With the slogan “Come for a cause,” the event will feature porn stars Nina Hartley and Michael Soldier, who will be on hand to lend their support. While Tassy Pink will be blogging from the event, Carmen Luvana will be checking in via weblink. And those who want to watch or participate from home can do so either through the Masturbate-a-thon site or Bondage.com, which will provide web hosting for the event.
The Masturbate-a-thon is part of National Masturbation Month, which event sponsor San Francisco-based sex toy company Good Vibrations launched to protest the firing of then-Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders after she suggested that masturbation “is perhaps something that should be taught.”
The event has grown into a forum for the Center for Sex and Culture to encourage people to become comfortable with the free expression of their sexuality, according to Carol Queen, founder and director of the organization.
“We’ve heard from a lot of first-time attendees from last year’s event that it was different from what they expected,” Queen told XBIZ. “This event has gone a long way to helping some people heal the shame that is often associated with masturbation.”
But not all attendees are there for the heeling. The crowd, which Queen expects to exceed 100 people, will represent a wide cross-section of human sexuality.
“We expect everyone from gays to straights,” Queen said. “Some people will be out-and-out exhibitionists, others may be a little more shy. We expect more men than women, but not overwhelming so.”
To provide for the range of interests and comfort levels of the attendees, organizers plan to section off different areas of the space, with single-sex, semi-private and gay-friendly zones.
To date, the event has raised more than $25,000 from attendees and their sponsors. Sponsors can pledge to support participants based on duration of time spent masturbating. In 2004 a male set the record for time at 6 and ½ hours.
“People assume that male masturbation is all about speed,” Queen said. “But what can be driven fast, can be driven slowly. That’s the secret to breaking the record.”
Not to be left out, a woman set the record in 2004 for most orgasm with 36.
A team of 20 volunteers and judges will be present to insure accuracy.
The event will take place Saturday at 398 11th Street in San Francisco. Doors open at 5 p.m. Those wishing to attempt to break the time record will be let in at 4 p.m.