Interview for French site Komitid.fr

[Image Description: my hand holding a white flower made of paper with a purple center and stamens. Another paper flower lays on the floor in the background.]

Here is an interview I just completed for Olga Volfson of Komitid.fr which will be translated into French and posted up on their site at some point, but in the meantime here's the original English version for you folks ;) 

- So, Oh Joy Sex Toy was just published in French. How does that make you feel?

Oh my gosh, ECSTATIC! I studied French all throughout high school and college, even spending a semester in Aix-en-Provence. I spent much of my time abroad in French comic stores buying up copies of books that just weren't available in the US at the time. I'm afraid I've lost almost all of my ability to speak it now, but I still love it and it's such an honor to have my work translated.

- Did you know you had a fanbase in France?

I don't know about a fanbase, but I do know of a few readers who live out there! 

- In what other languages was your comic book translated?

Just French, as far as I know. 

- Back in 2012, you collaborated to the « 17 Mai » project in France [No longer available online, but my comic was reposted on The Nib-- Erika], with french cartoonist Silver. And now you just gave him space to talk sex health on your blog. How did you guys got in touch in the first place?

I believe Dwam connected us-- they're an artist I've known for well over a decade and an incredible cartoonist in their own right. Dwam did a comic for Oh Joy Sex Toy as well!  Haha, Dwam seems to know everyone, across many different circles. We've hosted each other when we're in the other's country and they even did one of my tattoos.  

- Speaking of guest stars: via your work you gave a platform, many times, to sex workers to tell their own stories. In France, we hear about what is going on for LGBTIQ rights in America, but not regarding sex work. Could you tell us more about the current situation for sex workers?

Sex workers are in a very difficult position in the US, because they provide a wanted and needed service but then society and the legal system stigmatizes and punishes them, even when they are not breaking any laws or are trying to live their lives as normal citizens. The current hot topic is how social media platforms and money processing companies are banning them from using their services, even when they are not using them for work, just as an average person who wants to tweet about their cat or have a bank account. The journalist Lux Alptraum and I made a comic that explains what's going on in simple terms for the site The Nib: Feminists Should  Support Decriminalizing Sex Work. For people who would like to learn more about sex work and how sex workers are fighting to survive, I encourage people to check out these resources that are run by actual sex workers:
-http://titsandsass.com  - Tits and Sass, A news and journalism site
-http://swopusa.org - Sex Workers Outreach Project, "is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of people involved in the sex trade and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy." 
-https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/4/13/17172762/fosta-sesta-backpage-230-internet-freedom - This article explains the conundrum of the passage of SESTA/FOSTA, which was presented as a means to fight against sex trafficking, but in reality it drives sex trafficking further underground and imperils the health and safety of all sex workers. 

- Do you get backlash for « normalizing » sex work? Because in France, even in some sex positive spaces, sex workers still get stigma and hate...

Not a whole lot, honestly! 

- By the way, your book was prefaced by Céline Tran, an ex-sex worker who's become a very followed feminist activist. Did you know about it? Did you two discuss your work before Oh Joy Sex Toy got published in France?

I only learned about this after I read an article about the book! Céline seems like a really interesting person and I'd love to read her introduction, but I haven't gotten a copy of the book yet. Someday soon, I hope! If she ever comes through Portland, Oregon, I'd love to sit down and have a tea with her. 

- There has been a lot of public discussion regarding sex toys lately: talking about agism thanks to Grace & Frankie on Netflix and about accessibility for disabled folks thanks to queer disabled activist Andrew Gurza. Do you think were witnessing a significant shift in the way sex toys are conceived by the industry and perceived by people? 

I see the shift as more cumulative than sudden, this normalizing of sex toys has been growing since the 90s when Sex and the City featured a rabbit vibrator-- I mean, it started even before then, of course, but I'd say that was a major turning point in the public's perception of them. Every year since then more and more woman-friendly, sex-positive sex toy stores have opened up and the internet has created so many accessible resources for people to learn about sex toys from the comfort of their own home. The more people have safe, friendly, trusted resources, the more they're comfortable they become with  the concept of sex toys, and the ball keeps rolling from there. 

- You've been drawing a lot of different bodies for your Masturbateers for years now. Now, body positivity is getting more and more attention from mainstream culture, which seems both great for people out of the norm to feel more represented and worrisome as we live in a capitalist world. What's your take on the situation?

I think it's long-overdue for diverse bodies to be depicted in the media and I'm so happy for young people who are growing up with access to images of all different kinds of bodies so they can see that as normal. We actually get a lot of pushback for featuring such a wide variety of body types in the comics! But this is what the real world looks like, people come in all different shapes and sizes, and we're trying to make a comic that reflects the needs of real people. It would be unrealistic for us just to show the same types of people over and over and over in our work, that's not what the world looks like. 

- In France, we regularely have a debate around the work "queer". Some, mostly younger generations, love it because it's so inclusive but others, mostly older generations of activists, say it's not political enough, as it "erases" differences between situations that are not the same for different letters and categories of the rainbow and does not, in the end, help theoricizing our fights and winning rights. Is it the same in the USA? What's your opinion on this?

Oh, that's so funny because out here it's the opposite! The older generation loves the word "queer" and the youngsters are trying to turn it into an unspeakable slur! Personally, I love the word queer as an umbrella term that covers many, many different identities all in one syllable. It's much more practical than repeating those always-expanding acronyms, LBGTIQA-etcetera-etcetera.  Of course this word won't be perfect for every situation, especially if people are trying to talk about specific identities, but it's the best we've got when it comes to covering everything under one simple label. 

- As we're talking queer identities, you made a strip about how you defined yourself as queer "because it's unlimited" back in 2012. Does it still feel just right or have your feelings evolved on that matter?

It does still feel right. My understanding of sexuality and what I find sexually appealing continues to evolve and change, and "queer" is always applicable.  

- The last couple of years have been especially rough for feminism and LGBTIQ rights in America. But what just happened in the midterms elections seems significant and somewhat optimistic. How do you feel about this?

While I'm happy we had such a strong Democratic turnout, I'm afraid to get my hopes up for any meaningful changes. It's been a devastating two years and Republicans have done everything they can to prevent the Democrats from being able to get anything done, even after they replace them in offices.  

- December is almost here as, for a big part of us, huge family gatherings for Xmas, New Year's and so on: you've talked about, let's say tense, exchanges with your family regarding your life, relationship... What piece of advice would you give queer folks who don't have a very "safe" environment this time of the year?

If your family of origin isn't safe for you, mentally or emotionally (or physically, of course!), don't go home. Make your own chosen family and spend your time with them. I'm estranged from my biological family and I have such a loving, welcoming, supportive network of friends and loved ones who I spend my holidays with. Find the people who understand you, who make you happy, and develop your bonds with them.