Feminist Porn Awards return to Toronto

I understand “Awards,” of course, but the words “Feminists” and “Porn” are rarely seen in the same sentence unless there’s a “sure do hate” between them.

Yet there are plenty of movies and performers you’ve seen on this very site (“The Crash Pad” series, Lorelei Lee, Dylan Ryan, Jiz Lee, Courtney Trouble, “Honey Bunny,” Jamye Waxman, April Flores, Madison Young, “Speakeasy,” Buck Angel) that are the darlings of the glittering and diverse feminist-identifying adult community, and many will gather in April for the fifth annual Feminist Porn Awards and screening, sponsored by Toronto’s Good for Her(.com) sex shoppe.

April Flores and Jamye Waxman are probably the longest-haired of all the nominees, which include more than 50 films, people, products, and websites (including the menstrualicious OnMyPeriod.com), and the two-day event, starting with a screening on April 8 and the awards ceremony the next night, will wind its way from a cinema to a church in the trendy neighborhoods of Mirvish Village and Moss Park.

I spoke with Alison Lee, manager of Good for Her:

Gram Ponante: What does the Feminist Porn Awards say about today’s feminist and what do these awards say to the porn-averse feminists of the past, who would dismiss ALL porn as bad?

Alison Lee: I think the very existence of the Feminist Porn Awards shows that there are feminists who embrace sexual expression, and the multitudes of ways that that happens, from watching, buying, performing in or directing porn, to being able to talk openly with their partners about safer sex, to participating in sex-positive culture by attending events like the Feminist Porn Awards.  I think the awards show that there is no such thing as an “average” feminist – feminists are diverse people, some of them like porn and like making porn and throw big parties to celebrate that fact. Others don’t.  We can all still be feminists and have different points of view.

The Feminist Porn Awards also show feminists who would write off all porn as exploitation that it’s not just images of sex that are inherently demeaning – it’s bad working conditions and crappy porn whose only purpose is to show women as objects to be used that is bad news.  Porn can be raunchy and rough, it can be tender and sweet, and no matter what, can show women in control of their desires, and it doesn’t mean that anybody in the equation – the performers, the viewers, the directors – are exploiting anyone.  Porn can be awesome, and we just want to encourage people to think about the porn that they are consuming and how they are making it.

GP: Tell us about past FPA award ceremonies, especially as compared with the AVN Awards.

Lee: Tristan Taormino once called the Feminist Porn Awards as “The Independent Spirit Awards of the porn world”, and I think that is an apt description, especially if we consider the AVN Awards as “The Oscars of Porn”.  Awards shows are awards shows no matter who or what they are celebrating, but what’s really awesome about the Feminist Porn Awards is that everybody is really rooting for everybody – it’s open to the public, and the audience gets really really excited no matter who wins or what category because all of it is just really exciting. Porn! Feminism!  Porn on a big screen in public!  WOW!  We pride ourselves on creating a really inclusive atmosphere that is celebrating that this event even exists.  Also, people tend to win a lot of sex toys which really puts them in a peppy mood.

Last year, Madison Young accepted her award for Indie Porn Pioneer by groping the trophy boys and then sitting on the stage with her legs very very wide and she forgot to put her panties on.  Also, as Syd Blakovich accepted the trophy for Movie of the Year for Champion, she got rimmed by Jiz Lee and Madison Young ate her pussy.  I betcha THAT didn’t happen at the AVNs.

Also, The AVNs cost somewhere around 1 million dollars to attend, and the Feminist Porn Awards costs $15 (if you purchase your tickets in advance, otherwise it is a whopping $20 at the door).

GP: Did you ever meet Gordon Lightfoot???

Lee: Sadly, no. I did once meet Anne Murray though.  In a lesbian diner.

I have never before heard of such a thing as a lesbian diner, but am delighted Anne Murray would get her back-bacon at one. Fun fact about Toronto: What we call a vulva they refer to as a Vaj”eh”j”eh.” I believe that is an Ojibwe word.

Previously on Porn Valley Observed: Review of “The Vagina Monologues”; Theoretical milves; Larry Flynt – the right to be left alone; Trouble with a capital T; “Crash Pad 5“; L.A. Art world stunned by whimsy, porn, lack of stabbings; “The Thin Line Between Art And Sex” is not the taint
See also: Feminist Porn Awards