SEATTLE—The fact that sex-toy companies will finally be permitted to display at CES in 2020 has been widely reported. But that CES policy does not permit any products that contain “anatomically correct” parts including mouths or human genitalia is still unknown to the public.
As the owner of a male-centric sex toy brand, I believe this policy effectively prohibits the display of pleasure products for men because men overwhelmingly prefer devices that contain human-like orifices, especially female genitalia.
I applied to CES in September 2019 to display our new Autoblow A.I. at the 2020 show. CES representatives told me that they would be happy to rent my company a booth provided I removed the silicone mouth sleeve my product comes with and replaced it with a sleeve that contains only a non-descript hole. I declined their offer.
Why?
Because it is normal for human beings to feel sexual excitement from the appearance of the body parts of other human beings. The reason the Autoblow A.I. comes with a mouth sleeve is because it aims to recreate the oral sex experience. That a human mouth is involved in that experience is an inescapable fact. I cannot pretend otherwise.
While CES has (commendably) helped to lift the stigma against sexual devices for women by allowing them to be displayed as mainstream consumer electronics, CES has reinforced the stigma against sexual devices for men (and the related shame) by disallowing them based solely on the one feature that happens to be highly linked to their commercial success: human orifices.
Although anatomically correct products are less popular with women, they are still widely purchased. The current CES policy also promotes a culture of shame amongst women who prefer a more life-like experience. The message it sends is clear: products that look like parts of human beings are unfit for public display. I categorically reject this notion.
For CES 2021 I respectfully ask the CES decision makers to re-explore this issue and open the show to all high-tech adult consumer electronics – including those that resemble parts of human beings.
Sincerely,
Brian Sloan
CEO
