Tristan Taormino: A Career in Sex Education, Literature, and Feminist Pornography
Tristan Taormino has established herself as a multifaceted voice in the realms of sexuality, gender, and feminism. Through her diverse body of work—spanning award-winning literature, provocative journalism, and groundbreaking film—she has dedicated her career to expanding the boundaries of sexual discourse and promoting inclusivity for marginalized identities.
Key Facts
- Author and Editor: Wrote eight books and edited influential anthologies, including the Lambda Literary Award-winning Best Lesbian Erotica.
- Journalism: Former columnist for The Village Voice and Hustler's Taboo magazine.
- Media Presence: Expert panelist on networks including HBO, MTV, and The Howard Stern Show.
- Film Work: Director and producer of feminist pornography and sex education films for Vivid Entertainment.
- Advocacy: Pioneer of the term queer heterosexual to describe non-traditional gender expressions within opposite-sex pairings.
Literary Contributions and Editorial Work
Taormino is a prolific writer with eight books to her credit, most notably The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women, which received the Firecracker Alternative Book Award. Her editorial work has been equally impactful, particularly her role in creating and editing the annual anthology series Best Lesbian Erotica from 1996 to 2009, a project that earned a Lambda Literary Award.
In 2011, Taormino edited Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica via Cleis Press. This collection was designed to maximize diversity in portraying trans stories and characters, addressing a significant void in erotica written by and for transgender people, specifically trans women. The anthology featured contributors such as Kate Bornstein, Julia Serano, and S. Bear Bergman, and it won the 2012 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction.
Journalism and the Concept of the Queer Heterosexual
From 1999 to 2008, Taormino was a regular columnist for The Village Voice, where her bi-weekly column "Pucker Up" appeared alongside Dan Savage's "Savage Love." During her tenure, she introduced and redefined the term queer heterosexual in a 1995 column.
Taormino defines queer heterosexuals as individuals who may have non-traditional gender expressions, actively work against assigned gender roles, or align themselves with queer politics and culture despite being attracted to a different gender. She also includes those who embrace alternative relationship models—such as polyamory (having multiple romantic partners), non-monogamy, BDSM, and cross-dressing—under this umbrella, arguing that the label "straight" is inappropriate for such lifestyles.
Beyond The Village Voice, she has written "The Anal Advisor" for Hustler's Taboo since 1999, contributed to Velvetpark, and served as the editor of On Our Backs, the oldest lesbian-produced sex magazine in the United States.
Public Speaking and Academic Controversy
Taormino frequently lectures at colleges and universities on feminism, gender, and sexuality. However, her appearances have occasionally sparked controversy. In 2004, she faced pushback at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Princeton. Most notably, in 2011, Oregon State University administrators un-invited her as the keynote speaker for the Modern Sex Conference. This decision led to national media attention and accusations of anti-sex bias, eventually resulting in students raising their own funds to re-invite her.
Film, Television, and Feminist Pornography
Taormino's media career includes hosting Sexology 101 on The Burly Bear Network (2001) and appearing as a regular expert on Ricki Lake from 2002 to 2003. She has provided expert commentary on LGBT issues, non-monogamy, and pornography for programs such as Real Sex on HBO, Melissa Harris-Perry, and Joy Behar: Say Anything.
In cinema, she served as a script consultant for Spike Lee's 2004 film She Hate Me and appeared as a "sextra" in John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus (2006), participating in an unsimulated orgy. She also appeared in the documentaries Hot and Bothered: Feminist Pornography (2003) and Mr. Angel (2013).
Identifying as a feminist pornographer, Taormino has directed several projects. She produced two videos based on her book The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women (1999 and 2001) and directed Tristan Taormino's House of Ass for Adam & Eve. For Vivid Entertainment, she directed the Chemistry series, which focused on "behind the scenes" footage where performers maintained agency over their partners and activities. She was also instrumental in creating Vivid Ed, the company's sex education line.
Critical Perspectives
While widely influential, Taormino's work has faced criticism. Rebecca Whisnant has argued that Taormino's approach represents a profit-driven version of "feminist porn" within the mainstream industry, suggesting it relies on thin conceptions of sexual ethics and feminism.
Summary of Career Contributions
| Category | Key Works / Roles | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Literature | The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women, Best Lesbian Erotica | Firecracker Alternative Book Award; Lambda Literary Award |
| Editing | Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica | 2012 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction |
| Journalism | "Pucker Up" (The Village Voice), "The Anal Advisor" (Hustler) | Popularized the term "queer heterosexual" |
| Film/TV | Chemistry series, Sexology 101, Shortbus | Pioneered performer-led feminist pornography |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a "queer heterosexual" according to Tristan Taormino?
A queer heterosexual is someone who may be attracted to a different gender but identifies with queer culture, politics, or activism, or who engages in non-traditional gender expressions and alternative relationship models like polyamory or BDSM.
Which of Taormino's editorial projects won a Lambda Literary Award?
Both the Best Lesbian Erotica annual anthology series and the 2011 collection Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica received Lambda Literary Awards.
What distinguishes Taormino's "Chemistry" film series?
The Chemistry series is characterized as "behind the scenes" movies where the performers have the agency to choose their partners, the activities they engage in, and the timing and location of the scenes.
Why was Taormino's appearance at Oregon State University controversial?
Administrators un-invited her as the keynote speaker for the Modern Sex Conference in 2011, leading to a national debate regarding anti-sex bias in academia before students eventually funded her visit themselves.
What is Taormino's role in the pornography industry?
She considers herself a feminist pornographer, directing films that emphasize performer agency and creating sex education content through lines like Vivid Ed.