Frequently Asked Questions
DESIRE is a unique weekend event for leather and kinky Women and GQ folx taking place May 31st to June 3, 2019.
DESIRE is an educational weekend committed to providing outstanding learning opportunities and experiences for all. DESIRE is an ideal retreat for novices where you can learn a wide variety of skills in a single weekend in a safe environment. It’s a great opportunity for experienced players to improve their skills and learn more advanced ways of playing. DESIRE gathers a wonderful group of presenters who are eager to share their expertise with you. Presenters actively participate in all DESIRE activities and are an integral part of the weekend. There will be many workshops and presentations offered during the weekend. One of the unique features of DESIRE is that participants have the opportunity to have a one-on-one mentoring session or participate in a small group with one of the presenters.
Join us in Palm Springs May 31st to June 3, 2019! We look forward to meeting you and sharing the experience with you.
Your hosts,
Bikkja Amy and Naria
General Questions
How do I register for DESIRE?
Must read rules and regulations.
- The name presented on the application must be the legal name of the applicant and not an alias.
- Legal and valid identification must be presented in order to gain entrance to the event. Legal ID is
considered to be a state issue driver’s license or identification card, passport, military ID, or other
government issued identification. - A waiver must be signed with the legal name of the attendee in order to gain admission to the
event. - All attendees are participating in the event solely for their own personal enjoyment and not in any
official capacity that includes, but is not limited investigations or gathering of information. - Attendees understand that activities at the event will be adult-oriented and sexually explicit and
may involve acts of domination, submission, bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism, and
other explicit and extreme sexual fetishes. All attendees agree that they will not be offended by
observation and/or participation in such activities. - Applications to attend DESIRE are subject to approval by the DESIRE producers.
- Although all presenters listed have confirmed their attendance unforeseen circumstances may
result in unexpected replacements. All efforts will be taken to accommodate attendee’s choices
but no refunds will be given should that not be possible.
Gender Policy
Gender identity, language, and gender expression have progressed tremendously over the last few years, and that’s due to the hard work of many who have been on the front lines of inclusive and progressive change that more accurately represents the true diversity of the Women’s and Queer community as a whole. As societal norms evolve, it’s not always easy to accept or to keep up with the changes, but it is indeed necessary to do so. One of our goals for DESIRE is to be as inclusive and reflective of the important strides being made in the practice and politics of sexuality and gender identities, while still honoring the work that folx have done before, and maintaining a focus on women and genderqueer-centered spaces.
Please note that DESIRE is a play party for WOMEN, WOMXN and GENDERQUEER folx only. DESIRE is not open to attendance by Binary Trans Men or Cis Men. We require all individuals that attend to SHOW UP and participate at the event as a person identified in one or more of the following gender identities and if you are unsure if this event is for you and want to further discuss this, please email desireleatherwomen@gmail.com.
This list is not exhaustive:
- Androgyne
- boi
- Butch
- Cis-gender Female
- Daddy
- Dyke
- Female
- Female – Masculine of Center
- Femme
- Gender Fluid
- Gender Non-Conforming
- Genderqueer
- Genderqueer Femme
- Intersex
- Non-Binary
- Third Gender
- Transgender Women
- Trans-masculine
- Two-Spirit
- Woman
- Womxn
- Womyn
- Woman-aligned
Please note:
- There will be people present with different gender expressions and that you will see a variety of sex, bodies, and genitalia at this event. Please remember that people’s anatomy or appearance do not define their gender.
- Gender is subjective to the individual person and cannot be assessed by outside viewers. This means that there is no way for you to make a determination about someone else’s gender based on their appearance and/or presentation.
Consent Policy
How many people attend DESIRE?
Who can attend DESIRE?
We do not police genitalia.
What kind of play happens at this event? Will there be sex?
ALL PLAY MUST BE FULLY CONSENSUAL!
It is your responsibility to practice radical self-care and take care of yourself during the event. We have a hospitality suite open during the day until midnight where no play or sex is allowed if you need a break from the stimulation or the heat.
What should I bring?
Please bring with you any items and supplies you’ll need to help you enjoy the event, including:
- toys and play equipment,
- pee pads (if needed for any fluid play),
- internal/external condoms, lubricant, dental dams, etc.,
- sunscreen!
- food (if you’re not buying the on-site meals) and at the very least snacks,
- large refillable water bottle to stay hydrated.
For a full list of items people bring, read this post.
We are dedicated to being as accessible as possible. If you have accessibility needs, please see this post.
This is my first year. What do I need to know?
We also have ambassadors around all weekend long to help you. Check for people wearing bright vests at meal times and in the hospitality suite.
If you haven’t yet, be sure to read our blog posts Ask a DESIRE Veteran – Your Questions Answered! and What to Bring. You can also ask questions in our FetLife or Facebook groups. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates.
Ask a DESIRE veteran – your questions answered.
Where can I find the complete schedule?
Location, Lodging and Local Resources
Where is the event located?
For the privacy of all in attendance, we do not release the name and address of the resort until we have verified your registration. If you’re looking for an AirBnB or hotel to stay, the main cross streets are Ramon and Sunrise Way.
We are dedicated to being as accessible as possible. If you have accessibility needs, please see this post.
What hotels and AirBnBs are nearby?
The DESIRE resort is not able to accommodate your lodging needs. All of the resort rooms are occupied by presenters and DESIRE staff. Participants need to make their own arrangements for lodging. We have included a list of nearby accommodations for your reference. If there is winds up being space at the resort after Presenters/Staff have reserved their rooms, we will open it up to attendees.
If you’re looking for an AirBnB or hotel to stay, the main cross streets are Ramon and Sunrise Way.
Here are some hotel options with proximity to DESIRE and reasonable prices:
VRBO
A minimum 4 night stay is required; please use the following links to see photos, availability, and rates, each unit has its own link, There are 1 bedroom 1 bath units and a 2 bedroom 2 bath unit:
Motel 6 (#689) .73 miles from DESIRE
660 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 92262
www.motel6.com, 760-327-4200
Can’t beat the price and it is less than a mile from DESIRE. It looks like a newer facility. Make sure that you reserve this Motel 6. There are other Motel 6’s a little further away and older.
Best Western Las Brisas Hotel .91 miles from DESIRE
222 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 92262
www.bestwestern.com, 800-346-5714, 760-352-4372
Quality Inn 1.43 miles from DESIRE
390 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 92262
www.palmspringscomfortinn.com, 888-322-1997, 760-778-3699
Courtyard by Marriott 1.34 miles from DESIRE
1300 Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, 92262
www.marriott.com/PSPCH, 800-321-2211, 760-322-6100
Desert Lodge 1.06 miles from DESIRE
1177 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 92264
800-385-6343, 760-325-1356
Hotel Zoso 1.0 miles from DESIRE
150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 92262
www.hotelzoso.com, 760-325-9676
V Palm Springs 1.49 miles from DESIRE
- E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 92264
http://vpalmsprings.com 877-544-4446/760-327-1211.
Vagabond 1.45 miles from DESIRE
1699 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 92264
www.vagabondinn.com, 760-325-7211
What's the event space like?
We are dedicated to being as accessible as possible. If you have accessibility needs, please see this post.
Which airport should I use to get there?
What's Palm Springs like? Should I come early or stay late?
Palm Springs has something for everyone. Besides basking in the sun, taking a dip in the pool and relaxing under the shade of a palm tree, there is lots to do for those who want action outside of DESIRE. Palm Springs is known for its world-famous golf courses and beautiful canyons for hiking. There are museums, art galleries, spas, casinos and lots of shopping opportunities.
Presenters, Staff and Volunteers
Who runs DESIRE?

Bikkja Amy is the Co-owner/Producer of DESIRE and the Contestant Coordinator for IMsL/IMsBB (2007- current). She has been creating mischief in the San Diego and Central Valley Leather Communities for the last 19 years. True to her Capricorn nature, she jumped right into her career as a Kinky Woman when she first moved to San Diego in 2000, by becoming a member and board member of Leather and Sisterhood (L.A.S.H.) She then became Knight of Leather 2002. She facilitated the San Diego Women’s Leather Rap group and co-founded the Modesto Women’s BDSM Forum in 2004-06.She became Southern California Leather Woman (SCLW) in 2006 and sat on the board until the title retired in 2015. Bikkja was on The Leather Realm committee at San Diego Gay Pride from 2007 to 2017. She has the honor of being Mama’s Bikkja. As a player, she is a true Switch who is particularly fond of blood. She spends her time in San Diego with her wife, Naria, her submissive and partner “toi”, her little boi, 2 cats and 2 dogs, and a household of assorted pervs.
Naria Lei B. Jordan is the Co-owner/Producer of DESIRE, IMsL Dungeon Coordinator, Southern California Leather Woman (SCLW) 2013, and Ms. San Diego Leather 2002. She is a longtime Radical Sex Perv Poly Daddy who has been involved in the Queer BDSM Community for 37 years as a practitioner, organizer, activist, and educator in the Kinky Arts. She co-founded two Women’s-only leather groups in Washington, DC–Lesborados and S/Mazons. She was a co-founder, editor, and writer for the collectively published “Black Leather…In Color” and was the facilitator of the Women’s BDSM Rap in San Diego from 2007-2014. She was also the Co-facilitator for the Women’s BDSM Forum in the Modesto/Central Valley area from 2004-2006. A writer, national speaker and presenter, photographer, and fancier of Fine Fierce Femme Women, Naria is a relentless sex educator, a misunderstood yet flaming Pisces, a true Water Tiger, and always enjoys pushing the envelope–as often as possible! She spends her time in San Diego and Orange County with her primary partners, Bikkja Amy and Brigette, as well as 2 cats and 2 dogs, and a household of assorted pervs.
Who is on staff?
How do I get on staff?
Who is presenting workshops and offering mentoring at DESIRE?
A list of presenters can be found here.
How can I become a presenter at DESIRE?
How do I volunteer?
Do you offer scholarships?
Where do I need to be when?
Educational Workshops and Mentoring
Who is presenting workshops and offering mentoring at DESIRE?
A list of presenters can be found here.
How can I become a presenter at DESIRE?
What workshops are being offered?
You can find the complete workshop schedule here.
Where can I find the complete weekend schedule?
Sponsorship and Ads in the Program
How do I advertise in the DESIRE program and website?
As a DESIRE advertiser, you not only support to the women’s leather community, but you also reach over 250+ women and GQ folx eager to know what your product, service, or business can do for them!
DESIRE has become the premiere annual women and GQ folx leather event in the country, attracting participants and presenters from throughout the United States and Canada. DESIRE is the only conference event in the country exclusively for women and GQ folx into BDSM.
DESIRE’s main goal is to provide a safe space where women and GQ folx can learn, socialize and play. Education is one of DESIRE’s main focuses, so this year DESIRE is offering 24 different workshops. Also, one of the unique and popular features of DESIRE is that participants can sign up for a one-hour mentoring session with the presenter of their choice. You can learn more about DESIRE by looking around this website.
ADVERTISING OPTIONS:
- Place a banner on the DESIRE website for a FULL YEAR.
- Full Page Ads (8″ high x 5″ wide).
- Half Page Ads (4″ high x 5″ wide).
- Business Card Ads (2″ high x 5″ wide).
- Swag Bag Inserts (business card, flyer, postcard, etc.).
HOW TO ORDER: (https://form.jotform.com/90955071781160)
The deadline for submitting your ad materials and sending payment for DESIRE 2019 is May 10, 2019.