Given that this is the first week of the new year, I thought I would take a moment or two and reflect on some of the bigger stories (in my humble opinion) of the last year. It was an interesting year with a lot of events and stories, but some rose to the top.
- FetLife: I think this site continues to be the biggest story in the world of Fetish and BDSM. This is now the premier Lifestyle site without a doubt. The have almost tripled in size this past year to over 300,000 members. While other sites may have more members (I am not sure of the actual membership of sites like CollarMe and Alt), FetLife is unique in the quality of the members and the discussions that happen every day in the groups found on this social networking site for kinksters.
- The Economy: The economy has had a serious impact on the Lifestyle this year. Many conferences were either canceled this year or were cut back drastically (my favorite event, BlackBEAT, was one of those that had to cut back). Many of us were laid off with the rest of America. This has made running BDSM oriented events, clubs and businesses even more challenging than they already are.
- Jack Rinella Runs for Congress: Joe Laiacona, who writes BDSM related books and articles under the pen name Jack Rinella is running for congress. I think the outcome of this election may have some significance for our Lifestyle, especially if he manages to win later this year. I wish him luck.
- Atlanta Eagle Raid: When the Atlanta Police decided to raid the Eagle, earlier this year, I do not think that they foresaw the consequences that would come out of it. From rallies, to possibly even altering the outcome of the city election, this has had a serious impact on Atlanta, and will continue to do so in the coming year. This may even serve as a warning to other cities who embark on these kinds of policies.
What stories do you think were important this year? Let me know in the comments!
MV
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