The Erotic Awards are the Leydig Trust's most prestigous philanthropic and fund-raising project.
The Erotic Awards is in our 14th year and fast evolving.
Aims:- Honour talented people, which might be for the first time in their lives, despite fame. The judges try to include those who have been negatively reported by the media and promote the value of people who have chosen to make a living with their bodies
- Act as a much-needed catalyst. The most talented people from each areas of the sex world get to meet one another, influence each other and work together, newly inspired and with renewed confidence. One finalist started an erotic show (The Whoopee Club) and another began the London School of Striptease, eventually becoming one of the teachers at the International Workshop Festival, sponsored by the Arts Council. Carley Hague who won Fashion Designer in 2004 is now being trained as a striptease artist by Jo King and will be performing on stage for us. Marilyn Jaye Lewis has begun an Erotic Writers Forum. Alan from WhatsYours.com met his wife and they went on to set up Coffee Cake and Kink. The Artist of the Year 2004 has now been commissioned to design the front of the Erotic Review, owned by one of our Sponsors.
- Promote pride and excellence in the sex world. Many sex aids fail to reach the finals because they are shoddy or ill-conceived; most porn fails because it is banal or formulaic. Intelligence, wisdom, talent and daring to be different or speak out are commended. Emphasis is on sharing creativity and diversity, rather than serious competition. Amateurs, enthusiasts and novices participate cheerfully alongside more the professional and commercial.
- Raise funds for Outsiders. Though we have, and give, much pleasure, we never lose sight of the ideal to promote the social and sexual integration of people with disabilities, and support Outsiders.
Outsiders is a unique in the world and has been since it was founded by Dr Tuppy Owens in 1979. It is a self-help group for disabled people to gain confidence and find partners. The Club offers members support in asserting their right to a private life, and seeking love in a society where status stems from good looks and money. Outsiders runs the Sex and Disability Helpline, a V-Group for disabled women with sexual problems, a LGBT network and the Sex and Disability Alliance.
Without the funding from the Leydig Trust, this work would never have been possible.
Grand Jury of Conspicuous Sexuality and the TeamJudges meet several times a year to discuss the Erotic Awards, and select the finalists and winners.
JudgesThe Grand Jury of Conspicuous Sensuality is a diverse team of experts:
- Shield – Chair and Stage Manager
- Tania Glyde Vice- Chair and Authoress
- Tuppy Owens – Director and Pioneer
- Victor Arwas – Art Writer
- Mouse – Performance Artist and Film Maker
- Ashley - Photgrapher
- Boyd Phillips – Artist and Curator
- Valeria – Performance Artist and Fetish Diva
- Lily Dumont – Actress and Sex Writer
- Helen Karin - Fashion Designer
- Ian - SW5 Project of Sex Workers
- Anna Hughes – Journalist
- Solitaire – Striptease Artist
- Dr Tuppy Owens Director
- John K at Bottle Rocket
- Jon Edge, Ashley, Dylan, Tania Glyde, Rod McDonald, Alex Teacher, Pat B Photographers
- Alison Wheeler Technical Manager
- Lily Dumont Publicity
All these people and the large team of helpers work for free as volunteers to help raise money for Outsiders and promote our aims. We can always do with another spare pair of hands if you wish to get involved.