K!nk @ Reed: A Brief History & New Initiative
Whether you are a new or returning student at Reed College, chances are you know one thing for sure about the campus culture and surrounding Portland culture: we’re here, we’re queer, we’re freaky, and we’re proud of it. Portland is a gay and counter-cultural hub city, and with that comes a robust network of spaces and communities around BDSM and kink practices, sexual and otherwise. Reed culture and traditions–from lying nude on the Great Lawn to HVMPLAY’s rampantly sexual reinterpretations of both history and the freshman experience–often reinforce sex-positivity and the expression that comes with it. Resources from the school, such as SHARE and the HCC, provide students with free and accessible supplies for safer sex, as well as confidential spaces to discuss their experiences if needed.
Despite this combination of forces on and off campus, the presence of kink at Reed is surprisingly limited. Reed’s Kink Kollective, also previously called Fetish Club, was last recorded as active in 2021, and has since fallen silent. Some recollections describe a more robust presence prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but little infrastructure has been left behind by any of these groups, nor by FetishBall, a supposedly related celebration in the Student Union mentioned as early as 2004 as late as 2017 in a Grail article by Jessie Wilson,which can be found online. Kink at Reed appears to have receded to the private practices of Reedies, leaving the community without concrete spaces to learn proper safety and negotiation, or even identify who to ask for advice.
Some student organizations on campus serve related functions, such as the Safer Sex Society’s workshops on anatomy and destigmatizing pleasure, or Joyous Whimsy club’s naked confrontation with Community Safety as part of last year’s Owl Fight, but suffice it to say that there is currently no true organization or single force behind kink at Reed. This year Reedies are hoping to change this and establish a support network, community accountability, and a space to learn for Reed students with an interest in kink or BDSM practices.
The network would not be just a dating or hookup service, and not affiliated with Reed administration like the services provided by SHARE; instead, it would be a way for students to connect with and support each other as they explore and grow together, and, hopefully, have a little bit of fun. The network would include community bonding through game nights or other casual meetings, classes/workshops to learn new skills and safety measures, particularly for entry-level activities such as bondage or impact play, and negotiation strategies to help people prepare for practice on their own. Activities would culminate with things like the return of FetishBall or a similar event, or a kink tent at Renn Fayre.
No events are planned yet for the start of the year, but those with an interest should feel free to reach out to acelackey@reed.edu, and can be connected with fellow students interested in planning.