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The next time you're in the grocery store, look around at just how many varieties of the same product line the shelves. From ice cream to diet sodas to shampoo, people love being able to choose exactly what suits them best. The many ways we experience different areas of life - sex, pleasure, sensuality, love, pain, commitment, spirituality - can vary remarkably from one person to the next. All human beings exist on a spectrum of experience: from extremely conservative to a little bit "kinky" to the wildly non-traditional. We believe that no single means of sexual, lifestyle or spiritual expression is any more valid or worthy of respect than any other, if it is practiced safely, sanely and consensually. TNAPEX was founded to promote the acceptance and understanding of the many personals expression of sexuality, spirituality and lifestyle that exist in our world today, including but not limited to polyamorary, swinging, BDSM and paganism. We feel that all these lifestyles are equally valid choices to be made by consenting adults. TNAPEX's goal is to dispel popular myths and misconceptions about these personal expressions through education and communication. Why do we feel it is necessary to educate and inform society at large of our personal sexuality? That's a reasonable question. No one is seeking to impose our beliefs on anyone else. Like the mainstream, we believe a person's sexuality is a private matter. Myths and misconceptions about what it is we do frequently infringes upon our rights to do it, even behind closed doors in the privacy of our own homes with other consenting adults. Members of our communities hide in the shadows not out of shame, but because being true to our own natures comes with enormous risk of public exposure. TNAPEX believes that no person should have to fear losing their children, their family, their job or their position in society simply because of their choice of personal sexual, lifestyle or religious expression. Nor should those struggling to understand their own needs and desires be afraid to seek guidance, counseling and support of their peers because of fear of exposure. Do people who practice alternative expressions really face discrimination? YES! According to a recent survey, 36% of a segment of the alternative community has suffered persecution including:
Despite the fact that 36% of the respondents reported being harassed or attacked because of their diverse sexual practices, 96% never reported the crime. Some of the reasons given were: "Didn't think authorities would believe me." "Chalked it up to ignorance and prejudice. "Wouldn't have been taken seriously." "Who would believe me?" "A waste of time." Unfortunately, staying in the closet doesn't protect people - only one-third of those who suffered violence or discrimination reported that they are "out." The other two-thirds were minding their own business and keeping their mouths shut when they were either harassed or discriminated against. NCSF (1998) TNAPEX believes that the best way we can foster understanding and acceptance for all alternative expressions is for us to come out of the closet and show ourselves for what we truly are. Not freaks, perverts or criminals. But ordinary people who work beside you, who attend the same schools and churches and PTA meetings; people who vote and pay taxes. We are husbands and wives; fathers and mothers; sons and daughters... We are responsible, contributing citizens of this community who only seek the freedom to be... exactly what we are. TNAPEX Supports the Following Alternative Expressions: A sexual orientation that may include, but is not limited to, the use of physical and/or psychological stimulation to produce sexual arousal and satisfaction. Usually one partner will take an active role (top or dominant) and the other will take a passive role (bottom or submissive). SM practitioners can be heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual, transgendered or intersex individuals. SM may contain elements of Dominance and submission, bondage, discipline and sadomasochism, but in all cases there exists a voluntary agreement to enter into SM "play" (interaction) and to honor certain "limits" (ground rules of how involved and in which direction the play can proceed). Safe, Sane and Consensual is the deeply entrenched ethic of the SM community. Polyamory means "loving more than one," and is also referred to as "responsible non-monogamy," where all participants are fully aware and consenting. Successful polyamory requires a high level of integrity, honesty, and communication. Polyamory differs from swinging as poly relationships encompass an intimate, emotional attachment, i.e. "love."
Swinging is a form of recreational social sex between consenting adults, most commonly consisting of male/female couples meeting other male/female couples for sex and/or ongoing intimate friendships. Extreme care is given to the primary relationships of the couples involved, with honest communication again a cornerstone. Paganism today is a collection of diverse contemporary religions rooted in or inspired by indigenous traditions worldwide. Pagan religions are characterized by Earth- centered spirituality, belief in the interconnection of all life, personal autonomy, polytheism, and immanent divinity. Pagans value diversity, good works, living lightly on the Earth, individual freedom, personal responsibility, community service, gender equity, and spiritual development. For more information on these alternative communities, please visit our website, www.tnapex.org. Help us stop ignorance, discrimination, violence & hate crimes... Education is the Key!
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