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Tristan Taormino

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Tristan Taormino
Tristan Taormino at the 2013 CineKink awards
Tristan Taormino in 2013
Born (1971-05-09) May 9, 1971 (age 53)
Syosset, New York
Occupation
  • Author
  • columnist
  • sex educator
  • activist
  • editor
  • speaker
  • radio host
  • television host
  • pornographic film director
  • pornographic actress
NationalityAmerican
Literary movementSex-positive feminism
Website
www.tristantaormino.com

Tristan Taormino (born May 9, 1971)[1] is an American feminist author, columnist, sex educator, activist, editor, speaker, radio host, and pornographic film director. She is most recently known for her book Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships, which is often recommended as a starter guide to polyamory and non-monogamy.[2][3]

Early life

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Taormino is the only child of Judith Bennett Pynchon and William J. Taormino. On her mother's side of the family, Taormino is a descendant of William Pynchon, an early English-American settler. She is also the niece of author Thomas Pynchon.[4] Her parents divorced before she turned two years old. She was raised primarily by her mother on Long Island. She maintained a close relationship with her father Bill Taormino, who died of AIDS in 1995. Taormino attended Sayville High School on Long Island and was salutatorian of her graduating class. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University in 1993.[5]

Career

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Books

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Taormino is the author of eight books, including the Firecracker Alternative Book Award-winning The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women.[6]

She has edited anthologies including the Lambda Literary Award-winning annual anthology series she created and edited from 1996 to 2009, Best Lesbian Erotica, published by Cleis Press.

She was a regular columnist for The Village Voice from 1999 to 2008, where she wrote the bi-weekly sex column "Pucker Up."[7] In print, her column appeared opposite Dan Savage's column Savage Love. She popularized and re-defined the term "queer heterosexual," in her 1995 column "The Queer Heterosexual." She wrote: "In some cases, it's based on either one or both partners having non-traditional gender expressions...or they actively work against their assigned gender roles. Some queer heterosexuals are strongly aligned with queer community, culture, politics, and activism but happen to love and lust after people of a different gender. I also consider folks who embrace alternative models of sexuality and relationships (polyamory, non-monogamy, BDSM, cross-dressing) to be queer, since labeling them "straight," considering their lifestyle choices, seems inappropriate."[8] She was laid off from The Village Voice in 2008.[9] She has written "The Anal Advisor" column for Hustler's Taboo magazine since 1999, and she is a former columnist for Velvetpark. She is the former editor of On Our Backs, the US's oldest lesbian-produced lesbian sex magazine.

Lectures and controversy

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Taormino has lectured at many colleges and universities, where she speaks on gay and lesbian issues, sexuality and gender, and feminism.[10] Some of her college appearances have stirred controversy, as at University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2004,[11] Princeton,[12] and, most famously, Oregon State University in 2011, where administrators un-invited her as keynote speaker at the Modern Sex Conference.[13] There was a huge uproar on the internet, and many accused OSU of anti-sex bias. The incident received national media attention. Eventually, students raised the funds and re-invited her themselves.[14]

Film and television

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Taormino hosted the television show Sexology 101 on The Burly Bear Network in 2001, a college cable network owned by Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video.[15] She was a regular expert and panelist on Ricki Lake for two seasons in 2002 and 2003.[16] In 2003, she signed a development deal with MTV Networks. She served as host and executive producer on the pilot for The Naughty Show, but the series was never picked up.[17][18] She has appeared as an expert on sex, relationships, feminism, pornography, non-monogamy, and LGBT issues on Melissa Harris-Perry, Joy Behar: Say Anything,[19] HBO's Real Sex, The Howard Stern Show, Ricki Lake, MTV, and other television shows.[1]

Taormino worked with Spike Lee as a script consultant and with the cast on the set of his 2004 movie She Hate Me.[20] In 2006, she appeared as a so-called "sextra" in John Cameron Mitchell's film, Shortbus, participating in an unsimulated orgy that was filmed for the movie. (Her presence is confirmed by the director on the DVD commentary.) She also appeared in Becky Goldberg's 2003 documentary Hot and Bothered: Feminist Pornography and in Mr. Angel, the documentary about Buck Angel (2013).[1]

Taormino holding a Feminist Porn Award for her work Chemistry (2007)

In addition to writing, speaking and sex education, she considers herself a feminist pornographer.[21] She made two videos based on her book The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women. The first (1999) was co-directed by Buttman (John Stagliano) and Ernest Greene. The second (2001) was directed by Tristan herself. In both videos, she takes part in the on-screen sexual activities. Subsequently, she directed Tristan Taormino's House of Ass for Adam & Eve, which shows a number of "porn stars" (from famous to unknown) interacting without a script. In 2006, she directed Tristan Taormino's Chemistry,[22] which is the first in a series of full-length "behind the scenes" movies for Vivid Entertainment where the performers choose who they have sex with, what they do, where and when.[23] She directed four volumes of the Chemistry series as well as sex education films for Vivid Ed, Vivid Entertainment's sex education line that she was instrumental in creating.[24]

Criticism

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Rebecca Whisnant argues that Taormino work's represents a profit-based ‘‘feminist porn’’ within the mainstream pornography industry based upon thin conceptions of feminism and sexual ethics.[25]

Sexual identity

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Taormina uses the terms "queer" and "dyke" to describe her sexual identity.[26] In the past, Taormino stated: "I don't really identify with the label 'bisexual', nor does it feel like it accurately describes me...I see myself as queer, since queer to me is not just about who I love or lust, but it's about my culture, my community, and my politics. The truth is, even if I were with a heterosexual guy, I'd be a queer dyke."[27][28] In addition, "she describes herself as 'equal opportunity'. She doesn't like the word 'bisexual' – and says "it's too polarizing."[29]

In addition to being a vocal advocate of non-monogamy, Taormino supports gay marriage: "I support gay marriage being legalised in every state. I do however think it’s unfortunate that in some cases gay marriage opponents have used the issue against polyamory."[30]

Bibliography

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  • The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women (Cleis Press, 1997/2006) ISBN 1-57344-028-0 – winner of a Firecracker Book Award and named Amazon.com's No. 1 Bestseller in Women's Sex Instruction in 1998. Second edition was released in February 2006, ISBN 978-1-57344-221-3
  • Pucker Up: A Hands-on Guide to Ecstatic Sex (ReganBooks, 2001) – re-issued in paperback as Down and Dirty Sex Secrets (2003) ISBN 0-06-098892-4
  • True Lust: Adventures in Sex, Porn and Perversion (Cleis Press, 2002) ISBN 1-57344-157-0
  • Opening Up: Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships (Cleis Press, 2008) ISBN 978-1-57344-295-4
  • The Anal Sex Position Guide: The Best Positions for Easy, Exciting, Mind-Blowing Pleasure (Quiver, 2009) ISBN 978-1-59233-356-1
  • The Big Book of Sex Toys (Quiver, 2010) ISBN 1-59233-355-9
  • Secrets of Great G-Spot Orgasms and Female Ejaculation (Quiver, 2011) ISBN 1-59233-456-3
  • 50 Shades of Kink: An Introduction to BDSM (Cleis Press, 2012) ISBN 978-1-62778-030-8
  • A Part of the Heart that Can't Be Eaten(Duke University Press, 2023) ISBN 978-1-4780-2022-6

As editor

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  • Pucker Up: the zine with a mouth that's not afraid to use it (Black Dog Productions, 1995–?) publisher and editor
  • Best Lesbian Erotica (Cleis Press, 1996–2009) as Series Editor
  • Ritual Sex (Rhinoceros Books, 1996) co-editor
  • A Girl's Guide to Taking Over the World: Writings from the Girl Zine Revolution (St. Martin's Press, 1997) co-editor
  • Hot Lesbian Erotica (Cleis Press, 2005) editor
  • Best Lesbian Bondage Erotica (Cleis Press, 2007) editor
  • Sometimes She Lets Me: Best Butch/Femme Erotica (Cleis Press, 2010) editor
  • Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica (Cleis Press, 2011) editor ISBN 978-1-57344-720-1
  • The Ultimate Guide To Kink: BDSM, Role Play and the Erotic Edge (Cleis Press, 2012) editor ISBN 978-1-57344-779-9
  • Stripped Down: Lesbian Sex Stories (Cleis Press, 2012) editor ISBN 978-1-57344-794-2
  • The Feminist Porn Book: The Politics of Producing Pleasure (Feminist Press, 2013) co-editor ISBN 978-1-55861-818-3
  • When She Was Good: Best Lesbian Erotica (Cleis Press, 2014) editor ISBN 978-1-62778-069-8

Journal articles

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Awards

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Year Ceremony Result Award / Category Book / Film
1998 Firecracker Alternative Book Award Won Sex The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women
2003 Lambda Literary Award Won Lesbian Erotica Best Lesbian Erotica 2003
2004 Lambda Literary Award Won Lesbian Erotica Best Lesbian Erotica 2004
2006 Feminist Porn Award Won n/a "House of Ass"
2007 AVN Award Won Best Gonzo Release[31] Chemistry
Feminist Porn Award Won Hottest Gonzo Sex Scene & Hottest Diverse Cast Chemistry
Adam Film World Award Won Best Couples Movie Chemistry
AVN Award Nominated Best Oral Sex Scene Chemistry
2008 Feminist Porn Award Won Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 1 & 2
AVN Award Nominated Best Anal-Themed Release Scene Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Sex
AVN Award Nominated Best Director, Non-Feature Chemistry 3
AVN Award Nominated Best Oral-Themed Release Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 1: Cunnilingus
2009 AVN Award Won Best Educational Release[32] Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 2: Fellatio
AVN Award Nominated Best Educational Release Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to the G-Spot
AVN Award Nominated Best Oral Sex Scene Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 2: Fellatio
AVN Award Nominated Best Gonzo Series Chemistry
2010 Feminist Porn Award Won The Trailblazer Award —
Feminist Porn Award Won Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men
AVN Award Won Best Educational Release[33] Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Threesomes
AVN Award Nominated Best Educational Release Midori's Expert Guide to Sensual Bondage
AVN Award Nominated Best Educational Release Penny Flame's Expert Guide to Rough Sex
AVN Award Nominated Best Educational Release Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men
AVN Award Nominated Best Specialty Release, Other Genre Rough Sex
Feminist Porn Award Nominated n/a Rough Sex
Feminist Porn Award Nominated n/a Penny Flame's Expert Guide to Rough Sex
Feminist Porn Award Nominated n/a Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Threesomes
2011 Lambda Literary Award Won Lesbian Erotica Sometimes She Lets Me: Best Butch/Femme Erotica
NLA Samois Anthology Award Won Lesbian Erotica Sometimes She Lets Me: Best Butch/Femme Erotica
Feminist Porn Award Won Hottest BDSM Movie Rough Sex 2
AVN Award Won Best Educational Release[34] Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Fellatio
AVN Award Nominated Best Vignette Release Rough Sex 2
AVN Award Nominated Best Couples Sex Scene Rough Sex 2
AVN Award Nominated Most Outrageous Sex Scene Rough Sex 2
Feminist Porn Award Nominated n/a Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Female Orgasms
2012 Lambda Literary Award Won Transgender Fiction Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica
Feminist Porn Award Won Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex
AVN Award Nominated Best Educational Release[35] Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex
AVN Award Nominated Best Educational Release Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Female Orgasms
AVN Award Nominated Best Group Sex Scene Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
AVN Award Nominated Best Anal Sex Scene Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
AVN Award Nominated Best Three-Way Sex Scene Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
AVN Award Nominated Best Vignette Release Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
AVN Award Nominated Best Director, Non-Feature Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
2013 Feminist Porn Award Won Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Pegging
AVN Award Nominated Best Educational Release[36] Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Pegging

References

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  1. ^ a b c Biography for Tristan Taormino at IMDb
  2. ^ Blumberg, Perry O. (December 7, 2021). "9 Best Polyamory Books For Those Curious About Consensual Non-Monogamy". Women's Health.
  3. ^ "11 Books for Getting Started with Polyamory and Non-Monogamy". Autostraddle. March 19, 2020.
  4. ^ "Thomas Pynchon (profile)". Cityfile. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  5. ^ "Can Sex-Ed Be Sexy? Through Porn and Print, Taormino '93 Says 'Yes'". Wesleying. Wesleyan University. January 17, 2014.
  6. ^ "Firecracker Alternative Book Awards". ReadersRead.com. Archived from the original on Mar 4, 2009.
  7. ^ "Tristan Taormino". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  8. ^ Taormino, Tristan (May 6, 2003). "The Queer Heterosexual". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on May 30, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  9. ^ Nolan, Hamilton (September 30, 2008). "Tristan Taormino Laid Off At Village Voice". gawker.com. Gawker. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  10. ^ Godfrey, Sanne (February 17, 2011). "Tristan Taormino Brings Honest Take on Sex to University". Daily Emerald (student newspaper). University of Oregon. Archived from the original on March 22, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  11. ^ Ayers, Will (March 31, 2004). "Tristan Taormino to return to UNCG". The Carolinian (student newspaper). University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  12. ^ Kwon, Ha-Kyung (April 30, 2010). "Taormino speaks about feminist pornography". The Daily Princetonian (student newspaper). Princeton University. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  13. ^ Mirk, Sarah (January 27, 2011). "OSU vs. Sex". The Portland Mercury. Index Publishing. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  14. ^ Ocamb, Karen. "Keiko Lane: Why Good Porn Matters: Tristan Taormino, Oregon State University, and Sexual Empowerment (blog)". lgbtpov.frontiersla.com. LGBT POV. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  15. ^ "Burly Bear Comes Out of Hiberation (2001)". AllBusiness.com. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  16. ^ "Ricki Lake: Cast and Details". TV Guide. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  17. ^ The Naughty Show at IMDb
  18. ^ "Interview with Tristan Taormino". Girlphoria. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  19. ^ "Tristan Taormino (search)". new.current.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2013.
  20. ^ "He Don't Hate Me: Spike Lee Interview". The Advocate. Here. August 17, 2004. pp. 66–73. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  21. ^ "The Feministing Five: Tristan Taormino (blog)". feministing.com. Feministing. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  22. ^ "Information on Chemistry". adultfilmdatabase.com. Adult Film Database. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  23. ^ "Conversation with Tristan Taormino (blog)". sexinthepublicsquare.org. Elizabeth's Blog, Sex in the Public Square. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
  24. ^ Whisnant, Rebecca (2016-06-01). ""But What About Feminist Porn?": Examining the Work of Tristan Taormino". Sexualization, Media, & Society. 2 (2): 237462381663172. doi:10.1177/2374623816631727. ISSN 2374-6238. S2CID 148479063.
  25. ^ Furman, Anna (June 17, 2022). "Not Your Average Pride Event". The New York Times.
  26. ^ "PuckerUp Exclusive: Tristan talks about her identity". puckerup.com. PuckerUp. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010.
  27. ^ "Tristan Taormino, Sex Educator". gothamist.com. Gothamist. August 19, 2004. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  28. ^ "Sex Advice for a New Generation". Cincinnati's CityBeat. May 10, 2006. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  29. ^ "'Sex is the easy part!' – Interview with Tristan Taormino, open relationships expert". lesbilicious.co.uk. Lesbilicious. July 10, 2008. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  30. ^ "AVN Awards: Past Winners 2007". avnawards.avn.com. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  31. ^ "AVN Awards: Past Winners 2009". avnawards.avn.com. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on July 7, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  32. ^ "AVN Awards: Past Winners 2010". avnawards.avn.com. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on August 17, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  33. ^ "AVN Awards: Past Winners 2011". avnawards.avn.com. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  34. ^ "AVN Awards 2012: The Nominees". avnawards.avn.com. Adult Video News. December 6, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  35. ^ "AVN Announces Nominees for the 2013 AVN Awards". avnawards.avn.com. Adult Video News. November 30, 2012. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
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