The Rev. Beatrix Weil, a chaplain at a Tennessee college responsible for providing spiritual guidance to students of various faiths, stirred up controversy by attempting to arrange a “BDSM 101” workshop featuring a local dominatrix to discuss safe engagement in BDSM practices. The workshop, which was quickly canceled by the school, drew strong reactions from the student body at Rhodes College in Memphis.
The invitation to the workshop included a message from Chaplain Beatrix regarding the presence of a dominatrix to provide insights on bondage, discipline, domination, submission, and masochism in a safe and consensual manner. The event was scheduled to take place on Nov. 15 in the Interfaith Lounge but was swiftly canceled after being brought to the attention of the college administration. Linda Bonnin, a college representative, acknowledged that the event had not gone through the proper approvals and stated that no such event was planned for the campus. The administration also committed to reviewing and revising their event approval processes.
Following the news, one student expressed strong disapproval of the proposed workshop, stating that such sexual content should not be hosted on a college campus. However, the reaction was mixed, with some students finding the idea less controversial and even entertaining. The incident sparked heated discussions on social media, with some calling for the chaplain’s dismissal while others defended her and the workshop concept.
Some individuals, including a colleague of Weil’s and an alum, voiced support for the workshop, emphasizing the importance of open and mature discussions about sexuality and consent among adults. They argued that the workshop could have been informative and beneficial for students. Others pointed out the stigma surrounding BDSM and highlighted the need for broader sexual education and understanding.
It was revealed that the chaplain had previously invited the same dominatrix to address a seminar on sex education, indicating a continuation of the topic within the college’s educational framework.
