MsC 2022 will have Panels presented by a diverse group of national, international, regional and local presenters.
Below is a partial list of the approved panels. More will be posted as we receive and approve them.
(click titles to open for presenter bios and full class descriptions)
Panelists: Sir Guy & Malika, Mister Blue, Ms DDom, Sir Wu & slave DeeDee
Moderator: Mama Vi
For most of us, long before we embarked on this journey into hierarchical relationships or identified on either side of the slash, we identified with our race, our culture and our ethnicity. To think that being a Person of Color who practices consensual Master/slave relationships would not bring with it a considerable amount of expectations and issues is to be ignorant of the facts. No matter how we may personally feel about issues of race there are those both within and outside of the M/s communities for whom race is a very serious issue. For many People of Color, the words "master" and "slave" in and of themselves can create controversy as does the idea of "owning" or "being owned". There are many things that often go unsaid when discussing M/s relationships and People of Color. This panel intends to say those things out loud and address them.
Panelists: Mrs BlueFrost, Ms DDom, TheGoddessIndigo
Moderator: Mama Vi
African Americans are active participants in the Leather and M/s community-at-large; their presence cannot be overlooked, and their contributions should not be ignored. African American women have a firm footing in the Leather and M/s community as bricklayers, leaders, mentors, confidants, and friends; regardless of what side of the slash she identifies. African American women are standing in the gap as protectors of sacred spaces, greeters to The Next Generation, sage elders with wisdom to share, and activist for inclusion and change. This panel of African American women will share stories and perspective regarding their journey in Leather and M/s.
Panelists: Lady O, Master J, Master Toni & Master Kaddan
Moderator: Mistress Susan
In our traditional American society, most of us were raised with a male head of the household. As this is what we were modeled, what happens when we become female Masters? What personal challenges do we need to overcome? How do we do that? How does our mindset change? What advantages do we realize? This panel is NOT all about misogyny or being misandrists, but is about exploring women’s experiences as Masters and answering some common questions. All are welcome. Come and join us!
Panelists: Sir Spyder & mrs phoenix, Sir S’ango & slave tom, Ms DDom & Cream Dream
Moderator: Pulse
Crafting relationships in this day and age can be hard and they can be even more so when one is considering one that is authority-based. It can be even more difficult when that relationship is interracial. No matter what anyone says, creating relationships outside of societal norms automatically introduces some difficulties, and when we deal with issues of race, nationality, culture and ethnicity into the mix, we may find that we have a few hurdles to jump. This panel discusses those differences and how to overcome them and also helps us look within ourselves at prejudices and misconceptions we may not have known that we have.
Panelists: Master Jim & slave marsha, Neko & slave raven
Moderator: slave trudy
In many D/s relationships, the intentions behind our partnering choices are driven by something deeper than just physical/sexual attraction or emotional chemistry, but by an internal obedience to a spiritual awareness between two or more people. If a person is truly obedient, the powerful pull for two very diverse individuals to come together in a D/s relation- ship can be both very fulfilling and very scary at the same time. This panel will discuss the development of unusual D/s relationships, such as a gay male Master and a female slave, two heterosexual females, or a heterosexual master and a gay male slave. We will also discuss the intentions of the various relationships represented on the panel, our roles and responsibilities within these relationships, and issues of sexuality and other challenges.
Panelists: Ignacio Rivera, Señor Jota, slaveboy Joshua, slave lizzie
Moderator: Master Dylan
Understanding gender identity as part of the diversity that every person has will allow to work on gender issues on Master/slave relationships. During this panel, participants are going to be in touch with different gender identities and how that identity influences in our relationships. Finally, participants should have some tools to create confidence with a trans and non-binary partner, master or slave.
Panelists: Erick, boy mikey, tyler McCormick, slave lori and slave carrie
Moderator: slave raven
Not all disabilities are visible - such as a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or mental incapacity. Physical ailments and issues are much more ‘seen’ and accepted. How do you serve or cope with the invisible or visible disabilities? What does this mean for your partner? Get some clarity and information from a panel who are dealing with these problems on a day-to-day basis.
Panelists: Sir S’ango, Hardy Haberman, Master Toni, Master Taíno
Moderator: Sir Brian
Gay Leathermen were a key part of Master/slave relationships when they were mostly underground. Are gay Leathermen still prominently involved in Master/slave relationships today? The M/s dynamic: is it just sexual, kinky roleplay? Why are many LGBTQ+ folks hesitant about being a part of the pansexual Master/slave community? Is the myth of the Old Guard still prevalent today? How did Lesbian couples develop M/s relationships? This session promises a spirited discussion of these topics and more.
Panel: Justin Tanis, Hardy Haberman, Raven Kaldera & Master Robert
Moderator: slave Rick
Many of us who participate in M/s or D/s relationships also follow a particular spiritual path, which may or may not be supportive of a kinky lifestyle. Our panelists — who respectively practice Buddhism (Master Robert), Christianity (Justin Tanis and Hardy Haberman), and Neo-paganism (Raven Kaldera) — will talk about how their practice is integrated into their lives as Masters or slaves. slave Rick (Science of Mind) will moderate, and there’ll be ample opportunity for you to ask questions or share your own experiences.
Panelists: Savage, Angelchild, Coco, Malika
In the wake of the body positivity movement, releasing ourselves from the constant appraisal of our bodies is critical emotional labor. Yes, it’s profoundly euphoric to love ourselves the way we are, but before we set out on that journey, we have to examine what social motivators push us towards obsession with shape, size, limb presence, height, mobility aids etc. This panel is not about learning to fall in love with our bodies. This panel is about learning to relieve ourselves from the societal pressure to obsess over them. Are you ready to name and reimagine the social climate that feeds our dehumanization in the mirror? Whatever your answer, this panel will represent a variety of lived experiences with one shared vision: to reclaim our right to exist peacefully in our bodies.
Panelists: Sir Guy, Master Fire, Mistress Susan
According to the doctors at www.psychiatry.com, “Mental health is the foundation for emotions, thinking, communication, learning, resilience and self-esteem. Mental health is also key to relationships, personal and emotional well-being and contributing to community or society.”
In authority-based relationships, the emotional well-being and mental health of the participants can be a factor in determining if one should pursue such a joining and with whom. Yet, if we are observant, we will find that many of us who pursue these types of relationships, like the general public from which we come, are dealing with mental health issues from depression, to post traumatic stress disorder to bipolar to anxiety. If we are not dealing with these issues personally, we may have partners who are, Living the past two years with the effects of the isolation and stress caused by the pandemic has revealed or exacerbated these issues. Can we be in an M/s relationship and navigate mental health issues? If so, how? This panel will have a frank discussion about this issue.
Panelists: Master Matt & slave Michelle, Master Dante & slave Gaia
Maintaining an M/s dynamic can be complicated. So can maintaining a poly household. What happens when you combine them? Master Dante Amor / slave Gaia Amor and Master Matt / slave Michelle are two M/s pairs representing three different poly households. Join them for a lively discussion about how M/s and poly dynamics converge. Learn how the intersection of M/s and polyamory can affect decisions about managing time, space, finances, raising children, dynamic development, protocols, interacting with extended bio-families, intersecting poly families, and more!
Panelists: Raven Kaldera & slaveboy Joshua, Master Dylan and slave colin, Henry James and slave lizzie
Moderator: Señor Jota
Transgender folks often have special challenges when it comes to finding relationships (or keeping one together through a gender transition), but what about when they are involved in a power-exchange dynamic? Does the structure of a Master/slave relationship make life easier or more difficult for a transgendered Master or slave? How do our struggles with cultural gender patterns affect our M/s roles? This discussion is open to everyone, whether trans or ally or just curious.
Panelists: Princesa MiaRose, Cream Dream, Master Kai and Master Lola Smilez
Moderator: Señor Jota
This panel will discuss the rewards, challenges, differences, and similarities of being in a Master/slave dynamic from a Hispanics and Latino(a) point of view.
Panelists: Master Dante, slavegirl j, Master Lola Smilez and DeeDee
Moderator: Mister Blue
We are living in an unprecedented time of polarization and tumultuous change. While many in our community are leaning hard into the cultivation of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, others dismiss their importance. Meanwhile, marginalized people are still sometimes negatively impacted by even the best-intentioned efforts. Whether the root is tokenism, a superficial focus on optics, deeply ingrained implicit biases, or a deficit of nuanced micro and macro social awareness, it is more important than ever for us to critically examine how diversity, equity, and inclusivity can be actively cultivated in our community. Let’s discuss the ways in which we've made progress, while taking an unflinching look at where we still need to do better, and what we can all do to make a difference.
