HMU Academy: Gender Affirming Rope

This Hit Me Up event is open to the public, 21+.

About the Class

This class will explore how we can adapt our tying practice to be more inclusive and gender affirming. We will discuss ideas on how to negotiate around gender, with a focus on consent, inclusive language, and considerations for tying after gender affirming procedures and/or HRT. Then, we will explore aesthetics using “third” or finishing ropes for box ties or Tengu. Because gender is as individual as every person, this class will not focus on specific patterns, but rather on developing tools and language that will make our rope practice feel more organic, adaptable, and affirming. Technical takeaways will include two ways to attach finishing ropes, and how they can impact the feel and function of the tie. There will be live demonstrations as well as time for tying pairs to explore! This class centers trans folks in rope, but all are welcome and encouraged to attend.

About Your Instructor

Salem X is a queer, nonbinary pro-domme and rope artist/educator/performer. They started tying in 2021 and fell in love with it! Salem has garnered attention nationally and internationally for their work as a performer. In NYC, they’ve performed and house-topped at events like House of Love, City of Gods, Feral, Bruise, and SuciaQueer. In September 2024 they performed at Folsom Street Fair and Twisted Windows in San Francisco. In February 2025 they reprised their Twisted Windows performance for Karada House’s virtual Queerope. Salem loves the connective and adaptable nature of rope. They are passionate about rope spaces that center marginalized folks and their experiences, which led them to co-found T4T Jam, a trans rope jam in Brooklyn. Salem teaches rope in both class and private settings. Their approach to rope education emphasizes risk awareness, consent, and tying in a way that feels organic and connective rather than prescribed and pattern-based. salemthesadist.com

Price Transparency

The full fee for this workshop is $60 for two people. The full fee reflects the true costs of running the event, including supplies and compensating facilitators for their labor. If you are able to afford a full price ticket without experiencing financial hardship, please choose this option. Those who cannot afford a full fee ticket and/or identify as BIPOC, trans folks, or SWers, are welcome to use our discount EQUITY26 at checkout.

FAQs

FAQ: what should I bring?

Several hanks of rope. Enough to build either a box tie or Tengu on your tying partner, and a few extra. Some way to take notes if you’d like. An open and imaginative mind.

FAQ: any skill pre-requisites? (i.e., is this for beginners, advanced, everyone?)

This is a mixed-level class. If you are tying, please have a solid grasp of basic knots and frictions (X-friction, munter hitch, half hitch, single column, reverse tension), as well as knowledge of a simple Tengu or box tie pattern–it does not have to be suspendable. If you are being tied, you should have strong bodily awareness. Both partners should have the ability to communicate their needs and wants to their partner, and be receptive to feedback.

FAQ: what should I wear?

Wear whatever is comfortable to tie in.

FAQ: can I attend solo, or do I need to come with a partner?

Come with a partner! Each ticket is for a tying pair.

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✨Location: 120 Walker St in Lower Manhattan. The space has an elevator. Please email [email protected] if you need any accessibility accommodations.

✨Full vaccination is required. While we recommend getting the booster shots, we are not verifying them at this time.

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