Learn the Truth Keep Yourself Safe
Why Isn't Smut Lovers Safe?
The City of Orlando
The organizers have been asked multiple times, by both attendees and authors, to move the event away from Orlando for several reasons.
- The current political party in power in Florida continues its anti-LGBTQ+ stance, creating laws that many authors and attendees break just by existing as their authentic selves. As a result, many of us don't want to give them our money.
- The 2022 crime rate in Orlando, FL is 434 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.8 times higher than the U.S. average. It was higher than in 95.9% U.S. cities. The 2022 Orlando crime rate rose by 3% compared to 2020. In the last 5 years Orlando has seen rise of violent crime. This is dangerous for attendees.
- Even worse, the US average for sexual assault is 39.5 per 100,000. Florida’s average for sexual assault is 72.7 per 100,000. Orlando’s average for sexual assault is 226 per 100,000. This is particularly dangerous for conventions that have a large percentage of female attendees.
- The DoubleTree at SeaWorld is a also not safe for your budget. It's a very expensive hotel compared to the mediocre quality. The rooms are pricey, plus the food is not only expensive but it's terrible. One attendee said "It's really sad when the best meal I had all weekend was at IHOP."
They Don't Vet Their Educators/Sponsors (or ignore what they discover)
- The Woodshed Incident (2024) - Master Cecil’s abuses had been going on for years and yet they were embraced by Smut Lovers until a very public accusation of the abuses finally forced Smut Lovers to (reluctantly) break off their relationship with them. To find out details, go to FetLife.com and search for "Woodshed".
- Major Educator Uninvited (2024) - A popular TikTok creator was enthusiastically invited to Smut Lovers, then quietly uninvited when credible evidence of his misconduct was brought to their attention. Smut Lovers refused to discuss his misconduct when he threatened to sue, continuing to put women in danger from him. Their carelessness and cowardice shows an unwillingness to protect their attendees.
- Bullying and Intimidation (2024) - Several attendees were bullied and had private conversations illegally recorded (a felony in Florida) by the crew of an invited author/educator. Despite this continued bullying and documented libel of the attendee, this author/educator has been invited back to the 2025 convention.
If you want corroborating details on these incidents, including number of the report filed with the Orlando police, ask us using the form below and we'll email it to you.
Inadequate Security
Multiple complaints about inadequate security at the event have been ignored.
- 2023 - Not only were attendees gawked out and treated like a sideshow, non-attendees wandered into various lectures and activities.
- 2024 - Security was a little better, but attendees reported being followed to their rooms and to their cars.
If something happened to you at Smut Lovers that made you feel unsafe, tell us using the form below and we'll include it.
