I’m writing a series of articles spotlighting influential figures, whom I’ve dubbed “Scene Saints,” to honor and recognise their vital contributions in laying the foundational building blocks of the kink community. Sadly Tuppy passed away earlier this year.
Tuppy Owens : A Trailblazer for Sexual Freedom
December 12, 1944 – February 28, 2025
Tuppy Owens was a vibrant and unapologetic force in the fight for sexual liberation and inclusivity. An elegant, commanding presence with a frank, no-nonsense demeanor, she played a pivotal role in reshaping societal attitudes toward sexuality from the 1960s onward. Born Rosalind Owens in Cambridge, nicknamed Tuppy by her family, she leaves a legacy as a sexual rights activist, author, and champion for the marginalized, particularly disabled people. Her brother, Jonathan, described her as driven by an “unerring desire to have a good time” while ensuring others, especially the less able, could do the same.
The Sex Maniac’s Diary: Published from 1972 to 1995. Rebranded in 1987 as The Safer Sex Maniac’s Diary in response to the AIDS crisis and later to The Safer Planet Sex Handbook.
The Sex Maniac’s Diary
Owens’s groundbreaking work began in 1972 with The Sex Maniac’s Diary, an annual directory that meticulously cataloged global sexual practices and services in a pre-internet era. Researched with scholarly zeal, it was, as she put it, “like a yachtsman’s diary but about sex,” she published it from her bohemian Mayfair basement flat until 1995. Her commitment to sexual education extended to her training as a sex therapist in the 1980s earning a diploma in human sexuality from the University of London and an honorary doctorate from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco.
The Outsiders
Her activism found its heart in advocating for the sexual rights of disabled people, a cause she embraced with passion and pragmatism. In 1979, alongside her visually impaired colleague Nigel Verbeek, she founded The Outsiders Trust, a social and campaigning group for those marginalized by physical or social disabilities. Owens rejected the infantilization of disabled people, asserting their right to intimate lives. This led to initiatives like the Sex and Disability Helpline, SHADA (Sexual Health and Disability Alliance), and the TLC Trust, which connected disabled individuals with responsible sexual service providers. As Emma Buckett, co-author of Owens’s biography, noted, “Tuppy accepted me as I am,” a sentiment echoed by many.
The Sex Maniacs Ball
Owens’s exuberance spilled into her hedonistic events, such as The Sex Maniacs Ball (later The Night of the Senses) and the Erotic Awards, which evolved into the Sexual Freedom Awards, celebrating pioneers of sexual services with winged phallus trophies. These gatherings, often fundraising for Outsiders, pushed boundaries while showcasing her knack for rallying support. Her secretary, Anna María Staiano, recalled Owens’s “field trips” to stripper bars and fetish clubs to scout award candidates, reflecting her hands-on approach. A fierce advocate for sex workers and strippers, she lobbied against restrictive councils and for decriminalization, insisting that consensual adult expression should be free from shame or state control.
I knew Tuppy, she presented me with my erotic award. And,I bumbed into her at many events and on many a protest march. (Here with the lovely Mik Scarlet & Kathy)
Early Years & Sex Work
Tuppy, a zoology graduate from the University of Exeter, transitioned from an unsatisfying career into pornography, authoring Sexual Harmony (1969) and modelling in Sensations (1975), later marrying and settling on a Scottish croft. There she founding SHADA while stewarding the Sexual Freedom Coalition and publishing Supporting Disabled People with their Sexual Lives (2014), thriving in both rural Scotland and London’s vibrant fet scene.
Recognition
Owens’s impact was recognized with awards from UNESCO and the Directory of Social Change in 2015. Despite a vascular dementia diagnosis in 2019, she remained a commanding figure, celebrated last November at a joint 80th birthday and book launch for her autobiography, The Sex Lady on the Hill, at London’s Heaven nightclub. Presiding from a throne, she was hailed as a grande dame of sexual freedom. Steve, an Outsiders member, remembered her “sense of fun, mischief, and frankness.” Owens’s life was a testament to her belief in enabling others to embrace their bodies and desires, leaving an indelible mark on the fight for sexual equality and joy.
The Outsiders
Outsiders is a private club offering respect, openness and opportunities to socially and physically disabled people. They act as an international peer support network where members make friends, gain confidence and find partners.
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