Saturday, Nov 17, 2012    Text size: 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The seminars and speakers of CatalystCon East have been announced, revealing a robust mix of educational and topical panel discussions, workshops and speaker sessions to engage sex educators, sexologists, sex workers, writers, activists and anyone with a passion for creating change.

Slated for March 15-17 at the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, CatalystCon East will feature a multi-track schedule similar to CatalystCon West’s, with 40 sessions and more than 70 speakers on a variety of topics, including sex ed, business and sex work.To view the full lineup of sessions, click here.

CatalystCon founder Dee Dennis told XBIZ, her goal is to maximize the cross-pollination of ideas, strategies and business potentional with CatalystCon East’s lineup of events.

“Once again it’s the sharing of knowledge. CatalystCon West is more focused on porn and East is more about sexuality,” Dennis said. “There will be more sex ed this time than in the west. However, some of the content is the same — my goal is to always have duplicate content because not everyone gets to go to all of the sessions.”

Among the adult industry-related seminars planned for CatalystCon East is “The Facts About Measure B and How It Impacts Us All” session featuring Tristan Taormino, Jessica Drake and attorney Michael W. Fattorosi.

“I’m really excited about the Measure B and prop. 35 seminars,” Dee said. “We see it from the East Coast but don’t talk about it. I want us to have that discussion on the East Coast. [The effects of the laws] start in the west and trickles to other states — just because it’s California doesn’t mean it won’t affect all of us. I’m hoping that sex educators that attend will pick up at least one thing there. Same with the Sweden sex education – I hope they take knowledge back there.”

For its East Coast edition, CatalystCon has attracted international interest with participants from Sweden and Ireland. “We’re international and it totally got me by surprise,” Dennis said.

“I’m amazed that so many people want to speak at this event and at their own expense and I have companies like Aneros, Tantus, Wet and Smitten Kitten to support this. It’s groundbreaking. Because of these companies I wouldn’t be able to do this — and I’m also grateful for the support of the Evil Sluts on social media.“

With plans for future East and West CatalystCon conferences, Dennis says she will increase her focus on education-focused product demos.

“My sponsors are more about the change that CatalystCon will create instead of ROI,” Dennis said. “I’m hoping to work with [Aneros CEO] CT to combine sex ed with products, and bringing products, manufacturers and sex education together. People want education – and most people don’t talk about sex.

“Change how we do business,” Dennis says. “Sex educators and business all have to get together. CatalystCon brings them together.”