Ducky Doolittle, Metis Black and Jennifer Pritchett at CatalystCon East
So, as you know if you follow me on twitter (which, by the way, you totally should- click on the bird! Do it!) I was at CatalystCon East this past weekend. I meant to write all about that today but I’m still a bit overwhelmed by the whole experience and need to unpack it all a bit more before I can share so I’m just going to give you some stuff from my favorite panel of the weekend. Toxic Toys with Jennifer Pritchett of Smitten Kitten (leader in the body friendly sex shop movement and Superhero Sex Shop), Metis Black, president of Tantus (pioneers in the field of AMAZING body safe silicone toys) and Ducky Doolittle (Sex educator and all-around badass).
My box of body safe toys.
You have heard me talk about high-quality, body-safe toys in the course of the Superhero Sex Shop Tour and we’ve talked a little about different toy materials but I don’t think we’ve ever discussed why this is so important. The sex toy business in not regulated. Let me say that again: The sex toy business is not regulated. Dog toys are regulated. Sex toys are not.* Not only are unsafe materials routinely used in the name of cheapness but there is nothing keeping companies from labeling a toy made from an unsafe material as being made from a safe one- that’s right, they can just lie. So, what’s a shopper to do? Here are some resources to keep you toy savvy:
Superhero Sex Shops (formerly known as Bedhead Approved Shopping)- These are shops that I can vouch for (and have, in many cases, personally visited) as the Superhero Sex Shop Tour goes on this list will keep growing.
Coalition Against Toxic Toys– Founded by Jennifer Pritchett the CATT’s mission is, their own words “to demystify the adult sex toy industry and positively transform socially irresponsible, environmentally and personally hazardous sex toy manufacturing and sex toy sales practices”
Progressive Pleasure Club– This network of independent brick-and-mortar shops share a commitment to high quality products and consumer education.
Dangerous Lilly– Lilly is an awesome sex toy reviewer who is committed to holding companies to their word when it comes to material claims. She frequently administers the “flame test” to allegedly silicone toys.
This is a terrific video from Jennifer Pritchett on her experiences in the toy industry:
*I tweeted that fact during the panel and someone came back at me with “Well duh, you don’t eat sex toys” Three things:
- You insert toys in your body- hello mucous membranes!- you will absorb the chemicals!
- Um, please don’t speak in absolutes. Sex toys in the mouth is not a rarity.
- If you come at me with “well, duh” (btw, is it 1990? “duh”? really?) especially when you clearly have taken no time to look into what you’re talking about, I will smack that shit down. I believe in accurate education and eradicating bullying- getting to combine the two? Bonus!
