Does Your Mother Know? How To Come Out Like A Pornstar

I'm working on an eBook anthology that will present several different looks at coming out -- or NOT -- about pornography, from the point of view of porn performers, producers, videographers, photographers, and other people in the industry.

Coming out (or avoiding the question) about porn can involve a lot of precarious situations. Many of us are parents, lovers, friends, co-workers, children, grandchildren, neighbors, customers, and the nice person who smiled at you on the bus. Whether you know it or not, we're a part of your community too.

Despite the fact that pornography is (mostly) a legal profession, there's still a ton of stigma associated with the work. This social stigma reflects itself on the people close to us; our friends and lovers. Having recently (and ongoingly) worked with issues of coming out with some of my family members, I discovered a new interest in the topic.

I am seeking submissions of personal narratives from porn performers, videographers, photographers, producers, directors, web producers, industry writers and reviewers, and anyone else who works in the field of adult videos, websites, and other explicit content. The current focus is on submissions approximately 1000 words, but longer or shorter works will be considered. (I will also accept submissions that are creative, including poetry, visual art, music and video as supplemental elements involved in the promotion of the final ebook.)

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Please provide your experience coming out (or not) and whatever details about the situation that feel comfortable to you and the parties involved.
• Please include name changes, pen names, or anonymous submissions.
• Writers retain rights and may publish their work at any time, as they see fit. Exclusivity is not required.
• Please send as a Word, Text, or Google Doc, or in the body of the email.
• If your work is selected, I will contact you in regards to publishing information, payment, and contracts.
• If your work is selected, I will contact you in regards to any desired biographies and website URLs.

Email: Jiz@JizLee.com

I will respond to all submissions no later than October 11th, 2012. (National Coming Out Day.)

So, what was your experience like? Or what information do you withhold? Do you work behind the camera in video, photography, editing or web production, and are you out about it? Do you generalize what you do when asked? Are you more open to disclosing your job to friends or strangers? Do your children know about your work? Do their teachers know? Do you have any advice to others? Did you find acceptance and excitement about coming out? Are there other coming out stories you think are relevant?

[This post is a part of Fleshbot's Jiz Lee Week.]