present its annual conference, Porn Reborn: New Movements and Markets in Pornography. Tristan will give the Keynote Speech. More details TBA.
Location: Medical Sciences Building, JJR Macleod Auditorium, University of Toronto

I am also headed to Portland, OR and Seattle, WA - see my tour schedule for details!

Dark Odyssey: Winter Fire 2010 is only a month away! Like you, we’ve been devastated by the news of the earthquake in Haiti. Beginning now through Monday, January 25 at midnight PST, we will donate $20 of each new Dark Odyssey registration to Doctors Without Borders to help the relief effort in Haiti. Our challenge is to raise $1,000 or more. If we raise at least $1,000, PuckerUp.com will match our donation, doubling the amount of money we can give! So please help spread the word: register for an amazing event and help Haiti at the same time.

Your registration not only helps a worthy cause, it’s your ticket to one of the most exciting events in the country! From world renowned Tantra experts, to infamously skilled deviant dominants, to nationally acclaimed authors and award-winning educators, we have presenters from around the world teaching the most unique, exciting workshops anywhere. Look who’s coming:

Amy Jo Goddard * Angel & Sebastien * Anita Wagner * Barbara Carrellas *
Bobby * Ms Cynthia (CM Hurt) * Dan & Dawn * Danielle dv8 * Julian Wolf *
Lady Hilary & Marine * Lqqkout! * Marc B * Mark Michaels & Patricia Johnson
* Mistress Max Rulz * Mollena * Q * Sarah Sloane * SwitchMe * Whittney *
Wintersong Tashlin

In addition to workshops, Dark Odyssey features creative social activities, nightly special events, erotic rituals, an optional banquet with sexy & spectacular entertainment, the Sex-O-Rama playspace, and a huge, fully equipped dungeon so you can play to your hearts desire. Our legendary special events include:

Dirty Talk Olympics * Genderqueer Mixer * Prostate Play ‘Hands In’ Event * Banquet and Show featuring “The Wet Spots”

All this happens in a nationally known, upscale hotel located in the heart of Washington DC, with easy access to metro, Amtrak, and DCA airport. Our host hotel offers us private ballroom-level event space so we can play the way we want, and has wonderful amenities including onsite lounge & restaurant, gift & snack shop, and saunas & exercise rooms. Even better we’ve locked in special rates of $129 per night (for two or more nights) for king & double rooms, so you can relax and enjoy the event without having to travel all weekend!

Current registration rates are good through January 31!
Please join us and register before Monday to help us make this fundraiser as successful as possible.

Visit our website, http://www.darkodyssey.com for more details. We hope you will join us for this exciting event!

Best Regards,

The Producers of Dark Odyssey:

Tristan, Greg, Karri, and Colten

Hey everyone - I just got confirmation that I’ll be live on Dr. Laura Berman’s show on Oprah Radio TODAY, 5-6 pm EST (Sirius channel 195/XM channel 156).Please listen in, and pass the info along to your friends who might be interested!

xo,

Tristan

Recently, Ann Andriani posted a review of Opening Up over at All Sex Reviews, and she had fantastic things to say about the book!

“I said it before and I’ll say it again, “Opening Up” is THE resource for creating a nontraditional relationship that works for you and your partner(s). It offers advice, stories, guidance, ideas and thoughtful passages from how relationships become open to opening up, creating rules, communicating feelings/fears/jealousy/joys to ironing out the rough spots. You hear from couples that it works for and others that ran into difficulties and challenges and had to close things up. It’s not a fantasy book, it doesn’t promise or even hint at success without work. It’s that kind of honesty that always tickles me and I truly appreciate it.”

Feel free to check out the entire review at the website!

Recently, Zack at The New Gay wrote a fantastic article about non-monogamy and feeling “closeted” about it when we’re out of the closet on other parts of our lives…

“Yet I usually treat my relationship arrangement as something dirty, something to be done under the cover of night and not spoken of later. It’s funny, because my boyfriend and I have talked endlessly on the subject — why we allow it, what rules are set up to keep us both comfortable in it, how to handle the little hitches that may pop up here and there — but in the company of others we just dismiss it as an indulgence or necessary vice.”

You can check out his article in its entirety here!

Hi everyone - my tour plans have finally been set, and I’m excited to say that I’ll be doing a number of classes & lectures on polyamory and non-monogamy next month! Here’s the info … you can also check out my Tour page for info on all of my appearances!

Sunday, November 8, 5:00 pm potluck, 6:00 pm workshop
Santa Fe, NM
KINKY POSSIBILITIES: OPEN RELATIONSHIPS IN THE SCENE
People who practice BDSM and those who are in Dominant/submissive relationships face unique challenges in both designing their open relationships and making them work. Relationship expert and bestselling author Tristan Taormino offers practical advice and strategies for dealing with specific issues related to being open and kinky. We’ll cover: common open relationship styles within BDSM communities and how they can work best; creative ways for giving everyone a voice in the negotiation process; dealing with jealousy and other intense feelings; and practical conflict resolution skills. In the interactive facilitated portion of this workshop, participants will be encouraged to share their stories, issues, and solutions.
RSVP: see Fetlife event page for details!
Location: see FetLife event page for location & directions, not on FetLife? email me!
Info: colten (at) puckerup.com

Monday, November 16, 7:00 pm
Minneapolis, MN
DESIGNING YOUR OPEN RELATIONSHIP
Are you considering an open relationship? Does your current open relationship need some tweaking? In this interactive workshop, relationship expert and author of Opening Up, Tristan Taormino will explore common myths, real-life benefits and challenges, and how to decide if an open relationship is right for you.
You’ll learn to articulate what you want, identify and negotiate limits and boundaries, communicate with your partner(s) in productive ways, and create relationships that work for you.
Admission: $30, pre-registration is required
Save on tickets: sign up for multiple of Tristan’s in-store events and save!! Just $50 for 2 workshops, $60 for ALL THREE!
Info: 612-721-6088
Email: info (at) smittenkittenonline.com
URL: http://www.smittenkittenonline.com

Tuesday, November 17, 8;00 pm
Princeton University, NJ
Beyond Monogamy: The Case for Open Relationships
A Book Talk with Tristan Taormino
Relationship and sex expert Tristan Taormino offers a bold new strategy for creating loving, lasting relationships. Drawing on in-depth research, interviews with over a hundred women and men, and her own personal experiences, Tristan explores the real-life benefits and challenges of open relationships in her new book. With her refreshingly down-to-earth style and sharp wit, Taormino argues that we must question the fairy tales and challenge the myths we’ve been taught about love, sex, intimacy, and commitment- only then can we create relationships that are honest, fulfilling, and really work.
Sponsored by LeTS.
Location: TBA
URL: http://www.princeton.edu/lgbt/events/index.htm
Info: colten (at) puckerup.com

November 20-22, 2009
Worcester, MA
TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES
6th Annual Conference
The Transcending Boundaries conference for bisexual/pansexual, trans/genderqueer, intersex, and polyamorous people and our allies. We are pleased to announce that this year’s keynote speaker will be renowned alternative sexualities speaker Tristan Taormino.
The conference strives to foster community, provide safe space, educate ourselves, and overcome societal sex, gender, and sexuality boundaries! Join us for open mic and Transgender Day of Remembrance reception, dynamic workshops, parties and entertainment, and a keynote luncheon with Tristan Taormino. We welcome everyone, from local, regional and national leaders in the bi, trans, intersex and poly communities to newcomers and allies. TBC works hard to make our conference safe, affordable and accessible for all.
Location: DCU Center and the Hilton Garden Inn in Worcester, MA
Admission: Register online at  www.transcendingboundaries.org

Join with other attendees for an enriching and educational weekend at Loving More’s 2009 National Polyamory conference and retreat. The annual National Conference is held at the beautiful Easton Mountain Retreat Center in upstate New York. Enjoy hiking on 175 acres, soak in the hot tub, relax in the sauna, and enjoy the wonderful food and hospitality of the Easton Mountain Staff.

This is a chance to immerse yourself in polyamorous community, connect with wonderful poly people from the US and overseas and make new friends. Have fun sharing knowledge and support. Escape to a magical place called Loving More.

Each conference and retreat is different and offers unique opportunities to learn, grow and meet others of like mind. This is the perfect place to learn for people who are polyamorous, new to poly, poly-curious, or just exploring relationships of any kind.

Want more information or to register? Please visit their website!

Happy May! Wow, the spring has been very busy for me with lots of travel, college appearances, and other events. In the past few months, I’ve been to the University of Washington in Bothell, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Amherst, Los Angeles, Wesleyan University, Providence, Brown University, Boston, University of Vermont, Milwaukee, and University of Wisconsin in Madison. I also managed to go to the LGBT Equality & Justice Day Rally and Lobby Day in Albany and even made the cover of Headquest Magazine, a trade magazine for head shops (ironic, since I don’t even smoke!)

I’ve got lots of exciting things to announce. My new book for Quiver, The Anal Sex Position Guide, is now available online and in boo kstores. Fleshbot did a cool story about it along with some photos for you to check out! I’m thrilled with how the book turned out: it really is the anal sex coffee table book of my dreams. The latest Vivid-Ed movie, Penny Flame’s Expert Guide to Rough Sex, was released in March and has gotten lots of good buzz. And, my Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men will be out at the end of this month (look for a link to pre-order it coming soon on puckerup.com)! Plus, I re-teamed with Vixen Creations to create the Special Anniversary Edition of the Tristan Butt Plug; it’s a gorgeous toy and it’s available exclusively at Babeland . Check out this fantastic review!

I am getting ready to travel to Chicago, where two of my friends are getting married. Then, I head to LA, where I’ll be shooting three new movies for Vivid and working on editing the first volume of my new video series, Rough Sex. After a brief stop in Seattle to see family, I’ll be back in New York for nearly the entire summer. I’m looking forward to being home, catching up with friends, and taking a break from my insane work and travel schedule!

with lube + affection,
Tristan

P.S. I’m still in love with Twitter, please come follow me: http://www.twitter.com/tristantaormino

Dear Amazon.com:

It has come to my attention that there is no longer a sale ranking for any of my books on your site, as there has been in the past. In addition, when I search for my name, “Tristan Taormino,” in the homepage’s search box, none of my books—except those that are currently out of print and unavailable—come up in the results; ironically, perhaps, an explicit sex ed video of mine does. According to the buzz on the internet today, this same thing has happened to many other authors, who all have something in common: our books are on sexuality, erotica, and gender, as well as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues.

In response to one author who brought this to your attention already, a representative wrote the following email which is being circulated on the web:

“In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude “adult” material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature.”

As the largest bookseller on the Web and a company which has profited nicely from my writing according to the now-disappeared sales ranks, you set an example for others. Your willingness to drop certain titles and authors from your search engine and ranking based on so-called adult content while you freely sell (and, again, profit from) pornography, sex toys, and other “adult” material is incredibly problematic and smacks of double standards.

I hope this issue will be resolved and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Tristan Taormino

To my readers:

Want background on what’s happened?

http://katebornstein.typepad.com/kate_bornsteins_blog/2009/04/disappeared-sex-positive-gender-bent-books-on-amazoncom.html

http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/04/12/amazon-rank/

Or log on to Twitter and search for #amazonfail

Want to complain to Amazon about this debacle? Here’s a great resource: http://tinyurl.com/cbst9c. Please make your voice heard!