The IRR Team assisted with 240 reports received by NCSF’s Incident Reporting & Response program in 2023, compared to 237 in 2022, 213 in 2021, 126 in 2020, and 183 in 2019. 15 out of 79 Criminal reports (19%) by people whose consent was violated were about a kink/CNM community organizer or presenter, compared to 22% in 2022.
NCSF maintains the confidentiality of those who come to us for help, however we balance that with the need to report the services we are providing and to provide the community with a record of where the need is the greatest. Here is a breakdown of the cases the IRR Team dealt with in 2023:
Criminal
96 people made reports & requested assistance compared to 75 in 2022, 71 in 2021, 40 in 2020 and 39 in 2019:
- 79 reports came from people who were assaulted, sexually assaulted, choked, domestic violence, blackmailed, stalked, harassed, threatened, stolen from, revenge porn, forced to take drugs, stealthed, exposed to an STI, recorded without consent or applying for a restraining order.
- 7 people requested resources and referrals for attorneys and resources to assist in defending themselves against allegations of sexual assault, assault, violating a restraining order, a probation order, or they needed an expert witness
- 5 people inquired about prostitution sex worker laws, FOSTA and kink
- 3 people reported they had violated consent and needed mediators or consent education
- 2 reports were about public records for convictions of assault or sexual assault
Groups
74 groups, events and businesses requested assistance or a member requested assistance with their group, compared to 88 in 2022, 74 in 2021, 36 in 2020, and 75 in 2019:
- 22 groups asked for a consultation on their consent policies & procedures
- 15 groups were asking about reports or reporting they had banned someone
- 13 people were banned by a group and want to appeal it
- 7 groups asked for referrals for dealing with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues
- 6 groups needed a KAP attorney for organizational issues
- 3 groups were having issues with their venue/hotel
- 2 events were being harassed by the local community/authorities
- 2 clubs needed assistance dealing with “sexually oriented business” law
- 1 group needed a KAP attorney for zoning issues
- 1 group needed assistance with social media protests
- 1 group was threatened with a discrimination lawsuit
- 1 group needed assistance with 2257 requirements
Civil
23 requests for assistance in civil legal issues compared to 18 in 2022, 11 in 2021, 16 in 2020, and 21 in 2019:
- 10 people needed an attorney, mediator or restorative justice professional to deal with defamation (2 accusations involved groups)
- 4 people reported shadow-banning or account suspension (3 for kink and 1 for non-monogamy)
- 4 people needed assistance with job discrimination for being kinky
- 2 people reported being extorted by a Pro-Domme
- 1 person reported they weren’t allowed to see their non-monogamous partner in addiction recovery
- A business was dropped by their insurer
- An activist inquired about dealing with social media harassment
Professionals
19 requests from professionals about kink and non-monogamy compared to 21 in 2022, 27 in 2021, 22 in 2020 and 32 in 2019:
- 11 professionals, researchers, and students needed information about kink, the DSM, Explicit Prior Permission or 2257
- 5 people were looking for a kink or polyamory aware therapist
- 1 professional reported licensing issues due to being a sex educator
- 1 person needed a DEI professional
- 1 student was accused of sexual harassment for educating about kink
Outing & Doxing
19 groups or individuals reported being outed or doxed compared to 20 in 2022, 20 in 2021, and 4 in 2020:
- 4 people reported they were threatened with outing for talking about a consent violation
- 4 people were outed to their job (2 through FetLife photos)
- 4 people were threatened with outing (1 with blackmail threat)
- 2 people were outed by group organizers after they reported an assault
- An organizer asked how to deal with a report of threats of outing against a member
- 1 person was outed and their child custody affected
- 1 person was outed to their family members
- 1 person was harassed and outed in Canada
- 1 person asked about outing themselves during a security clearance process
Child Custody & Divorce
9 parents requested help with child custody issues:
- 5 involved kink (4 child custody and 1 divorce)
- 3 involved polyamory
- 1 involved sex work
Year by year comparison for Child Custody reports, with 2023 the least reports ever received:
- 9 in 2023
- 15 in 2022
- 10 in 2021
- 12 in 2020
- 16 in 2019
- 30 in 2018
- 27 in 2017
- 16 in 2016
- 26 in 2015
- 37 in 2014