Skip to main contentThe Rose City Discussion Club, a nonprofit organization devoted to providing safe and consensual forums for kinkier members of the public, stresses education and resources over actual hand-to-fanny ass play. Promoting itself on its website (www.rcdc.org) as the "Welcome Wagon to the Portland scenes," this pansexual group gathers monthly to "discuss" everything from the basics of BDSM to more extreme subject matter, like January's "Wax Play" demo.
Who knew?
Coincidentally, who knew that members of the RCDC also got together for "munch"? Not quite as pervy as it sounds, the goal of the casually minded munch is to make contact with other members of the fetish community, break bread and drink bevvies. In this region, munches are held in Vancouver, Beaverton, Corvallis and Eugene; they even hold one in Southern Oregon. And every Wednesday, right after work, you'll find a surprisingly large group of macking munchers at a McMenamins on Northwest 23rd Avenue.
At least, you will once you ask the question, "Is this the munch?" You see, munchers look just like you and me. Hell, without their whips, chains and cats-o'-nine-tails, this group looks just like your average brewpub patron--well, average older patron.
That's why I was surprised to find a group of youngish types holding court just inches from the main munchers. That's when I came to discover "The Next Generation." TNG has nothing to do with aliens or bald-headed space commanders (unless you're into that sort of thing), but rather a group of BDSMers ranging in age from 18 to 40. The Portland chapter was created only four months ago; there are nine others nationwide.
"TNG was created so young people could join the larger alternative-sexuality community," said TNG's de facto local leader, 30-year-old Robyn Browning. Also the moderator for the TNG Yahoo list group (http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/PDX-TNG or email pdxtng@yahoo.com), Browning, who is part of this gothish gang alongside her spouse, 29-year-old Georgiana, feels it's a way to take the fear out of what, upon first sight, can be a somewhat frightening encounter.
"Joining the community can be intimidating," says Robyn. "Our goal is make it friendly and welcoming."
Acknowledging that the BDSM demographic is inching up in age, Robyn says she hopes TNG gatherings are a place where young people can meet others in their own generation who are interested in the same pursuits.
And that got me thinking.
Maybe calling themselves the Next Generation is perfect for this group. Boldly going where few untapped under-40 types have gone before, this tribe could be at the forefront of a new wave of sexual radicalism. Instead of just logging on to the Internet and waiting for some strange sexual partner to arrive at your house like a box of pizza, TNG'ers are actually exploring their deepest and darkest desires--and they don't have to do it with someone who looks like their grandpa, to boot.
Now that's what I call kinky!
WWeek 2015