An Intimate look at Annie Sprinkle - Sex Guru
By Thom Fowler

Annie Sprinkle, author of the recently published Dr. Sprinkle’s Spectacular Sex, is a sex activist, pleasure seeker and Doctor of Human Sexuality who has been pioneering great sex, sexual tolerance and sexual exploration as a performer, sex worker and therapist for over 30 years. She has been featured on HBO, over one thousand magazines and numerous films, porn and otherwise. Her outspoken stance on the legalization of prostitution and advocacy for sex workers has put her at the forefront of a controversial but totally ubiquitous part of our society.

"What I'm really about is sex research,” says Sprinkle. “It's always been to learn as much about sex as I could and it’s taken so many forms. When I do a performance in a theatre they always say, "My god, you have such a wide variety of people in your audience." I have S/M people, I have the spiritual tantra people, I have students, I have academics, I have the raincoat crowd, I have the suburban types who've seen the HBO specials. So I just covered a lot of different territory. I'm 48 now and I started at 18 in prostitution. It's been an amazing journey. I don't recommend it for everyone but for girls after my own heart, I would consider it a great way to go."

There is a deeper aspect to her work as a prostitute and sexual performer. One which is so wrapped up in who she is that you can't really know Annie until you understand what sex work has become for her. Annie says, "The bottom line is, sex and sexuality is basically my religion in the way that meditation can be a religion. My most spiritual experiences have started with sex. I can't say sex, because that just doesn't describe it, its truly making love. 31 years of wanting to spread my Gospel has taken me everywhere from live sex shows on 42nd street to Ashrams in the mountains to tantra and it’s always this desire to get to this spiritual place."

Thom: How do you go about achieving enlightenment through making love?
Annie: The beauty of sexuality is so different for each person. There is no one right way, there is your way. I've been through all kinds of ins and outs and ups and downs. And made my so called mistakes. And I had my periods of celibacy and monogamy and getting down and dirty sleazy.

Thom: Do you think American society is sexually repressed in general?
Annie: Its not that we are repressed, it’s that we are sex-negative. I think in general, sex is seen as this bad dirty thing. If you aren't married and you aren't heterosexual and you are not just doing missionary position then you are bad, dirty, wrong. The fact that prostitution is illegal right there just shows what kind of negative attitudes people have about sex. There should be no reason why, if someone doesn't have a lover, if you want to have sex you should be able to just pay someone to have a good time.

Thom: What advice do you have for people who decide they want to explore their sexuality and learn what's out there for them?
Annie: Learn as much as you can. I like to say, don't do anything you don't want to do and do everything you really do want to do. Don't worry about it, just do it. Or just don't do it. Whatever you choose. And being honest with yourself and your partners is so important. There are some great teachers. I recommend classes or workshops. Get to know your body real well, masturbate, its good for you. It's a great way to learn about your sexuality. And find what works for you and what you like and don't worry about what other people think, because it’s worth it to do it your way, whether that means celibate or monogamous or swinger or whatever. Be yourself. “To thine own self be true.” Joe Kramer, founder of ErosSpirit has several instructional videos for men and women and Dr. Betty Dodson has some great books for women.

Thom: Why is it important to take the steps to have a healthy relationship with your sexuality?
Annie: It's the same thing as saying, "Why is it important to have a good life?" Why is it important to learn about yourself? It’s so much a part of our human nature. That's like saying, "Why is it important to learn about emotions, or why is it important to learn to take care of yourself financially or spiritually. Why is it important to take care of your body. It's the same thing with sexuality. It’s something you can't ignore and if you try to totally ignore it, it’s going to come rearing its head.

Thom: What happens if you are very repressed?
Annie: It depends if you are happy or unhappy. If you are unhappy about something regarding your sexuality, take care of it. Heal yourself. Do whatever needs to be done to make it better. If it doesn't bother you that don't have sex or that you are a prude or whatever, or if you have a foot fetish but you are too freaked out to act on it, that's fine, don't act it. But if it’s this compelling thing, this urge to worship feet or suck toes, it’s going to become an issue.

Thom: What about safe sex?
Annie: We could end AIDS if everybody was super well-educated about it. The problem is people won't do that educating or there is not the funding because you have to talk about sex. It's wiping out Africa, it's wiping out India. It’s devastating but people won't do the necessary educating because they have to talk about sex and cum and rubbers. You need to be very aware of safer sex and who you are with and assess that situation and you have to practice how to have safe sex. It's not something that comes naturally like fucking does. It's awkward and you have to get used to it.