Folsom Street East is an important opportunity for visibility, outreach and activism; a key part of that visibility and activism is taking a proud stand – outside in the sunshine – embracing sexual diversity and celebrating it. To that end, and in recognition of unwavering voices and dedication to many issues of importance to sexual minorities, Folsom Street East annually presents the Sexual Freedom Award at this each year’s street festival.

The Sexual Freedom Award comes with a cash prize to be donated to the charity of the recipient’s choosing.

2010 Sexual Freedom Award Recipient: Susan Wright

Folsom Street East is thrilled to announce the recipient of this year’s Sexual Freedom Award: Susan Wright.

Susan Wright is the spokesperson for the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, which she founded in 1997. Susan coordinated the SM Policy Reform Project for the National Organization for Women which resulted in rescinding their anti-SM policy in 1999, and created the SM vs. Abuse policy statement through Leather Leadership Conference, 1997-98. Susan is a member of the organizing committee for the Smarter Sex NYC, the Sex Positive Journalism Awards (Sexies), and the advocacy committee for the American Association for Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists. Susan has published over 25 books, and her latest novel is Confessions of a Demon. For more information about this year’s recipient, visit her website at www.susanwright.info.

Charity Recipient: National Coalition for Sexual Freedom

2009 Sexual Freedom Award Recipient: John Weis

Charity recipient: Pieter Claeys, researcher/historian documenting the history of the Leather Community in Amsterdam www.LTHR.nl