Taboo Naughty But Nice showcases education and awareness along side feel-good products
The Taboo Naughty But Nice show is one of the only places one can think of that boasts vibrating “rabbits” in one corner, and a drag queen donned in a red ball gown lip-synching to Celine Dion in the next.
The 2011 show held Nov. 10-13 didn’t disappoint vendors or visitors.
For Pride Calgary representative Justine Bonczak, hosting a booth at Calgary’s kinkiest exhibition gives her organization a chance to reach a wider audience.
“We get to reach a whole different audience,” says Justine Bonczek
Photo by: Melissa Molloy
“Here you get a completely different audience of people that we don’t usually hit,” she says. ” A lot of people who come to Taboo might not come to drag shows or gay fundraisers.
“It’s awesome because there have been a lot of people who’ve been totally excited to learn about gay pride.”
The Taboo event is a chance for Calgary to showcase sex from all angles.
One can compile a host of safe-sex pamphlets while young and beautiful ladies walk around wearing literally nothing but the vibrantly colored patterns painted over their naked bodies.
Vendors like Pleasure Palace, a shop specializing in all things that vibrate, allows patrons to check out the latest and greatest in the sex-toy industry.
“There is something for everyone, and tons of the staff are willing to answer your questions,” employee Bree Blout says. “The (manufacturers) are always coming up with new things.”
The energy in the Big Four building at Stampede Park was charged with free-floating pheromones¬ — not to mention a group of roaming shirtless men adorned with nomadic-warrior dress and accessories.
Calgary Sexual Health Centre employees Nick Moore and Adrian Rodriguez share some sex-positive messages.
Photo by: Melissa Molloy “I think events like Taboo create a greater awareness in terms of people having a sex-positive attitude, where sex is a normal part of being human,” says Nick Moore, the charmingly handsome host of the Calgary Sexual Health Centre booth.
Just above the booth from where Moore speaks, one can’t help but notice a black and white movie-reel of a couple making love projected onto the high walls for everyone to see.
The Taboo event might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for the patrons and vendors, only good vibrations can be felt in the atmosphere.
For more information on sexy events in Calgary, click here.
mmolloy@cjournal.ca