CARAS Research-CLAW Conference: Leather-Kink Research and Clinical Knowledge (C2C)-East 2026
Call for Proposals
Columbus, Ohio, Friday-Sunday, April 3-5, 2026
Integrated into the CLAW 26 event
Proposals are due by Friday, December 12, 2025
Presenters will be notified by Monday, December 22, 2025
To submit your proposal, please visit:
https://forms.gle/EBDxf9TXLRUenBPr8
The CARAS-CLAW Conference: Leather-Kink Research and Clinical Knowledge (C2C) invites proposals for presentations, workshops, and poster sessions addressing sexuality communities served by CARAS, including leather, kink, related sex work, and consensual non-monogamies (CNM). Both research and clinical topics are welcome.
We invite proposals from diverse disciplines including psychology, psychiatry, medicine, nursing, law, sociology, sexology, anthropology, library science, social work, history, philosophy, and education. Other disciplines are welcome!
The C2C also invites community members to submit proposals to share their expertise. Please contact the conference organizers with any questions, c2c@carasresearch.org
Illustrative topics include, but are not limited to: health disparities in alternative sexuality (alt-sex) populations; long-term relationships in leather-kink communities; consent; ethics in sexuality; effects of infectious diseases on alt-sex populations; groups and practices in alternative sexualities (e.g., pup play); comparative analyses of kink across different regions and cultures; virtual/digital technologies and kink; distinguishing BDSM practice from abuse; clinical issues in work with kinky clients; organization of archival collections addressing kink-leather communities; aging and kink; edge play dynamics; polyamorous relationships in leather-kink; history of leather-kink communities; community-based research addressing leather-kink groups; disability and kink; theoretical approaches in the study of sexualities; religion and spirituality; professional domination; early research findings; sex work; intersections of gender, race, class, and other social/cultural positions with sexuality.
C2C Conference Registration
C2C attendees should register via a designated registration link that will be posted by early 2026. C2C attendees are also registered for the CLAW event. The C2C is an "in person" event.
C2C Conference Volunteers
CARAS subscribers may volunteer for 6 hours of C2C support and receive a complimentary registration for CLAW+C2C. Please contact c2c@carasresearch.org if you are interested in volunteering to support the conference.
Continuing Education (CE) Credit
CARAS is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CARAS maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
C2C Contact information and links:
To submit your proposal, please visit: https://forms.gle/EBDxf9TXLRUenBPr8
To subscribe to CARAS, please visit: https://carasresearch.org/subscribe
We suggest that you join the CARAS Announcements Listserv for updates regarding the C2C.
For information about the CLAW 26 event, please visit: https://clawinfo.org
For current information regarding the C2C (this page), please visit https://carasresearch.org/c2c-east
For questions regarding the C2C, please email c2c@carasresearch.org
For information about the CARAS Education Program, please visit https://caras-researchlink.org/education