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Hampton thinks jail business may be too adult for town laws

Source: Globegazette.com.

USA – HAMPTON – Vice ordinances in Hampton may derail a man’s plans to revamp a 1800s-era jail into a historical role-playing business.

Mark Gudmundsen, of Surprise, Arizona, wants to allow patrons to experience historically accurate role-playing lockup in the 136-year-old Franklin County jail and former sheriff’s residence in Hampton.

He thought the project had the green light from city officials, but was told this week his plans would violate Hampton’s zoning ordinances that restrict adult-oriented businesses to industrial areas.

The jail, 18 Central Ave. E., is in a commercial zone near the center of downtown Hampton.

Gudmundsen suspects the about-face stems isn’t about zoning ordinances. He thinks it’s really about pictures of him on his fantasy bondage website.

“It seems like when they found out more about my personal life they were suspicious,” he said.

The website features photos and writings that “explore the concept of extreme non-sexual bondage.” It includes photographs of Gudmundsen in various types of restraints, including chains and cages.

He says said the site depicts fantasy, not reality, and has nothing to do with the historical activities he would like to conduct in Hampton.

Gudmundsen wants to give patrons the opportunity to experience lock-up inside the Italianate-style jail, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

The two-story home, which also housed the sheriff’s residence, features an attached cement and steel cell block. It was used to house the county’s prisoners as recently as 1988.

Guests could stay for a few hours, or days, and experience historically accurate jail booking and incarceration.

Baffled, Gudmundsen, who already bought the building, is now trying to figure out how to bring his plans in compliance with city code. Problem is, he’s not sure what to change, because he says city officials won’t tell him.

City Manager Ron Dunt told the Globe Gazette on Thursday that officials became concerned what Gudmundsen was planning to do was different than what they’d previously thought when, “Some information surfaced on some websites that he’s involved in and then he put out a website called www.hamptonjail.com.”

A promotional website, hamptonjail.com contains information about jail tours, a detailed account of historical role-playing options, the jail’s history as well as local dining, lodging and recreation options.

There are no sexual activities referenced in the website. Sexual contact during role-playing is forbidden, according to the site.

Dunt would not say which activities on the jail’s website were adult oriented. He says he gave Gudmundsen a copy of the applicable ordinances.

“He has a copy of the ordinance. I haven’t given him a list of dos and don’ts,” Dunt said. “I think our ordinance is clear.”

Gudmundsen is intent on working something out with the city. He’s also hopeful people can see there’s more to him than his personal life.

“It’s like, wow, all the sudden they think you’re interested in only one thing,” said Gudmundsen, who believes part of the scrutiny is because he’s gay. “If you’re a little bit kinky, right, you’re interested in bondage or something … Is that all I’m interested in? That’s just a little teeny little piece over here.”

See more and larger photo’s: Globegazette.com.

Darwin gallery debuts ‘adults only’ rope bondage photography exhibition (with audio)

Source: ABC.net.au.

AUSTRALIA – DARWIN – Darwin rope enthusiast Tania Bird has always been fascinated by bondage and restraint, however it took a pivotal moment two years ago to turn this intrigue into a way of life.

“I met somebody who tied me up and I loved it,” Ms Bird told 105.7 ABC Darwin.

“So I went online and researched and I discovered this whole world out there.”

I’ve been tied down to the back of a ute before with ute rope. You have to be careful about the rope you use or it can give you a burn.

Opening at Darwin Visual Arts Association on Friday night, Ms Bird’s photography and performance exhibition, Bound To Explore, is a curated insight into that personal “journey into the world of rope bondage”.

“It’s to share a portion of myself with the public and something that I’m really passionate about,” she said.

Often associated with the submission and dominance of BDSM, rope bondage is the practice of restricting, wrapping, suspending or restraining a person into mildly constricted positions through to completely contorted arrangements.

Ms Bird started out in rope bondage by simply tying herself up, primarily because she had a lack of bondage buddies — riggers — willing to treat her as their “bunny”.

Then she started meeting others across Australia who were also involved in the subculture.

Ms Bird described this subculture as inherently “sensual” and “sexual”, however as something that goes far beyond common stereotypes of four-poster beds and Fifty Shades Of Grey.

“There’s bondage for sex, absolutely, and there’s some very practical ties that work very well for that, but that’s a very small portion of the world of rope bondage,” Ms Bird said.

“There’s many different experiences you can give the person being tied. They could just want to relax. It could be a soft sensual rope.

“The person being tied might want to be hurt and be into the sadomasochism side of things.

“Or you might want to create something beautiful together. It’s about the connection between two people.”

‘It was every little girl’s dream’

For example, Ms Bird once had her “childhood dream” of becoming a mermaid fulfilled by a friend also interested in rope bondage.

“She made the fin by weaving rope together and then it took us about an hour to bind my legs together to create the mermaid tail. I could actually swim in it,” she said.

“It was every little girl’s dream. One of the joys of rope is that it transports you to another place. For me it’s about the ecstasy and the happiness.”

Photographs of Ms Bird splashing around in a swimming pool with her bright blue rope mermaid tail are included in Bound To Explore, along with other photographs and videos taken since 2014.

Many of the images feature styles from the Japanese rope bondage tradition of shibari which commonly uses the soft and shiny vegetable fibre jute.

“I was drawn to the intricacies of [shibari] and I love to learn,” Ms Bird said.

Other exhibition items feature people Ms Bird has met in the past two years at performance events like Morpheus Bondage Extravaganza, or at her local bondage group Peer Rope Darwin.

Ms Bird said this monthly Darwin meet-up always started with a “safety spiel” and aimed to give people a comfortable space to learn and explore.

“When you do rope bondage, there’s risk involved and it’s really important that all experiences are safe, consensual and sane,” she said.

“Negotiation is very much a part of what we do.

“Bondage is about sacrificing control. That’s one of the big psychological attractions. It’s about yielding control and giving up, and the trust that’s involved in that.”

“If somebody hasn’t been tied up before, I’ll start by asking them what they want: whether they just want to feel the rope, feel restriction, or not be able to move.

Exhibition’s adults-only opening

“It’s definitely a lifestyle and a hobby. I’ve tied younger women, older women, men, transgender folk.

“I’ve been tied down to the back of a ute before with ute rope.

“You have to be careful about the rope you use or it can give you a burn.”

Ms Bird said there were even bigger safety considerations for airborne bondage, which can involve people swung from rigs while totally constricted in their body movements.

“It takes an understanding of mechanics to take somebody off the ground and make them fly,” Ms Bird said.

At Bound To Explore’s “adults-only” opening on Friday night, onlookers will be granted an insight into this sort of suspension with an erotic live performance by Sydney rope enthusiasts and BDSM practitioners James Davis and Salk.

“Bit by bit, her entire body is suspended,” Mr Davis told the ABC during a Friday morning run through of the routine.

“Bondage is about sacrificing control. That’s one of the big psychological attractions. It’s about yielding control and giving up, and the trust that’s involved in that.

“That’s been described to me as blissful, and I say describe, because I don’t get [tied up] myself.”

Salk, who mostly gets tied up yet also sometimes practices bondage on others, said it was perhaps time for Mr Davis to get more involved.

“It might be time to tie him up,” she said.

See more and larger photo’s: www.abc.net.au.

Link Podcast on Radio 105.7 ABC Darwin.