Other Activities
Other activities
While most people know me solely as an online porn performer, I do have other interests and partake in other activities (for work, for fun and as a volunteer). I went to university and have two BAs (Child Studies and Psychology). After graduation I worked as an educational consultant in the not-for-profit field and within the public and private school systems. I am glad I had this experience, but in the end it was not for me. When the Internet started to develop and grow in the late 1990s and alternative communities were finding their place on the world wide web, I decided to make a significant change in terms of my work and my public persona. I became interested in porn performance through my personal experiences in the local Montreal fetish and swinger communities and in 1998, after a great deal of thought and consideration, I decided to launch an independent adult website. The personal became public and subsequently a commercial enterprise.
Activism
Working on my website opened many doors for me. I made meaningful connections with such amazing people and organizations in all sorts of fields, but in particular with those who work in sexual education, sex worker activism, and youth empowerment. These I discovered are some of my passion projects and it feels so good to do what I can to help make a difference – though it is often very challenging and even discouraging at times.
Scarleteen: Run by my dear friend Heather Corinna, Scarleteen is an independent, grassroots sexuality education and support organization and website. Founded in 1998, Scarleteen is visited by around three-quarters of a million diverse people each month worldwide, most between the ages of 15 and 25. It is the highest-ranked website for sex education and sexuality advice online and has held that rank through most of its tenure. For a number of years I was a volunteer at Scarleteen and offered support via the very active message boards and writing the occasional article. I just adore Heather and the work she does. So inspiring and so important!
Sexpressions: I speak regularly at the professional training seminars that are organized by my friends at Sexpressions about my experiences in porn and sex work activism. They offer comprehensive sexual education programs for youth as well as professional training for social workers and other health professionals.
Chez Stella: Created in 1995 through the initiative of a handful of sex-workers, public-health researchers and sympathisers, Chez Stella is an organization that offers resources and support to female identified sex workers in all fields. Stella’s goals are 1) to provide support and information to sex-workers so that they may live in safety and with dignity; 2) to sensitize and educate the public about sex work and the realities faced by sex workers; 3) to fight discrimination against sex workers; 4) to promote the decriminalisation of sex work. I have taken part in a variety of demonstrations and actions to support this cause. Violence and stigma is rampant and only through rethinking our laws, working conditions and educating the public about the realities of sex work and the sex industry can real change occur.
Head and Hands: Since 1970, Head & Hands has provided medical, legal and social services to Montreal youth. Today, their services include free weekly drop-in medical clinics, legal information and consultations, counselling, a young parents’ program, youth drop-in, tutoring, street workers, and the Sense Project peer-based sex ed in high schools. Their approach is preventative, inclusive, non-judgmental, and holistic. They facilitate social change and the empowerment of youth based on their current needs within our community and society at large. I am currently on the Board of Directors for this amazing organization. In the past I was a client of theirs and I experienced first hand how their approach and their services make a true difference in young people’s lives.
Donate to Head and Hands – it would mean a great deal to me.
