Tristan Taormino | |
|---|---|
 Tristan Taormino in 2013 | |
| Born | May 9, 1971 Syosset, New York |
| Occupation |
|
| Nationality | American |
| Literary movement | Sex-positive feminism |
| Website | |
| www | |
Tristan Taormino (born May 9, 1971) is an American feminist author, sex educator, and pornographic film director. She is most recently known for her book Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships, which is often recommended as a starter guide to polyamory and non-monogamy. [1] [2]
Taormino is the only child of Judith Bennett Pynchon and William J. Taormino. On her mother's side of the family, Taormino is a descendant of William Pynchon, an early English-American settler. She is also the niece of author Thomas Pynchon. [3] Her parents divorced before she turned two years old. She was raised primarily by her mother on Long Island. She maintained a close relationship with her father Bill Taormino, who died of AIDS in 1995. Taormino attended Sayville High School on Long Island and was salutatorian of her graduating class. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University in 1993. [4]
Taormino is the author of eight books, including the Firecracker Alternative Book Award-winning The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women. [5]
She has edited anthologies including the Lambda Literary Award-winning annual anthology series she created and edited from 1996 to 2009, Best Lesbian Erotica , published by Cleis Press.
She was a regular columnist for The Village Voice from 1999 to 2008, where she wrote the bi-weekly sex column "Pucker Up." [6] In print, her column appeared opposite Dan Savage's column Savage Love. She popularized and re-defined the term "queer heterosexual," in her 1995 column "The Queer Heterosexual." She wrote: "In some cases, it's based on either one or both partners having non-traditional gender expressions...or they actively work against their assigned gender roles. Some queer heterosexuals are strongly aligned with queer community, culture, politics, and activism but happen to love and lust after people of a different gender. I also consider folks who embrace alternative models of sexuality and relationships (polyamory, non-monogamy, BDSM, cross-dressing) to be queer, since labeling them "straight," considering their lifestyle choices, seems inappropriate." [7] She was laid off from The Village Voice in 2008. [8] She has written "The Anal Advisor" column for Hustler's Taboo magazine since 1999, and she is a former columnist for Velvetpark . She is the former editor of On Our Backs , the US's oldest lesbian-produced lesbian sex magazine.
Taormino has lectured at many colleges and universities, where she speaks on gay and lesbian issues, sexuality and gender, and feminism. [9] Some of her college appearances have stirred controversy, as at University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2004, [10] Princeton, [11] and, most famously, Oregon State University in 2011, where administrators un-invited her as keynote speaker at the Modern Sex Conference. [12] There was a huge uproar on the internet, and many accused OSU of anti-sex bias. The incident received national media attention. Eventually, students raised the funds and re-invited her themselves. [13]
Taormino hosted the television show Sexology 101 on The Burly Bear Network in 2001, a college cable network owned by Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video. [14] She was a regular expert and panelist on Ricki Lake for two seasons in 2002 and 2003. [15] In 2003, she signed a development deal with MTV Networks. She served as host and executive producer on the pilot for The Naughty Show, but the series was never picked up. [16] [17] She has appeared as an expert on sex, relationships, feminism, pornography, non-monogamy, and LGBT issues on Melissa Harris-Perry , Joy Behar: Say Anything, [18] HBO's Real Sex , The Howard Stern Show , Ricki Lake , MTV, and other television shows. [19]
Taormino worked with Spike Lee as a script consultant and with the cast on the set of his 2004 movie She Hate Me . [20] In 2006, she appeared as a so-called "sextra" in John Cameron Mitchell's film, Shortbus , participating in an unsimulated orgy that was filmed for the movie. (Her presence is confirmed by the director on the DVD commentary.) She also appeared in Becky Goldberg's 2003 documentary Hot and Bothered: Feminist Pornography and in Mr. Angel, the documentary about Buck Angel (2013). [19]
In addition to writing, speaking and sex education, she considers herself a feminist pornographer. [21] She made two videos based on her book The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women. The first (1999) was co-directed by Buttman (John Stagliano) and Ernest Greene. The second (2001) was directed by Tristan herself. In both videos, she takes part in the on-screen sexual activities. Subsequently, she directed Tristan Taormino's House of Ass for Adam & Eve, which shows a number of "porn stars" (from famous to unknown) interacting without a script. In 2006, she directed Tristan Taormino's Chemistry, [22] which is the first in a series of full-length "behind the scenes" movies for Vivid Entertainment where the performers choose who they have sex with, what they do, where and when. [23] She directed four volumes of the Chemistry series as well as sex education films for Vivid Ed, Vivid Entertainment's sex education line that she was instrumental in creating. [24]
Rebecca Whisnant argues that Taormino work's represents a profit-based ‘‘feminist porn’’ within the mainstream pornography industry based upon thin conceptions of feminism and sexual ethics. [25]
Taormina uses the terms "queer" and "dyke" to describe her sexual identity. [26] In the past, Taormino stated: "I don't really identify with the label 'bisexual', nor does it feel like it accurately describes me...I see myself as queer, since queer to me is not just about who I love or lust, but it's about my culture, my community, and my politics. The truth is, even if I were with a heterosexual guy, I'd be a queer dyke." [27] [28] In addition, "she describes herself as 'equal opportunity'. She doesn't like the word 'bisexual' – and says "it's too polarizing." [29]
In addition to being a vocal advocate of non-monogamy, Taormino supports gay marriage: "I support gay marriage being legalised in every state. I do however think it’s unfortunate that in some cases gay marriage opponents have used the issue against polyamory." [30]
| Year | Ceremony | Result | Award / Category | Book / Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Firecracker Alternative Book Award | Won | Sex | The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women |
| 2003 | Lambda Literary Award | Won | Lesbian Erotica | Best Lesbian Erotica 2003 |
| 2004 | Lambda Literary Award | Won | Lesbian Erotica | Best Lesbian Erotica 2004 |
| 2006 | Feminist Porn Award | Won | n/a | "House of Ass" |
| 2007 | AVN Award | Won | Best Gonzo Release [31] | Chemistry |
| Feminist Porn Award | Won | Hottest Gonzo Sex Scene & Hottest Diverse Cast | Chemistry | |
| Adam Film World Award | Won | Best Couples Movie | Chemistry | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Oral Sex Scene | Chemistry | |
| 2008 | Feminist Porn Award | Won | Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 1 & 2 |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Anal-Themed Release Scene | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Sex | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Director, Non-Feature | Chemistry 3 | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Oral-Themed Release | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 1: Cunnilingus | |
| 2009 | AVN Award | Won | Best Educational Release [32] | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 2: Fellatio |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Educational Release | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to the G-Spot | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Oral Sex Scene | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 2: Fellatio | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Gonzo Series | Chemistry | |
| 2010 | Feminist Porn Award | Won | The Trailblazer Award | — |
| Feminist Porn Award | Won | Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men | |
| AVN Award | Won | Best Educational Release [33] | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Threesomes | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Educational Release | Midori's Expert Guide to Sensual Bondage | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Educational Release | Penny Flame's Expert Guide to Rough Sex | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Educational Release | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Specialty Release, Other Genre | Rough Sex | |
| Feminist Porn Award | Nominated | n/a | Rough Sex | |
| Feminist Porn Award | Nominated | n/a | Penny Flame's Expert Guide to Rough Sex | |
| Feminist Porn Award | Nominated | n/a | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Threesomes | |
| 2011 | Lambda Literary Award | Won | Lesbian Erotica | Sometimes She Lets Me: Best Butch/Femme Erotica |
| NLA Samois Anthology Award | Won | Lesbian Erotica | Sometimes She Lets Me: Best Butch/Femme Erotica | |
| Feminist Porn Award | Won | Hottest BDSM Movie | Rough Sex 2 | |
| AVN Award | Won | Best Educational Release [34] | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Fellatio | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Vignette Release | Rough Sex 2 | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Couples Sex Scene | Rough Sex 2 | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Most Outrageous Sex Scene | Rough Sex 2 | |
| Feminist Porn Award | Nominated | n/a | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Female Orgasms | |
| 2012 | Lambda Literary Award | Won | Transgender Fiction | Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica |
| Feminist Porn Award | Won | Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Educational Release [35] | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Educational Release | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Female Orgasms | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Group Sex Scene | Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Anal Sex Scene | Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Three-Way Sex Scene | Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Vignette Release | Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind | |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Director, Non-Feature | Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind | |
| 2013 | Feminist Porn Award | Won | Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Pegging |
| AVN Award | Nominated | Best Educational Release [36] | Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Pegging |
Annie M. Sprinkle is an American certified sexologist, performance artist, former sex worker, and advocate for sex work and health care.
Marie Louise Hartman, known professionally as Nina Hartley, is an American pornographic film actress and sex educator. By 2017 she had appeared in more than one thousand adult films. She has been described by Las Vegas Weekly as an "outspoken feminist" and "advocate for sexual freedom", and by CNBC as "a legend in the adult world".
Alisha Klass is a former American pornographic actress.
Lesbian erotica deals with depictions in the visual arts of lesbianism, which is the expression of female-on-female sexuality. Lesbianism has been a theme in erotic art since at least the time of ancient Rome, and many regard depictions of lesbianism to be erotic.
Cleis Press is an American independent publisher of books in the areas of sexuality, erotica, feminism, gay and lesbian studies, gender studies, fiction, and human rights. The press was founded in 1980 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It later moved to San Francisco and was based out of Berkeley until its purchase by Start Media in 2014. Its founders were Frédérique Delacoste, Felice Newman and Mary Winfrey Trautmann, who collectively financed, wrote and published the press's first book Fight Back: Feminist Resistance to Male Violence in 1981. In 1987, they published Sex Work: Writings by Women in the Sex Industry by Delacoste with Priscilla Alexander.
Mari Possa is a Salvadoran American pornographic actress and reality TV personality.
Carol Queen is an American author, editor, sociologist, and sexologist active in the sex-positive feminism movement. Queen is a two time Grand Marshal of San Francisco LGBTQ Pride. Queen has written on human sexuality in books such as Real Live Nude Girl: Chronicles of Sex-Positive Culture. She has written a sex tutorial, Exhibitionism for the Shy: Show Off, Dress Up and Talk Hot, as well as erotica, such as the novel The Leather Daddy and the Femme. Queen has produced adult movies, events, workshops and lectures. Queen was featured as an instructor and star in both installments of the Bend Over Boyfriend series about female-to-male anal sex, or pegging. She has also served as editor for compilations and anthologies. She is a sex-positive sex educator in the United States.
Bisexual pornography is a genre of pornography that most typically depicts men and at least one woman who all perform sex acts on each other. A sex scene involving women and one man who all perform sex acts on each other is generally not identified or labeled as bisexual.
Pegging is an anal sex act in which a woman penetrates a man's anus with a strap-on dildo.
Bend Over Boyfriend is a 1998 American sex education video created and produced by lesbian couple Shar Rednour and Jackie Strano. It coverers the practice of women penetrating men's anus with a strap-on dildo (pegging). It star sexologist Carol Queen, who discusses and demonstrates the act with her lover. The video also features other couples engaging in the practice.
Bobbi Starr is an American former pornographic actress. She won the AVN Award for Female Performer of the Year in 2012.
Alison Tyler is the pseudonym of an American author, editor and publisher of erotica living in Northern California. She has authored over 20 explicit novels, hundreds of short stories and has edited more than 60 erotic anthologies. She runs her own publishing company, Pretty Things Press . Tired of getting mixed up with the porn actress with the same name, she now blogs on Patreon as Alison Trollop.
Violet Blue is an American journalist, author, editor, advisor, and educator.
Madison Young is an American filmmaker, author, performance artist, feminist activist, and former adult film performer and award-winning erotic filmmaker. Young is a prominent figure in the feminist porn movement and is known for their work as a queer and kink-focused educator and an advocate of sex workers' rights.
Feminist views on pornography range from total condemnation of the medium as an inherent form of violence against women to an embracing of some forms as a medium of feminist expression. This debate reflects larger concerns surrounding feminist views on sexuality, and is closely related to those on prostitution, BDSM, and other issues. Pornography has been one of the most divisive issues in feminism, particularly in Anglophone (English-speaking) countries. This division was exemplified in the feminist sex wars of the 1980s, which pitted anti-pornography activists against pro-pornography ones.
Queer pornography depicts performers with various gender identities and sexual orientations interacting and exploring genres of desire and pleasure in unique ways. These conveyed interactions distinctively seek to challenge the conventional modes of portraying and experiencing sexually explicit content. Scholar Ingrid Ryberg additionally includes two main objectives of queer pornography in her definition as "interrogating and troubling gender and sexual categories and aiming at sexual arousal."
April Flores, also known as Fatty Delicious, or Fatty D, is an American pornographic actress and director, writer, photographer, makeup artist, and plus-size model.
Jiz Lee is an American pornographic performer, considered a major star of queer porn. Lee is an advocate for the ethical production and consumption of pornography and for the labor rights and sexual autonomy of adult entertainment performers.
Feminist pornography, also known by other terms in internet such as 'ethical porn' or 'fair-trade porn' is a genre of film developed by or for those within the sex-positive feminist movement. It was created for the purpose of promoting gender equality by portraying more bodily movements and sexual fantasies of women and members of the LGBT community.
Porn for women, women's porn or women's pornography is pornography aimed specifically at the female market, and often produced by women. It rejects the view that pornography is only for men, and seeks to make porn that women enjoy watching instead of what is being offered in male-centric mainstream pornography.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
