Benefit Monkey joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, is pleased to welcome Benefit Monkey as a supporter-level sponsor. The ethical porn specialist joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

“Pineapple Support fulfills a very important mission towards every person in this industry,” says Alex ‘The Monkey,’ CEO of Benefit Monkey. “Since the partnership between Benefit Monkey and Los Huequitos began, we have joined forces to improve the production environment and make our industry a more comfortable place to work. Sponsoring Pineapple Support is a small action that each of us should commit to taking — their services are an important part of the health of this industry and of every sex worker.”

“We have joined forces to improve the production environment and make our industry a more comfortable place to work.”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“I’m so grateful to Benefit Monkey for their support,” says Tanit. “Thanks to donors like them, we are reaching record numbers of performers with life-saving services. Donors enable us to work every day to answer questions, provide referrals, and offer subsidized sessions to those who need it most. As an industry, it’s crucial that we come together, and I’m thrilled to have Benefit Monkey alongside us.”

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, please click here. Details about additional ways to support, as a company or individual, can be found here.

Sliquid Joins Pineapple Support As Supporter-Level Sponsor

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, is pleased to welcome Sliquid as a supporter-level sponsor. The natural, intimate wellness brand joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

“We were absolutely thrilled when Pineapple Support reached out to us about a possible sponsorship,” says Dean Elliott, Founder and CEO of Sliquid. “We are a brand that understands, and wholeheartedly supports, the talented sex workers who make this vibrant industry so special. Sliquid’s mission and core value of advocating for comprehensive sexual wellness perfectly aligns with that of Pineapple Support. With such an important, necessary, and diverse range of services to address our industry workers’ mental health, there is simply no way we could pass up the chance to be part of furthering Pineapple‘s mission.”

“Sliquid’s mission and core value of advocating for comprehensive sexual wellness perfectly aligns with that of Pineapple Support.”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“I’m grateful for Sliquid‘s sponsorship and support, helping us to meet the increasing demand for our services,” says Tanit. “Thanks for giving back to the adult industry and endorsing our mission to ensure every model has access to mental health services when they need it.”

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, please click here. Details about additional ways to support, as a company or individual, can be found here.

Pineapple Support Continues Corporate Training Initiative – Crisis Or Attention?

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, continues its Corporate Training Initiative with a special session to help staff at individual companies identify when a performer or creator is in crisis. The training session, “Crisis Or Attention?” will be led by therapist Nicki Line on August 30th at 1pm EST.

“Social media is a powerful platform that allows us to share our voice with others and at times you may come across statements from individuals that appear dramatic or driven by attention-seeking behavior,” says therapist Nicki Line. “At times it can be but at other times it’s a cry for help. That’s why this webinar will explore the difference between a crisis and attention-seeking behavior, so you can spot the difference on your platform and provide help for those who need it.”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, which is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has so far connected over 5000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost, therapy, counseling and emotional support.

“We want platforms to be as effective as possible at identifying performers in crisis,” says Tanit. “Too many people dismiss crisis behavior, and assume that a performer in crisis is just being dramatic. However, it’s vital that we ensure that support is provided to everyone – even those that appear to be looking for attention deserve the same access to mental health support as everyone else. This session will educate employees who interact directly with performers to recognize the signs of someone in need of immediate support. By doing this, we can make sure everyone gets the help they need.”

“Too many people dismiss crisis behavior, and assume that a performer in crisis is just being dramatic…”

Sessions within Pineapple Support’s Corporate Training Initiative are exclusively available to employees of companies that sponsor Pineapple Support. Interactive training sessions take place every two months and are available to rewatch on a password-protected website.

More details about the upcoming training session can be found here.

If you have a business and would like to find out how to become an official sponsor of Pineapple Support, view the available packages by clicking here.

Elevated X Joins Pineapple Support As Supporter-Level Sponsor

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, is pleased to welcome Elevated X as a supporter-level sponsor. The content management system for adult websites joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

“We love what Pineapple Support is doing for our industry,” says AJ Hall, Co-Founder and CEO of Elevated X. “We are excited to lend our support and contribute to providing resources for those in need.”

“I’m very thankful for the support of Elevated X,” says Leya Tanit, founder and CEO of Pineapple Support. “It’s heartwarming to know we have the support of performer- and creator-focused companies that are taking action towards keeping those that sit at the heart of the adult industry safe and healthy.”

Tanit founded Pineapple Support in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, please click here.

NSFW.app Joins Pineapple Support As Bronze-Level Sponsor

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, is pleased to welcome NSFW.app as a bronze-level sponsor. The decentralized social platform for content creators joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

“We’re proud to be sponsors of Pineapple Support,” says Mark Hassell, Talent Manager for NSFW.app. “We believe in putting adult content creators at the heart of everything we do, so it’s important for us to play a part in making sure there is always access to emotional support, should anyone ever need it.”

“We believe in putting adult content creators at the heart of everything we do…”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“I’m thrilled to welcome NSFW.app as a generous sponsor of Pineapple,” says Tanit. “Thank you to all the team for helping us to meet the soaring demand for mental health services from adult performers that need support. It’s only by coming together as an industry that we can make sure every performer has direct access to help, whenever they need it.”

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, please click here.

Razor Edge Talent Joins Pineapple Support As Sponsor

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, is pleased to welcome Razor Edge Talent as a supporter-level sponsor. The talent management group joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

“I have witnessed firsthand the wonderful things Pineapple Support has been able to do for some very close friends dealing with important issues,” says Daniel Hogue, C0-Founder of Razor Edge Talent. “I, as well as my Partner Bambi Bliss of Razor Edge Talent, am proud to be in a position to finally start to give back a little of what they have done for the community that has been my life for that last 25 years. We look forward to doing more and more as we grow!”

“As a transgender performer, I truly believe in supporting one another through our experiences and knowledge,” says Bambi Bliss, Co-Founder of Razor Edge Talent. “I have gained immense knowledge and a deeper understanding of myself through similar programs. Pineapple Support is a safe space for our community, that we at Razor Edge Talent will always support.”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“I’d like to thank Razor Edge Talent and all the team for their generosity and support,” says Tanit. “It’s important to have the support of talent management organizations like Razor Edge Talent, that work directly with performers. The more performers that know where and how to access mental health services, the stronger our entire community is as a result. Thanks to all our sponsors, we can continue to add to our jam-packed schedule of events this year, as well as meet the ever-increasing demand for our services.”

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, please visit https://pineapplesupport.org/sponsorship. Details about additional ways to support, as a company or individual, can be found on the organization’s website https://pineapplesupport.org.

Pineapple Support To Host Two-Day “Sex and Self” Wellness Event

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, will host a two-day wellness event featuring a range of workshops and panels from sexual wellness experts. The “Sex and Self” event, which is free for adult performers, will take place online on July 20th and 21st, starting at 10 am PST.

The event is sponsored by Stripchat, Clips4Sale, Loyalfans, EROTIK.com, ePlay, and Fleshlight, and will feature ten online workshops, panels, and sessions over the course of two days. The schedule of events is designed to help attendees explore sexual wellness as a tool for healing, growth, and empowerment:

July 20th 2022

“First Time Reflections” Presented by Rachael Wells

10am PST, 1pm EST, 6pm GMT

With panelists; Prince Jean, Ebony Mystique, Eve Batelle, Dirty Drizzy

“Hello Body, Let’s Be Friends” with Danielle Dass

11am PST, 2pm EST, 7pm GMT

“The Magic of Intimacy” with Danny Santos

2pm PST, 5pm EST, 8pm GMT

“Sex After Trauma: Why it’s Difficult, and What to Do About It” with Alicia Graham

1pm PST, 4pm EST, 9pm GMT

“Pass Explained” with PASS Executive Director Ian O’Brian and Valerie Webber

2pm PST, 5pm EST, 10pm GMT

July 21st, 2022

“Raising the standards – intimacy coordination on adult film sets” with Izzy

10am PST, 1pm EST, 6pm GMT

“Maintaining Your Sexual Autonomy: Communication, Needs, and Boundaries” with Keziah Mayers

11am PST, 2pm EST, 7pm GMT

“Coming back to yourself: Increasing Your Pleasure Potential” with Nicoletta Heidegger

12pm PST, 3pm EST, 8pm GMT

“Can Porn Educate?” Presented by Diane Obeid

1pm PST, 4pm EST, 9pm GMT

With panelists; Evie Rain, Araneae Mactans, Sommer Isabella, Alex 7Veils, Chrissy LeBlanc, Samantha Lexi

“The Intimacy of Daily Life: Connecting with Our Capacity for Immersion ” with Charlie Nicely

2pm PST, 5pm EST, 10pm GMT

“Let’s talk about sex and its relation to our wellbeing, our connection with others, and most importantly, our connection with ourselves,” says Pineapple Support CEO and Founder Leya Tanit. “Sexual energy can be a powerful tool to heal and it can also be the base of a wound to heal from. Exploring our connection with our bodies and learning how to set boundaries, express ourselves and explore how past traumas can affect current relationships can be a huge step toward inner healing and growth.”

“Sexual energy can be a powerful tool to heal and it can also be the base of a wound to heal from.”

Tanit founded Pineapple Support in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has so far connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost, therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“I want to personally thank all of our wonderful sponsors for helping to make this event possible,” says Tanit. “Join us and our team of experts as we explore our sexual selves, empower and let’s learn to love ourselves that little bit more.”

The “Sex and Self” wellness event will take place online on July 20th and 21st. The event is free to attend and places are limited. For more information and to register, please visit https://pineapplesupport.org/sex-and-self/.

End of Year Review for 2021

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COVID-19 continued to dominate the headlines in 2021, as vaccination campaigns were rolled out around the world. Despite the challenges faced by the industry globally, Pineapple Support continued its trajectory of steady growth.

Support from the industry was incredible, with both new and established brands pledging their support as we pushed through restrictions to deliver Pineapple’s most comprehensive schedule of events to date.

We introduced a number of novel initiatives to increase our reach, including the Pineapples United Membership club, a corporate training program, a diversity sub-committee, and Community Liaison Officers.

In July, we reached an important milestone — over 5,000 performers served with support and/or referral to mental health services! While this figure is a positive indication of our increasing reach among performers, we still have a long way to go.

Without the generosity and support of all of our partners, supporters, sponsors, therapists, and staff, we would not have been able to connect so many workers with mental health services and support – especially given the challenges we faced globally in 2021.

Despite the financial challenges that the adult industry faced, in the past year we have:

  • Connected nearly 3,000 performers, producers, and other members of the adult community with emotional support and therapy
  • Provided over 16,000 one-on-one therapy sessions to adult performers and producers
  • Recruited more than 90 new therapists worldwide
  • Added 16 new sponsors
  • Hosted over 30 webinars and 100 support group meetings
  • Spoken at or attended 12 major industry events
  • Provided active listening to 860 individuals in need of emotional support

COVID-19

The pandemic continued into 2021, with devastating long-term effects for organizations and individuals. Vaccine rollouts and booster shots offered hope as well as confusion as misinformation regarding vaccines spread its way across social media. The uncertainty around further restrictions, the financial burden on those unable to work, and the isolation as a result of social distancing measures left many performers struggling with their mental health.

Performers had their vital income restricted by set closures, social distancing measures, as well as having to support family members financially. Many others that lost their work continued to flood online platforms for content creators, creating a demand-supply imbalance that hit the bottom line of the performers that had previously dominated the space. For many adult workers, this was the second year of working in relative isolation from their community.

We responded with a number of support groups, webinars, and other online events in order to encourage interaction with others and give performers a safe space to explore their feelings around the pandemic. Our therapists equipped performers with techniques and tools to build emotional resilience and help to manage negative feelings.

WEBINARS AND SUPPORT GROUPS

We launched a number of support groups, focusing on themes around addiction, trauma, and PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, family conflicts, abuse, grief, and loss – as well as ongoing drop-in groups prioritizing the needs of BIPOC performers.

As well as delivering effective strategies and techniques by our experienced therapists, these support groups also provided an opportunity for performers to connect with each other, building relationships with other participants throughout the duration of the group, as well as offering a vital structure and routine to those that were affected.

We ramped up our schedule of webinars, exploring themes around relationships, trauma, addiction, Borderline Personality Disorder, and suicide. These webinars were made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors including TeamSkeet, PervOUT, and Free Speech Coalition, who helped to finance individual webinars throughout the year.

In addition to our amplified lineup of support groups and webinars, we also created additional opportunities for performers to connect, learn and receive support with a number of additional events. We launched a competition with PervOUT Productions in February to educate new performers, and another with Streamate during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, which helped to raise awareness and encourage self-exams.

We also hosted a virtual, three-day event in April dedicated to healing through kink, as well as a two-day event on how to successfully navigate relationships in August. In November, we hosted a “Community Collaboration UK” roundtable discussion with European industry organizations that provide resources to the adult industry, helping European-based performers to understand the resources available.

EVENTS

Industry Shows

At the virtual InterNEXT conference in February, we hosted a “Virtual Wellness Stage”, where we hosted live workshops, interactive webinars, and other activities including breathwork, meditation, and workouts. We were ecstatic to receive an Honorary GFY Award at the conference, which was a meaningful recognition for all the Pineapple Support team.

Virtual Happiness Retreat

In March, we held a Virtual Happiness Retreat, sponsored by FanCentro, consisting of a series of virtual events for performers, including live exercises, presentations, and interactive workshops from leading counselors, coaches, and performers in the industry.

Healing Through Kink

We delivered a three-day “Healing Through Kink” event, which focused on the benefits and psychology behind BDSM and fetish. The event, sponsored by ShinyBound.com, Kink, Feet4Cash, LoyalFans, and Clips4Sale, included live webinars from therapists, counselors, and mental health experts, as well as panels and round table discussions with performers and producers.

Pineapple Summit

We continued our annual Pineapple Mental Health Summit in December, which took place entirely online for those unable to travel. The 2021 summit focused on the theme of “Security in an Uncertain World”, covering topics such as resilience, support, security, and planning for the future.

ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH

Pineapples United Membership Club

We launched a membership club for members of the industry this year, which invites members to take part in regular meetings with Pineapple Support and board members and influence the direction of the organization, helping us to provide improved support and resources to the adult community, for a low monthly donation.

A number of support packages are available to performers that want to contribute, helping to sustain the organization and play their part in helping to make the industry safer and healthier for all performers.

Corporate Training Program

In October, we launched a Corporate Training Initiative which delivers training for employees of companies that sponsor the organization on how to provide better support to performers. Training sessions cover topics including how to identify and react to a performer in crisis, how to support a sexual trauma survivor, spotting the early signs of mental health issues and invisible disabilities, as well as training in gender, sexual orientation, cyberbullying and BIPOC-specific support.

This is the first step towards creating a stronger first line of defence in providing crisis support to performers in need, and we’re planning to invite those that completed training to share the issues they have faced, so we can provide follow-up support, as well as learn more about how to improve this initiative for the future.

Fundraising and Diversity sub-committee

We launched two new sub-committees to provide advice on diversity and fundraising to Pineapple Support, inviting volunteers to provide recommendations and support to help steer our direction for the future. Bringing fresh voices from members of the industry helps us improve in both areas, and propels us towards further expanding our reach and services.

The Diversity subcommittee is responsible for advising and providing insights on inclusivity and how support can better represent the full spectrum of adult industry members. The Fundraising subcommittee helps to guide fundraising activities and help to organize events and campaigns to raise money for the organization.

Community Liaison Officers

Stigma and negative preconceptions around therapy still remain barriers to many performers accessing mental health services. To combat this, we appointed two Community Liaison Officers to the organization; XBIZ’s Leah Mahi and industry veteran Mark Hassell.

As well-known and well-respected members of the community, they offer a familiar face to anyone looking for information, safely and easily. Their role is to act as approachable and trusted sources of information that performers can turn to, to learn more about working with Pineapple Support.

Sponsors

Nothing that we achieved throughout the year could have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Our sponsors contributed to Pineapple’s expanded schedule of events, helping us to reach even more performers globally, launch new initiatives, as well as directly sponsor specific webinars, support groups, and other events that we held during the year. We added a total of 16 new sponsors in 2021, including:

  • Adult Site Broker
  • Porn Deals
  • NuVision Media / PornStarPlatinum
  • Adult Empire
  • PB Web Media / adultwebmasternet
  • IML Media / TransErotica
  • Seductive Pleasure
  • SexyJobs
  • MobiusPay
  • Ariel Anderssen
  • DialXS
  • NakedSword
  • ePlay
  • Streamate
  • Zubb Media

We thank both our new and existing members for their vital support of our work. In increasingly uncertain times, it’s vital that we support one another and give back to the community that sustains us. For many of us, this is the closest we come to a home.

With love and respect,

Leya Tanit
President, Pineapple Support

Pineapple Support Workshop to Explore Gender Identity Through Dungeons and Dragons

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, will host a free, online workshop for performers that explores how Dungeons and Dragons can be used to explore gender identity. The specialist one-day workshop will be led by Pineapple therapists Nicki Line and Sara Mercier Kennedy and will take place on Saturday, June 11th from 12pm until 3/4pm EST.

“Expression is one of the key components of any good Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG) session,” says Pineapple Support therapist Nicki Line. “The expression of your character, who they are, their personality, traits, and individual identity allows for the opportunity of expression for gender and gender identity in the roleplay environment that is free from judgment as it is the character you control. Exploring gender identity can be done through a safe and natural progression of the role-play environment.”

“Exploring gender identity can be done through a safe and natural progression of the role-play environment.”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, which is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has so far connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost, therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“Regardless of where you are in your personal journey; the utilization of TTRPGs can provide a safe and welcoming environment in which to explore the expression or understanding of gender identity,” says Tanit. “Nicki and Sara will be your guides through this unique experience. These environments can help teach effective coping skills, and strategies for expression, discussion and ultimately coming out in a safe and effective manner tailored to the needs of the individual.”

“These environments can help teach effective coping skills, and strategies for expression…”

Pineapple Support’s “Using Dungeons and Dragons to Explore Gender Identity” online workshop takes place on Saturday, June 11th at 12pm EST, via Zoom and will last between three and four hours. For more information about this support group and to reserve a place, visit pineapplesupport.org/support-groups.

Pineapple Support, Stripchat to Host Support Group to Help Resolve Sexual Compulsivity

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, will host a free, online support group with a focus on helping performers and adult industry professionals to resolve sexual compulsivity, sponsored by Stripchat. The six-week support group, “Resolving Sexual Compulsivity” will be led by Pineapple therapist Silva Neves and will start on Thursday, June 9th at 2pm EST.

“Compulsive sexual behaviors are often misunderstood, yet many people struggle with problematic sexual behaviors that feel out of control, causing problems in their lives,” says licensed therapist Silva Neves. “This unique therapeutic group will help you become erotically aware. Rather than focusing on trying to stop behaviors, our main goal is to help you understand your erotic mind and help you to integrate it into your life in a functional way. Sexual compulsivity does not survive when there is meaningful erotic awareness!”

“Sexual compulsivity does not survive when there is meaningful erotic awareness!”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, which is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has so far connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost, therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“We are a very sexual community,” says Tanit. “Silva’s therapeutic work is crucial for people who are trying to understand their own sexual behavior in a holistic way. Thanks to Striptchat, we have a unique opportunity to talk frankly about our sexuality, and make sure it’s always serving us and meeting our needs.”

Pineapple Support’s “Navigating Relationships” online support group begins on Thursday, June 9th at 2pm EST, and continues weekly for six weeks. For more information about this support group and to reserve a place, visit pineapplesupport.org/support-groups.