Notes from our 2nd Community Circle
11/1/2025
Hello all,
It has now been two weeks since our second Community Circle, during which we have continued our work on our accountability process. Thank you to everyone who attended. We’re deeply grateful for the honesty, care, and reflection that continue to shape these gatherings. For those who couldn’t attend, we wanted to share some of the key themes that emerged from the conversation.
1) TEMPLE’S ROLE: Many participants expressed genuine care for Temple and appreciation for its place within the larger scene. That care was paired with hard questions about Temple’s role and accountability: What do we as Temple organizers have the capacity to provide, and what can attendees expect of this institution? Many reflected on what “community” really means in practice, and what responsibilities accompany belonging to one. While a few people questioned whether Temple should continue to exist, most expressed a desire to move forward together—with clearer systems and shared support.
2) LEADERSHIP: Participants reflected on the power that we as organizers hold and discussed how our private actions impact the broader scene. Ideas were discussed for distributing the responsibility as well as the power of leadership, both among the organizers and throughout the broader community. Some voiced a desire to support organizers so their responsibilities are lessened. Others called for cooperative or collective models that distribute labor, care, and decision-making more evenly across members.
3) COMMUNICATION: Participants voiced frustration about not feeling sufficiently informed and noted the need for greater clarity around Temple’s decision-making and duties. Many emphasized the importance of specificity, transparency, and timely updates. People also valued the opportunity to have these conversations face-to-face rather than online, noting that in-person dialogue helps rebuild trust and connection.
4) STRUCTURAL CHANGE: Several ideas were raised for growth and structural change. These included offering more opportunities for community members to teach or lead, seeking guidance from professionals or third-party facilitators, and creating workshops in conflict resolution and communication. There was also encouragement to continue building bridges with other organizations, to exchange support and knowledge across the broader community.
5) PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: Participants noted that systems can either nurture or undermine agency. Some brought up the need for clarity around community accountability versus individual responsibility. There was interest in learning how to give and receive productive feedback, to approach criticism as an act of care rather than a cause for rupture. Others suggested developing tools for “generative conflict” and clearer systems for vetting and supporting one another.
6) VALUES: Finally, several reflections touched on the principles and politics that shape our spaces, especially within our world’s broader social forces and existing systems of power. The effects of white supremacy and systemic oppression are active in kink and in our organization. Someone pointed out the lack of people of color in the meeting. Another brought up the tension between an abolitionist distrust of institutions and the need for structure and accountability in community-building.
It was clear that many of our ongoing efforts – defining our role and responsibility, distributing organizational power, more frequently communicating with members, committing to greater transparency – are crucial to making Temple a more trustworthy place for all who participate. We will continue to expand on that process as we receive more community input, and will update you on that work with emails at least twice a month. We appreciate your patience in this process.
As ever, we’re grateful for the care, vulnerability, and insight everyone brought to this discussion and to this community.
With appreciation,
The Temple Organizers