December 2024 Newsletter

Year End Special Edition

Edited by Andrew Willet

Written by Tom Kovach

Our 40th Anniversary Gala, held in Palm Springs on  November 8th, 9th and 10th, was a huge success. Under the theme “Honoring the past and celebrating the future”, we brought back Dr. Joseph Kramer, Collin Brown, and Selah Martha and honored them for their efforts to spread Eros in the world. I invite you to stop and think about how many people have directly benefited from their work. Now consider the people they taught who were themselves inspired to help others, like Dr. Betty Martin, Betty Dodson, Rudi Ballentine, Harry Faddis, and Joe Weston — all of them, and many more, went on to teach thousands of people.

We are responding by making sure we are reaching as many people as we can. While the School began by serving gay men, it has expanded to include women’s and all-gender workshops. Since its transition into a nonprofit, affinity spaces have been created in addition to those core spaces for BIPOC and gender-expansive folx. And just as when it was founded, the school focuses on self-acceptance, intimacy, and connection based on the Tantric and Taoist teachings of healing through Eros. Having a place where people can BE themselves is more important than ever.

We also wanted to recognize our current faculty, who took the torch and fanned the flames of so many lives and are creating the foundation for the future of Body Electric. We honored three of them, Dr. Steve Schwartzberg, Craig Cullinane, and Suzanne Blackburn, with our new Erotic Liberation Awards, which we’re calling the Rumis. The awards feature this quote from the great poet: “Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.”

We gathered as Body Electric alumni, board members, coordinators, faculty, and staff. So many people helped make the weekend possible, and everyone made it special. It all began with an opening circle, where we called in the names of many people who had wanted to attend but could not.  

There was time by the pool or in the hot tub to get acquainted or reacquainted. Christian Yoder and his husband, Jonathan Miller, welcomed us into their home for a gathering for not only Gala attendees but some local folks as well. It was a wonderful gathering of Body Electricians. 

The next morning Christian led some of the group on a naked hike in the Mecca Hills, which I heard was great but I unfortunately could not attend. We also offered some mini-workshops: Kim Aires presented a sex toy chat and demo called “You Wanna Put That WHERE?!” and “I’m Asking for a Friend,” discussing all aspects of health “down there.” And Mahan Kalpa Khalsa presented “The Art and Beauty of Body Bondage,” featuring shibari — an elegant but easy Japanese technique that combines sensuality with empowerment, whether you’re giving or receiving.

The Gala Dinner, at the Eight4Nine restaurant, began with a mixer, followed by dinner and the awards celebration — and a sex toy raffle! Many people joined in by Zoom to participate in the night’s festivities. Some of us even went dancing afterward but we all found ways to be present to the moment we were in.

Lui Gervais brought us all together back at Christian and Jonathan’s for “The River of Love,” a walking meditation that was a mindful and embodied end to a wonderful weekend.

A Huge Thank you to our Sponsor:

Reflections

Written by Goose, Board President

I recently attended the Body Electric 40th Anniversary Gala weekend in Palm Springs. On the drive there, I found myself reflecting on what it means for an organization to reach such a significant milestone. To my surprise, I realized Body Electric is nearly as old as I am — I turned 41 this past summer.

Many of us have been intertwined with Body Electric’s journey from the beginning, experiencing its birth, growth, and evolution through the decades. I imagine some remember the beauty and pain of its birth and the energy and experimentation of the early days as the school found its footing in the world.Reflecting on my own life, I think back to my adventurous 20s, marked by risk-taking and a heightened sense of connectivity. My 30s were a whirlwind of transitions, challenges, and hard-won growth. From what I understand of its history, Body Electric’s early years followed a similar path — marked by exploration, experimentation, and the inevitable difficulties that come with forging new ground. Personal and organizational timelines are rarely smooth; hardship and uncertainty are inescapable. Yet, through persistence and passion, the school has spent the past 40 years becoming a respected and trusted space for healing, connection, and erotic self-expression.

Turning 40 is a significant moment—whether for a person or an organization. It’s a time to look back with pride and nostalgia, assess lessons learned, and look ahead with clarity and purpose. For me, reaching this age has brought a deeper understanding of the finite nature of time and the importance of taking deliberate, consistent steps to achieve my goals, should I truly want to reach them. Similarly, I witness Body Electric embrace this mindset. Over the past two years, I’ve seen the school’s commitment to its strategic plan and the incremental steps taken to bring its goals to fruition. Body Electric is actively charting a path forward, ensuring its mission continues to grow and evolve in meaningful ways, complex as these changes may be. 

For both individuals and groups, 40 brings a grounded sense of self that wasn’t there in earlier years. I’ve gained more comfort and safety in my body and identity, which allows me to stretch and explore in ways previously inaccessible to me. Similarly, Body Electric has deepened its roots while continuing to create spaces where transformative connection is possible. The sense of safety and belonging Body Electric fosters is a rare and incredible treasure.

Here’s to 40 years of Body Electric and the countless lives it has transformed. Here’s to the wisdom and strength that come with age and experience — and to the vision, courage, and open heartedness that carries forward. Let’s honor the legacy of 40 exciting years while looking ahead on a path of continued discovery, healing, and community.

Call for Board Members

The Body Electric School is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a 12-member board of directors. In March 2025, we will elect 3 new members. In addition to monthly meetings, we ask you to select a committee or committees to join. You must have taken at least one in-person Body Electric workshop. Board experience is welcomed but not required. 

If you have any questions or wish to submit a resume with a letter of interest please send them to Suzanne.

Thank You to our many Sponsor who donated items to our raffle and online Auction!