Tristan Taormino Biography

Tristan Taormino (born May 9, 1971) is an American feminist author, columnist, sex educator, activist, editor, speaker, radio host, and pornographic film director (she also appeared in three films, two of which she directed, 1999-2000).

Early life

Tristan Taormino is the only child of Judith Bennett Pynchon and William J. Taormino. On her mother's side of the family, Taormino is a descendant of William Pynchon, an early English-American settler, and the niece of author Thomas Pynchon. Her parents divorced before Tristan turned two years old, when her father came out as gay. She was raised primarily by her mother on Long Island. She maintained a close relationship with her father Bill Taormino, who died of AIDS in 1995. Taormino attended Sayville High School on Long Island and was salutatorian of her graduating class. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University in 1993.

Career

Literature

Taormino is the author of seven books, including the Firecracker Book Award-winning The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women.

She has edited anthologies including the Lambda Literary Award-winning annual anthology series she created and edited from 1996-2009, Best Lesbian Erotica, published by Cleis Press, for which she has collaborated with the writers Heather Lewis, Jewelle Gomez, Jenifer Levin, Chrystos, Joan Nestle, Patrick Califia, Amber Hollibaugh, Cheryl Clarke, Michelle Tea, Eileen Myles, Ali Liebegott, Emma Donoghue, Felice Newman and Joan Larkin.

She was a regular columnist for The Village Voice from 1999-2008, where she wrote the bi-weekly sex column "Pucker Up." In print, her column appeared opposite Dan Savage's column Savage Love. She popularized and re-defined the term "queer heterosexual," in her 1995 column "The Queer Heterosexual." She wrote: "In some cases, it's based on either one or both partners having non-traditional gender expressions...or they actively work against their assigned gender roles. Some queer heterosexuals are strongly aligned with queer community, culture, politics, and activism but happen to love and lust after people of a different gender. I also consider folks who embrace alternative models of sexuality and relationships (polyamory, non-monogamy, BDSM, cross-dressing) to be queer, since labeling them "straight," considering their lifestyle choices, seems inappropriate." She was laid off from The Village Voice in 2008. She has written "The Anal Advisor" column for Hustler's Taboo Magazine since 1999, and she is a former columnist for Velvetpark. She is the former editor of On Our Backs, the USA's oldest lesbian-produced lesbian sex magazine.

Education

Taormino teaches sex and relationship workshops around the world and lectures at top colleges and universities including Princeton, Yale, Brown, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Columbia, Cornell, University of Toronto, Wesleyan, Vassar, University of Oregon, Swarthmore and New York University, where she speaks on gay and lesbian issues, sexuality and gender, and feminism. Some of her college appearances have stirred controversy, as at University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2004, Princeton, and, most famously, Oregon State University in 2011, where administrators un-invited her as keynote speaker at the Modern Sex Conference. There was a huge uproar on the internet, and many accused OSU of anti-sex bias. The incident received national media attention. Eventually, students raised the funds and re-invited her themselves.

Film and television

Taormino hosted the television show Sexology 101 on The Burly Bear Network in 2001, a college cable network owned by Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video. She was a regular expert and panelist on Ricki Lake for two seasons in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, she signed a development deal with MTV Networks. She served as host and executive producer on the pilot for The Naughty Show, but the series was never picked up. She has appeared as an expert on sex, relationships, feminism, pornography, non-monogamy, and GLBT issues on Melissa Harris-Perry, Joy Behar: Say Anything, HBO's Real Sex, The Howard Stern Show, Ricki Lake, MTV, and other television shows.

Taormino worked with Spike Lee as a script consultant and with the cast on the set of his 2004 movie She Hate Me. In 2006, she appeared as a so-called "sextra" in John Cameron Mitchell's film, Shortbus, participating in an unsimulated orgy that was filmed for the movie. (Her presence is confirmed by the director on the DVD commentary.) She also appeared in Becky Goldberg's 2003 documentary Hot and Bothered: Feminist Pornography and in Mr. Angel, the documentary about Buck Angel (2013).

In addition to writing, speaking and sex education, she considers herself a feminist pornographer. She made two videos based on her book The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women. The first (1999) was co-directed by Buttman (John Stagliano) and Ernest Greene. The second (2001) was directed by Tristan herself. In both videos, she takes part in the on-screen sexual activities. Subsequently, she directed Tristan Taormino's House of Ass for Adam & Eve, which shows a number of "porn stars" (from famous to unknown) interacting without a script. In 2006, she directed Tristan Taormino's Chemistry, which is the first in a series of full-length "behind the scenes" movies for Vivid Entertainment where the performers choose who they have sex with, what they do, where and when. She directed four volumes of the Chemistry series as well as sex education films for Vivid Ed, Vivid Entertainment's sex education line that she was instrumental in creating.

Sexual identity

Taormino says about her sexuality, "I don't really identify with the label 'bisexual', nor does it feel like it accurately describes me...I see myself as queer, since queer to me is not just about who I love or lust, but it's about my culture, my community, and my politics. The truth is, even if I were with a heterosexual guy, I'd be a queer dyke." In addition, "she describes herself as 'equal opportunity'. She doesn't like the word 'bisexual' - it's too polarizing."

In addition to being a vocal advocate of non-monogamy, Taormino supports gay marriage: "I support gay marriage being legalised in every state. I do however think it"?s unfortunate that in some cases gay marriage opponents have used the issue against polyamory."

Bibliography

• The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women (Cleis Press, 1997/2006) ISBN 1-57344-028-0 - winner of a Firecracker Book Award and named Amazon.com's No. 1 Bestseller in Women's Sex Instruction in 1998. Second edition was released in February 2006, ISBN 978-1-57344-221-3
• Pucker Up: A Hands-on Guide to Ecstatic Sex (ReganBooks, 2001) - re-issued in paperback as Down and Dirty Sex Secrets (2003) ISBN 0-06-098892-4
• True Lust: Adventures in Sex, Porn and Perversion (Cleis Press, 2002) ISBN 1-57344-157-0
• Opening Up: Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships (Cleis Press, 2008) ISBN 978-1-57344-295-4
• The Anal Sex Position Guide: The Best Positions for Easy, Exciting, Mind-Blowing Pleasure (Quiver, 2009) ISBN 978-1-59233-356-1
• The Big Book of Sex Toys (Quiver, 2010) ISBN 1-59233-355-9
• Secrets of Great G-Spot Orgasms and Female Ejaculation (Quiver, 2011) ISBN 1-59233-456-3
• 50 Shades of Kink: An Introduction to BDSM (Cleis Press, 2012) ISBN 978-1-62778-030-8

As editor

• Pucker Up: the zine with a mouth that's not afraid to use it (Black Dog Productions, 1995-?) publisher and editor
• Best Lesbian Erotica (Cleis Press, 1996-2009) as Series Editor
• Ritual Sex (Rhinoceros Books, 1996) co-editor
• A Girl's Guide to Taking Over the World: Writings from the Girl Zine Revolution (St. Martin's Press, 1997) co-editor
• Hot Lesbian Erotica (Cleis Press, 2005) editor
• Best Lesbian Bondage Erotica (Cleis Press, 2007) editor
• Sometimes She Lets Me: Best Butch/Femme Erotica (Cleis Press, 2010) editor
• Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica (Cleis Press, 2011) editor ISBN 978-1-57344-720-1
• The Ultimate Guide To Kink: BDSM, Role Play and the Erotic Edge (Cleis Press, 2012) editor ISBN 978-1-57344-779-9
• Stripped Down: Lesbian Sex Stories (Cleis Press, 2012) editor ISBN 978-1-57344-794-2
• The Feminist Porn Book: The Politics of Producing Pleasure (Feminist Press, 2013) co-editor ISBN 978-1-55861-818-3
• When She Was Good: Best Lesbian Erotica (Cleis Press, 2014) editor ISBN 978-1-62778-069-8

Journal articles

Videos

• Tristan Taormino's The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women (Evil Angel, 1997) director/producer/performer
• Ecstatic Moments (Pacific Media Entertainment, 1999) performer
• Tristan Taormino's Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women 2 (Evil Angel, 2000) director/producer/performer
• Tristan Taormino's House of Ass (Adam & Eve, 2006) director/producer
• Tristan Taormino's Chemistry (Vivid / Smart Ass Productions, 2006) director/producer
• Tristan Taormino's Chemistry, Vol. 2 (Vivid / Smart Ass Productions, 2007) director/producer
• Tristan Taormino's Chemistry, Vol. 3 (Vivid / Smart Ass Productions, 2007) director/producer
• Tristan Taormino's Chemistry, Vol. 4: The Orgy Edition (Vivid / Smart Ass Productions, 2008) director/producer
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Sex (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2007) writer/director/producer/host
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex, Part 1: Cunnilingus (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2007) writer/director/producer
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex, Part 2: Fellatio (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2007) writer/director/producer/host
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to the G-Spot (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2008) writer/director/producer/host
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2009) writer/director/producer/host
• Penny Flames's Expert Guide to Hand Jobs for Men and Women (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2009) writer/director/producer
• Tristan Taormino's Rough Sex (Vivid / Smart Ass Productions, 2009) director/producer
• Penny Flames's Expert Guide to Rough Sex (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2009) co-writer/co-director/executive producer
• Midori's Expert Guide to Sensual Bondage (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2009) director/executive producer
• Tristan Taormino's Rough Sex 2 (Vivid / Smart Ass Productions, 2010) director/producer
• Tristan Taormino's Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind (Vivid / Smart Ass Productions, 2010) director/producer
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Fellatio (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2010) writer/director/producer/host
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Female Orgasms (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2010) writer/director/producer/host
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2011) writer/director/producer/host
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Pegging: Strap-on Anal Sex for Couples (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2012) writer/director/producer/host
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Female Ejaculation (Vivid-Ed / Smart Ass Productions, 2012) writer/director/producer/host
• Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Kinky Sex for Couples (Adam & Eve Pictures / Smart Ass Productions, 2013) writer/director/producer/host

Awards

Year	Ceremony	Result	Award / Category	Book / Film
2003	Lambda Literary Award	Won	Lesbian Erotica	Best Lesbian Erotica 2003
2004	Lambda Literary Award	Won	Lesbian Erotica	Best Lesbian Erotica 2004
2006	Feminist Porn Award	Won	n/a	"House of Ass"
2007	AVN Award	Won	Best Gonzo Release	Chemistry
	Feminist Porn Award	Won	Hottest Gonzo Sex Scene & Hottest Diverse Cast	Chemistry
	Adam Film World Award	Won	Best Couples Movie	Chemistry
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Oral Sex Scene	Chemistry
2008	Feminist Porn Award	Won	Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 1 & 2
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Anal-Themed Release Scene	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Sex
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Director, Non-Feature	Chemistry 3
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Oral-Themed Release	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 1: Cunnilingus
2009	AVN Award	Won	Best Educational Release	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 2: Fellatio
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Educational Release	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to the G-Spot
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Oral Sex Scene	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 2: Fellatio
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Gonzo Series	Chemistry
2010	Feminist Porn Award	Won	The Trailblazer Award
	Feminist Porn Award	Won	Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men
	AVN Award	Won	Best Educational Release	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Threesomes
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Educational Release	Midori's Expert Guide to Sensual Bondage
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Educational Release	Penny Flame's Expert Guide to Rough Sex
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Educational Release	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Specialty Release, Other Genre	Rough Sex
	Feminist Porn Award	Nominated	n/a	Rough Sex
	Feminist Porn Award	Nominated	n/a	Penny Flame's Expert Guide to Rough Sex
	Feminist Porn Award	Nominated	n/a	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Threesomes
2011	Lambda Literary Award	Won	Lesbian Erotica	Sometimes She Lets Me: Best Butch/Femme Erotica
	NLA Samois Anthology Award	Won	Lesbian Erotica	Sometimes She Lets Me: Best Butch/Femme Erotica
	Feminist Porn Award	Won	Hottest BDSM Movie	Rough Sex 2
	AVN Award	Won	Best Educational Release	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Fellatio
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Vignette Release	Rough Sex 2
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Couples Sex Scene	Rough Sex 2
	AVN Award	Nominated	Most Outrageous Sex Scene	Rough Sex 2
	Feminist Porn Award	Nominated	n/a	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Female Orgasms
2012	Lambda Literary Award	Won	Transgender Fiction	Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica
	Feminist Porn Award	Won	Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Educational Release	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Educational Release	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Female Orgasms
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Group Sex Scene	Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Anal Sex Scene	Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Three-Way Sex Scene	Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Vignette Release	Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Director, Non-Feature	Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind
2013	Feminist Porn Award	Won	Smutty Schoolteacher of the Year	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Pegging
	AVN Award	Nominated	Best Educational Release	Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Pegging

Further reading