An Afternoon with Porn Star Annie Sprinkle, Ph.D.

words TEDDY HENRIKSEN

I have to admit, I was stoked that for once I wouldn’t have to delete my internet history when looking at porn. This time, should someone be on my computer and see “Annie Sprinkle and Dwarf” or “Little Oral Annie,” I could legitimately explain that I was doing research for this piece. Which I was, of course.

I don’t know if many people chomp at the bit to talk to a former porn-star-turned-sex-educator, but I was more than willing. I used to work at a store in Portland where a number of people trained in the delicate arts of pole dancing and amateur porn bought their props, and they’re human just like the rest of us. But Annie Sprinkle is a real porn star, having starred in real films with the likes of Ron Jeremy. (For those of you who don’t know who that is and claim to have never watched porn, you know who you are, just go watch Boondock Saints again.)
Dr. Sprinkle has garnered attention over her illustrious career for her outspoken nature and activism. Her parents were lefty activists through the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, but she says she didn’t begin her career in pornography, at the tender age of 18, as an activist. Instead, it wasn’t until later in her career, when she was nearing 30, that she took a gender studies course and realized that feminist wasn’t a dirty word. She took more classes, eventually receiving her Ph.D. She has written a number of books, from an autobiography to a sex-help book. Her movies have been remastered and are available for purchase on her website.

On an unusually bright spring day outside of the Erb Memorial Union, Dr. Annie Sprinkle, who claims to be the world’s first porn star with a Ph.D., was setting up the Sidewalk Sex Clinic. She had a radiant personality that emitted rays of calm and cheer, methodically laying out her books, pamphlets, videos (some openly displaying her breasts), and tarot cards. Her cohorts were struggling to pin up the Sidewalk Sex Clinic sign, and passing by me she winked and quipped, “How many sex educators does it take to pin up a sign? A brothel.”
The clinic was up and running, and she was available for questions. But by the time my turn came around, her voice was raspy from speaking (she’s had a long tour, and it’s far from over) and I had missed her talk from the night before. I figured she wasn’t too interested in going over things she had already covered, questions she had already answered, and talking too much about herself. Instead, I decided, this was an opportunity to hang out with someone who had worked in the world’s oldest profession, and hell, what isn’t totally awesome about that? I had already seen her in her most naked, vulnerable form, and here she was in front of me, asking if I wanted her to read my sexual tarot. Hell yes!

I am at best skeptical of things such as tarot readings. Much like psychics on TV, I feel that most of it is crowd sourcing, a skilled performer feeling out his or her audience, and reacting to answers on a generalized basis. However, with each subsequent card I pulled, Dr. Sprinkle read me like a book. She was enthusiastic about my first three cards pulled – explaining to me that I was inventive with sex, open minded, but also in a transitional period. I’m leaving school soon, and I hadn’t told her, how could she know that? Last I pulled the Fool Child card, which made her giddy with excitement, as few pull that card and it is the karmically highest card one can get. I don’t think I have to explain too much about what a Fool Child card might mean, and I have plenty of friends who would probably agree about it while simultaneously rolling their eyes.

My day couldn’t have been better spent than with Dr. Annie Sprinkle. In the afternoon I attended her eco-sex walk, a New Agey communion with nature that some 20 other people joined in on. I met a variety of people, from students who enjoyed the outdoors, to an older woman rediscovering her sexuality, to a guy who fucks trees. Seriously. He couldn’t wait to tell us about his first sexual experience with an apple tree, or how hiking through the Appalachian Trail he would steal off to rub one out on some moss.

Dr. Sprinkle concluded with a ceremony marrying anyone who was interested the earth. This was a bit much for me, but she performed it in earnest and those who participated left with a bright smile. Eugene is a good fit for a former sex star, and although I don’t think I discovered my ecosexuality, it was a blast to see that others did.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 13th, 2012 at 3:15 pm. It is filed under Uncategorized and tagged with annie sprinkle, eco-feminism, sex tarot. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.