On August 15, 2025, our UK-based client JOYClub was set to host an unforgettable evening with their event, a Sex Education Cinema Experience at Everyman Cinema. The event would feature screenings and was designed to double as a networking event for sex-positive educators in the sexual wellness industry, including Ally Iseman, Dr. Tara, Reed Amber, Bea Dux, Ruby Rare, Scotty Unfamous, and Topher Taylor.
But despite being confirmed weeks in advance and tested just days prior to the event, the theater abruptly cancelled the event just 103 minutes before showtime. This shocking occurrence showcases how those in our industry must fight daily against censorship and stigma. It’s proof that this prejudice doesn’t just continue to plague online spaces, but increasingly, offline as well.
Stephan Strehlo, CMO at JOYClub shared his thoughts, commenting, “We understand that sex education content is not to everyone’s taste. But to cancel a private, consensual, 18+ educational event at the last minute is more than disappointing – it is censorship. Sex education keeps being censored not just online, but offline too. And that ignorance is exactly what we are trying to overcome.”
Transforming censorship into connection
What was meant to be a celebratory evening of community and learning turned into yet another attempt at silencing projects that champion sexual wellness and work hard to educate the public around topics like safer sex, consent, ethical practices, and pleasure. But what could have ended in disaster turned into a rallying point. The JOYClub team turned the cancelled event into an impromptu community space that allowed people to connect and find solidarity. The invited influencers and sex educators (many of whom had traveled to attend the event) were redirected to another venue, transforming censorship into community as we have been forced to do time and time again.
While this abrupt cancellation was certainly a disappointment for JOYClub and the Little Leaf team, it was bigger than a one-time inconvenience. The worldwide censorship we face is an obstacle to spreading vital and inclusive education on pleasure, safety, and consent. It’s an obstacle to providing access to people who deserve this information and often can’t get it, especially as conservative and sex-negative viewpoints continue to take over in unprecedented times.
Ally Iseman, another Little Leaf client and a sex educator and coach who was invited to the event, commented, “JOYClub wants to create content that really teaches people about real pleasure. The team handled the situation like professionals and we all turned the night into a community night filled with real connection.”
The fight for shame-free, accessible education
JOYClub stresses that this incident signifies a larger issue; sex education is still treated as taboo, even though it’s legal, ethical, and absolutely necessary. To combat this stigma around sex education, they decided to release the censored film online free of charge for anyone to access.
Watch the film and other JOYClub sex ed videos now:
The film features excerpts from the brand’s Sex Education section on their site, including:
- Group Sex Guide – Teamwork Baby (Threesomes & Safer Sex with Many)
- JOYClub Original’s Anal Play & Sex School Season 2’s How to Enjoy Anal?
- Divine Theratrix: Sensual Pegging & Rimming
Watch the film for free here. You can also see all of the JoyClub Sex Education videos here.
Our call to action
If this experience has taught us anything, it’s that education will not be silenced. No matter how hard you push down the sexual wellness industry and try to hold us back, we will always unite and regroup. In this modern prohibition era, where sexual liberation is a daily fight, we will continue to support our clients relentlessly and to uplift the countless others who inspire us to do what we do.
Our client’s decision to release the censored film online for free is more than a loophole or a last-minute solution. It’s a declaration. We can’t afford to be polite anymore. If platforms, venues, and policymakers continue to restrict access to sex education, they’re directly complicit in perpetuating harm at a time when they could be making a difference. We call on other sexual wellness brands, educators, and allies to stand with us and JOYClub. To speak out when censorship occurs, and to demand accountability. Together, we can normalize these conversations and make sure that education isn’t treated as obscene.
Founded in 2005 in Germany, JOYClub is the leading international platform for people who want to explore and celebrate their sexuality in an open-minded, safe, and shame-free community. With millions of members worldwide, JOYClub offers events, forums, educational content, and authentic connections that go beyond traditional dating.
