LEAH NASH PHOTOGRAPHY

STORIES | ESSAYS: The Definition of Normal

Just what does it mean to be normal? For some people this means brandishing whips, using remote controlled toys or soliciting sex. In Portland, Oregon the alternative sex community has a strong presence. Made up of all walks of life, from artists and government workers to secretaries and mothers, it is a place where people who disdain 'vanilla sex' can find acceptance. Whether one agrees or disagrees with their lifestyle, one thing that cannot be denied is that just below the surface of mainstream society, this world thrives.

Many people involved in the bondage world say they always knew they were not satisfied with ‘vanilla sex’ and made every effort to find alternatives. Many people pay for the services of a dominatrix or place ads looking for those of similar minds.
   
Randy bought his Thrill Hammer from a company in Seattle just for fun, "It's a cool way to meet chicks," he joked. Randy says that he has taken the machine to about a dozen parties and that it is always pretty popular.
   
Single mother and BBW (big beautiful woman) prostitute Gretchen Stark started seeing clients through Craigslist more than a year ago when she lost her job at a hospital.
     
  
Kitty gets ‘played’ with as others look on. Kitty has four partners, three men and one woman, which she says gets hard to manage. "I get so exhausted sometimes, keeping everyone from getting hurt, I feel like their mother."
   
Gerd and Nancy play together often, but are not exclusive and take turns ‘topping’ or ‘bottoming’, i.e. being submissive or dominant. Gerd makes leather whips to sell to the bondage community while Nancy works at a hardware store. She has three children.
   
Most people who engage in bondage get tested regularly and at parties, latex gloves and condoms abound.
     
  
Approximately twice a month Nancy and 'Sissy' meet to play. Nancy will often spank 'Sissy', scratch his back, and make him wear a dog collar. "It's so embarrassing, but I love it," says Sissy. "This is as close to heaven as I get." Sissy has OCD and says it helps relieve his symptoms by calming him down.