Sex and Rage Lesbian Strip Night 2.12.22 (Press Letter Archives)

As they say, things come in circles. It’s been exactly one hundred years since the Roaring Twenties and here we are again, balls deep in what appears to be a Futuristic revival of the Great Gatsby. Life may be depressing, but we can sure as hell make it dreamy, daring and decadent. And we at Sex and Rage know all about decadence, as you’ll know if you’ve been to some our previous events. It’s been several months since our last party at VFD (check out our Instagram for some tantalising videos of the night) and in that time we’ve seen some major life changes that have rocked us on both a personal and collective level. Regardless, we are more committed to Sex and Rage then ever, and we thank you for your continued support in these difficult times.

Sex and Rage Lesbian Strip Night — by Imogen Cleverley

For me (Venus) this year marks a decade of doing sex work. Understanding what that means on a personal level has been both a difficult and rewarding process. As a black queer woman who entered the industry with an Afro, body hair and more than a little naivety, I am proud of having been able to support myself and of having found such an incredible community. Realising now that my queerness has been both a blessing and a burden when it comes to work, has made me thing about what it means to create spaces where queer people can have access to sexual entertainment that is so often only the reserve of cis-men. Imagining those spaces has been healing. Actually having the opportunity to create those spaces has been beyond our wildest dreams. So, are you ready to step into our fantasy?

Since 2019, Sex and Rage has been curating spaces that celebrate sexuality, sensuality and freedom of expression. Led by sex workers and community activists, we aim to platform marginalised and underground cultures in radical ways. When we go about curating these events, it’s important to us that, no matter how fun, sexy and scintillating they are, the message comes through loud and clear — that our community is by and for those sexual minorities and marginalised communities who struggle to find security or acceptance in the mainstream.

We have taken inspiration from the movie Shake Down by Leila Weinraub, an incredible movie about the Black lesbian strip club in LA in the early 2000s that was ultimately and tragically closed. (The movie is free on Vimeo and should be watched by every lesbian. It is a piece of history and should be cherished.) We also want to acknowledge Candy Bar, the infamous lesbian night-cum-strip club, that sadly closed its doors for good in 2013. (It’s now a strip club called Vanity, and I worked a brief stint there. Let me tell you, I was glad to see the back of it.) With these closures a perpetual theme of lesbian night life, whether explicit or not, we have to ask ourselves — why are spaces that centre lesbian sexuality such easy targets of censorship and closure? It’s a serious question that demands a serious solution.

Enter Sex and Rage’s first lesbian strip club! With our first Lesbian strip night taking place in December 2nd, we are challenging perceptions of how lesbians are seen and heard.

What we are positive will be the first of many, this is a night to celebrate ourselves as proud lesbians and as beings full of erotic desire and sexual agency. From the dancers, to the DJs, to the bouncers on the door, this is a lesbian led event. (Front and centre are Black lesbians; it is our demographic who for so long have been relegated to the side lines of queer history, whilst in fact we have been some of the major instigators of global movements and activism against homophobia and violence against women and girls.)

Upon arrival, make sure you take a green or red wristband — green gives consent for dancers to take you on stage for the time of your life — if you’re lucky!! If you opt for a red wristband, no worries — we’ll make sure to leave you alone and you can watch the debauched activities from a comfortable distance — whilst still feeling very much involved. You’ll be given the option to purchase tipping dollars at the door, (which you’ll want to do as you can expect to be impressed very quickly.) otherwise, someone will be walking around selling tipping dollars through the night. If you and your homies are feeling bougie and have bought a VIP table, you will be escorted to your booth where you will be welcomed with a bottle (er, or two) of Prosecco and an intimate space.

Ready to wile out? Expect a mixture of eclectic sounds, starting off with house — a classic strip club genre in Europe, in case you didn’t know- we’ll slowly warm your eardrums up to RnB, dancehall and Bashment.

Okay, okay, we heard you, and we know why you’re here. Throughout the night, you’ll be treated to some of the HOTTEST performances by some of the BADDEST erotic dancers you’ve ever had the pleasure — or the privilege — to see. Make sure you’re on your best behaviour and get ready to dash those dollars! These baddies will be walking around in between performances and to make sure you are getting LITTY — so don’t be shy, come say hi! And if you like what you see, don’t be afraid to say so and put your money where your mouth is.

Sex and Rage is about community. We understand that some people might be nervous to come to an event like this. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to message us and ask. If you would like to come but can’t afford a ticket, or you want to surprise a stranger with the gift of a night to remember, our pay it forward scheme is the way to go. Message us for more information on this. We are STOKED to see you in December — this is one for the Books. We’re making history. Make sure you don’t miss it.