We are pretty vocal about who Devil Mask Studio is. We are queer owned and operated, we are committed to showing up for our BIPOC community members, and we work to center the needs of disabled or otherwise at-risk members of our communities. These commitments shape how we designed and run the Studio – from our floor plan to the educators we invite to the guidelines we enforce. We are a space built with intention.
We also know that a space built with intention cannot be for everyone – that isn’t just a truth, it’s a good thing. If our values cause someone to opt out of our space, that is a success. We are space for the curious, the compassionate, and the kind; we are not a space for racists, homophobes, or TERFs. We are specific and say these things out loud because it doesn’t matter if we know that – it matters if you know that. We can share space and disagree about so many things (what is Euro-Naka style, anyway?), but we can’t ‘agree to disagree’ about someone’s fundamental humanity.
Why We Choose to Be Specific
- Creating Safety
Safety is more than just a buzzword; it is a lived, full body experience. COVID safer spaces are rare. Sober queer spaces are rare. Events run by and for queer, kinky people of color are rare. And we believe that the conditions that make those special spaces possible also benefit all of us, even if they aren’t for us. To create a safer environment, we must be willing to exclude those whose beliefs or behaviors are in direct opposition to the safety of other participants and the space. This isn’t about intolerance—it’s about survival, trust, and community care. - Amplifying Different Voices
Devil Mask Studio is home to a wide range of rope jams – many of them created by and for folks who don’t see themselves represented in the public rope scene. We know that these communities face unique challenges and deserve spaces where their voices and experiences are prioritized. This means making room for them through policies and practices that put their needs first. If someone believes that our amplification of these voices means they don’t have a place in the Studio, they are welcome to find a space that better aligns with their values. - Building Community
We believe that community is opt-in. We are not interested in being a space where “anything goes.” We work to be a space that folks actively choose, trust, and invest in. And, frankly, we aren’t interested in being the only game in town because choice is important! We believe that’s the only sustainable path towards a community that is aligned, intentional, and resilient.
The Power of Exclusion
When someone chooses not to participate in our space because of our values or policies, that is a positive outcome. It means our message is clear and our purpose is understood. It’s a sign that we are doing the work to define who we are and what we stand for. Exclusion, in this context, is not about pushing people away but about holding space for those who need it most.
We also understand that seeing this kind of specificity can be uncomfortable for some, particularly those who are used to being ‘the default’ in spaces. We hope that discomfort can be a point of reflection and conversation – what about “Devil Mask Studio welcomes queer folks” is uncomfortable to hear? What in that invitation makes you feel that the space is any less for you?
We’re here to have these conversations. Discomfort can be a powerful catalyst for growth and if we want to be a community, that means choosing to have challenging conversations with each other. It means trusting that, even when it feels real bad, feedback is given as an act of love and investment – a belief that we can do and be better. We certainly hope that others will have these conversations with us – we’re bound to make mistakes and miss things and we’re relying on y’all to tell us when we do. Communication is a two-way street.
Building a Space with Purpose
Creating a space with purpose means standing firm in our values, even when it’s difficult. It means recognizing that we cannot—and should not—be everything to everyone. Our goal is not to be the most inclusive space in a way that dilutes our mission, but to be inclusive in a way that fiercely protects and uplifts those who need it the most.
We are proud to be a space where people know exactly where we stand.
With intention and solidarity,
Nora & the Studio Crew