NCSF - A Valuable Resource

The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, or NCSF for short, is a kick-ass organization with which I suggest everyone become aware. They are an advocacy organization doing important work for the BDSM community along with other alternative sexuality and sex positive communities. For instance they keep an on-going resource list by state of kink-friendly and kink-aware professionals. If individuals need a doctor or attorney or mental health clinician in touch with the wide world of BDSM this is the place to go. NCSF is also contributing feedback to the new revision of the DSM, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, version five. (DSM-V) This manual is the cornerstone of mental health diagnosis and NCSF is working hard to de-pathologize BDSM.

"NCSF fights for sexual freedom and privacy rights for all adults who engage in safe, sane and consensual behavior," says a quote from their Who We Are page on their website. They educate people about issues facing the SM-Leather-Fetish, swing and polyamory communities. They are on the forefront of the work to decriminalize BDSM.

The idea tripping around my head for my next 1-800-DOM-help book includes a character periphally affiliated with an organization like this one. If you are a reader or writer of BDSM and appreciate these stories, even if you are not personally involved in the lifestyle, it is important to be aware of the struggles the BDSM and fetish community faces in order to understand the full context of the characters. Plus, as empathic and hopefully humane people we must open our eyes to the struggles any marginalized group faces in our culture.

So expand your knowledge and visit the NCSF website.

Safe, sane and consensual,

Michelle