An alluring, artistic insight into life, sex, and work beyond the binary.
Writer and Performer Stoya‘s ZeroSpaces , co-founded with Rev Mitcz and operated in conjunction with Syd Deveraux, Sweetpea, and Steve Ronin, is a uniquely eclectic magazine project—curating art, prose, and video from sex culture-creators. The most recent issue Mostly Non-Binary explores gender fluidity through the eyes and experiences of performers and artists, giving them the space to enlighten and express.
This is a very personal review for me; I’ve been following Stoya’s work since I studied porn at university. More importantly, this issue focuses on non-binary experiences, opening with a gorgeous shot of legendary performer Jiz Lee. As a non-binary sex writer and porn reviewer, performers are my inspiration and my idols. When I came out as non-binary last year, it was Jiz Lee I thanked.
Every part of this issue of ZeroSpaces spoke to me. Indigo Wolfe’s essay “Sex Toys for Non-binary Bodies” introduced me to the Hand Solo, an adaptable toy that can be used with any body, something that may help with my occasional dysphoria. Mia Little’s beautiful essay “F/Philipino/X” detailed the all-too-familiar experience of growing up the closeted genderqueer child of two cultures and the need for chosen families and comforting trans elders.
Being genderqueer is the continued experience of arrivals and departures of self. Are the spaces I enter and the people I stand beside ones I am safe enough with to stand as myself?
Mia Little
Interviews (written and filmed) delve into the nuances of non-binary sex workers’ lives. We’re introduced to Soph and Sophie: the dual personas that one non-binary pro-dominant brings to their sessions. Performer Kasey Warner describes their personal gender journey and porn career, their voice overlaid onto a consequentially intimate and emotional solo scene—making porn the way they want to, without pressure to perform cis-ness.
All I wanna do is just make people feel something, because if I can feel OK, and someone else can see that, then maybe they can feel OK.
Kasey Warner
ZeroSpaces takes an eclectic, inclusive approach to sex culture, exploring all aspects of expression, work, and relationships. There are interviews with artists discussing their influences, book reviews by sex workers addressing the representation of sex work in literature, sexy scenes between industry friends. Previous issues have focused on themes like Exploration, Unicorns, and the confluence of LA/New York culture, featuring writing, photography, art and film from a wide range of contributors. Each issue is perfectly put together—a balance of cerebral and fun, enlightening and arousing, visual and verbal.
Even for me, someone living in a queer bubble in a large city with the freedom to (mostly) express myself how I want, I still didn’t quite realize who I was until queer porn showed me how I could be.
Like so many things to do with queer, pornographic art and online sex work, my only frustration with ZeroSpaces is that there isn’t more work like this. That recent regulations have made sexual artistic expression so limited online, for workers and fans alike. Even for me, someone living in a queer bubble in a large city with the freedom to (mostly) express myself how I want, I still didn’t quite realize who I was until queer porn showed me how I could be. Sexual expression is a huge part of our lives and for me, the key to understanding my gender. Who else is missing out on these moments, these relatable journeys, simply due to a lack of access? If I’d read these essays years ago, how much clearer would the solution to my discomfort have been?
I’m grateful these unique projects exist, and to the people who pour their passion into them. It makes a difference, in ways that, for me, are becoming easier to express.
“Mostly Non-Binary” and previous ZeroSpaces issues are available at zerospaces.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.