Ivy League Goes BDSM

Charley Ferrer (center) heads a BDSM Panel at Yale University
Photo by Vivienne Jiao Zhang from Yale Daily News.

While perusing the news for articles of interest today, I came across a  fascinating read from the august institution of the Yale Daily News, where I learned that sexologist Charley Ferrer was recently joined by two representatives of the NCSF (National Coalition for Sexual Freedom) for a panel discussion at Yale University on issues relating to BDSM.

The topics touched upon wouldn't be earth shattering for anyone who already reads this blog, nothing really for our readers to learn.  But, it was basic good information about BDSM practitioners and the BDSM community, and it was being shared on an Ivy League Campus.

Once, close to two decades ago, a much younger version of myself postulated in a conversation with a still younger version of my fiend Cherub, that I felt as though the BDSM community was about 20 or 25 years behind the gay and lesbian community in our struggle for acceptance.

I don't know if there's still a gap or not, I'd guess that there is, but I can't say for sure.  My existence for the last few years (because of responsibilities as a caregiver) has been an insular one.


I do find it a heartening story, with quotes like the following:

1. BDSM is about “comfort with your own body.” 
2. That people are “all kinky in some way.”
3. BDSM can be part of a healthy relationship.
4. Exploring BDSM can help people become more open to alternative types of sexuality and sex practices.
5. The importance of practicing BDSM safely and maximizing communication between participants.

It's all good news apparently, and it sounds like it'd be much more exciting than the discussions I remember attending in my college days about dusty old works by Edwin Hubble and J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Perhaps we'll even see a day when there's a return of the English Cane to the classroom (excuse me - I've got canes and caning on my mind right now!)  Rather than the professor using a wicked cane on a student for punishment, the role would be reversed, solely for demonstration purpose, of course . . .