opinion

We're All in This Family Together

Kim Airs' the name, sex toys my game.  Yes, I'm in that segment of the adult industry.

It's funny how when someone meets me and is not aware of what I do, and when I tell them, they automatically assume that I know everyone and everything about the adult industry as a whole.  Those of us in the biz are sort of related to each other, kind of like cousins that live in the neighborhood but don't really know what their relatives are doing, no matter the proximity to each other.  They look at me kinda baffled when I mention that those in porn probably don't know one Rabbit Pearl from another and I probably don't know one porn star from another either (except for a few, of course).

So I am stepping away for a moment from my usual posts about sex toys and sex toy info, to take a moment and side with my family of porn stars and smut makers, and Diane Duke of the Free Speech Coalition, the watchdog for the adult entertainment industry guarding against unconstitutional and oppressive government intervention among several other activities.  I was on the elected Board of Directors of FSC (2003-2005) so I know the good work it does on behalf of the industry, no matter what segment of it you're in.

With the sad closure of the AIM Healthcare clinic, created by the blood and sweat work of my good pal Sharon Mitchell, the 70's and 80's adult film star who demanded that we police ourselves when AIDS became a real threat to the business, FSC is stepping up to the plate to let CalOSHA and AIDS Healthcare Foundation know that making condoms mandatory in the adult industry will only drive it to another state, if not country, which would lead to an even larger industry void here in the Los Angeles area.  What AIM Healthcare did worked, setting the standard for STD/HIV testing in the industry FOR the industry, despite the fact that the latest slip thru the crack was a male porn star who got an HIV positive result, perhaps from his own out of the industry sexual escapades (claiming he was "gay for pay" for the films he made).  By having CalOSHA/AIM Healthcare Foundation think that mandatory condom use will help us, will, in fact, harm us even more in ways we will never fathom.

So I am asking you to join the rest of your cousins in this wacky adult industry, no matter what you do in it: webmaster, product ad copywriter, designer, office worker, writer, blogger, producer, adult toy store owner... anyone who is as passionate as I am about keeping this business thriving despite the government threats, to attend the upcoming meeting this Tuesday, June 7, in downtown LA to support our "family" that we know and love.  Diane Duke's brilliant XBIZ blog posting has all of the details.

You can bet your ass that my ass will be there, too.

And oh, actually, I DO know a connection between the sex toy biz and the porn biz... it's the Ron Jeremy dildo, of course...

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

Meghan Dunkel Brings Momentum, Focus to Sales Management

As an 18-year veteran of the sex toy business, Meghan Dunkel has witnessed plenty of the industry’s ups and downs. One of her big takeaways: Only the most committed end up staying.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Viben Toys Aims to Personalize Pleasure in the Affordable Luxury Market

If your customer’s sex toy collection doesn’t include a pulsating purple unicorn or a rose equipped with a tongue, it may be time to introduce them to Viben Toys.

Colleen Godin ·
profile

Condom Sense's Adam Edwards on Driving Retail With Purpose

Still, the inclement weather can’t stop Edwards from doing something he’s done for most of his adult life: talking shop. About six and a half years ago, as soon he turned 18, he joined Condom Sense. His father, Mike Edwards, started the company in the 1990s.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Delicto Serves Up Online Retail With a Side of Super-Charged Sex-Ed

Meet Rose MacDowell and Sarah Riccio, co-founders of the online pleasure product hot spot Delicto.com. Since 2021, these business owner besties have been slinging vibes and dildos while openly sharing their love for self-induced orgasms on social media — a strategy that has earned Delicto half a million followers on TikTok.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Tips for 'Soft Selling' to Today's Shoppers

"This is our bestseller.” “You should get this one instead; it’s stronger.” “This one costs more — but it’s way better!” In adult retail, sweeping statements like these can sound impersonal and make shoppers feel rushed, unseen and unsupported.

Sara Gaffoor ·
opinion

A Guide to Displaying Sex Dolls In-Store

Sex dolls are high-priced and visually striking, but often misunderstood by first-time buyers. Displayed poorly, they can seem intimidating, gimmicky or off-putting. Displayed well, they become conversation starters, high-quality premium products and confidence-boosting sales opportunities.

Jessica Sav ·
opinion

How AI Is Modernizing Retail HR

With 21 locations, I’m pretty much always hiring. Unfortunately, the employment market these days can be chaotic, as candidates send out applications across dozens of job boards with a single click. For managers like me, this results in more time spent sorting through signals and static.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

Rethinking Influencer Marketing in Sexual Wellness

Influencer marketing has evolved over the past several years, and that ripple has extended to the sexual wellness industry. The factors driving the appeal of partnering with influencers — raising awareness and expanding reach — remain just as important as they did when such partnerships first became common.

Naima Karp ·
trends

Meet the New Class of Pleasure Purveyors Making Waves

The sexual wellness industry has always evolved in response to cultural shifts, but the current wave of up-and-coming pleasure brands signals something deeper than trend cycles or aesthetic refreshes. These founders aren’t just launching new products; they are reframing what intimacy means, who it is for and how it fits into everyday life. Across supplements, toys, aftercare and even divination decks, a new generation of brands is closing long-ignored gaps — between pleasure and wellness, fantasy and function, science and sensuality, individuality and shared experience.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

Viben's Kara Liburd on Building a Fulfilling Career in the Industry

“We work in an industry where trust, follow-through and service matter just as much as product quality,” declares Viben sales exec Kara Liburd. “Retailers today want analytics, marketing assets and deeper product knowledge, and brands are stepping up to provide that support.”

Colleen Godin ·
Show More