About us

About the Center
History of the Center
Founder Biographies
FAQs about the Center

Founded in 1999, the Center for Sex Positive Culture is a nonprofit, membership-based community center. The Center was a one-of-a-kind organization 10 years ago, and remains unique given its nonprofit status and community center architecture.

It was established in a bold attempt to create an environment that was accommodating to sex positive communities and transformative in all areas of human sexuality, and has succeeded in creating that environment.

Mission and Sex Positive Vision

Our mission is to inspire and assist volunteers to produce experiential events where members can explore their sexual interests in a physically and emotionally safe environment.

As proponents of sex positive culture, we believe that the appropriate uses of sex extend beyond reproduction. They include creating personal pleasure, bonding interpersonal relationships, promoting spiritual growth, and enhancing emotional and physical health. In a sex positive world, everyone has the freedom and resources to pursue a fulfilling and empowering sex life.

Framework

We have developed a framework to ensure a safe and supportive community center by requiring all new members to attend an orientation and providing them with clear facility rules and event rules, guides to appropriate conduct and etiquette, safer sex and cleanliness guidelines, and a privacy and confidentiality agreement.

We are a leader in the sex positive culture, creating norms of inclusion and non-discrimination, and serving as a model for other organizations launching centers around the country. Sex positive groups like the Sharma Center and Love Tribe in Portland were inspired by it.

Offerings, Activities and Outreach

We offer more than 100 events monthly, daily events including themed dance parties, daytime playtime space, and special events like New Year's Eve. We host offsite events like Paradise Unbound and the Seattle Erotic Art Festival, founded in 2002, which is now run by our sister nonprofit, the Foundation for Sex Positive Culture.

We collaborate with the Foundation, hosting workshops, discussion and support groups, and other Foundation events, and also house the Foundation's Pacific Northwest Library for Sex Positive Culture. We both actively participate in national conferences focusing on various topics on sexuality and related to sex positive organizations like Pride and GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender). In addition, we both participate in Seattle festivals like the Capitol Hill Block Party and Pride, host regular forums at local colleges and universities, and participate in radio talk shows.

Structure and Leadership

As a Washington State nonprofit 501(c)(7), our conduct is guided by a board of directors who are seated for three-year terms. Board members are vetted through a nominations committee and voted into office by the Foundation Board of Directors. We follow a corporate structure, with a full-time executive director, part-time site coordinator, and executive officers including a president, secretary and treasurer, each serving one year terms.

Volunteering

We are a grassroots effort and with a few exceptions are run primarily on volunteer effort. Many volunteer opportunities are available. We offer volunteers free entry to events at which they are working and other perks depending on the type of work and time spent, and volunteers gain valuable experience that can be applied in the greater community.

Membership

As of July 2009, more than 11,500 people have joined. Membership is required to attend most of our events. We offer different levels of membership with varying costs and benefits. In order to support all groups and interests, we encourage members to suggest and organize events, and new ideas are always welcome, particularly now that we have expanded to over 10,000 square feet and programming is increasing by 30 percent.

Seattle is a national leader in supporting all areas of sexuality. Through the 1980s, the leather community laid the groundwork for other sex positive groups to seek a space here. However, despite Seattle's sexually progressive spirit, there has generally been a lack of space for non-mainstream lifestyles.

In the mid 1990s, Allena Gabosch, Executive Director of the Center, was a co-owner of Beyond the Edge Cafe, providing a modest space for parties and workshops. The Cafe closed its doors in 1999, creating a void in the community. A town hall meeting was called, during which two of the organization's founders, Russell B. and Michael Gilbert, began passing notes, and the idea of the Center for Sex Positive Culture was born.

The core tenets of the Center were to be a nonprofit, since the goals of the Center are not primarily financial; to be a community center, because there is more to the culture than just play; and to focus on sex positive culture at large, to have a further reaching impact. They remain the same today.

As proponents of sex positive culture, the Center believes that the appropriate uses of sex extend beyond reproduction. They include creating personal pleasure, bonding intimate relationships, promoting spiritual growth, and enhancing emotional and physical health. In a sex positive world, everyone has the freedom and resources to pursue a fulfilling and empowering sex life.

Founding president Michael Gilbert commented on the clear, "tremendous community energy building for some time. We saw that something could happen and felt tired of people being taught to be ashamed of their bodies and sexualities."

The original founders - Russell B., Michael Gilbert, Jim Duvall, Jane Duvall, Laurie Miller, Sol Michaels and Allena Gabosch - initially envisioned a weekend party place. Jim Duvall explained, "we felt we were going to attract other clubs to use the space as a rental space, more like a kinky hotel ballroom" and were "surprised that most events came through the membership and were put on by us."

Russell B. suggested a large, community center space for more than just play: now workshops, social events and more are offered. In May 2000, early board member Russell Harmon took on Thursday nights with special programming including dance and club-like music, and now, 10 years later, the Center hosts events every day of the week, and more than 100 social, support and educational events each month.

At first, "we were just a bunch of people fumbling in the dark, doing something completely unheard of," Allena explained. Now, "we're a leader. We've been one of the few places out front in the sex positive movement, setting an example for others to make centers, have conversations, and spread the sex positive message in and outside of Seattle."

Allena believes we are in the midst of a "sex positive renaissance" as the world is shifting and seeing how different orientations, genders and sexualities can all co-exist. The Center is one of the leaders in this renaissance.

The Center inspires and assists its volunteers to produce experiential events where members can explore their sexual interests in a physically and emotionally safe environment. To better advance sex positive culture, the Center evolved into two organizations in 2007.

The Foundation for Sex Positive Culture promotes the many ways sex is beneficial through education, outreach, the arts, advocacy, and research programs that serve the public. It provides social and support group meetings, averages more than 16 workshops per month and offers extensive informational resources and research opportunities. Its Pacific Northwest Library for Sex Positive Culture has a broad collection of over 6,000 pieces - many rare and unusual - and is one of the largest of its kind. As a 501(c)(3), the Foundation is eligible for tax benefits, matching contributions and grant funding, and donations may be tax deductible.

Growth continued with the addition of the Annex space in 2008, and with an expansion to over 10,000 square feet of additional space July 1, 2009. With more space, the Center increases programming and outreach to different groups. Membership is over 11,500, and June 5, 2009 was the landmark 10th anniversary.

The Center was a one-of-a-kind organization 10 years ago, and remains unique given its nonprofit status and community center architecture. "I'm in awe," says Allena, "We're bigger, better, bolder and brassier!"

From its beginnings as a dirty, cement-floored room with only one working bathroom affectionately know as "the throne", the Center has come a long way. Perhaps the greatest marker of the Center's success is the now internationally recognized Seattle Erotic Art Festival, founded in 2002 to promote freedom of sexuality, speech and creativity through the erotic expression of fine art. Through the Festival, now managed by the Foundation, the Center is able to reach beyond its typical community to the general public and world.

Goals for the next ten years include continuing outreach in Seattle, nationally and eventually internationally. The Center and Foundation will become more of an educational force. The founders envision hosting an international sex positive conference and discuss the inevitability of similar centers spreading across the nation. The Center serves as a model and has incredible potential to change a culture and propel the sex positive renaissance forward.

Russell B.

Over 1998-1999, Russell B. met the future founders of the Center for Sex Positive Culture. At Beyond the Edge Cafe on January 8, 1999, it was his note passing with Michael Gilbert that gave rise to the idea.

In his years at the Center, Russell managed the organization's web site and wrote the first volunteer training manual, annual report and member newsletter. He arranged insurance, credit card billing, federal tax-exempt status, and accounts payable/receivable; wrote out minutes and bylaws; managed bookkeeping; secured local and state licenses; and filed the first federal tax return. During his time on the board of directors, he served in each position including board president.

But perhaps most importantly, he relentlessly argued for a broader vision: that the organization's unifying theme could be sex-positivity as a whole. Russell describes his time at the Center as, "frankly, the best time of my life".

Russell became active in Seattle's sex positive culture in the 1990s. In 1995 he founded the Society for Human Sexuality at the University of Washington as well as sexuality.org, which he continues to manage.

Russell earned an engineering PhD from the University of Washington in 1998, and in 2008 enrolled in its law school. He is a licensed massage practitioner, and until beginning law school, held a day job in the computer industry. Russell has also hiked all the way around Mount Rainier and ridden a bicycle across the United States.

Russell can be reached at shs@sexuality.org and his personal journal can be viewed at http://russellb.livejournal.com.

Jim Duvall

Jim Duvall is one of the initial founders of the Center for Sex Positive Culture. He served as president of the board of directors and founded the Seattle Erotic Art Festival.

As a sexuality activist, Jim has volunteered for many organizations over the years. He is a past president and board member of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom.

Jim began his career as an erotic photographer in the early days of the World Wide Web, taking pictures for phone sex workers. He shoots fine art nudes, often involving bondage and fetish themes. He began janesguide.com with his former partner Jane Duvall. He has also shot images for several other web endeavors, among them bondage.com. His art has been shown at the Seattle Erotic Art Festival and many other erotic art festivals around North America. He also shoots images for The Betty Pages, an LGBT magazine serving Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Jim also teaches on a variety of topics, from erotic photography to rope bondage, at events and for groups all over North America. His teaching style ranges from hands on technique classes, to demonstrations, to entire class hypnosis or guided meditation. He has taught at national events such as Shibaricon, Sinsations in Leather, Kinky Kollege and South Plains Leatherfest, as well as numerous local workshops in the Pacific Northwest.

Currently, Jim works as a fine art photographer and also manages the Little Red Bistro in the Little Red Studio art complex in Seattle. He can often be seen performing at the Little Red Studio events and shows and bartending in the bistro bar.

Jim can be reached at jim@jimduvall.com.

Allena Gabosch

Allena Gabosch has served as Executive Director of the Center for Sex Positive Culture since its founding in 1999. She has been active in the sex positive movement practically from its beginning, and says she's "busy creating sex positive culture on a daily basis!"

Allena has been producing educational and social events for the sex positive community since 1990. She co-owned and ran Beyond the Edge Cafe in the mid-1990s, providing a modest space for parties and workshops, until they closed their doors in 1999. It was then that Jim Duvall approached her with the idea of the Center and asked her to be its Executive Director.

She is a frequent speaker on many sex positive subjects at colleges and conferences around the United States and Canada, with an emphasis on BDSM and polyamory. In addition, she is the Festival Producer for the Seattle Erotic Art Festival. She is a past board member of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. In the Spring of 2008, Allena was appointed to the Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities.

Allena is a bisexual, poly switch and considers herself extremely blessed as she has a rich and full poly life, with many amazing and loving people in her "polycule". In her less than mundane non-kinky life, she is active in Landmark Education, loves theater, good food, walking around Seattle and hopes to run for Seattle City Council in a few years.

Allena can be reached at director@sexpositiveculture.org.

Michael Gilbert

Michael Gilbert was the founding president of the Center for Sex Positive Culture. With Russell B., he conceived of the original idea for the organization - a community nonprofit rather than a private enterprise - and recruited the original leadership team.

Michael set and managed the leadership's agenda throughout the organization's formative months and years. He led the board of directors through the recruitment and hiring of Allena Gabosch, the implementation of a successful fundraising and bootstrapping startup period, and the lease and development of a suitable property.

Most importantly, Michael developed and secured leadership and community support for a grand vision: to make the Center not a small club for a few hundred friends, but rather a large scale agent of cultural transformation with thousands of members. The results of that vision are with us today.

Michael began advocating for sexual minorities in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s, he started safer sex education programs at conferences. In the early 1990s, he started and nurtured several community building and educational programs for sex positive culture. Over the years, Michael has spoken at scores of conferences and taught many workshops.

Michael is a social entrepreneur who has founded dozens of projects and organizations over the years, served on more than two score boards of directors, and consulted or trained thousands of different civil society organizations. He builds communities of practice around visions of social change and social service.

Michael can be reached at michael@sexpositiveculture.org.

Russell Harmon

The initial founders of the Center for Sex Positive Culture approached Russell Harmon to sit in on early board meetings and help create a weekly dance event based on his involvement with the Seattle fetish club scene. Grind launched in May 2000, the Center's first weekday event. This Thursday night gothic/industrial dance party quickly became and remains the Center's most popular event.

Also in May 2000, Russell formally joined the board of directors, where he remained active until 2007. He served as president for a year, treasurer for a year, and also on numerous committees and special event teams. He continues to take an active role with Grind, helping DJ and run the event.

Russell has been involved in the Seattle leather scene since 1993. He is one of the meanies from Two Big Meanies, an altporn BDSM site focusing on fun, connected and kinetic play. He has also taught various BDSM and sexuality workshops since 1999.

Outside of his sex positive efforts, he works doing freelance sysadmin and web development, and plays with rock climbing, airsoft, bodybuilding and motorcycles.

Originally from Maine, Russell moved to Seattle in 1991 and settled in. He identifies as a bisexual switch, who loves learning and passing along his knowledge at every opportunity.

Russell can be reached at russell@twobigmeanies.com.

What is sex positive culture?

• As a proponent of sex positive culture, the Center believes that the appropriate uses of sex extend beyond reproduction. They include creating personal pleasure, bonding interpersonal relationships, promoting spiritual growth, and enhancing emotional and physical health.

• In a sex positive world, everyone has the freedom and resources to pursue a fulfilling and empowering sex life.

What is the Center for Sex Positive Culture?

• Founded in 1999, the Center is a nonprofit, membership-based community center.

• The Center is a grassroots effort created by and for those who consider themselves sex positive, and with a few exceptions, is run exclusively on volunteer effort.

• Members suggest and organize events, and the community feeds its own culture and supports itself.

Why join the Center?

• Most events at the Center are for members and their guests only, so membership allows you to attend our parties.

• Members receive a variety of benefits, including access to our library; use of CenterSpace, our private, social networking site; and discounts at a variety of businesses.
  

• By joining, members generate revenue for the Center and support its mission to inspire and assist its volunteers to produce experiential events where members can explore their sexual interests in a physically and emotionally safe environment.

What is offered by the Center?

• All activities and events are outlined on the Events Calendar.

• The Center offers more than 100 events monthly, including themed dance parties, daytime playtime space, and special events like New Year's Eve. There's something for everyone.

• It hosts educational events by the Foundation for Sex Positive Culture, including social and support groups and an average of more than 10 workshops per month. Foundation events are open to anyone 18+ (you don't need to be a member to attend). To view just these events, visit the Foundation's event calendar.
  

• It houses the Pacific Northwest Library for Sex Positive Culture, which has a broad collection of over 6,000 pieces - many rare and unusual - and is one of the largest of its kind.

Who is able to join?

• The Center encourages diversity and tolerance, offering membership regardless of gender, orientation, play style, race, religion or political persuasion.

• Members are at least 18 years of age.

• Learn more about joining us, including opportunities to learn more about the Center before joining.

How do you become a member?

• Potential members attend a mandatory orientation, Intro to Sex Positive Culture, offered regularly through the month.
  

• Orientations are generally held every Thursday at 7:00 p.m., every Saturday at 6:30 p.m., every first Wednesday at 6:30 PM, and every second and fourth Friday at 7:30 p.m. Please check our Events Calendar to verify dates, as orientations are changed or canceled from time to time.

What are membership benefits and costs?

• The Center offers various levels of membership, from basic Friend memberships for $55 to premium Lifetime Lovers memberships for $15,000. The costs and benefits of these different memberships are explained in detail under Join.
  

• View the guest policy for guests of basic members.

• Visit our members page to learn more about member benefits, resources and more.

What are the demographics of the current membership?

• Because the Center works to support all sex positive communities, members are of all ages (18+), abilities, races, genders, shapes, sizes, orientations and interests.

• The community is wide and varied, including:

• GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer)

• Youth (members between 18-35 years old)

• Writers and artists

• Support groups addressing sexually transmitted infections and disabilities

• Lifestyle forums for members in relationship dynamics like Slave-Master, Domme-Submissive and polyamorous

Why volunteer?

• With a few exceptions, the Center is run exclusively on volunteer effort. It is because of volunteers that the Center is able to support its members and grow.

• There are a variety of available volunteer opportunities listed online.

• In appreciation of their time, the Center offers volunteers free entry to events at which they are working, and other perks depending on the type of volunteering and amount of time spent.

Why donate?

• If you are not interested in joining the Center, you can still support its goals and mission by donating online. A gift of $25 is suggested, but any amount helps.

• Donations help the Center continue investing in its facilities, outreach, and programming, to meet the growing needs of its membership.

What privacy/security measures are there?

• The Center has developed a framework to ensure a safe and supportive community center, by requiring all new members to attend an orientation providing them with clear facility rules and event rules, guides to appropriate conduct and etiquette, safer sex and cleanliness guidelines, and a privacy and confidentiality agreement. A release form is signed.

• The Center does not tolerate phobic, biased remarks and attitudes, and fights sexual discrimination.

• On-duty volunteers serve as helpers and supervisors.
  

If you have any further questions, please write info@sexpositiveculture.org.