Oh look, a handy calendar!  Who said stalking isn’t easy?

For a collection of images and other source material to use when writing about Lee Harrington or using his work for your events, please contact Lee for the complete Media Kit, including high-res print-ready images and more.

Longer Biography

Lee Harrington is a passionate spiritual and erotic educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist and published author and editor on human sexuality and spiritual experience.  He’s been traveling the globe (from Seattle to Sydney, Berlin to Boston), teaching or talking about sexuality, psychology, kink, faith, magic and desire since 1995, and has no intention of stopping any time soon.  Along his journey he has been a brainy academic, a female adult film performer (under his previous name Bridgett Harrington), a world class sexual adventurer, an outspoken philosopher, a long-time sexuality and spirituality blogger (since 1998), a spirit worker and priest, and an award winning writer and artist.   Overall, Lee is a nice guy with a disarmingly down to earth approach to the fact that we are each beautifully complex ecosystems, and we deserve to examine the human experience from that lens.

His books include “Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé,” “Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond,” the “Toybag Guide to Age Play,” and “Shed Skins: Journeying in Self-Portraits.”  He has also worked as an anthology editor on such projects as “Rope, Bondage, and Power” and “Spirit of Desire: Personal Explorations of Sacred Kink,” while contributing actively to other anthologies, magazines, blogs and collaborations internationally.  Check out the trouble Lee has been getting into, as well as his regular podcast, tour schedule, free essays, videos and more over at www.PassionAndSoul.com.

University Lecturing

Lee Harrington is a passionate spiritual and erotic educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist and published author and editor on human sexuality and spiritual experience. He is a nice guy with a disarmingly down to earth approach to the fact that we are each beautifully complex ecosystems, and we deserve to examine the human experience from that lens. He’s been traveling the globe (from Seattle to Sydney, Berlin to Boston), teaching and talking about sexuality, psychology, faith, desire and more since 1995, and has no intention to stop any time soon. Along the way he has been a brainy academic, a female adult film performer, a world class sexual adventurer, an outspoken philosopher, a long-time sexuality and faith blogger (since 1998), a spirit worker and priest, and an award winning author and artist. Check out the trouble he has been getting into, as well as his many books, audio classes, videos and more over at www.PassionAndSoul.com.

BDSM/Kink Events

Lee Harrington is an eclectic artist, spiritual and erotic educator, gender explorer and published author and editor on human sexuality and spiritual experience- including “Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond,” “Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé” and the “Toybag Guide to Age Play”. He has also worked as an anthology editor on such projects as “Rope, Bondage, and Power” and “Spirit of Desire.” Well known for his fun and informative approach to education, he approaches sexuality as yet another art to master, or simply an art to enjoy to its fullest! He has been an active part of the international kink and sex positive communities for over 14 years, and his stories make people laugh while showing you that eroticism can be as serious, sexy, or silly as you make it. Lee’s writings and photography have appeared in numerous anthologies including “Dark Moon Rising: Pagan BDSM and the Ordeal Path” (also under his previous pen name, Bridgett Harrington), and he is an outspoken philosopher, a long-time sexuality and faith blogger (since 1998), spirit worker and priest. Check out the trouble he has been getting into, as well as his many books, audio classes, videos and more over at www.PassionAndSoul.com.

Pagan Events

Lee Harrington is an eclectic artist, spiritual and erotic educator, gender explorer and award winning published author on human sexuality and spiritual experience. He has been an active part of the international kink and sex positive communities for over 14 years, and his stories make people laugh while showing you that eroticism can be as serious, sexy, or silly as you make it. Serving as a spiritual guide as well, Lee’s eclectic paganism is heavily rooted in his upbringing as the daughter of an Irish Catholic and a Goddess Worshiping Lutheran, as well as his studies of Street Magic, Feri, Ceremonial Magick, and other paths. He has been part of CUUPs (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans), GoddesSMack (a pagan dyke SM circle in Portland, OR), serves as a Priest for Temple of Atonement (Atoning and Educating Burning Man and the World), and actively incorporates bondage and other forms of BDSM and fiber magic into his spiritual workings as a shaman in service to the goddess Bear. His books include “Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond,” and his writings and photography have appeared in numerous other publications, such as “Dark Moon Rising: Pagan BDSM and the Ordeal Path”, including under his previous name, Bridgett Harrington. Learn more at www.PassionAndSoul.com

“Funny” Bio

Lee is a nice guy with an odd sense of humor who thinks you deserve a great sex life. The one of your dreams. Yes you. He’s been traveling the globe, teaching about sexuality, kink, magic, desire and more, and likes these topics and anything else that opens people up to their full potential quite a lot. Between classes, lectures, stage shows, clowning around and writing plenty of books and articles, he likes to paint, take pictures, and laugh. He also collects functional toy cameras. You’ll probably like him. Check out the trouble he has been getting into over at www.PassionAndSoul.com.

25 Word Bio

Internationally known sexuality and spirituality educator, gender adventurer, artist and published author on bondage, role playing, trans issues, open relationships, sacred sex and more – www.PassionAndSoul.com

Twitter Bio

Lee Harrington – Soulfully passionate sexuality and spirituality author, artist, educator – http://PassionAndSoul.com

Updated February 2011

Vita

LEE HARRINGTON

http://www.PassionAndSoul.com

email: Lee@PassionAndSoul.com

Published Books, Essays & Magazine Articles

Harrington, Lee (Ed.) (2010). Spirit of Desire: Personal Explorations of Sacred Kink.  Lynnwood, WA: Mystic Productions.
Harrington, Lee (2009). Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond.  Lynnwood, WA: Mystic Productions.
Harrington, Lee (Ed.) (2009). Rope, Bondage, and Power.  Las Vegas, NV: Nazca Plains Corporation.
Harrington, Lee (2008). The Toybag Guide to Age Play. Oakland, CA: Greenery Press.
Harrington, Lee “Bridgett” (2006). Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé. Lynnwood, WA: Mystic Productions.
Harrington, Bridgett (1998). The Intimacy of Sacredness: A Journey towards the Divine. Olympia, WA: Evergreen State College.

Harrington, Lee (2010). Stonebreaker: A Call to Gulgulanna, the Bull of Heaven; and To Stay a Seventh Day: Nergal Sings to Ereshkigal. In J. Munin (Ed.), Queen of The Great Below: An Anthology in Honor of Ereshkigal. Alexandria, Egypt: Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
Harrington, Lee (2009). Interview with Lee Harrington. In R. Kaldera (Ed.), Double Edge: The Intersections of Transgender and BDSM. Hubbardston, MA: Alfred Press.
Harrington, Lee (2009). Tonight We Work In Silk. In J. Crelin (Ed.), Like Tooth and Claw: Shape Shifter Erotica. Boston, MA: Circlet Press.
Harrington, Lee (2008). Being Mummy. In B. Rubel (Ed.), Power Exchange Books’ Resource Series: Age Play. Las Vegas, NV: Nazca Plains Corporation.
Harrington, Lee (2008). Between Shows. In T. O’Keefe & K. Fox (Ed.), Trans People in Love. New York City, NY: Routledge.
Harrington, Bridgett (2006). The Many Paths of Earthly Bondage: Bondage as a Tool Towards Spiritual Release. In R. Kaldera (Ed.), Dark Moon Rising: Pagan BDSM and the Ordeal Path. Hubbardston, MA: Asphodel Press.

Harrington, Lee “Bridgett” (2008).  A Pony Away: A true story of Human Equine Play.  Kink-E Magazine, AU, 19/Summer 2008.
Harrington, Lee “Bridgett” (2007).  It Only Hurts When I Try.  Trans-Ohio Magazine, March 2007.
Harrington, Lee “Bridgett” (2006).  Left Breathless- A retort on Breath Play to the Fetish Fairy of SexyBay.  Kink-E Magazine, AU, 13/Winter 2006.
Harrington, Bridgett (2006).  Wet Dreams and Wetter Desires: Piss Play and Female Ejaculation.  Wet Set Magazine, AU, 48.
Harrington, Bridgett (2006).  Facial Bondage: Decorative and Punitive.  Kink-E Magazine, AU, 12/Fall 2006.
Harrington, Bridgett (2006).  Bridgett Harrington Comes Down Under.  Kink-E Magazine, AU, 11/Summer 2006.
Harrington, Bridgett “Lady” (2004).  Ponyplay in the USA: Leather Retreat; SexceteraTM PonyPlay.  Equus Eroticus: A Publication For and About the World of Ponygirls and Boys, 16.

Teaching Experience

Having had the pleasure of doing more than 400 lectures internationally for universities, LGBT centers, non-academic sexuality and spirituality conferences, and sexuality resource and identity groups, I am providing a sampling here for your perusal.  For a complete CV of my lecturing, teaching and discussion facilitation experience, please visit my website: http://www.PassionAndSoul.com/Educator

Harrington, L. (2011, February). From to Tats: Traversing Sex Politics in the First Person. The Cinch, Dublin, Ireland.
Harrington, L. (2011, February). Beings of Faith and Desire: Embracing, Balancing and Maintaining Our Spirituality as Erotic Individuals.  Dark Odyssey Winter Fire, Washington, D.C.
Harrington, L. (2011, February). Laughing Our Way to Intimacy: Sexuality and Humor. Sexuality Awareness Week, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.
Harrington, L. (2010, November). Keynote Speech- Growing Beautiful Gardens at the Intersections: From Complex Ecosystems to Interstitial Collaboration. Transcending Boundaries Conference, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Harrington, L. & SwitchMe (2010, November). Effective Speaking and Presentation Skills. Alternative Lifestyles Presenter Skills Education Conference, Chicago, Illinois.
Harrington, L. (2010, August). Safer Magical Sex and Magical Safer Sex. Minnesota Stocks, Debentures & Bonds, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Harrington, L. (2010, July). How Much An Hour: A Journey Through Sex Work in America and Beyond.  Desiree Alliance Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Harrington, L. (2010, April). From TNG to KOBRAS: Examining Age-Based Groups within Kink Communities. Leather Leadership Conference, Detroit, Michigan.
Harrington, L. & N. Hartley (2010, February). You’re Hot When You’re You. Winter Wickedness Conference, Adventures in Sexuality, Columbus, Ohio.
Harrington, L. (2009, November). Creature on a Quest, One individual’s search for story. Transformed Self, Gasworks, Melbourne, Australia.
Harrington, L. (2009, November). Kink Odyssey: A Two-day Mind, Body and Spirit Intensive. Utah Power Exchange, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Harrington, L. & MorpheusNYC (2009, May).  Cutting and Kink: Transformations of Self-Mutilation into Erotic Play & Body Modification.  American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists 2009 National Conference, Phoenix, Arizona.
Harrington, L. (2009, April).  Sir! Yes Sir! Creating and Enforcing Protocol Systems.  Libido Productions, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Harrington, L. (2009, March).  Pain is Inevitable, Suffering is Optional: Techniques for Erotic Pain Processing.  Beat Me in St. Louis Kink Conference, St. Louis, Missouri.
Harrington, L. (2009, February). Binding Intentions: The Art of Rope Magic.  PantheaCon Spirituality Conference, San Jose, California.
Harrington, L. (2008, October).  Sacred Ropes:Rope Bondage for energetic, spiritual and magical applications.  Denver Bound Rope Bondage Conference, Denver, Colorado.
Harrington, L and Kaldera, R. (2008, August). Gender Variance in Spirit Workers and Modern Shamanic Practitioners.  Spirit Worker Intentional Gathering, Hubbardston, Massachusetts.
Harrington, L. (2008, August).  Kissing Cousins: Diverse Age Play and Familial Roles in Kink.  Paradise Unbound: Gathering of the Tribes, Seattle, Washington.
Harrington, L. (2008, June).  Lets Talk About Sex: Frank Discussions around the Realities of our Desires.  Leather Retreat Erotic Intensive Camping Event, Darlington, Maryland.
Harrington, L. (2008, May).   Turning Ties Inward: Finding your Path and Desires in/with Rope Bondage.  ShibariCon International Japanese Rope Bondage Symposium, Chicago, Illinois.
Harrington, L. (2008, May).  Keynote Speech- Harnessing Courage: Walking Your Path of Erotic Authenticity.  Ohio SMartFest, Cleveland, Ohio.
Harrington, L. (2008, March).  Fleshing it Out: Sacred and Profane Body Modifications.  Dark Odyssey: Winter Fire Sexuality & Spirituality Conference, Washington, D.C.
Harrington, L. (2008, February).  Playing Between The Ears: Erotic Hypnosis, Trance and Dirty Talk Techniques.  Good Vibrations, San Francisco, California.
Harrington, L. (2008, February).  Inner Monsters (Tops): Delving Into the Darkness and Taboo of Our Desires.  Leather Reign Leather Identity, Master/slave and BDSM Conference, Seattle, Washington.
Harrington, L. (2008, February).  Reclaiming our Pleasure Rights: Sexuality, Psychology, and Ecstasy for individuals outside the gender binary and their lovers.  TNG4, Santa Clara, California.
Harrington, L. (2008, January).  What’s Leather Got to Do With It? Leather Identity, Fetish, Sex and Soul.  Arizona Power Exchange, Phoenix, Arizona.
Harrington, L. “Bridgett” (2007, September).  Femme FTM: Drag Queens, GirlyBoys, Men in Skirts, and Feminine Transmen.  Gender Odyssey, Seattle, Washington.
Harrington, L. “Bridgett” (2007, June).  Meeting Our Needs: Exploring “Alternative” Relationship Structures.  Ho’olaule’a BDSM No Ka Oi in conjunction with Hawai’i Pacific Alternative Lifestyles, Honolulu, Hawai’i.
Harrington, L. “Bridgett” (2007, February).  What Labels Give Us, What Labels Take Away: The Power of Gender and Sexual Identity Labels.  Hartford Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, Hartford, Connecticut.
Harrington, L. (2007, February).  Erotic Macramé: Creative Decorative Bondage.  Center for Sex and Culture, San Francisco, California.
Harrington, B. “Lee” (2006, December).  Taking the Lead: Human Pony, Puppy and Animal Owning/Training.  Sydney Leather Pride, Sydney, Australia.
Harrington, B. “Lee” (2006, November).  Beyond Bowed Heads: Rituals for Dominance and submission.  Southern Exposure National BDSM Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Harrington, B. (2006, October).  Switching Strategies: Fulfilling your Multifaceted Needs.  Pacific Fraction Women’s Only Erotica Conference, Portland, Oregon.
Harrington, B. (2006, September).  Keynote Speech- Getting to Hot: Safety, Communication and Negotiation.  Austin Ropecraft Symposium, Austin, Texas.
Harrington, B. (2006, May).  Erotic Punching, Kicking and Deep Bruising Techniques.  Dv8 House BDSM Educational Classes, Sydney, Australia.
Harrington, B. (2006, April).  BDSM 101: An Introduction to Creative Sexual Exploration and Play.  Reed College, Portland, Oregon.
Harrington, B. (2006, March).  Dangling by a Thread: Passion and Desperation in Performance.  Club Darkside, Berlin, Germany.
Harrington, B. (2006, March).  Rope Sex- Bondage For Lovemaking and More.  Just Rope Bondage Club, in conjunction with Torture Garden, London, UK.
Hartley, J., Harrington, B & Williams, J. (2006, January).  From Night Monsters to Midnight Fantasies- Vampire in Modern Mythology.  Arisia Science Fiction Convention, Boston, Massachusetts.
Harrington, B. (2005, March).  What Would Randa Mai Do? Partial and Full Suspension Poses.  Fantasm Erotica, Art and Sci-Fi Convention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Harrington, B. (2004, November).  Who Needs a Top? Self-Bondage and Auto-Erotic Play.  Conversio Verium, Columbia University, New York City, New York.
Harrington, B. (2004, May).  Take My Breath Away- Breath and Air Flow Play.  TESFest ’04, The Eulenspeigel Society, New York City, New York.
Harrington, B. (2003, November).  Performative Ropework: Intimacy on View.  Dominion Fetish Club, Derby, England.
Albert, J. & Harrington, B. (1998, August).  Hands on Rope Corsets and Sensual Binding.  Temple of Atonement, BurningMan, Black Rock City, Nevada.

Education

In addition to the below listed accredited education experience, I also teach full time as a human sexuality and spirituality educator (see Teaching Experience) and attend at least 2 classes presented by other instructors at all events that I teach at, thus providing a very solid non-accredited continuing education platform for my work, not including individual mentoring, peer based education or academic conferences that I attend.

B.A., Arts Administration and Cultural Studies, 2000, Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA

Honors and Awards

2009  Arizona Leather SIR 2010 – Arizona Men on Leather
2007  National Leather Association – International Geoff Mains Non-fiction Book Award: “Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé” (Mystic Productions Publishers).

Association Memberships

American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
Free Speech Coalition
National Coalition for Sexual Freedom
Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities

Sexuality and Academia Related Professional Experience

1994-Current  Published and gallery showing photographer known for spiritual and sexually themed work
1995-Current  Published poet known for spiritual and sexually themed work
1998-Current  Erotic-themed performance and installation artist
2002-2010  Adult website owner
1999-2007  Female adult film performer, specializing in BDSM, fetish, and alternative performances
2004-2007  Guest director and staff producer of erotic content for websites, video and other erotic work
2004, 2006, 2008  Event Producer of BodyBound Rope Bondage and Rope Fetishists Conference (Portland, OR and Seattle, WA)
Dates Vary  Consultant for Dark Odyssey (Washington D.C.), Ohio SMartFest (Cleveland, OH), Madame Rosse Productions (Eugene, OR), Maui BDSM (Maui, HI), PheerFest (Cincinatti, OH), and other Fetish, BDSM or Sexuality organizations.

Interviews and Podcasts

I feel that sexuality education is often a grass roots attempt to reach out to the every-person, and thus include for your perusal samples of newspaper interviews and podcasts that bring the ideas of sexual diversity to the masses who choose not to or are unable to visit therapists, counselors, or attend classes.

Shaw, A. (2009, November 24). Harrington’s Way. MCV – Melbourne, Australia. http://mcv.e-p.net.au/features/lee-harringtons-odyssey-6584.html
Harris, H. (2008, July 16).  Edge Play: Women Exercise Creative and Political Control Over Sexual Imagery At Erotic Arts Festival.  Baltimore City Paper.  http://www.citypaper.com/arts/story.asp?id=15993
Chun, G. (2007, April 27).  Shibari with Spice: An artist and author teaches Japanese rope bondage.  Honolulu Star Bulletin.  http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/04/27/features/story07.html
Dan & Dawn (2009, April 14). Alchemy of M/s, Questing for our Dreams, and getting to know Lee Harrington, Part 1 of 2. Erotic Awakenings Podcast. http://tinyurl.com/m4xoz5
NCD (2009, March 8).  Insights and Passionate Examinations of Kink, Part 1 of 2.  SadoMasoCast.  http://tinyurl.com/bdnqlk
Crittenden, B. (2007, September 19).  A Taste of Sex Interviews: Episode 7: Lee Bridgett Harrington: Passion, Exploration, and BDSM. Personal Life Media. http://tinyurl.com/6pz8pr
Atticus & Nova (2006, December 4). Cigar Fetish, with Bridgett Harrington and Coral. Fetish Flame Podcast. http://tinyurl.com/6dv2fa
Atticus & Nova (2006, May 21). Wet and Messy, Clowns and Kink, with Bridgett Harrington. Fetish Flame Podcast. http://tinyurl.com/6z8agj and http://tinyurl.com/6ym7gp
Graydancer (2006, January 6). Inside the mind of a Rope Artist: Bridgett Harrington Interviews. Rope Weekly Podcast. http://tinyurl.com/6zcsve and http://tinyurl.com/63brwu

References

Provided upon request.

Images are provided here for easy use for interviews, media representation, and other press.  For high resolution print-ready images or images without copyright stamps, please contact Lee Harrington directly.  Click on each image for a 10″ 72dpi version of the image for media use.

Image of Lee Harrington, by SmutCraft.com (first one) and Terra Luna:

Images of Lee Harrington, by Darrel Victor Lynn:

Leather/Kink Images of Lee Harrington by Terra Luna:

Additional Leather/Kink Images of Lee Harrington, by Lee Harrington (first 2) and Darrel Victor Lynn:

Images of Rigging by Lee Harrington, Images by Lee Harrington (first 3) and Circle23.com:

Images of Lee Harrington and Mollena Williamns, by Terra Luna, for their book “Playing Well With Others: Your Guide to Kink/BDSM/AltSex Community, Events and Culture”:

For images of other photography by Lee Harrington, please visit BlackBookArt.com and then email for permission to use.

For images of images of Lee Harrington during his previous life as Bridgett Harrington, please email and request such images.

For Lee Harrington’s Biographies, Calendar, Rates Sheet and other Frequently Asked Questions, please visit his FAQ Page

Interviews and Articles:
Lee enjoys being part of various interviews, podcasts, newspaper and magazine articles and more.  Please feel free to contact him to set one up.  Examples of other interviews he has been part can be found on his Author Page.

To make it easy, on the right hand navigation bar you will find a series of links called “Stalking Made Easy.” However, in summary, here they are in one easy place.

• Email: Lee@PassionAndSoul.com
• Twitter: @PassionAndSoul
• Facebook Fanpage: Lee Harrington Fanpage
• Facebook Profiile: Lee Harrington
• FetLife Student Lounge: PassionAndSoul Student Lounge
• FetLife Profile: PassionAndSoul

Though Lee has a Myspace page, he rarely checks it. This goes as well with his Yahoo and MSN chats, which he has, but looks at maybe once every few months.  You can drop him notes via youtube, audioboo, deviantart, and livejournal as well, but they are not as effective.

You can of course also reply to a post on here, but really, with such a great list above of ways to stalk Lee, why not stalk him effectively?

If you are looking to meet Lee in person, here is his Calendar.  Go back and forth in time, he has stuff set months in advance.  Two ?? marks means he really isn’t sure if he’s going to that.  One ? mark means he rather likely is, but it needs to be confirmed so email him to ask if your have questions.  Some stuff is movable- if in doubt, ask.  Some windows of time look open for bookings when in fact Lee will be working on writing- but again, ask

If you want to talk to him by phone- email, direct tweet, or facebook message him your number, schedule of availability, and what you we hoping to talk about.  If it is quick and easy stuff, you will get a call from a (503) area code number.  Don’t be confused- Lee moved to Oregon back in 2000 and has not changed his number since- which means if you have his number from 2000, you have his same number.  However, Lee does not always pick up his phone or reply to texts from numbers he does not have saved- be forewarned.  Lee is better at text and twitter than phone with his friends and fans alike oftentimes.

If it is a more involved private phone project, one on one training or coaching, KaSeeKa work or domination work, please don’t be surprised if asked to pay a 10% deposit via Paypal, check or other system before involved arrangements.  See his Rates page for further information on fees.

Lee has Skype for longer calls when appropriate.

Now that you have the info- go forth and stalk

(updated 30 September, 2011)

Beverages:

Water: Room temperature to cold, no ice, no straw, no lemon (but lime/orange can be lovely), preferably reusing my bottle or a glass that can be washed instead of disposable bottles.  I drink a lot of water, and have challenges when dehydrated, so please offer me water if in doubt.

Primary Cold: VitaminWater10 (XXX, Sync, Berry or Energy), Flavored Seltzer (berries, orange, berry with lime) Orange Juice.

Secondary Cold: Gatorade Rain (Berry), Australian Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Sprite/7up.

Hot: Tea (mint, vanilla, cinnamon or other non-caffeinated herbal), plain or perhaps with a small amount of honey.  I rarely drink caffeinated beverages of any sort (and I am not a morning tea/coffee person).  Occasional hot chocolate (soy or almond mile preferred).

Starbucks/Cafe: Salted (Caramel optional) Soy Mocha or Soy or Skinny Grande Steamer with Sugar-free (if possible) Caramel, Cinnamon or Vanilla.  If hot day: Light Caramel Soy Frappacino, no whip on any of the above.

Alcohol: Mike’s hard lemonade (any flavor), Hard cider, Screwdriver, Fuzzy Navel.  I do not drink beer/ale.

Wine: Zinfandel and Merlot are good fall-backs, but I enjoy adventure.  White can be good, and tend not to enjoy Rosés or Sparkling wines as much.  Champagne is hit or miss.

Spoiling: Sparkling Peach Juice, Milkshakes (Cookies and Cream, any Berry, Creamsicle, Pumpkin), Pina-colada, Infused Vodka, Spiced Rum.

Food:

I can eat just about anywhere, and enjoy a wide variety of food.  Below are some of my favorites just in case I need to be surprised.

Favorite Genres: Thai, Japanese/Sushi, Ethiopian, Indian, Mexican, Spanish, Mongolian BBQ, Dumpling Houses/Dim Sum.

Food Restrictions: Low/no nuts (trace ok), no veal, avoid mass-trolled/bulk shrimp, avoid mayonnaise, low caffeine, low dairy, low(ish) fat, low fried foods.

Favorite Candies: Gummy/Gummi (bears, frogs, worms), Sour (watermelon, apple), Red Licorice (soft/Australian or straws), Caramel (especially salted).

Spicy: Please.  Usually medium at unknown restaurants, hot at some known ones.

Burger, Steak: Medium or Medium-well

Favorite Vegetables: Spinach, Broccoli, Zucchini, Mushrooms, Parsnips.

Favorite Fruits: Cuties/Clementines/Tangerines, Apples, Bananas, Raspberries, Grapes.

Favorite Condiments: High-end mustards, Horseradish, Wasabi, Sweet Chili Sauce, Low-sodium Soy Sauce, Garlic, Mint Chutney, World Salts (small amounts, let me add them).  Please no spreads etc on sandwiches in advance without knowing how I like it (I can be picky on the volumes of the above condiments)

Favorite Salad Dressings: Goddess Dressing, Low-fat Ranch, Honey Mustard, Balsamic Vinegar with Olive Oil and herbs, Blue Cheese

Quirks: if in doubt and it is savory, put extra lettuce, spinach or sprouts on/with it

Favorite Pie: Apple (soft top), Pumpkin

Favorite Ice Cream: Vanilla, Sorbet (Berries or Coconut), Mint Chip, Strawberry Shortcake, Caramel

Favorite Sushi: Tuna, Kappa Maki, Albacore, Yellow Fin, Inari

Favorite Meats: Lamb, Goat, Bacon, Tuna (fresh, never canned)

Eggs: Scrambled hard or in an omelets/frittata

Powerbars: Anything without nuts and chocolate, favorite is Vanilla Crisp.

Addictions: Homemade salsa, world variety cheeses, edamame (soy beans), Kashi GoLean with Non-fat yogurt, cupcakes

Breakfast style: Protein based big meal available if “big” day ahead (ie eggs, bacon, fruit), but my default is some sort of cereal with yogurt or soy/rice milk, or a handful of fruit and a muffin.

General note: I sometimes forget to eat when busy.  Please poke lovingly around mid-day and again around dinner time to make sure if I remembered to eat, or hand me a banana, power bar (see allergy note above), muffin, etc if we are on the road.

Social:

Smoker: Cigar less than once a month or so at social occasions, enjoy Romeo y Julieta, punch preferred over cut or double guillotine.

Music: Very loud music is not pleasurable for me, please inform in advance if taking to a loud dance club.  My tastes are eclectic for personal listening.

Movies: I love kids movies but like to have the chance to say no to them if not in the right head space.  Please inform before going to high gore (ie SAW) movies.

Mood: I sometimes have times where I “run out of smiles.” Do not take these personally, just know that sometimes I may have to excuse myself from large crowds and have some alone/quiet time.

Presents:   I have an Amazon wishlist for ideas of the genres of things I enjoy.  It is very long, feel free to wade through it at your leisure.  I am incredibly finicky about event memorabilia, tee shirts and high end jewelry (yellow gold/gold tones or woods only unless you have checked), physically large items- please ask in advance on these kinds of items before gifting.

Gift cards:  Amazon.com, Jet Blue Airlines, Wicked Grounds Coffee Shop (SF), Time Bomb Tattoo (Frederick, MD), Creole gardens B&B (New Orleans), Sprinkles Cupcakes, SouthWest Airlines.

Flowers: Chrysanthemums (especially spider), Roses (white, orange or deep red especially), anything orange/autumn toned.  Please check with myself or my partner(s) before gifting live plants.

Having Fun: Looking to surprise me with social/fun outings?  I am a big fan of hot tubbing, saunas, hot springs, horseback riding (low experience), kyaking, canoeing, art festivals, carnivals, concerts with bands I enjoy (or related themed bands), folk and bluegrass festivals, renaissance festivals, low to moderate impact hikes, street fairs, markets with lots of stalls, riding on the back of motorcycles, window shopping in quirky neighborhoods, poetry/book readings,  food/gastronomical adventures (I am a big foodie), spring/fall camping, philosophical debates, board games, and going out(or staying in) for movies.

Homes/Sleeping Arrangements:

Allergies:  I am allergic to pet dander- please vacuum in advance and warn me so I can take medications.  I will need to take meds an hour before arriving if at all possible.

Kids: Cool, just let me know protocols on what to talk about around them/their current interests etc.  I enjoy playing games, zoo, trips, movies and hanging out.  I am happy to be “kid-appropriate.”

Scents: I have challenges with “fake” smelling air fresheners and heavily smoky spaces.  Please warn in advance if I am to expect heavy, pervasive scents, such as incense, perfume, animal scents, etc.

Towels: I rarely use washcloths or hand towels except when needing to remove makeup post-performances.  Give me one regular or bath towel and I will be happy.

Bath needs/products: I usually travel with my own, but if in doubt a basic shampoo and conditioner (no special scalp needs) is delightful.  I do not use bar soap in the shower, but instead use shampoo or body wash.  I rarely use bath oils, bubble bath products, etc.  I usually shower in the morning/after I awake, but will sometimes also bathe after a sweaty performance.

Sleep needs: I am a pillow minimalist- 1 medium firm usually, but am happy with whatever is there.  I sometimes run cold, extra blanket available please.  I usually set my own alarm, but like notifying hosts when I will be getting up so that if 15 minutes later I am not up, there can be a knock on the door if there are tight time schedules.  My default sleep schedule is 2am to 10am sleeping, but am able to be highly flexible with 1-2 days’ notice (more preferred)

Clothing needs: I sometimes travel with clothes than need ironed- accessibility to an iron, and sometimes a quick load of laundry, is greatly appreciated.  Happy to work with a laundry service or laundry mat if needed.

Hotels: Please make sure that I do not need to climb stairs, or be on the opposite end of a floor from the elevators, in case I am having a bad knee day.  No smoking rooms only.

Quirks: Vacuum cleaners make me jumpy when on.

At Events:

Time: Please do not book me for classes or performances before 10am without explicit discussion.

Beverages: Water (see above) always available- I drink a lot of it.

Food breaks: I need to eat an actual meal at least every 7 hours, please do not have me back to back in programming without at least a 45 minute meal break (for eating, sometimes needing space, not schmoozing simultaneously) every 5-6 hours preferred.   If boxed lunches, please see my needs above.

Alone time: Capacity for being alone 2+ waking hours a day is appreciated, and sometimes needed.  I may not use it, but having the choice to not be around other humans for a bit can be very re-charging for me.

Travel:

Airlines: I will fly with anyone, but have a preference for Jet Blue, Virgin America, or Southwest Airlines.  When booking tickets, consider asking me for assistance finding more affordable fares- I have mad mojo.

Airport time: I like to be at the airport 1.5 hours before I fly, and would rather be at the airport much earlier (even 4 hours in advance) rather than cutting it close.  I do writing and reading well in airport lobbies.

Seat selection: I prefer aisle, emergency exit row, window and/or bulkhead, in that order, but can function well with almost any seat.  In fact, I regularly am the person that gives up their seat for others in need or traveling with their families0.

Public transit: I love it, and strongly prefer it to cars when in major cities.

Cars: I DO NOT drive.  At all, ever, and do not have a license.  I am happy to be a passenger, but am uncomfortable with folks going more than an hour or so out of their way to transport me places they were not planning on going already.  Please warn me if there are strong scents or pet dander in the car in advance so I can be appropriately drugged.

Food/Drinks on Flights: I dislike plastic disposable glasses, and usually ask for a full can of whatever I am drinking (see beverages).  I am fairly flexible with food on flight, but often bring my own gum, snacks etc if I am unfamiliar with the airline/route.

Medical:

See “In Case of Emergency” on my mobile phone for all medical information if emergencies arise, including emergency contact information.

Medication: I take a variety of daily pills, once a day, in the window between 10am and 1pm.  Making sure those pills are on me at that time is appreciated.  I also have a daily inhaler and gel each morning, so unexpected travel without ability to grab a day or two of medications, no matter how well intentioned, is not always appreciated.

Clothing:

Tee shirts/Tank tops: I do not usually wear event shirts, please do not get them for me. I wear a Men’s Medium for other tee shirts.  Depending on the cut I wear a Men’s Medium or Large button down shirt.

Trousers: 36 or 38×32 depending on cut.

Height: 5’11”

Shoe size: Men’s 9.5

At My Home:

Chores in order of need: Floors (sweep, mop, wood-condition, vacuum rugs), Running errands (groceries, laundry offsite, driving to appointments/errands, shopping), Scrubbing surfaces (sinks, tub, shower walls, counter tops), Filing, Ironing, Sewing and other clothing repair, Dusting, Dishes, Household Organization, Finding matching wall and helping get nicks covered

Chores I enjoy doing myself: Cooking, Dishes, On-site Laundry

Slave-identified individuals: When spending time in my home, if following formal protcols, expect to sit on pillows or dog beds instead of chairs, and sleep on a slave bed.  Expect to defer command decisions when I (or obviously, your Owner) am not around to my Alpha Boy, Aiden Fyre.

I wanted to be on the screening panel when Crysta asked if I could do it, because when I started doing porn in 1999, I did not know stuff to ask.  I did not realize for example that doing an SM shoot that they would leave marks that took months to have go away and that I should ask for extra compensation for that legal shoot.  In 2002 when I did my first gig as a dominatrix, when clients started contacting me, no one showed me how to figure out if they would be made of crazy, if they would stand me up, or if they would potentially be violent.  In 2003 when I saw my first escort client, I did not have the foggiest.

It is now 2010, and I still see select clients (see my Shaman page).  It is not the focus my life any more, but it is still part of my life.

At the end of the panel, I took the audio file we had recorded during the panel and transcribed the notes.  This was met with mixed opinions on the internet, and the following is an edited version of what I first put up- thanks to some insights that were provided.  So what I offer here are some guidelines, concepts, and ideas on what sorts of questions I used to ask folks, including easily findable (if you read many escort sites and follow their screening pages) programs and projects, and a hope that we each work together to help those who are trying to build a living do so more safely.

This is not an all-inclusive list, and screening your clients (for a variety of concerns, from physical safety to legal awareness, emotional concerns to “time wasters,” keeping an eye out for new folks who need extra help and more) is an art, not an exact science.  We found in discussion that tools that were fantastic for some parts of a group did not work at all for others (example of asking for complete legal names for high end female escorts for men almost never happens for many mid to high end male escorts for men).

This reference page is not in any way intended as advocating for any sort of illegal activities or encouraging anyone to engage in adult service provider jobs.

Thank you all

**

Many of the following tips apply to all forms of providing services, while further down, I discuss stuff just for Fetish folks and Adult Modeling…

These are some of the questions I have asked clients over the years.  I get concerned in general if I ask a question, and a client provides too much info but never answers what I asked:

Have you seen my website?
What has your experience of seeing escorts in the past been?
What was your favorite session and why?
What challenges have you had seeing professionals in the past? What would have helped those challenges?
What are you hoping for out of seeing me/getting together?
Have you seen anyone else locally?
Why do you want to see me specifically?
Where are you staying?
What kind of connection are you hoping to build with me?
I prefer to build recurring connections, is that something you are interested in?
Do you have any preferences I should know about beforehand?
Anything I can do to make this a more pleasurable evening for you?

I learned a few things along the way, through the panel or on my own…

Asking clients to please bring your favorite supplies you think we might need or enjoy.
To not discuss money or sex over the phone or explicitly on websites.
That some work uses specific slang, and knowing what that slang means will stop me from agreeing to something I do not in fact offer.

When I got started I had no idea that there were systems online I could look at, or that other service providers were willing to give references.  I had this perception that it was everyone for themselves, when in some areas this is not true!  There are people willing to watch each others back… in some parts of this work, but not all.

Some of the sites I learned folks can ask questions about providers, clients, and get date checks:

http://www.Preferred411.com
http://www.Date-Check.com
http://www.RoomService2000.com
http://www.providerbuzz.com/
http://eccie.net/
http://www.bigdoggie.net/

And I also learned that someone providing a referral does not mean they are giving a full reference for the client being reliable, safe, etc.  Asking the reference provider about how it went, and doing research on that reference, is important too.

I also learned some stuff about personal safety:

OTIS- Offender Tracking Information System
Put the client’s name into the system for your state (search on google using the above “Offender Tracking Information System” followed by the state you are working in for the OTIS system for your state

When checking for complete profiles, some great sites include:
http://www.whois.com/
http://www.pipl.com/
http://www.intelius.com/ (costs $35 for a search, but provides tons of info… no need to buy up to more expensive package, not necessary, $35 search is quite comprehensive)

http://www.NationalBlacklist.com
DC area?  Check this blacklisted list first http://blacklistednow.blogspot.com/

Requesting a picture in advance allowed me to meet people easier in the flesh, but also gave me something, along with name, email, and other details, that I could give to my safety/security/backup friend

Google the phone number they provide, are they giving you the real hotel number?  Call the real hotel number via phone listings and ask for their legal name.

Are they too eager/pushy?  Are they happy to see anyone and not screen you at all?  These are often not a good sign.

I found out there were things that other providers do:

Work verification systems- does their name appear in company directories?
When you search their business name, is it a legal business?
If you book a session with one person and extras show up, be wary of surprise extra folks
Investigate your hotel- indoor/outdoor access (can folks watch you walk in and out of your room), if the chain is known to be anti-establishment.
Not see clients who are first timers at the club they work at.
Doing straight sessions with nothing extra for first time clients.
Make friends with other workers in clubs, having people to watch their back.

There are some great resources out there!

If folks are new, recommend them to
http://beforeyoucome.blogspot.com/
“Advice for a Good Experience”

Check out this great Screening suggestion list at SWOP-Michigan:
http://www.swop-mi.org/swop.verify.htm
And this great safety resource collection of links at SWOP-USA:
http://www.swopusa.org/en/safesex.html

Different folks handle their information and funds different ways…

Deposits/ pre-gifts are encouraged by some
Paid calls in advance are encouraged by others
Amazon wishlists (making sure that universal wishlist folks don’t give out your home address on the receipt)
http://www.NiteFlirt.com (using the donations system)
Paypal can freeze your accounts if associated with adult work (including adult sites)

Keep your own files on your computer in an easily searchable manner is recommended by some.  When a number comes in, search the system- has this person called before?  Same with email addresses.  Some clients will change their name and try again, but use same number/edress.
Consider investing in a non US-based database system for your database, such as Safe Office

http://www.securecompanion.com/

Google calendar is publicly accessible- do NOT put an email address in google calendar, it will notify them of the file their edress appears in (and often time, your legal name/info)

There are some concerns that are less about screening and more about overall safety:

Make sure you are not traveling without money- being broke leads to cutting corners and taking gigs that you feel bad about out of desperation.

Before your session- lock your computer/phone (password protect) as some clients are looking for stuff for post-session
Make sure not to leave keys out/accessible
Let clients know you are doing safety calls, have plans later that night, and/or that someone knows where you are

Research your complete tour in advance- search for the city, county and state laws, legal issues, the terms for your kind of work in conjunction with all of the above.

Physical health: Do you have supplies for staying healthy?  In lots of sizes and materials beyond latex in case of allergies?
Do you know how to visually do inspections?
I personally do not take folks “on their word” on health information.

Providing STD testing information for all sexually active folks is a great way to help the world at large, and many counties offer free services.  Whether to link this with your own work is up to you, but I think it is important activism for the world at large.

**

Adult Modeling
Whether appearing in film or video, I tended to ask folks…

Where can I see your portfolio? OMP site?
Who has been your favorite model to work with? What did you love about working with him/them/her?
What project is this for?
What are some of the names of the films you have shot in the past? (then look them up and see how widely distributed they were)
What kind of project is this?
What would you like me to bring with me to the shoot? (if nothing, I tended to be very wary)
Can I get a password to that site beforehand?
If private collection: Can I see a few of your favorite pics you have shot from shoots in the past?
Do you have a space my driver/escort can wait during our shoot?
Do you pay by the hour, camera hour (hours of footage recorded) or project?
How long do you expect our shoot to last? (followed up by “oh good, I can have someone pick me up at X time then,” or “fantastic, I was hoping to do Z afterwards and a meeting friends there.”)
How many people are on your crew? (safety in numbers with unknown artists)
Should I plan for hot lights or flash? (if photo, shows you know difference)
Who will my co-stars be?  (be wary of surprise co-stars, and consider writing those co-stars in advance and creating a connection)

**

Pro Dom(me)/Pro-sub/Fetish

Some of my favorite questions…

What has your experience of seeing dominants in the past been?
What was your favorite session/scene and why?
What challenges have you had seeing professionals in the past? What would have helped those challenges?
How involved are you with public kink?
How long have you been exploring kink?
How do you identify in kink? (Bottom, submissive, slave, kinky, fetishist)
Please fill out this checklist for my entertainment/enjoyment…
Have you read my website? (Then quiz them)
What about X activity is hot for you?
Whom have you seen before? What was your favorite part of playing with them? (then checking said reference)
Why don’t you see them any more?
What is the hottest thing about kink for you? (is it a real person answer, or is it “being in total subservience to…” etc)
What are some fantasies you have had involving seeing me?

And some things I learned/developed along the way…

Having folks strip at beginning of session for me helps me maintain control of situations and make sure clients are not hiding anything.
Staying calm and in control in strange situations is key.
Folks will say the most curious things, and it is hard to know if they mean them.
I tend to shy away from hyper-demanding people who have never had a session with me yet.
I tend to shy away from whiny people.
Encouraging a pre-gift from my wishlist or that they think I would enjoy.
That if I am meeting a new client, I have the right to meet them in a semi-public place… especially if I make it into part of the scene in a covert way.

**

Agencies/Houses/Managers

How well does your house screen your clients for you?
Would your phone person take the call?
What information do they take for you?
Look through the first list- what do they do?
How established is your house/agency/manager?
What cut do they take?  Is it fair?
What behaviors do the other folks in the agency do?  Are they putting you at risk with their behaviors?

**

If traveling in general:

Look at local lists of “bad johns”
Having backup people in each location
If meeting in public, girlfriend/associate who can be hanging out with you or nearby when guy shows up to get a visual look at them
Clear info that you are expected elsewhere at some point and would be missed if did not call

**

Notes to All

Avoid impulcity, desperation, fear, intimidation or lack of self-respect or personal boundaries… these lead to poor choices.
If it is too good to be true, it probably is.
Are they providing too much info while not answering basic questions?
Double check your uncertain feelings with friends and allies.
Be concerned around dramatic changes in plans
Consider your physical safety concerns- security person, someone in next room

Make sure to build up layers of reference: how many points have they provided?  Does this seem to be a good full picture?
Negatives in building references trump positives

Listening to your body wisdom (if heeby jeebies, online or in person, what is your body telling you?)

A note to male escorts- be aware that because of cultural taboos, and a different culture in men for men hiring, that some of these systems for screening such as asking for full legal names may be far more challenging if possible to do at all.

**

Important links for all Adult Service Providers:

Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP)- http://www.swopusa.org/
Sex Workers Outreach Project- Michigan- http://www.swop-mi.org/
Desiree Alliance Conference- http://www.desireealliance.org/
Network Of Sex Workers Project- http://www.nswp.org/
Prostitute’s Education Network- http://www.bayswan.org/penet.html
The Sex Worker’s Project- http://www.sexworkersproject.org/
$pread Magazine- http://www.spreadmagazine.org/

Regional or National lists/resources:

Asia Pacific Network of Sex Work Projects http://apnsw.org/apnsw.htm
Bay Area Sex Workers Advocacy Network (BAYSWAN)- http://www.bayswan.org/
Call Off Your Tired Old Ethics (COYOTE, USA) http://www.walnet.org/csis/groups/coyote.html
Collective of Sex Workers and Supporters (Taiwan) http://coswas.org/
Cybersolidaires (Montreal, Canada) http://www.cybersolidaires.org/
Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (Sonagachi Project, Kolkata, India) http://members.tripod.com/~subratosensharma/jana.html
Empower Foundation (Thailand) http://www.empowerfoundation.org
European Network for HIV-STD Prevention in Prostitution http://www.europap.net/
European Network Male Prostitution http://www.enmp.org/
Exotic Dancers Association of Canada http://www.exoticdancerscanada.com/
International Collective of Prostitutes (England, UK) http://www.prostitutescollective.net/
The International Union of Sex Workers (England, UK) http://www.iusw.org/
New Zealand Prostitute’s Collective- http://www.nzpc.org.nz/
Prostitutes of New York (PONY, USA) http://www.walnet.org/csis/groups/pony.html
Red de Trabajadoras Sexuales de Latinoamerica y el Caribe (Argentina) http://www.redtrasex.org.ar/
Scarlet Alliance (Australia)- http://www.scarletalliance.org.au/
Scottish Prostitution Education Project (Scotland, UK) http://www.scot-pep.org.uk/
Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT, South Africa) http://www.sweat.org.za/
Sex Workers Project, New York (USA) http://www.sexworkersproject.org/
Stella, Montreal (Canada) http://www.chezstella.org/
Zi Teng (Hong Kong) http://www.ziteng.org.hk/

Um, I thought your name was Bridgett?

For the past 11 years in the public scene, and in my art, I have used the name Bridgett Harrington, which are both parts of my legal name. So is Lee. I have made a decision to start using Lee in public instead because it is truer to where I am with my life now. I have been hesitating to do this for a variety of reasons, mostly because I have developed a reputation under the name Bridgett Harrington- but this is a truth I need to do. Waiting any longer (I’ve been using Lee full time with my family for a while, and with a group of friends as well) will not help me, and in fact will hinder.

Is this some sort of stuff with your gender thing?

Sort of. Bridgett Harrington has developed for me an odd sensation associated with it. It is my nome de plume, not something should be calling me when I am playing with them, or in general using the entirety of in social settings. I am NOT that pretentious. But in 2006 I had 3 different individuals, in very intimate moments, say something like “I can’t believe I am with THE Bridgett Harrington” (I’m not kidding). So, that is Part 1.

Part 2- After 10 years of the issue being shelved, my gender and identity issues are back strongly on the table. I shouldn’t call them issues, when in reality I am very happy to have the identities that I have. From 13-17 I actively considered reassignment surgery, and at that time planned on using the name Brian if I ever did so. I decided not to at that time, and shelved the issue, and tried to live as a happy female two-spirited individual. This shell has cracked, and I have come to realize that no, indeed, I identify 75% male 25% female (note I use male/female, not masculine/feminine). I also have distinct issues with how my body appears and how I use it, and what I want to transform it into. Thus, I needed for my own mental comfort a name that is more gender neutral for day to day use.

Part 3- Lee is short for 2 names- Leannan (Gaelic for “Sacred Love”), and Ashlee (one of my legal names)- a masculine (in my mind) name birthed from two feminine ones. Leannan is a name I started using in some of my writing work back in 1998. Ashlee has been with since I was 7 and demanded that it be added to a very amused mother, who to this day is still amused.

So, do we call you HE then?

I prefer masculine pronouns, but am happy to just have folks tackle the name thing for now. And yes, I get that addressing the person in the tight laced corset as he is hard for most folks. I also use gender neutral pronouns.

Are you planning on, you know, surgeries and stuff?

In the next 3 years, assuming budgets work as planned, I plan on having chest surgery. Yes, my body is beautiful, and yes, my tits are great tools- but I do not identify with them. I have serious identity issues with not recognizing my body in the mirror, and want to work on making my vision of me and my outward presentation of me fit better with one another. This has been a HUGE issue for me. I use my breasts as a tool for my work as a performance artist and model. I use them as a tool for seduction and manipulation, and have since I was 12 (I sold more camp fire candy when I wore low cut shirts I found). I find the piece of artwork that is my body as is to be an amazing one, one that I find beautiful, one that I enjoy aesthetically and even erotically in images or even in a mirror- but I do not recognize it as ME. I literally look in the mirror and have gone- wow, hot woman, then realized it was my reflection.

In the past I could cope with this level of non-association, but not any more. As for other surgeries and things- they are not necessary for me at this time. As for hormone therapy- that debate is actively on the table and I am seriously considering it.

Why can’t you just be happy binding and packing and then you can be a guy and a girl?

Good question.
I tried?
That is the short answer. The reality is that my body issues, when I allow myself to care, are so bad that I can’t allow myself to even see my body, let alone let other folks touch it, or anything like that. This is an issue. Also, I love being a girl- but only when I know its not how folks see me as my primary identity. It is often times dress up, fun time- when I am at a coffee shop, I would rather have Joe/anne Barista say “what would you like Sir,” not “What would you like M’am?” I’ve spent most of the past 10 years not caring, and I just can’t do it any more. I made a promise to a few very important individuals that I would stop running from my issues, and that has meant that I have to stop not looking, turning a blind eye on my behavior and preferences of being.

Are you going to keep shooting porn and escorting/Domming?

I will keep doing all of the above for as long as it feels right. I am still an amazingly powerful woman, even if I am also a strong man. These are not mutually exclusive concepts for me. The question is- what will the fans/clients want? I have friends who are amazing men with innies between their legs who have done a fair amount of Domming, escorting, or shot porn. But how that evolves is uncertain. I look forward, as I have been doing since the age of 11, to documenting my evolution as a sexual human being- whether that is shared with the world or not will be determined in the next few years. I have a really hot idea for a porn that has me fucking the same group of people a few weeks before then a year after chest surgery, but I have no idea who would produce it.

So this is just a sexual thing? How will you do normal work?

I would like to go back to grad school, but have decided not to do so until I get my personal identity and body concept stuff in order. Changing names, body ingredients, etc after graduate school just does not appeal. This is NOT just a sexual think, not some kinky thing about being a role in bed- this is about my concept of myself as a day to day human. Individuals who live a gendered life other than that which they were born/assigned at birth can do just about any job that anyone else can, cheers.

So, what now?

Good question- I’m trying to figure that out. I am going to slowly start transitioning my educator and photographic work over to the name Lee Harrington instead of Bridgett Harrington. However, my porn… I want to keep my porn under Bridgett Harrington as it is part of that concept. I’d prefer if folks see me socially to call me Lee, and hell, anyone can call me Lee, and I’m not going to freak if you call me Bridgett any time either, except in the bedroom and you’re not a client or its not part of a persona/scene thing. I’d prefer to not have you moan about how much you’ll miss my breasts- if you want them, please offer buying them off of me- please. I’m happy to give them to someone else.

Beyond that- wish me luck, be understanding, and pass the word on to anyone you think would be appropriate to know.