26th Sexual Freedom Awards Finalists

The 26th Sexual Freedom Awards – honouring practitioners, performers and activists who promote sexually positive attitudes – was held in London, UK on Thursday 28th April, 2022.  These uniquely independent and inclusive international Awards – with their famous, hand-carved, ' golden flying cock' trophy – are presented in nine categories; Activist, Ally, Event, Performer, Pioneer, Publicist, Sex Worker and Somatic Sexologist of the Year; plus Stripper of the Year who showcase their live acts during the Awards ceremony.

Below are the Finalists. A long-list for each Award category is compiled from nominations from the public and a short-list of 3 Finalists (usually) per category is selected by a panel of expert judges who announce winners on the night. We salute all nominees & Finalists!

The Finalists remain featured here as a tribute their outstanding contributions to the myriad worlds of sexual freedom and expression.

Activist of the Year

The Bristol Sex Workers Collective

Bristol Sex Workers Collective is a non-hierarchical grassroots organisation which is entirely run by sex workers. We advocate for labour rights and safety for sex workers in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We also provide peer support and signposting to any sex workers who need it. Our recent campaign to stop the nil-cap in Bristol from closing down Bristol's strip clubs gained international attention as more people were made aware of the threats to close sex workers' unionised work places. We are part of the global sex worker led movement for the decriminalisation of sex work and we understand that poverty is violence. We demand better resources for those who need it so that no one is pushed into sex work by poverty. We have given talks on sex workers rights, are working on a project with our local museum to tell the history of sex workers in Bristol as well as spoken at protests around the country. Our members also take time to support one another and provide much needed peer support and befriending for sex workers in Bristol. https://www.bristolswc.com

Kayden Gray WINNER!

Born and raised in Poland, Kayden Gray is a queer Sex Worker, a multi award-winning porn performer and creator, and a passionate sexual wellbeing enthusiast known for a big dick and irreverent demeanour.

Since sharing his HIV status on YouTube in 2017, Kayden has been on a mission to create a culture of shame-free sexual expression and wellbeing through a number of projects and collaborations, including the How To Stay Positive When You Test Positive series for the newly diagnosed, and his pioneering work as Advocacy Director at Impulse London.

In recent years Kayden has been aiming to close the gap between sex and sex education by merging his activism and adult work. The first result of these efforts was the high-production HIV-awareness porn drama U Equals Fucking U (directed and produced by altSHIFT and including performances from Bishop Black and Bianca Del Rio), which went live in early 2021 and included the performer’s first ever condomless scene. The 2-part production was soon followed by the amateur series KaydenUNWRAPPED - a succession of porn videos followed by naked sex ed. All of Kayden’s work can be found on https://linktr.ee/kaydengray

Sonia / Electric Girl

Sonia Nowak has been working since 2012 as a stripper and dominatrix and is sex workers rights activist. In 2017 Sonia joined East London Strippers Collective and been an active member appearing on Amnesty International panels and fellow education events with the collective.

Since 2018 she’s been working with the union United Sex Workers and was organizing strippers at the clubs. She prepared strikes and demonstrations including the Sex Workers Strike in 2019 which ended with a famous dance on the Eros Fountain.

In 2020 she won a first in UK history hearing on worker status where a judge ruled she and the stripper of the club were workers. This incident has revolutionized the industry and helped other sex workers to fight for their rights. Sonia appeared in many interviews and podcasts representing the union and talking about sex workers. Sonia is also a member of Dziewuchy London a London-based organization which fights for abortion and reproductive rights of Polish women. Insta : : FB Electric Girl : : YouTube channel

Ally of the Year

Claire Lightley

Claire Lightley is a trainer, policy writer and facilitator of relationships and sex education sessions for adults and young people with learning disabilities. Claire manages her own business, Lightley Consulting, specialising in this work. Claire has been working in this area since 2002 when she started her career as the learning disabilities project manager at FPA (the Family Planning Association) in London.

Claire works with individuals helping them navigate their relationships and ultimately sex lives ensuring their needs and rights are upheld. Claire has co-authored two publications looking and sex, policy, rights and the law for people with learning disabilities. Claire works with organisations including adult care settings to ensure they are supporting their clients rights to have relationships and hospitals to ensure their sexual health services are appropriate for people with learning disabilities.
Claire is a proud member of Supported Loving, an organisation working for the rights of adults with learning disabilities to have relationships, the Sex Education Forum, providing excellent Relationships and Sex Education for schools and SHADA, the Sexual Health and Disability Alliance, promoting the rights of disabled adults to have sex and relationships. Claire runs a Facebook group with Supported Loving – Relationships and People with learning disabilities. Twiter: @clairefanstone

Del Beach-Campbell WINNER!

Del Beach-Campbell currently manages a sexual health clinics at the NHS Sex Work Project CLASH. He is also Groupwork Coordinator at SurvivorsUK who support the male and non-binary survivors of sexual violence. There he runs many groups including those for Trans and Non-binary Survivors, and for those impacted by Chemsex.

Last year he set up his own training and consultancy company called Delversity delivering online workshops to a variety of audiences on subjects ranging from Trans Awareness, The Male Survivors of Sexual Violence, Sex Work, Chemsex and Challenging Homophobia. For more information he can be contacted at delversity@outlook.com

He has over twenty years' experience in the sector developing and delivering services for sex workers and other groups which can be heavily stigmatised. He has previously managed the SWISH for those working in the sex industry project at Terrence Higgins Trust and been the training lead at National Ugly Mugs. More recently he has been working again with Northumbria University assessing the needs of Trans Sex Workers in a project called Transactions and Westminster University for a peer support research project for sex workers. www.delversity.co.uk

Emily Kenway

Emily Kenway is a writer, activist and former policy adviser. Her writing has been published by The Guardian, The Independent, Huffington Post, Times Literary Supplement and more. As a speaker, Emily has appeared on most major news channels.

Her first book, ‘The Truth about Modern Slavery’, breaks down the way that the narrative of modern slavery is used by politicians in order to further reactionary political goals, for example tightening border restrictions and criminalising sex workers. She points out that sex workers’ organisations are often approached by women in trafficking but aren’t in a position to help or support these women because of their own criminalisation. Kenway is clear that you can have robust anti-trafficking laws, creating a system where sex workers have enforceable rights and can act collectively, tackling exploitation in their own industry. www.emilykenway.com

Event of the Year

Cybertease

Cybertease was founded in March 2020 as a direct response to the closure of strip clubs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have since produced over 30 online and live events, providing a platform and income to over 80 international sex workers.

Rooted in the politics of union organisation and committed to de-stigmatising sexual labour, Cybertease is a performance collective that produces provocative and political striptease events.

From pop-up lap dancing clubs and intimate private parties to hedonistic club nights and conceptual performances, Cybertease brings you a delicious blend of dance, art, and erotic entertainment by professional sex workers. Our events aim to both titillate and educate, creating an environment for audiences and performers to celebrate desire and sexuality whilst simultaneously advocating for safer and fairer conditions for sex workers.

Cybertease is socialist, sex-positive, and self-taught. We function as a workers’ co-op, with all proceeds being split equally between organisers and performers. By seizing the means of production, we propose a model for sex work that puts the power and profit back in the hands of the worker. https://www.cybertease.co.uk/

Juice Box Events WINNER!

JuiceBox Events “The Ultimate Empowerment party”. JuiceBox Events is an all Womxn Led LGBTQ+ Striptease Experience. We are an all inclusive platform that introduced the UK’s first stud stripper/dom dancer, providing a platform for masc performers. Our events are centred on sexual liberation, self esteem building & empowerment that celebrates Caribbean/African culture. JuiceBox Events believe that womxn have a right to own and celebrate their sexuality in its entirety. We provide an empowering platform for the under-represented in our community by showcasing Womxn, LGBTQ+ and QTPOC talent who promote body confidence, ownership of sexuality & autonomy over their bodies. JuiceBox has successfully held several sold out shows pre-covid. We were listed in the Top 10 Pride Unmissable events with Eventbrite and were featured in Dazed and Confused Magazine, Autostraddle, Go Mag. We are a Queer WOC Led collective that create a space for Queer WOC to take centre stage. We create a supportive space for Women & LGBTQIA+ to explore & express their sexuality whilst giving focus to Queer WOC’s experiences.

“:… a smoking hot queer women-led striptease night… things will get very steamy, and very sexy – you’ve been warned”. Clare Hand – GoMag

JuiceBoxEvents : : LinkTree : : Insta @juiceboxevents : : Facebook

Vermilion Community’s Morning Social

Vermilion Community (VC), platformed on Facebook, serves over 3600 members from more than 50 countries.. Originally founded by Drew Lawson on the 2018 Winter Solstice, who was joined in 2019 by Emerald May. Since Winter Solstice 2020, it has been run by Emerald and Fennel Waters.

We share a commitment to cultivating connections between sex positive, conscious kink, conscious sexuality and Neo-tantric communities. Our foundations sit on the cornerstones of Authentic Relating, Sexological Bodywork, Somatic Sex Education, and the Wheel of Consent®. Holding accessibility and integrity as core values, VC began running Morning Social free and daily in March 2020 (moving to four days a week in Feb 2022). Morning Social is a daily sharing circle, held by volunteers from our community, where the invitation is to witness and be witnessed, to hold and be held, in whatever processes are arising.

At a time of global disconnection, dissonance, and mistrust, we created and held a container for people to fully express their sovereignty, sexuality, and collective experience. We rose to the truest and fullest definition of community, serving our collective needs for connection, harmony and integrity with self, all in the digital space via Zoom. Morning Social has been a haven for over 400 hundred members of our community.

It is an honour to be recognised as a finalist for Event of the Year at The Sexual Freedom Awards.

Performer of the Year

Eddy WINNER!

Having started escorting in Manchester 3 years ago, Eddy branched out into porn on onlyfans at the start of lockdown, and is currently working as a sex worker full time.

Eddy's videos are a welcome relief from studio porn, bringing an element of reality and aiming to make the viewer feel that they are in his bedroom with him. Outside of sex work he is vocal about trans rights and sexual health, attempting to educate cis people and correct misinformation.

Stereotypes about trans people as either nonsexual or, conversely, a fetishised object, are pervasive. Eddy's work directly combats this stigma: he is open about his sexuality, and proud of his body; and the democratisation of porn through websites such as onlyfans has enabled him to take back control of his fetishised body and use it for his own desires.
Eddy's links and profiles can be found at linktr.ee/edftmxxx

Grace Campbell

Grace Campbell is a riotous force of nature. The stand up comedian, author, and actor, is on a constant, rebellious mission to undermine most of the bullshit we are taught by society. An acclaimed stand-up, and host of the popular comedy night the Disgraceful Club, currently with a residency at Bush Hall, Grace’s comedy is wild, glamorous, fiery, and provocative. The Disgraceful Club is Grace’s iconic comedy club, currently residing at Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush. The Disgraceful Club has a large and loyal audience who flock to see Grace host an unbeatable line up of comedians (all women & LGBTQ+). Grace wanted to start a riotous comedy club which is a safe place for comedians to shamelessly express themselves. disgracecampbell.com

Ivy Maddox

When was legendary punk paramour 'Ivy Maddox' officially born? Thankfully not when she watched The Full Monty aged seven and was inspired to perform a strip tease for her entire (very shocked) family! 11 years later, though, it finally became legal for her to monetise such talents ;-) wink! Just kidding, by then she'd dropped out of uni and needed fast cash for a ski season. But Ivy's passion for performing eye-catching feats of agility with her body was clearly still very much alive - she travelled the world stripping and snowboarding. Since then, she's gone from untamed tearaway to community cornerstone, rebellious spirit always intact. She became a member of United Voices of the World trade union and was soon a democratically elected committee member for its sex worker branch, as well as involved with grassroots sex worker organisations such as East London Strippers Collective, Queer Whore Collective, Kinky London Escorts, Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement, X:talk (crosstalk),Sexquisite Events, Cybertease, and DecrimNOW. Her diverse skills and fierce solidarity for other sex workers has meant her involvement takes many different forms, from life drawing model to writer, producer, performer, fundraiser, comedian, moderator of support groups, campaigner and other political action. Most recently, however, she's jumped 'ass first' into European hardcore porn. She can’t decide whether she's more proud of starring in an upcoming Fake Taxi or performing DAP in her third ever scene - and if that doesn't summarise the radical nature of revolutionary sex worker politics than what else does! www.ivymaddox.vip

Pioneer of the Year

Francine Sharrocks

Francine is the founder of the world’s first Sexual Wellness Platform findmysexpert which features certified sexuality professionals from all backgrounds in The Sex Support Industry. Francine created the platform to showcase the diversity and expertise of professionals within The Sex Support Industry, to not only bring choice to the public but to shine a light on the vastness of services and support that is available within what is an undervalued, misrepresented and often unrecognised industry.

An ever optimist champion for change in 2020 Francine won an 8 week-long battle with Television regulators making findmysexpert the first company to air certified sexuality services on UK Television advertising. During this process contributing to BCAP advertising codes paving the way for more sexuality support businesses to utilise TV advertising in the future.

In 2021 Francine became a Regional Finalist for The Great British Entrepreneur Awards and via a public vote she won a national truck advertising campaign reaching 4 million people… the truck is now live. She was recognised in the top 500 FemTech Personalities by FemTech Analytics, for her leadership and passion in the FemTech arena. Francine is also a certified sexuality professional with over a decade of working within sexual wellness settings including her own private practice. A dedicated stay-at-home mum, she balances the findmysexpert platform around her two preschool children. https://findmysexpert.com

Ria Hope

My name is Ria Hope and I'm a queer sexuality educator, intimacy enthusiast and general cheeky monkey. I started a UK-wide project called The Lahlita Project in 2018 at the age of 22 with a simple vision to create a welcoming, inclusive space for younger people to explore and discuss sexuality. I was inspired to start the project when I realised how lacking a lot of sex-positive spaces when it came to diversity. I didn’t feel comfortable in a lot of these spaces because I didn’t feel like my experience was accounted for.

So when I couldn’t find a space that suited me, I decided to create one! 

Since then, my passion for inclusive sex-education has fuelled me onwards and I have worked hard building a thriving online community where people from all over the world come to talk about sexuality and find peer-support from one another. Here, no question goes unanswered and everyone, at any level, is welcomed as part of the family. 

I’ve led many a juicy workshop across the UK for festival goers to corporate businesses alike on topics ranging from conscious kink, queer dating, embodied sexuality and LGBTQ+ diversity in the workplace. The supportive connections within the sexuality community that I have built over the years have helped me to learn and grow, turning to my elders and peers in times of uncertainty. In turn, I have collaborated with these world-renowned practitioners and professionals, bringing my own unique flare to this rapidly expanding field of work.

I want to create a world where human beings of all kinds can access sexuality education that is decolonised, accessible, and takes into account all the gazillions of ways that our sexuality can be expressed. My approach is rooted in playfulness and curiosity, welcoming in both the light and the dark aspects of who we are and allowing this unity to create healthier relationships, both with ourselves, with one another and with the world we live in. www.thelahlitaproject.co.uk :: FB :: Insta

Irving Olvera WINNER!

Irving Olvera lives at the intersection of sexual expression, innovation and entreprenuership. As the founder of TLMYRS (Tell Me Yours) a safe digital space for sexual beings to connect, explore and create, Irving is on a mission to empower people to shape the future of sexual and gender identies, LGBTQI+ issues, sexual health and safety while having a whole lot of fun along the way. The aim is to normalise conversations about sex and squash stigmas against kinks and fetishes.

Irving’s sexual research, innovation and advocacy has pioneered digital experiences that helped people stay connected during pandemic, like online forums and ‘Burlesque at Home! This brought together over 100 burlesque performers from over 25 countries for online performances, raising awareness of mental health during lockdowns, sexual issues and collecting funds for NGOs, including National Ugly Mugs (UK), Umbrella Lane (UK)), Survivors (UK), Tiresias A.C. (Mexico), Yaaj (México). The innitiative was awarded recognition from the Netherlands Embassy in Mexico and the General Delegate of Québec in Mexico as a promoter of human rights, and for building strategic alliances that provide tools for young activists looking to build a more egalitarian Mexico, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

Facebook : : http://tellmeyours.co.uk

Publicist of the Year

David Stuart WINNER!

David Stuart was a queer activist, lecturer, therapist and addiction specialist, who died in January 2021. Among his achievements, David is credited with developing the concept of chemsex—or the queer and trans culture of sexualized drug use, particularly involving crystal methamphetamine, GHB/GBL, mephedrone, and other so-called “party” drugs.

He published numerous chemsex resources for individuals, clinicians and therapists, including the Chemsex First Aid guide, co-authored with fellow London chemsex harm reductionist Ignacio Labayen De Inza, which included tips on responding to GHB/GBL overdoses and preventing psychosis and dental harms of crystal meth use. He was a globally respected advocate for progressive sexual health strategies and specialised LGBTQ+ approaches to treatment was the leading expert on ‘chemsex’, in which capacity he worked at 56 Dean Street, London for the past 8 years as their Substance Misuse Lead. He authored the novel “A Loud Exhaust” and the book of poetry and essays “Predators, Sex and Politics; Humanity” - both of which are freely available to download from his site https://davidstuart.org : : YouTube channel

Ruby Rare

Ruby Rare (she/they) is a sex educator, author, and public speaker on a mission to get people talking more confidently and inclusively about sex. Her work is influenced by her experiences as a queer, non-monogamous, dual-heritage person.

They began work at Brook, the UK’s leading sexual health charity for young people, and is now a proud ambassador for the charity. In 2020 her debut book Sex Ed: A Guide for Adults was published by Bloomsbury, and in 2022 her podcast docu-series In Touch was released, which explores the ways we connect to sex, relationships, and our bodies with nuance and curiosity. They’ve been featured in the Guardian, Metro, Pink News, Huffington Post, and MTV and have spoken at TedXLondon, Women of the World Festival, and on BBC Woman's Hour. 

They’ve built a sex positive community on Instagram, where they prance around in their pants and rate sexy cartoon characters (I’m looking at you Fox Robin Hood), but also discuss complex topics, like how to talk to transphobic people in your life. They were listed as one of 24 figures making a positive change to social media in Cosmopolitan's 2021 Positivity Index. 

In her spare time, Ruby eats an obscene amount of vegan jelly, watches the powerpuff girls, and collects vintage peignoirs. Insta: @rubyrare Twitter: @_rubyrare Tiktok: @_rubyrare

Stacey Clare

Stacey Clare is a stripper, writer, activist, theatre performer and one of the co-founding members of the East London Stripper’s Collective (ELSC). Stacey is the author of the 2022 book “The Ethical Stripper: Sex, Work and Labour Rights in the Night-tiem Economy”.

She is also one half of the sell-out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Ask A Stripper’, which she performs with her work wife and fellow stripper Gypsy Charms. Stacey travels up and down the country campaigning to support strippers and establish employment rights in the sex industry wherever she goes, as well making several media appearances including Good Morning Britain, and a TedX Talk.

Ethical Stripper TEDx talk

Sex Worker of the Year

Eva Oh WINNER!

Eva Oh has been working in the sex industry since 2012 with experience as a Dominatrix, Escort and Erotic Masseuse. She is the creator of youwillpleaseme.com and she promotes the understanding of sex work through her #teakink series, her award winning Safeword Podcast and live online Q&As, which have received over 390,000 views.

Eva, her work and views have been featured in media that include the Washington Post, WIRED, Rolling Stone, Entrepreneur, Newsweek, VICE, i-D, DAZED and Slutever. And she believes that her visibility in mass media as a sex worker is a vital tool – where being an active participant of the conversation contributes towards public understanding, destigmatisation and the eventual decriminalisation of sex work.

Eva hosts workshops and events to promote the understanding of sex work worldwide; and she has spoken on panels on sexuality at Burning Man USA, Pink Fest Singapore and Wonderfruit Thailand. She has published a guide for her co-workers on her business strategies in English and Japanese, and she supports sex work advocacy by donating all the proceeds received.

An archive dedicated to Eva's work is housed at the Bishopsgate Institute, and she has also been named the face of the 2022 German Fetish Ball.

eva-oh.com Insta @youwillplease_me Twitter @youwillpleaseme

Kady Blue

I have been an independent full service sex worker for 2 years, but first dipped my toe into the scene 9 years ago and have since enjoyed nude modelling through a selection of sites and social medias. A series of unfortunate relationships and college/uni dropouts later, it occurred to me that the sex industry world was the one I felt the most comfortable in.

I'm fairly niche as I don't shave, don't wear make up and have a little extra meat to hold on to. Although I enjoy working one on one with people, I do enjoy seeing couples for threesomes. It's a great way for relationships to explore sexuality together in a comfortable and safe environment where there are no strings or fears of abandonment rocking the boat. I myself am pansexual, and pride myself on not discriminating against any person seeking my services, unless they're particularly unkind people. I aspire to play a more active part in the liberation of sex workers and our allies.

I am open about the work I do, taking a "no shame" stance whenever I meet someone new. The lingering stigma we face every day, I believe, can be abolished more and more through conversation, spreading truth instead of stereotypes about our career. If I can inspire just one person in a group to change their minds about us and forward that idea onto others, I'm happy. Insta : : AdultWork : : LinkTree

Kristina J

Kristina J has been in the sex industry for over 16 years and is committed to combining a mix different elements of sex work. Her passion is to use her front line position to bring forward an awareness of what is possible when we step into learning about some of the big topics such as consent, how to relate to each other and expanding the possibilities of intimacy. She is a creator of safe spaces where encouragement is given to people of all gender identities to step into exploring parts of themselves and discover another layer of human sexual existence and the pleasure that may bring. This is done, with compassion and empathy, achieved by focusing on the needs and desires of the client, whist respecting their boundaries, and giving them the ability to express, how they feel.

Kristina supports empowerment drawing on concepts she practices in her own life. Kristina is skilled in mixing different modalities together into something truly unique stepping away from stereotypes and expanding awareness into encouraging authenticity and personal growth for them that have a desire to grow. She has dedicated herself to lifelong learning around sexuality and loves the opportunities to bring the concepts she learns to her client base to really add value to what she offers. She loves to write and has developed an informative blog that is a real mix of fun, eroticism and learning pieces the intention of her blog is to get her readers thinking and through this thinking develop awareness. https://kristina-j.com

Sadie Martins

Sadie Martins is an SSBBW escort, professional model and entrepreneur exploring the world of adult modelling. Refreshingly open minded and up front with her sex work career Sadie has ignored the prejudice of size to forge her own path, amassing a portfolio of work spanning over a decade of experiences and adventures.

Starting out as an escort, Sadie’s approach to the relationships she builds with ‘her guys’ has evolved from clients to close friends. She says “I realised early on that I was making a real difference in people’s lives; I helped them find a way to deal with life’s difficulties and insecurities. Sex is great but it’s the people I help that bring me the most liberation.”

A regular on the BDSM kink scene with a hard of sight sub to fetish photo shoots helping an abstinent friend rediscover their sex life, Sadie’s smile and giggly passion creates an enabling space for visitors to share and explore their own sexual journey. A mother of two, Sadie’s trail blaze for every day sexual rights and destigmatization of taboos is refreshingly inspirational to a post covid generation in a fast paced and ever changing sexual landscape. sadiemartins.co.uk/sfa IG: @goddesssadiemartins Twitter: @SadieSSBBW

Somatic Sexologist of the Year

Jennifer Surch

Jennifer’s started as a counsellor in her 20s, with a passionate interest for developing new methods of healing. She has spent decades of her life experiencing and learning different modalities and combining these with her path of Tantra.  

Through this profound journey, she realised her calling was to share this with others. Jennifer founded The International Institute of Tantra and later this movement evolved into The Academy Of Modern Tantra (AOMT).

The Academy offers a Professional Tantra Practitioner curriculum holding worldwide recognised accreditations along with running retreats and teacher training. This offers individuals the opportunity to become a facilitator and to facilitate workshops globally. Physical courses, online courses & 121 programs available. The AOMT is a community, supporting one another and striving as a collective towards global healing The Academy Of Modern Tantra.

Students have access to online videos, 230-page professional manual, profile in the global directory, forms & documents they can personalise along with ongoing mentorship and support. During the courses they also have a professional photographer take photos that they can then use for advertising on their websites. The Academy also offers a business module in advertising: building websites & social media advertising. 

KalyM WINNER!

“A naked feeling or quality is not hidden, it is evoked from the depths of our being”. The Naked Room by KalyM is the home of Surrogate Partner Therapy UK, Sex and Intimacy Coaching and Sensual and Erotic Experiences - Education, Therapy & Pleasure.

Kaly is trained and certified in many practices but her expertise and deepest passion lies in sexual surrogacy, probably one of the most cutting edge and effective therapeutic modalities in the realm of sexual development and yet still quite unknown. In her practice Kaly invites 'partners' (as she refers to clients) to co-create their space offering bespoke sessions with a hands-on education, sex coaching and lots of practice to help you feel more alive in your body and present during intimacy.

Kaly works with the intention and commitment to share knowledge and experience in a safe space and non-judgemental container supporting individuals, couples and groups to expand and direct their own erotic development, working through sexual and relational issues or concerns. "Creativity, flexibility, passion, commitment, education, an open mind and lots of fun is what it is all about" - says Kaly with a sweet smile and fire in her eyes. KalyM at The Naked Room is passionate about supporting people making their intimate and sex lives amazing. www.thenakedroom.co.uk

Ness Cooper

Ness Cooper is a sexologist with over 10 years’ experience, who applies both holistic and clinical methods to her practice. As well as working with clients from all backgrounds, she regularly works with companies and the press. Ness is published in serval self-help books, offering a step-by-step guide on love rituals to how to communicate sexual fantasies. Over the past few years, Ness has conducted research into sexual aftercare, and even argues that for some it's an important phase in their sexual response cycle. 

She is a sex and disability advocate, and written a paper on being a disabled Dominatrix, “As a disabled Dominatrix who not only uses a cane to produce satisfying sensations to submissives and clients, I walk daily with a cane in hand to help me move and have access to the world that normally would be more of a struggle.”.

Her goal is to help individuals find their authentic sex lives and navigate the fluidity and changes life has to offer.

When she’s not writing sex and relationship advice or seeing clients for one-on-one sessions, she is out in nature exploring the sensations it offers. She hosts Shirin Yoko sessions for couples helping them explore ecosexuality. www.nesscooper.co.uk : : www.thesexconsultant.com 

Stripper of the Year

Marshall Arkley

International striptease, fire and alternative cabaret performer.

Having started in the sex industry over a decade ago, and dipping his toes into any performance art that appealed, Marshall tried to subvert the expectations that come along with seen a traditional ‘male stripper’.

From TV appearances to performing in front of thousands of people at one of Europe’s largest fetish events, every show is designed to either shock, arouse or amuse - and sometimes it’s a blend of it all.

LinkTree : : Facebook

Sabrina Jade WINNER!

Sabrina Jade has been a sex worker for 6 years from strip clubs to dominatrix meets to babestation on TV and web, bringing pole tricks, splits and flexible flair to strip clubs in the UK, Australia and Norway. They have also achieved multiple pole acclamations from judging positions, regional medals and the Authentics UK professional silver medal.

She strives to aid in reforming the pole industry to be a more inclusive and diverse place and demands respect for strippers and sex workers alike in the pole industry. From panels to recently becoming a judge and consultant on the new pole competition in 2023, Pole Dance Stripper Movement (PDSM), exclusively for strippers.

They have overcome so much in the clubs, with stripping giving her the ability to find their financial security, sexuality, confidence and a pole career. Recently talking about the importance of workers right for strippers in the UK in an interview for Zoellas blog, the basic need for people in the club to have access to things such as sick pay and job security, Sabrina is angry that instead the UK is opting to close strip clubs - putting so many people at risk.

Sabrina is a striptease legend. IG: @sxbrinajade Twitter: @sabrinajadex

Sadiq Ali

Sadiq Ali is a mixed heritage, queer, performance artist from Scotland and Sudan. He works extensively within cabaret, variety, burlesque and striptease circuits combining a joyous love of comedy, body expression, representation and circus. 

Alongside this Sadiq has just premiere’d his first full length work for theatre, The Chosen Haram, to critical acclaim. The Chosen Haram is a show which has enabled Sadiq to explore his experience of sexuality and faith and apply that to the contemporary circus art form. This means that Sadiq has been able to successfully create a queer narrative within a field that seldom see’s such stories on stage. His show takes a focus on the impacts of gay shame, drugs, chemsex and addiction and how these can become barriers in our desire to find sexual freedom, define our identities and ultimately find love. In its first performances Sadiq’s work has been reviewed with 4 stars by The Guardian, The Stage and The Scotsman and he is looking forward to performing the show at Edinburgh Fringe this year before touring it internationally. 

Sadiq has also worked as an avid HIV campaigner on a number of campaigns with organisations like the Terrance Higgins Trust and GMFA after being diagnosed with HIV when he was 24. Sadiq quickly realised that the training and performance world he was becoming a part of was a tool he could use to de-stigmatise issues around HIV and HIV prevention (PrEP) using his body, voice and expression and because of this Sadiq has represented the UK in Malta at Mr Gay World.

Outsiders Volunteer of the Year Award

Eric Phipps – Joint Outsiders Volunteer of the Year

Eric first became involved with the Outsiders Club in 1993 after hearing about it from a friend of his flatmate. The description sounded perfect to him – even the name - Outsiders – seemed very appropriate. He got in touch and was impressed by the package of information he received and signed up as a member. It was at his very first lunch that he met (the incredible force that is) Tuppy Owens.

When the previous host of the London Lunches moved out of the area, Eric was approached to help arrange these. Since he’s attended nearly all the lunches since becoming a member, it seemed only natural that he took up the mantle.

He’s an accomplished musician and composer, starting out on the piano, then moving to the guitar when he started travelling the world.

On his return, a friend suggested he’d enjoy playing for adults with learning disabilities, and he’s been busy doing this in and around London for many years now. He can be found singing and playing guitar to residents - anything from Brazilian music (where he learned to play guitar) to songs of the Beatles, Elvis and Abba. Seen here with Outsiders founder, Tuppy Owens, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

Steve Major – Joint Outsiders Volunteer of the Year

I have been a member of Outsiders since 2007, my first lunch / meeting was in Birmingham, when I could drive I attended many lunches around the country, including London, Ipswich, Bristol and for a time I was a host for Birmingham, I have made some amazing friends, even if hey have taken me back sometimes by what the say, filters don't work on some people, but that is what Outsiders is all about... I have meet someone through Outsiders, this lasted 10 years, we lived together for 8 years or so, however, i have now been single for the past 3, we are still very good friends, we drifted in different directions in the end, I have no regrets and there of course pro's & cons of being in a relationship, It doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you if you are single right now, I'm not an expert in relationships and sometimes i get things wrong, but I do try to assist anyone without prejudice who asks for my advice/opinion, we are all looking for that special person, so a little effort is needed.

I have had my disability/condition from birth Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), I have had various full time employed over the years, however, since October 2012 due to health issues affecting my mobility, I am mainly doing volunteering work a few hours a week, in August 2017 I started volunteering for the RNIB as a ICT and Access Technology Training Volunteer and the local Museum Centre, Photo Archive, Meet & Greet and updating Social Media, I am also the Treasurer for the local Shopmobility... The past 12 months I have become more involved in Outsiders and am now an admin on the Facebook Page and various chatrooms, on top of that I have ongoing personal and professional Website projects and Graphic Design hobby!!

In a previous life, I have experience in Person Centred Counselling (13-24yrs of age), Admin & Book-keeper, Bingo Caller, and Computer Programmer & Disability Access researcher. So despite my restrictions and due to the education system lacking until the mid 80's I left school with no qualifications, having been told I cant take my 11+ because it involved too much hand writing, as I say a little effort can work wonders!! www.dandydandesigns.co.uk : : Arthrogryposis | General Information

Lifetime Achievement Award

These are discretionary awards given by the Judging Panel for long-standing dedication to sexual freedom, exploration and expression.

50th anniversary of the first U.K. Gay Pride March in 1972

To be collected by Andrew Lumsden and Nettie Pollard for the GLF

2019 marked 50 years since the U.S. Stonewall Uprising, which inspired the formation of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) in London in 1970. The GLF organised the under-21s GLF youth demo in 1971 and the first Gay Pride March the following year in 1972; a radical, grassroots organisation and a confrontation to and against official authorities. “If you were queer it was for you”.

This moment in 1972 changed everything in Britain by giving us Coming Out, Gay Pride and the first Gay Pride March making 2022 the 50th anniversary of that political demonstration and celebration.

Nettie Pollard is an activist with the GLF activist, the anarchist Lesbian and Gay Freedom Movement and founding member of Feminists Against Censorship. Andrew Lumsden, a gay man who took part in the GLF in the 1970s, shares this: "Come out, come out, we said! 50 years ago. We wore Gay Lib badges and pink triangles in city centres and on public transport and in the streets, honouring the memory of those who died between 1938-1945 in the gas chambers of the Nazis. We said fuck gender stereotypes. Our large weekly meetings organised the very first public protest by lesbians, gay men, trans people and bi's against police brutality, and and our Youth Group organised the first Pride March on Saturday 1 July 1972. It was a privilege to take part in those years.

“Millennials, activists from Act Up, celebrated the achievements of GLF in 2015, and we all came together in 2017 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 2017. We're now preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Gay Pride in Britain inspired by the Stonewall Uprisings, the origin of the fight back that inspired and brought hope to LGBTQI+ of every country in the world. Gay Liberation doesn't support any one political party but is a socialist movement to the core, a creation of working people.” Gay Liberation Front short video : : These Are the Radical Roots of British Gay Pride

Previous Lifetime Achievement awardees have included:

Derek Jarman – Anthony Grey (leading English lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights activist) – Deborah Ryder (writer of erotic fiction representing female masochism) – Kathy Acker (author) – Berth Milton (photographer & founder of Private in 1965) – Charles Gatewood (photographer) – Betty Dodson (author, artist & educator) – William Levy (founder of Suck & International Times) – Irena Ionesco (photographer) – Derek Cohen (founder of SM Gays in 1981) – Jo King (founder of the London School of Stripping) – Sir Guy of The Tawsingham Community and The Other Pony Club – William Margold (porn actor, director and activist) – Dian Hanson (publisher) – Dolores French (author of Working: My Life as a Prostitute) – Empress Stah (Aerial Artist, Cabaret Theatre Performer, Show Producer) – Barbara Carrellas (author of the the world’s first LGBTQ and kink inclusive Tantric sex book, Urban Tantra) – Joseph Kramer (pioneering founder of The Body Electric School, EroSpirit & Sexological Bodywork) – Kenneth Ray Stubbs (quadriplegic sexual shaman & originator of modern tantric massage)  – Crossbones (John Constable) – Dominic Davies (Pink Therapy)