The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom is a nonprofit membership organization that advocates for consenting adults in the kink and non-monogamy lifestyles by fighting discrimination and persecution through direct services. The Foundation of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom is a nonprofit charitable foundation that educates about BDSM, swinging and polyamory to destigmatize sexual practices between consenting adults.
NCSF has over 100 Coalition Partners who provide strategic and policy planning, and set general goals for the Board to follow and implement. NCSF also has a growing list of Supporting Members who are groups, businesses, and professionals who support our mission:
The NCSF is committed to creating a political, legal and social environment in the US that advances equal rights for consenting adults who engage in alternative sexual and relationship expressions. The NCSF aims to advance the rights of, and advocate for consenting adults in the BDSM-Leather-Fetish, Swing, and Polyamory Communities. We pursue our vision through direct services, education, advocacy, and outreach, in conjunction with our partners, to directly benefit these communities.
1997 National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) was formed in 1997 by Susan Wright under the auspices of the New York SM Activists. The goal was to fight for sexual freedom and privacy rights for all adults who engage in safe, sane and consensual behavior. The founding Coalition Partners were:
- National Leather Association—International
- Gay Male S/M Activists
- The Eulenspiegel Society
- Black Rose
- Society of Janus
1997 – Launched Incident Response program to directly help people who are being discriminated against for being kinky.
1997 – Launched Media Outreach Project and began giving interviews to educate about BDSM, and training people to speak to the media about sex and BDSM.
1997 – Launched the Media Updates to track BDSM in the media and to alert constituents to write in to media outlets to correct the stereotypes.
1997- Conducted a national survey on Violence and Discrimination against BDSM practitioners.
1998 – Assisted multiple communities throughout the U.S. related to event and venues being shut down, criminal prosecutions and pressure on hotels not to host BDSM or kink events.
1998 – Developed Resource Materials for individuals and groups related to child custody and job discrimination.
1998 – Began presenting at professional conferences: Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality; American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists; World Congress on Sexuality; Creating Change; Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.
1999 – Lobbied to change the alcohol regulations in DC to allow BDSM and sex in venues serving alcohol.
2000 – Launched the Law Enforcement Outreach Program and soon expanded it to include Educational Outreach Programs (EOP) to educate kinky people about the law and how to run events and set up groups/clubs.
2000 – Filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Government regarding the constitutionality of the remaining portion of the Communications Decency Act.
2002 – Expanded the NCSF mission to include the Lifestyle, non-monogamy and other alternative sexuality groups.
2002 – Fought a series of attacks against BDSM conferences by Concerned Women for America, American Family Association, and the American Decency Association by lobbying state officials and through a public education campaign.
2002 – Successfully lobbied the big hotel chains – Intercontinental Hotels Group and Cendant (now Wyndham Worldwide) – to allow BDSM conferences to take place in their hotels.
2003 – Created a line of NCSF merchandise in the NCSF Shop.
2003 – Launched the quarterly NCSF Newsletter that contains updates on NCSF’s projects and programs.
2005 – Formed the NCSF Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit, by acquiring the Institute for 21st Century Relationships.
2006 – Took over the management of the Kink Aware Professionals database and expanded it to include a wide range of professionals worldwide.
2006 – Hosted a Leather Caucus at the Creating Change conference that resulted in the community-wide Consent Counts Project.
2007 – Assumed responsibility for the community-wide Consent Counts Project.
2007 – Sponsored the Sex-Positive Journalism Awards.
2008 – Conducted the second Violence and Discrimination Survey and three other surveys related to alternative sexuality.
2008 – Launched the DSM-5 Revision Project to depathologize BDSM in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
2008 – Developed a state-by-state database of assault, sexual assault and related offenses, researched all relevant case law related to BDSM and produced resource materials and educational programs for Consent Counts.
2011 – Developed a community-wide Consent Statement.
2012 – Conducted the first consent survey, the Consent Counts Survey.
2012 – Created a Media Kit targeting reporters researching 50 Shades of Grey and BDSM.
2013 – Achieved success in its DSM-5 Revision Project to depathologize BDSM in the American Psychiatric Associations’ Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
2013 – Filed an Amicus Brief in an Appellate Case (U.S. vs. Miles).
2014 – Conducted the second consent survey, the Consent Violation Survey.
2015 – Consent Month was conceived by Tess Zachary and launched in September by Arizona Power Exchange (APEX) and NCSF.
2015 – Created the American Law Institute project to change the Model Penal Code on sexual assault and related offenses to include BDSM activities.
2016 – Held the first national NCSF Consent Summit in Seattle, WA.
2016 – Created the Sexual Freedom Resolution and began signing on national mental health organizations, institutions and professionals.
2016 – Became a co-sponsor of the Journal of Positive Sexuality.
2016 – Produced the first Taste of Kink at the AASECT Annual Conference.
2017 – NCSF and CARAS award a lifetime achievement award for advocacy to Russell Stambaugh.
2017 – NCSF began sponsoring the annual Sexual Freedom Parade in New Orleans with Naughty Events (launched in 2003).
2019 – Filed an Amicus Brief with our allies on the harms done by FOSTA/SESTA in Woodhull Freedom Foundation et al vs. U.S.
2018 – Produced the 2nd Taste of Kink at the AASECT Annual Conference.
2019 – Launched Metamour Day as an annual event on February 28th.
2019 – Created a series of Consent Signs to help groups and events announce their own consent culture.
2020 – Started the NCSF Members Insurance Program offering liability, property and D&O insurance.
2020 – Conducted the 2020 Consent Survey with the University of North Carolina Charlotte research team.
2020 – Created the NCSF Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Vision and Expectations for Members and Volunteers.
2020 – The Annual Coalition Partners Meeting becomes an online meeting.
2021 – The American Law Institute approved the new Model Penal Code on Sexual Assault with Section 213.10 Explicit Prior Permission to do BDSM.
2025 – Created the Freedom and Privacy Project to fight sexually oriented business laws being applied to private membership clubs.
2025 – Conducted the 2025 Consent Survey with University of North Carolina Charlotte research team.
2025 – Conducted the Choking Survey with University of North Carolina Charlotte research team.