What we started
Non-consensual behavior is a problem at kinky & BDSM events. Last year professional pervert and sexual health educator Maxine Holloway worked with the BDSM & kink, and sex worker community to initiate the ASK FIRST Campaign. The goal is to create awareness about consent in public spaces. The campaign consists of fashionable stickers and temporary tattoos that read, “ASK FIRST,” as well as a tumblr blog for anyone to post stories, thoughts, and photos regarding consent in public spaces.
Last year we successfully fundraised to get 2000 stickers and tattoos printed and distributed at last years Folsom Street fair. Not only were these simple stickers a wonderful reminder, but they served as an tool when people were negotiating pervy acts and getting permission to take a photograph.
The ASK FIRST campaign keeps growing! Since inception these stickers & tattoos have been all over the Bay Area, Los Angeles and New York City.
Check out the Eros Media Blog to learn more about the ASK FIRST origin story, PLUS tips to help you be an asking expert the Folsom Street Fair:
![]()
How we want it to grow...
Let's take the ASK FIRST Campaign to the NEXT LEVEL. The Folsom Street Fair has generously donated a booth to ASK FIRST.
But I need your help to build it and fill it!
Over 400,000 Bay Area kinksters, pervy visitors and wide-eyed tourists attend Folsom every year. Let’s cover them with consent!
Our Goals:
- Arm the guests of Folsom with at least 10,000 ASK FIRST stickers and temporary tattoos
-
To fill the booth with a team of babes ready to inform and illustrate just how good consent can look. This will entail: -3 interactive BDSM performances --An ASK FIRST photo-booth where you can get your photo taken with your fav Bay Area kink & porn performers.
-
Provide tangible take away information about how the BDSM community can stop perpetuating rape culture
What this will cost:
-
Folsom Street Fair Booth Space - donated
-
Booth Structure - $150
-
2000 temporary tattoos - $425
-
10,000 stickers - $1000
-
ASK FIRST Banner - $50
-
Printing of literature & consent tips - $150
-
Water and snacks for booth volunteers- $100
-
ASK FIRST performance artists - $400
-
This video to be produced & edited - $100
-
Photographer for ASK FIRST photo-booth - $100
-
Total: $2475
*any funds raised that surpass the above amount will be used to get more ASK FIRST products to events around the nation
The Impact
Non-consensual behavior much too pervasive in our society, In the united states someone is sexually assaulted every 107 seconds. Unfortunately when abuse happens at kinky events it is often shrugged off as “part of the deal,” It’s time to stop ignoring this issue, start recognizing what widespread problem we have, and do something about it.
Your contribution, of any size will help define the direction of kink and sex culture in the bay area in a positive way. Let’s step up as a community to let everyone know that non-consensual behavior of any kind is not permitted in BDSM and kinky spaces.
Press
Other Ways You Can Help
PLEASE SHARE this campaign all over your social networks! You can easily use the indiegogo share tools.
Stop by the ASK FIRST booth at the Folsom Street Fair. Get a sticker or tattoo, check out the performances, and get your photo taken with some babes!
Connect with the ASK FIRST tumblr http://askfirstcampaign.tumblr.com/ Always taking tumblr submissions
We encourage you to make ASK FIRST paraphernalia freely available at your events around the globe. If you would like to use the ASK FIRST logo or would like help funding your stickers, feel free to contact Maxine Holloway at: ms.maxineholloway@gmail.com
*Campaign video production & editing by Jesse James XO
*ASK FIRST sticker design thank you to Courtney Trouble XO
And that's all there is to it.
