BDSM/Pride questions

1.) What does Pride Month mean to you within the context of the kink community?

2.) How can we make online kink platforms more inclusive for marginalized sexualities?

3.) Have you ever customized your kink gear (collars, floggers, paddles) to feature Pride colors?

4.) If you could design a new Pride flag specifically for your personal kink dynamic, what would it look like?

5.) What is your favorite non-gendered title for a Dominant or a submissive?

~~ More to come!
~~~ GA <3

My real question is what does the LGBTQ+ vanillas think of the kink lifestyle in particular. Would they approve of Pride related kink activities/merchandise or would they see it as a "corporate" grab as businesses do this time of year.

My time in the lifestyle helped me unlearn many, many bad things I was then sure of about LGBTQ+ people. I was really lucky to find out how wrong I was and make amends to those I had wronged on the subject. If there is a market for Pride Kink merchandise, then go for it.

First and foremost, I applaud you for taking the time to unlearn those things and to make amends.

As far as what those who are Vanilla think of the lifestyle, society makes BDSM/Kink out to be a bad horrible thing overall however I have come across vanilla people who do not think horribly about the lifestyle but just do not think it is for them.

In many communities such as the city I live in, there is enough pushback from both militant anti-GLBT activists, and even local authorities, that even holding a relatively tame, "Vanilla" Pride festival or event is fraught with all kinds of obstacles. I would suspect that adding any kind of kink-themed events, merch, or tables would not go over well. They are really trying here to make these events as family friendly and "G-rated" as possible, which naturally tends to exclude the more "Alternative" and/or racy sexual themes.
Keep in mind that our state legislature has made it an actual crime for any non-private entity to fly a pride flag of any kind; that is the mindset here. Obviously I find this...troubling. I do all I can to support the GLBT community, but as for kink? That is much harder.

1.) What does Pride Month mean to you within the context of the kink community?
Truthfully all it means to me in the context of the kink community that I'm glad those who are LGBTQ+ can celebrate it. I am an ally, but I am not part of the community myself, just an ally.

2.) How can we make online kink platforms more inclusive for marginalized sexualities?
As I haven't designed a community before, I am unsure. I suppose one would start by asking those marginalized if they feel included and if not, what barriers exist.

3.) Have you ever customized your kink gear (collars, floggers, paddles) to feature Pride colors?
No. I do have a tshirt for this year's Pride festival in my town that says Ally Cat on it though.

4.) If you could design a new Pride flag specifically for your personal kink dynamic, what would it look like?
Yeah, again, I'm straight and cis so I don't think I fit in to this. I don't see kink as an extension of LGBTQ, but instead as its own thing. Like who you are partnered with is visible to your neighborhood and community, so obviously one needs to fight for the rights there. But I feel like kink is probably best kept private because truthfully, kids don't need to know about bdsm, you know? They do need to know and understand that Bobby has two moms or something though or the kid they knew as Tracy is now Trevor. I think Pride today is family friendly (I realize Stonewall wasn't, but it has become something more you know?) and that's important. Being family friendly helps people gain acceptance. Kink is not family friendly and truthfully as people talk about, making kink too visible is bringing people in without their consent. Subtle things (like my bracelet collar is that is my avatar right now) are awesome, but people don't know it's not just a bracelet if I don't tell them. I honestly feel like it's safest for the kink community to keep themselves private-- and yes, we should fight for the right for things like dungeons to exist, but generally the safe ones do major vetting and stuff so strangers can't just enter. Privacy in kink keeps us all safer-- Pride on the other hand is about being OUT and being safe. It's different.

5.) What is your favorite non-gendered title for a Dominant or a submissive?
Hmm. I mean for subs I suppose little one, subby, kitten, bunny, puppy all could be gender neutral. Not sure of for a Dom except perhaps Dom itself. Yes we often feminize it with Domme but I've also seen feminine dominants call themselves Dom and I at least pronounce both the same way.