My Commitment

For nearly 20 years, I’ve been a passionate advocate of inclusivity and diversity in this community. I believe everyone deserves a place in kink, regardless of race, gender, age, ability, or anything else. That belief has never wavered.

After a fantastic event last year at Prism, I was excited to bring Spank U back to Philadelphia for a second time, to host an event I hoped would bring people together to learn, play, and connect. When the theme of that event was chosen many months ago (“Take No Prism-ers”)—it was meant to be a light-hearted play on words, an opportunity for people to engage with a judicial theme that toys with ideas of power dynamics in a consensual and fun way.

In light of the current political and historical realities, particularly in relation to the violence and systemic harm that has been experienced at the hands of police and ICE (particularly by people of color)— it’s clear now that this theme is painful and triggering, and not an appropriate choice to reflect my values or the ones I want to promote in this space.

While it was never my intention to cause harm to anyone, I fully acknowledge the pain and division that resulted from this choice of theme. I hear you, and I’m grateful to those who spoke up.

As an educator, my responsibility doesn’t stop at teaching, it also means continuing to learn and open space for the voices in our community that aren’t always amplified as they should be.

Out of respect for the communities involved, this event has been cancelled. This isn’t the time to push through discomfort, but to ensure that all of our events and spaces feel safe, thoughtful, and inclusive of everyone.

Growth requires being willing to hear hard things and make changes, and I want it to be clear that I’m fully committed to open dialogue and accountability.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love what I do and how I value the diversity that makes our community so beautiful. I am a perpetual student, and my education is ongoing.

What I hope we can do now is move forward. Together. I am here, I am listening, and I’m committed to learning and doing better— not just for myself, but for the community I love and have always tried to contribute to in a positive way.

Warmly,

Miss Chris

Spank University

MissChrisSpanks@gmail.com