Reflections from ‘Bean Flicks’, an intersectional porn festival celebrating marginalized bodies and sexualities

In response to intersectional violence on marginalised bodies and sexualities, we held ‘Bean Flicks’ (2020), Birmingham’s first ethical, intersectional porn festival. The event brought together sex researchers, performers, educators, and creators who embody or advocate for non-conforming (disabled, trans, non-binary, racially minoritized, queer) identities. Bean Flicks aimed to advocate for bodily autonomy and disrupt heteronormativity by centring visible, diverse forms of marginality. This paper explores the queer potential of such events and the challenges of organising them, navigating stigma, censorship, and misogyny. We reflect on the tensions between community and academic legitimacy, and the compromises made in creating inclusive, safe spaces. By acknowledging our positionality and blind spots, we highlight the complexities in feminist and queer praxis. Despite logistical and political challenges, audience feedback affirmed Bean Flicks as a powerful act of intersectional activism, offering visibility and community while revealing the nuanced messiness of hosting such transformative events.