Dylan Ryan Joins ‘Feminism and Porn' Panel

CYBERSPACE—Feminist performer, sexuality educator and social worker Dylan Ryan will be among the women addressing the question, “Feminism and Porn: Can They Coexist?” during a live online discussion on Tuesday, September 30 at 3pm EST. “Dylan comes to the show with a deep and passionate understanding of feminism and how that plays a role in today's porn,” said Sssh.com owner and founder Angie Rowntree. “Her range of experiences allows her to bring a unique perspective that will greatly benefit the conversation.” Ryan has made a career performing, teaching people about sex, and writing works for a variety of print publishers and online media such Bitch magazine, Huffington Post and CNN. She has also contributed to academic and mainstream titles such as The Feminist Porn Book and Johns, Marks, Tricks and Chickenhawks: Sex workers writing about their lives and experiences. In her daily professional life, Dylan is a somatic sex therapist and coach, committed to aiding people in their journey toward more fulfilling sexual lives. A dedicated supporter of the sex work community, Dylan volunteers at harm reduction-focused organizations and aims to use her academic background to foment change in how sex workers are seen and received. "I did not fully identify as a feminist until the spring of 2009," she said. "As I sat in my seat at the Feminist Porn Awards in Toronto, I felt ecstatic. I was surrounded by friends and loved ones, people in the industry whom I had worked with, people I respected deeply. What we all had in common was our desire to make pornography that broke boundaries of tradition and showed authentic, empowered sex. And then my name was called from the stage. It was at some point in those next few moments, on stage in front of hundreds that I came to see myself as so many others had already: I performed in feminist porn, I was a feminist porn performer. I was a feminist. In all those years of crafting my work to represent empowerment, awareness, positive female sexuality, women's choice, I was representing feminist ideals about sex. It was also the moment I realized I am a feminist porn performer." Produced by Sssh.com, “Feminism and Porn: Can They Coexist?” will be the third live show hosted by MindBrowse.com. The first two events, “Women in Porn – Shattering the Myths” and “An Intimate Conversation with Nina Hartley and Ernest Greene,” are archived on the site, as well as on YouTube. Dylan Ryan can be found behind the screen of her laptop, typing the phrase, “Saving the world, one porn at a time." You can follow her at @thedylanryan. The discussion also will be live- tweeted and monitored at @ssshforwomen under the hashtag #sextalktuesday. Viewers may interact during the event and pose their own questions and points under the #sextalktuesday for panelists to address. For more information visit MindBrowse.com.