Mission Statement
Ravishment
– the consensual enactment of erotic fantasies involving the appearance of force and
resistance – faces a peculiar paradox. On
the one hand, ravishment or “forced-sex” fantasies are one of the most common,
cutting across lines of gender, sexual orientation, culture and socioeconomic class. On the other hand, such fantasies and their
enactment are often misunderstood, and those who enjoy them marginalized and
misrepresented – even within the BDSM community.
We
who engage in ravishment take consensuality and mutual safety very seriously, insisting on
careful planning and negotiation for scenes. Yet
we have often been accused of “risky” and even nonconsensual play, or of
encouraging sexual violence. How ironic that
the very same accusations that puritanical ideologues have leveled against BDSM generally
are now used within BDSM against ravishment.
While
we recognize that this is not always the case, it is often enough that there is a need for
mutual support and more widespread education. Thus
we have come together as a body – the Ravishment Network – for the furtherance
of our own interests and the overall benefit of the entire BDSM community.
We
assert that safe, sane and consensual ravishment, by whatever term it is known, is a
legitimate part of the BDSM continuum.
We
stand against being marginalized and misrepresented, not only for our own sakes, but
because such divisive behavior only serves to weaken the wider BDSM community and
undermine the cause of sexual freedom.
We
call upon those organizations founded to defend sexual freedom and make the world a safer
place for all BDSM people to treat us as full equals in both word and deed, and to call
for unity towards these ends.
To
those drawn to this form of erotic expression, we welcome.
To those who support us, we embrace you as allies. To those who wish to learn more, we stand ready to
share what we know. To those who would
distance themselves from us, we will not go away. And
for those who would continue to malign us, we will correct your falsehoods and hold you
accountable.
Executive
Committee, The Ravishment Network
Desmond
Ravenstone – Boston MA
Michael
W. Bales, Sr. – Hardin MO
Cynthia Burroughs – East Spokane WA
August 2004
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