Welcome to my happy place.
Each year as I travel home, I reflect upon this weekend and the joy it brings so many people.
We’re living in troubling times, when the actions of so few are affecting so many – in both the trans community and the adult industry. For this weekend, instead of dwelling on the uncertainty of what may happen, I’m going to ask you to put that aside just for a few days and focus on yourself, on your friends, on those you have yet to meet, and on embracing the many beautiful and good things we have as a shared community.
The TEA Show was created out of a necessity to embrace and celebrate the trans adult industry, at a time when we felt alienated or overlooked by much of the rest of the porn world. Much has changed in the years since, and the acceptance, the camaraderie, and warmth we feel from the vast majority of the industry have started to feel like the norm. Seeing fabulous trans performers get hired by a wider range of companies, seeing them on stage at the many shows, and the participation of trans performers in marketing campaigns is not a choice of inclusion, but of good business.
We welcome and thank those who made this weekend possible. Pornhub has once again stepped up to support us as our Presenting Sponsor for the show, and Clips4Sale also for their support of our Pre-Party. Our friends at Bad Dragon, Chaturbate, Streamate, Transfixed, LoyalFans, TransAngels, Ten15 Group, VRBTrans, and Eva AI come from a wide array of different types of companies, all working with trans adult performers. Thank you to all our sponsors, Adult Empire, BanksieTV, GenderX Films, Micha Angela, Aiden Starr, PornCrush, Dr. Alexander Sinclair, Wicked Sensual Care, Aubrey Kate (and Transcending Agency), as well as Altomic Visuals, Bea York, ElevatedX, Emily Adaire, Tom Moore, Shiri Allwood, Tgirl Nights, Emma Rose, and everyone who has contributed to making the TEA Awards possible.
Mark Rollings (markrollings.com) works tirelessly year after year as the ‘Voice of the TEAs’ and without his help, the show would be a lot poorer. The ‘Face of the TEAs’ is, of course, Domino Presley, who is more than just the host; she works with us on ideas throughout the year to ensure we have the best show possible, improving each year. Once again, we’re honored to have icons Natassia Dreams and Foxxy as our red carpet hosts and Banksie as our Pre-Party and Awards Media Wall host and Backstage Winners’ Interviewer. Thank you to our opening acts, The Gurls and King Noire, to the awesome photographers shooting the red carpet and around the show (Al Tom, Ben, Rick, and Jay), and to the staff of the stunning Avalon, who make it so easy for us to want to return each year.
Finally, I have to highlight my company, Grooby. We’re not a company that runs shows, we’re a paysite company – so the fact that Kristel and the rest of the team onsite (Alex, Mike, Moe) as well as everyone else involved, from our visual editors, graphic designers, financial management and more, can put this together year after year, while also taking care of our core business, is something I never take for granted. Without them, there would be no TEA show.
Of course, there also would be no TEA show without the models, the performers, the producers as well as the fans who pay for their porn. As much as this show is about the nominations and the winners, it’s more about the celebration of trans erotica and all of you attending, whether you were nominated or not, are all winners. You are part of a beautiful community of people who are here to support each other, to help platform each other. You are the foundation of a community that will not be broken, will continue to grow and who will continue to excel.
This weekend is my happy place. The smiling faces, the hugs, and the laughs. Meeting many of you for the first time. Watching you meet others. Seeing many of you thrive in this environment, some for the first time. Watching you take away your new alliances into future friendships and work partnerships. Knowing that the photographs from this year, will be immortalized into social media and shown to the world, where they will be shared and never erased.
Steven
