A prison-themed circuit party co-hosted by Masterbeat and porn conglomerate Kink.com is coming under fire by the PC Police ahead of San Francisco Pride this year, being labeled “insensitive” and “asinine” because it allegedly “celebrates” and “trivializes” the LGBT incarceration rate.
Feel free to roll your eyes.
The party, titled Prison of Love, is perhaps set to a prison theme because it’s being held in The Armory, a landmark in San Francisco’s Mission District that has become synonymous with kinky porn — the 200,000 square foot building houses the working sets and operational staff that run Kink.com, the world’s largest fetish pornography site portfolio.
Circuit queens love shit like this so much, they’ll be shelling out $75 to come dance, drink, and take selfies with mock prison cells on June 28, Pink Saturday:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Get incarcerated as The Armory Drill Court gets transformed into the world’s largest megaclub prison yard with thundering line array sound, full color lasers, hundreds of intelligent lights, moving truss, 3D-LED video walls, and the world famous production and performances of WE Party, KINK.com, Club Universe, Masterbeat, FRESH SF and XOXO … Grab your spot on the bunkbed and party in the prison yard with hot inmates, guards, bad boys, bitches, and muscle boys! General Admission tickets include access to the main event area and WE Party Prison of Love. Bring a cellmate, share the love!
This fun theme party marketed exclusively toward gay men, according to someone who composed a boycott letter on Twitter and a writer at Jezebel, the birthplace of misguided public outrage, is offensive.
One of them cared so deeply, she spent her Tuesday afternoon writing this:
Given the rates of incarceration amongst the LGBT+ community, specifically LGBT+ youth and LGBT+ individuals of color, this seems… well, like a really, really bad idea. Insensitive you might even say. Perhaps my favorite word of all: problematic.
Some opponents have even gone so far as to claim the party endorses “prison rape.” You can read their arguments in full here.
Kink.com CEO Peter Acworth, an extremely vocal supporter of sex workers and the sex industry, penned an eloquent response to the outrage. He makes a case for freedom of expression, notes the celebratory tone of the party, and agrees to tone down the prison language on future marketing materials:
I ask you to also consider the fact that sexual fantasy and BDSM have long been a tool used by those who have experienced real life trauma and oppression – including many members of the LGBTQ community – to reclaim the imagery and language of their experiences and alter the actual meanings of those words and images. Sexual fantasies may be catalyzed by real life events, but in no way do those fantasies represent or contain the same meaning as non-consensual, non-sexual real life power dynamics.
The party, as incorrectly indicated by Jezebel, is not sponsored by SF Pride. It is expected to go off without a hitch, despite threats of sabotage from protestors.
On Facebook, the party’s organizers said they’re ready to handle any type of outburst:
There is indeed a robust plan in place to assure our guests have a great time without interruption during this time of celebration.
Good thing there will be plenty of prison cells on hand.
Thedrdonna
Okay, Queerty has jumped the shark. “Trans activists” aren’t the only ones or even the main ones protesting this, and yes, it is sh*tty that you’re making light of prison culture to have a party. I’m out.
Large Marge
I am outraged by her outrage. I find it problematic that she has a stick so far up her ass that she can’t have a good time.
hex0
I am so sick of transsexuals, don’t they have their own “trans pride” now? Why can’t they just fuck off.
Geeker
I’m more outraged they used a photo of that G4P girl abuser Johnny Rapid as their photo header.
corvaspikenard
@hex0: This isn’t transsexuals, it’s bored, university educated white ‘feminist’ chicks with well-off parents, who are ‘queer’ in identity because they kissed their best friend while drunk once to get some dude they liked horny.
You can tell from the use of words like ‘problematic’.
sportyguy1983
so called “pride” parade/parties are nothing more than an opportunity to showcase the worse (and predominant) aspects of the so called gay “community”. the image does nothing but perpetuates the stereotypes (that can be argued are pretty much true). if you want to be respected, then don’t act like eternally horny teenagers with no common sense or self control.
James Hart
@sportyguy1983: You’re correct. Sad, but true.
DarkZephyr
@corvaspikenard: Ha ha! You probably nailed it.
jar
@sportyguy1983: This right-wing attitude has been around since the first public expressions by gay men and lesbians. Yet, despite the perpetual whines of those who are so uncomfortable in their own skins that they cannot handle the expressions of others, we have made great strides in securing our rights as American citizens. I wouldn’t expect sportyguy or those who suffer from the same homo-anxiety to consider the illogic of their claim.
doug105
@sportyguy1983: The people who worry about this are probably not going to respect them in any case, but it’s life your to waste trying.
Chico
I’m more turned of by the prison theme, which romanticizes prison rape. Not cool. Not cool at all.
DuchessOfMilton
@Thedrdonna: Why bother to announce “I’m out?” No one cared that you were “in” to begin with.
DuchessOfMilton
@sportyguy1983: This is where “fuck off and die” become the perfect response to you, Sporty.
Gothrykke
Am I the only bored by this while faux-controversey? No matter what people do, these idiots are going to find fault with it. Yes, they are idiots. Only someone stupid and reactionary would find a prison themed party ‘insensitive’ and ‘problematic’. They are not trucking in people who’ve been in prison to be used as props. There aren’t any attempts to rub this party in the faces of those who actually suffered during incarceration. People are having fun and it’s not actually hurting someone, so, obviously, it must be wrong!
It’s all clickbaiting and showboating. If you can’t do it through legitimate actions, draw their attention by building your moral platform over the burned out remains of their sin palace, that way it looks like you actually care.
DuchessOfMilton
@Gothrykke: No, you’re far from the only person.
DuchessOfMilton
@Chico: So stay home, sunshine. And stop staring at the image, since it allegedly “turns you off.” It’s that simple.
vive
@sportyguy1973, I wish people like you would stop wrapping their bigotry in complaints about encouraging stereotypes. People like you are basically saying you support gay rights, unless we are not too swishy, too poor, too dark in color, too sexual, too much in an alternative kind of family structure, too in-your-face, too leather, too alternative, too left of center, too ugly, or too loud, in which case we are not welcome as one of you and deserve what’s coming to us.
vive
*”unless we are too swishy, etc.” – the “not” should not be there.
Ben Dover
So what ARE “the rates of incarceration amongst the LGBT+ ‘community'”? I’ve never heard that our “community” in general has a higher incarceration rate than heteros. And I can’t recall Queerty ever running an article about that.
@vive: It’s funny – I had the impression that “sportyguy1983” was into BDSM, he always seemed like the leather top type with a whip, etc.
sweetbrandigirl2004
I’m sorry but did I miss something somewhere I never saw in the story where it is ” Trans Activist” that are pissed off about this. So I think it s very slanderous to label this story a Trans Activist outrage story.
Daveliam
@sweetbrandigirl2004: I agree with this. I clicked on the link to see if the author of the original complaint is trans, but I still couldn’t tell. Is she? Because she doesn’t self-identify as trans there. Maybe the Queerty author knows from other contexts?
masc4masc
haha Queerty’s pissing off the tr a n nies now.
anyone who expects dignified behavior at a circuit party is just plain stupid. it’s oversexed half dressed guys getting as drunk and/or high as they can while twirling around to britney dance mixes and bending over for any guy that’s not too methed up to get it up (bareback of course). same basic theme every year.
DarkZephyr
@sweetbrandigirl2004: There is a link to her story about this that takes you to her website. It’s right in queerty’s article.
DarkZephyr
@masc4masc: Because of one reactionary you are going to use transphobic language??
Nowuvedoneit
More PC policing, it is San Francisco it reminds me of that Southpark episode, and the smugness cloud. Lol @ Johnny Rapid pic.
badbusiness
@Thedrdonna: Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out. If it does, please take a pic and show us. 😉
Paco
I’m only outraged I’m not going to be able to attend this party. Sounds like it might be fun.
badbusiness
Announcing you’re offended is basically telling the world you can’t control your own emotions, so everyone else should do it for you.
JJinAus
Firstly, let me say that I wouldn’t go to these parties. It is not my scene, not my fantasy. So what? If you don’t like it, don’t fucking go.
Who are these twats who have suddenly decided that they are in charge of gay morality? Mind your own business. You are worse than the fundies.
AxelDC
If only transgendered activists went after right-wing politicians with the same ferocity as they do gay men. They might actual get some of the protective legislation they have been seeking, instead of undermining their gay allies who have been instrumental in the progress they have made to date.
Nowuvedoneit
@AxelDC: I don’t think it’s all of them just, just a few who are on the fringe and angry all the time.
Will L
The party is being hosted by Masterbeat and kink.com. What kind of party would you expect? If they want a more politically correct party, they should drum up some sponsors in the bed and breakfast trade.
I don’t find it particularly insensitive or asinine. Nor does it necessarily trivialize the incarceration rate. It’s just a fetich party.
Will L
*fetish*
sportyguy1983
I always get a laugh at how people call you self loathing when you point out how so many gay men act like sex crazed teenagers. I am sorry to inform you, but image and perception are important. People should be free to act as immature as they want to, but be grown up enough to accept people will call you out on your immaturity.
hotshot70
it’s called having fun! If this is not your thing, don’t go to it!
Ben Dover
@sportyguy1983: You’re not self-loathing, sportyguy1933, you’re just a prude who apparently wants to bring back the Mattachine Society.
sfhally
@sweetbrandigirl2004: I think it was supposed to be “Trans Activists” plural. You know how bad Queerty is at proof-reading. And if you check into any of the posts and blogs about this like this Facebook
PRISON BREAKS NOT PRISON PARTIES (Action on the Armory!!!)(Facebook; Gay Shame; Etc.) that portion of the trans community that constantly monitors gay men is all over this shit. It figures that it was only a matter of time for them to go after the fetish community after taking on drag queens. And it isn’t even the fetish community per se–it’s just a fucking dance party. And I can’t seem to find the part in the ad that says “Come for the prison rape scene”.
Jacob23
@Thedrdonna: Bye honey! Good luck with the surgery! Lol! It won’t help!
Teeth
OMG! A Trans person was offended! Call the press!
litper
Trans activists shouldn’t watch gay porn! They hate male bodies and they should watch only lesbians!
Chris
I find it amazing that, when I first came out, the mantra of gay sex (and yes, it was only gay that long ago) was that any and all forms of sexuality are acceptable and appropriate to someone as in “who am I to judge?” And now here, our multi-lettered community is policing expressions of that same sexuality because someone is “outraged” by that expression. I’m not sure if this is real politically-conscious progress or if it’s simply irony that we’re doing what the straight community could not.
truckproductions
@Thedrdonna: GOOD RIDDANCE! and take all of your irrational, stick up your ass harpy friends along with you!
Nowuvedoneit
@Chris: it’s mostly those who want something anything to rage at . The LGBT group has been making inroads in all facets of society and now those who were always angry now seek to vent their anger this way . My two cents.
corvaspikenard
@litper: “Trans activists shouldn’t watch gay porn! They hate male bodies and they should watch only lesbians!”
You do realise that ‘trans’ covers trans men as well, right? The ones who want males bodies?
But yeah, otherwise I’m with you. What business does some trans lesbian and a bunch of ‘queer’ chicks have hating on gay male events? I don’t even understand why they are being given any attention; it’s like a Muslim protesting a Christian bake sale.
seaguy
This “trans activist” needs to get a life and stop trying to tell others what to do or how to speak. He/She is not the ruler of this land as this is not North Korea and he/she is not Kim Jung Il!
christianlancaster69
its so annoying!!!!!!! uhg and to make it even more annoying, i heard they want to change lgbt to tlgb….!!!!!!!! seriously, this is why our community is a joke, becauese we all are turning on each other…or rude to each other…just saying
snaz
Sorry but im pro the prison send up – it’s hot – it’s already established as a porn film genre and best to claim the space and make it sexy.
I get that there’s a parallel world where gays are really locked up and raped etc.
But i think it’s still better all around not to suppress the thing but to claim it and gay it up. Don’t confuse the recreational sex issue with the real issue.
I didn’t get why it was a trans-protest thing ? Others are saying it wasnt just trans ?
Wilberforce
Trans activists don’t get that gay men are men. They use the f and the t words with each other because they’re mature enough to know who their friends are. They are brutally honest about the world for the same reason. They’re mocking and self-deprecating. And they don’t usually get self-righteous with others over non-issues.
Get over it please. These are men you’re dealing with, not old maids. And trying to force blue-nose culture on them is a waste of time.
Also, I hope these PCers don’t wear clothes, since American clothes are made in the third world by oppressed labor, or eat meat, since meat is murder, or watch television, since pop-culture is harmful, or use the bus, since that causes global warming.
EvonCook
@sportyguy1983: Are you gay? Doesn’t sound like it or are you just so assimilationist that you have lost your male sex drive, or traded it in for a Hubby in the burbs! Gay men share their sex, the more the merrier!
Nowuvedoneit
@Wilberforce: You should visit Reddits TIA sub forum, you will get to see how crazy the social justice warriors are.
spanky
Butt fuckin* rules!!!
crowebobby
Thank you!
crowebobby
@JJinAus: Thank you!
Marisela
OMG if you don’t like it then don’t go. Who gives a fuck what you think is offensive. I find you offensive. It’s a free country and people can do what they want. The KKK holds a shindig every year. Why don’t you go protest that instead. Im so sick of the PC pricks trying to dictate what is allowed and what is not. This is turning into a police state.
Cee
I would go, but I’d rather spend my $75 on a pair of shoes.
bobbyjoe
Next up: a writer for Jezebel discovers a Furry convention, goes into a deeply shocked weeklong snit over the serious issue of beastiality.
corvaspikenard
@bobbyjoe: And then renounces writing because it shows her literacy privilege and education privilege, which in turn ‘triggers’ the less educated and less literate Jezebel viewers and makes them feel ‘unsafe’.
inkpeninmd
Wonder if they’ll have an Em City room where Beecher can give Vern Shillinger what he has coming.
vive
@Wilberforce, “(gay men) don’t usually get self-righteous over non-issues.”
Uh, have you spent any time reading the comments here at Queerty and, for example, at Huffpost gay voices? 🙂
Lvng1tor
@corvaspikenard: I agree. Queerty threw the “Trans Activist” label up because they know it increases comments and readers. It was pure crap marketing on their side. Apparently it worked too. The trans bashing is well under way. Did anyone even read the article she posted? She wasn’t acting or pushing a trans objective. It was just a salacious title meant to get people to read article. That in it’s self is trans bashing….casting the trans as the evil good time squasher!!!!
This has nothing to do with “TransActivist” or trans issues. You’re like Pavlov’s dog…Hearing “trans” and you attack with out provocation.
It’s the not real issues this overly liberal, she’s conservative, privileged person thinks she raising. She is linking 2 things together because of a common location. Lets not watch law and order cause Benson’s boobs are too big and makes a mockery of gays behind bars. What jail or prison fiction show really shows what it is like behind bars? While there is a real issue with rape and dealing with disproportionate abuse of gays behind bars that’s also true for schools, churches, public parking lots, subways, bars, piggly wigglies etc.
@bobbyjoe: ya beat me to the perfect analogy.
Finally..People People Stop Responding to Masc4Masc, lipter and sportsguy they are trolls. They only exist to insult and piss people off.
Addison DW
I doubt that “trans-activist” pertains the writer who penned her outrage. I think – in fact – I KNOW the writer was a 100% female, probably someone who is bitter because of failed relationships and therefore hateful of all men. The female mind is illogical, indecisive and – above all – emotional. This leads to all sorts of double-standards embraced by women. Women don’t want men making decisions for them, but they – like this writer noted above – have no qualms about imposing their own behavioral standards on men, indeed gay men. Also, women claim to want to be sexually-liberated by indulging in one-night stands – yet they end up complaining because they feel “unfulfilled” after attempting one-night stands. Sorry, ladies, but this Prison Party is an event for gay men and we need our space. You females don’t understand the concept of “depersonalized sex” – which is what will go on at this party amid all the fetishizing and cruising and CONSENSUAL ACTIVITY – so STAY THE F*** OUT. Even the slightest whiff of estrogen at this party will make my throbbing thick 9-incher go flaccid in a heartbeat – and that’s not what I paid $75 for.
imumcoeli
@Lvng1tor:
Great comment. I think that was definitely quite on spot, regarding using “Trans Activist” just to get a rise out of people. I have to say it is unfortunate as well that there is such a sudden backlash in terms of trans bashing at the drop of it.
I say focus on the issue of the topic of the party and whether you agree or disagree — and leave the trans bashing out of it. It is unnecessary and serves to divide the community even further and only encourages this sort of impulsive negative behavior in the future out of both “sides”.
I see the point that the person is trying to make about the party, but I don’t think that it means that it shouldn’t be put on nor that they should do anything to stop it. I think it is an interesting point to think on and it would be even more interesting to read a rebuttal that does not sink to mere bashing of the individual but instead defends the event specifically. Alas…
DickieJohnson
@DuchessOfMilton: Oh, Your Grace, I LOVE your name! SNAPPP!!!
unsterblich
Oh come on, people! It’s a fetish party. A /FETISH/ party. Yes, LGBT incarceration is a problem and something that commonly happens, but to get offended by something that a fucking PORN studio is hosting really needs to unknot their knickers. Yes, terrible shit happens in the world, and yes they totally have the ability to bring light to issues such as prison rape, anti-rape sentiment, pamphlets, safe sex tips, providing condoms to everyone, blah blah blah etc, but this constantly offended, butthurt subset of pc party-enemas need to stop being so vitriolic and need to step back for a moment and stop pissing in everyone else’s punch bowl.
Brendan
The link to outraged article at Jezebel is no longer working. Kinda ironic that the party is still going ahead but the article was pulled. 😉 If you don’t like the theme of the party, can’t you just not go to it. Why does everything have to make everyone happy all the time. Like the theme song to a popular TV show once said…
“Now, the world don’t move to the beat of just one drum,
What might be right for you, may not be right for some….
Everybody’s got a special kind of story, Everybody finds a way to shine,
They’ll have theirs, and you’ll have yours, and I’ll have mine.
And together we’ll be fine…. It takes Diff’rent Strokes to move the world.”
Cam
What was the last time the words “Trans Activists” WASN’T followed by the word “Outraged”?
Lvng1tor
@imumcoeli: Thank you. I also agree with your last paragraph. There is a deeper issue here no matter what side of the pro/neutral/neg party you are on.
Interestingly, the author of the debated article was asked in the comments why she wasn’t looking at the deeper issue (prison rape, rape culture, victim/aggressor mentality etc) and her response was “I don’t have the time” because she was trying to write at least 4 articles a day to post online plus her full time job as a teacher. I may be reading into it but that says to me this author is interested not in exploring reality but just backing up her own perception without real research or depth. Just my opinion.
Also,lets face it…If I want in depth I’m not going to her personal blog or queerty.
BitterOldQueen
Here’s a fun game: just start a sentence with “Trans activists outraged by” and fill in the blank. It can be just about anything, and is sort of the reverse of adding “in bed” to the end of your fortune cookie fortune. Try it, gang; it’s hours of fun!
Paco
@Lvng1tor: “Also,lets face it…If I want in depth I’m not going to her personal blog or queerty.”
Unfortunately that seems to be the case with most gay news sites. The stories are heavily slanted and missing important pieces of information. It would be nice to get the full story from one article, rather than having to dig through the internet for what was missing or omitted.
Cam
@BitterOldQueen:
LOL!!!!!! LOVE IT!!! Ok, I’ll bite.
Trans activists outraged by MacDonalds only having Shamrock Shakes during St. Patricks week which negates the makers of this shakes feelings of inclusion and self worth for 51 weeks a year.
Hmmm, too much? Ok, how about…. Trans activists outraged by the lesbian community, again, for…..um, some reason they can’t really articulate.
vive
These stories always seem to bring out an ugly streak of transphobic comments from gay people who should really know better. Okay, so one or two fringe elements who may or may not even be trans said something that was a bit out there. That doesn’t justify the level of hatred against trans people that comes out in these comments sections.
Nowuvedoneit
@vive: I think most don’t hate transgendered people, like you said there is a fringe element in all groups. I personally like to ask questions about things but usually get met with a transphobic or trans mysgony accusation. It is what it is.
rithipol
@Lvng1tor: you’re the only one who is consistently making any sense on this comment wall.
Lvng1tor
@Paco: Agreed just take each site individually and question everything.
@rithipol: Thank you, that’s very nice of you to say.
michael mellor
Peter Acworth is a creep. The least said about him, the better.
As for the prison theme party, what a surprise…not. SF’s queens are riddled with fetishes that lead to STD”s. It’s as if the hippies have morphed into the horrors.
I'm Black, and HiV-positive.
I agree with the outrage 100%, but I still want a ticket.
76thandpark
Si tu n’aime pas la subjet d’un fête rester chez toi…
Seriously people. If you don’t like the theme of a party, DON’T GO!! I think it’s ridiculous to be upset with a party theme and make such a huge deal out of it. It’s not a violation of anyone’s rights to allow someone to enjoy a kinky idea in their own free time where no one is forced to be subject to it. Especially if someone is paying $75 to participate. I’d say that’s a pretty good indicator that whomever paid it is ok with the theme. If you don’t like it, don’t pay, don’t go…