Desmond Ravenstone
Encyclopedia
Desmond Ravenstone is a writer
, blog
ger, activist and educator on sexuality issues, with a particular focus on BDSM
and other alternative sexual identities. He is also a Unitarian Universalist lay leader
, and frequently addresses the intersection of sexuality and spirituality
.
Ravenstone first became involved in the BDSM community addressing the issue of “ravishment” or rape fantasies
. He wrote a number of articles and two books. dealing with both the psychology and practical enactment of ravishment role-play, and helped to form the online Ravishment Network (RavNet) as a forum for education and advocacy.
Ravenstone has also led workshops on ravishment, erotic role-playing
and other subjects to a number of BDSM groups across the country. He served as education coordinator for the New England Dungeon Society for two years, and authored an advice column for the online zine
‘‘The Dominant’s View’’.
Ravenstone is a member of Arlington Street Church, an historic Unitarian Universalist congregation, where he serves on the worship committee as well as other leadership roles, including representing the congregation as a delegate to the Mass Bay District. He also writes a blog, ‘‘‘Ravenstone’s Reflections’’’, offering his thoughts on sexuality, spirituality, politics and other related topics. This has given him a prominent place to speak on behalf of kinksters, polyamorists
and other “alt-sexers” within the UU denomination. Ravenstone has recently started a new organization for UUs involved in BDSM, called "Leather & Grace".
Ravenstone is politically unaffiliated, and describes himself as a “libertarian progressive”. In 2008, he ran a write-in campaign for President on a sexual freedom platform; his running-mate was Theresa “Darklady” Reed
, a fellow writer and sexual-freedom activist from Oregon
.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger, activist and educator on sexuality issues, with a particular focus on BDSM
BDSM
BDSM is an erotic preference and a form of sexual expression involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power role-play. The compound acronym BDSM is derived from the terms bondage and discipline , dominance and submission , and sadism and masochism...
and other alternative sexual identities. He is also a Unitarian Universalist lay leader
Lay leader
A lay leader is a member of the laity in any congregation who has been chosen as a leader. Since lay leadership is not an ordained clerical office, the lay leader's responsibilities vary according to the particular tradition to which he or she belongs...
, and frequently addresses the intersection of sexuality and spirituality
Religion and sexuality
Most world religions have sought to address the moral issues that arise from people's sexuality in society and in human interactions. Each major religion has developed moral codes covering issues of sexuality, morality, ethics etc...
.
Ravenstone first became involved in the BDSM community addressing the issue of “ravishment” or rape fantasies
Rape fantasy
A rape fantasy or a ravishment is a sexual fantasy involving imagining or pretending being coerced or coercing another into sexual activity. In sexual role-play it involves acting out roles of coercive sex...
. He wrote a number of articles and two books. dealing with both the psychology and practical enactment of ravishment role-play, and helped to form the online Ravishment Network (RavNet) as a forum for education and advocacy.
Ravenstone has also led workshops on ravishment, erotic role-playing
Sexual roleplaying
Sexual roleplay is an erotic form of roleplay: it is a sexual behavior where two or more people act out roles in a sexual fantasy. How seriously this is taken depends on the people involved, and the scenario may be anywhere from simple and makeshift to detailed and elaborate, complete with...
and other subjects to a number of BDSM groups across the country. He served as education coordinator for the New England Dungeon Society for two years, and authored an advice column for the online zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
‘‘The Dominant’s View’’.
Ravenstone is a member of Arlington Street Church, an historic Unitarian Universalist congregation, where he serves on the worship committee as well as other leadership roles, including representing the congregation as a delegate to the Mass Bay District. He also writes a blog, ‘‘‘Ravenstone’s Reflections’’’, offering his thoughts on sexuality, spirituality, politics and other related topics. This has given him a prominent place to speak on behalf of kinksters, polyamorists
Polyamory
Polyamory is the practice, desire, or acceptance of having more than one intimate relationship at a time with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved....
and other “alt-sexers” within the UU denomination. Ravenstone has recently started a new organization for UUs involved in BDSM, called "Leather & Grace".
Ravenstone is politically unaffiliated, and describes himself as a “libertarian progressive”. In 2008, he ran a write-in campaign for President on a sexual freedom platform; his running-mate was Theresa “Darklady” Reed
Darklady
Theresa "Darklady" Reed is a sex writer and erotic party impresario who resides in Portland, Oregon.In addition to work as a reviewer of adult videos, toys, publications, and websites, she writes lifestyle columns and feature articles for publications and websites including AVN magazine, Playtime...
, a fellow writer and sexual-freedom activist from Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.