Domino Presley Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary of ‘Jazmin Shibata Scholarship’ to Support Trans Sex Workers

LOS ANGELES, CA - Acclaimed adult star and philanthropist Domino Presley has added additional funds to the Jazmin Shibata Scholarship in celebration of the one-year anniversary of its inception.

“It is so important, in my opinion, to give back to your community,” says Presley. “I didn’t come from money and transitioning during a time before Caitlyn Jenner existed, there were very limited resources that actually helped trans women in their transition, specifically trans sex workers.”

Through the Jazmin Shibata Scholarship, trans sex workers in California are able to receive free therapy and letters of support for transition-related care from Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Kristel Penn (Yoneda). Presley and Penn started the scholarship program together a year ago while Penn was a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) trainee at the LGBTQ Center in Orange County.

Presley added, “Trans sex workers are the backbone of the trans community. Mental health is not only important to me, but something I have struggled with my entire life. I have benefitted so much and learned how to truly love myself and accept myself and all of my transness  by going to therapy regularly. A lot of places require a letter of approval from a  therapist in order to fulfill one’s transition journey or even just a name change. Right now, during a time where society is really testing trans people daily… if not, hourly…I hope this scholarship can be even the tiniest glimmer of light in a trans sex workers day and make their journey a little less stressful.”

“It’s been about a year since the Jazmin Shibata Scholarship was created and it’s been wonderful to see firsthand how it’s being used in our community,” stated Kristel Penn. “When Domino approached me with the idea, I knew it was the start of something big and something much needed in our industry.”

Through the Jazmin Shibata Scholarship, qualified individuals will be able to receive at no cost to them, a free assessment and letter of support from Penn (AMFT) to be given to their doctor and/or insurance company that follows the criteria required by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).  

To those interested in learning more about the Jazmin Shibata Scholarship, please contact Kristel Penn directly at kristel@sadbutradtherapy.com. 

Domino Presley is an American adult film performer,  director, and adult talent agent who debuted in the adult industry in 2010. Using her far-reaching platform, she championed greater inclusivity and visibility of minoritized performers in adult entertainment. Through her management company, she advocated for higher pay and ethical treatment of performers on-set and continues to use her voice to uplift the trans community. As a trailblazer in the adult industry, she was the first trans performer to win an award in a non-trans exclusive category and continues receiving numerous accolades in her illustrious career.  She was also the first director to feature trans masculine and BBW performers in a mainstream adult movie. 

Currently, Presley serves as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the Trans Erotica Awards, which celebrates the accomplishments of the trans adult industry. She is a passionate philanthropist and activist in the trans adult industry and beyond. In 2022, she created the Jazmin Shibata Scholarship, which financially supports trans sex workers to receive free therapy and professional letters of support (for transition) through mental health initiative, Sad But Rad Therapy. For more information, visit SadButRadTherapy.com.

Multi-talented and creatively passionate, Presley teamed up with recording artist Alissah to form the pop group, The Gurls, recently welcoming Raquel Starr to the phenomenal lineup. The Gurls performed in London for a crowd of thousands and continue to break barriers in the mainstream arena, racking up over 30 million views to date for their music video with Rupaul’s Drag Race alum Gia Gunn.

To learn more about Domino, visit TheDominoPresley.com.

Kristel Penn Presents “Finding a SWer Affirming Mental Health Provider” Workshop at InterNEXT Expo

LAS VEGAS, NV – Grooby’s Kristel Penn will present their popular “Finding a SWer Affirming Mental Health Provider” educational workshop this Friday as part of the InterNEXT Expo. 

“I’ve been doing this workshop for several years at our industry conferences and will continue to do so for as long as there is a need for it,” explained Penn. “Whether you already have a provider or are considering your options for mental health resources, this workshop is structured to empower performers to find a competent and affirming provider that fits their specific needs.” 

In addition to Penn’s responsibilities as Grooby’s longtime Creative and Editorial Director, they are an MFT (marriage and family therapist) trainee at the LGBTQ Center in Orange County wrapping up their MA in Psychology. Penn has presented educational workshops to both industry and non-industry professionals for over eight years at numerous conferences across the United States. In 2022, Penn teamed up with Domino Presley to offer group therapy and letter of support services through the ‘Jazmin Shibata Scholarship,’ a financial scholarship for trans sex workers founded by Presley herself. 

Penn is presenting “Finding a SWer Affirming Mental Health Provider (For Performers)” on Friday, January 6, from 1-2pm at the HERstory Stripchat Lounge: Meeting Room 5. 

The workshop description is as follows: 

Navigating the mental health system can be a labyrinth filled with confusing technical jargon, safety and privacy concerns, plus the fear of being judged and discriminated against because of your profession. Not to mention the extra task of finding a competent and affirming therapist who understands the unique concerns of being a sex worker.  This workshop outlines the different types of mental health service providers and other important terminology, how to find a therapist and select a therapist, and client expectations and rights.

For more information, visit https://internext-expo.com/. 

Grooby’s Kristel Penn to Speak at UC Santa Barbara’s “Teaching Porn in a Pandemic 2.0” Class

LOS ANGELES, CA - Grooby’s longtime Creative and Editorial Director, Kristel Penn, will be speaking this Thursday at famed University of California Santa Barbara class, “Teaching Porn in a Pandemic 2.0.” The Pornographic Cultures course is taught by Professor Constance Penley, who is considered to be one of the founders of the academic field of porn studies. 

“My students and I are delighted that Kristel Penn has accepted our invitation to visit my UC Santa Barbara class on Pornographic Cultures, now retitled as ‘Teaching Porn in a Pandemic 2.0,’” said Professor Constance Penley. “Over its 28 years (!), the course has featured an extraordinary range of creatives and other experts from the adult industry. As the Creative and Editorial Director of Grooby, an activist, humanitarian, and entrepreneur, Kristel will generously share her knowledge gained as an industry pioneer in trans erotica and as a prominent advocate for visibility and empowerment through sex-positivity.”

“This has been a longtime professional dream of mine to speak in Professor Penley’s class,” said Penn. “I sincerely admire the work Professor Penley does to elevate the discussion of sex work and the adult industry in a way that holds the complexities of our community. Professor Penley’s class gives the outside world a really valuable opportunity to learn about an industry that is often villainized and oversimplified in mainstream media. I’m honored by the opportunity to speak to the UCSB students about my career at Grooby and how it has given me a unique platform to speak on topics that are personally important to me, such as destigmatizing porn and its consumption, LGBTQ representation, and changing the narrative of mental health and wellness.”

“The students especially want to hear from Kristel about her work on destigmatizing the industry and porn consumption,” added Penley. “They also want to learn more about her commitment to creating sex-worker affirming mental health services for the adult industry. My students feel they have much to learn from the adult industry about unashamedly realizing their desires for creative freedom and political expression. None could speak to those desires better than Kristel.” 

Constance Penley is a Professor of Film and Media Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Now considered one of the founders of the academic field of porn studies, she co-edited “The Feminist Porn Book: The Politics of Producing Pleasure” with Tristan Taormino, Mirelle Miller-Young, and Celine Parreñas Shimizu.

ABOUT GROOBY
Founded in 1996, Grooby is the leading producer of trans erotica. In addition to operating over 30 membership sites, the company produces nearly 50 DVDs a year and hosts the annual TEAs (Transgender Erotica Awards) held in Hollywood, CA. More information about the two-day event can be found at theTEAShow.com.

For more information, visit Grooby.com or follow them on Twitter at @GroobyDotcom.

Kristel Penn to Discuss 'Sad But Rad Club' on PromoHomoTV Tomorrow

CYBERSPACE - Grooby’s Kristel Penn will appear live on Nicholas Snow’s popular PromoHomoTV web series tomorrow at 11am PST to discuss her mental health project, Sad But Rad Club. 

“I signed up for TikTok on a whim at the beginning of the pandemic last year with no real goal in mind other than to be creative and silly,” explained Penn. “When a light-hearted mental health video of mine started gaining traction, I decided to pivot my account to focus specifically on ways I wanted to change the narrative many of us have about mental health. My goal is to destigmatize the healing process and help people feel validated for where they are in their individual journeys.” 

Penn’s video has amassed over 150,000 views since then, with nearly 889,000 total views on her videos and nearly 13,000 followers and counting. Penn uses Sad But Rad Club to discuss the struggles of mental health and wellness, mental health resources, sex work, and her own identity. 

This Wednesday at 11am PST, Penn will appear live on PromoHomoTV with host Nicholas Snow. The show is being live-streamed on both Facebook and YouTube. Visit this link for more information about the upcoming show: https://promohomo.tv/sadbutradclub/

To view on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/969560299753862/posts/3995771570466038/

To view on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zCG6AJwvrXU

ABOUT KRISTEL PENN

Kristel Penn is Grooby’s longtime Creative and Editorial Director and runs her own boutique marketing and PR firm, Ikigai Marketing. She served as Transformation Magazine’s Editor for two years and is on the Board of Directors for TAIF (Trans Adult Industry Foundation). She is also the Executive Producer of the Transgender Erotica Awards, a two-event celebrating the trans adult industry and hosted in Hollywood, CA. 

Penn is the 2017 XBIZ Industry Exec Brand Ambassador of the Year and the 2021 XBIZ Industry Exec Community Figure of the Year recipient. She uses her platform to discuss mental health, LGBTQ issues, and destigmatizing sex work. 

Sad But Rad Club was founded in 2020 by Penn, where she creates mental health content on TikTok and Patreon. Visit the official website here: https://sadbutradclub.com. 

Grooby’s Kristel Penn Wins XBIZ Industry Exec “Community Figure of the Year” Award

LOS ANGELES, CA - Grooby’s longtime Creative and Editorial Director, Kristel Penn, took home the coveted XBIZ Industry Exec Award for “Community Figure of the Year” last night. 

“This win holds personal significance to me because the ‘Community Figure of the Year’ category feels like an acknowledgment for being myself,” said Penn. “I spent most of my adolescence and early adulthood trying to hide my authentic self because the people around me made me feel like there was something wrong with me. As I mentioned last night, I was the weird kid, and then I was the closeted gay weird kid. At Grooby, and for the last 12 years working in the adult industry, I get to be exactly who I am. I know there is great privilege in that, and I’m honored that I get to use my privilege, my voice, and my platform through Grooby to support and uplift the trans adult community.”

In 2017, Penn won the XBIZ Industry Exec Award for “Brand Ambassador of the Year” for her work with Grooby. She was also nominated in previous years for “Marketing Executive of the Year” and “WIA Woman of the Year.” 

“Congratulations to Kristel on her XBIZ win,” said Grooby founder, Steven Grooby. “I don't believe most people really know how much goes on behind the scenes and what she does to try and reach out, and make sure that people in the trans adult community and the wider adult community are doing well, or helping them if they're struggling. She's brought a number of initiatives to the table that Grooby has acted on, and more than she does personally and through her other platforms. We look forward to continuing to encourage and support her where and when we can.  Thank you to XBIZ for honoring someone who very much deserves a win this year.”

Penn continued, “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to XBIZ and my colleagues who voted for me this past year. I also want to thank Steven Grooby for taking a chance on me 12 years ago and for giving me the guidance and space to make a place for myself in our industry. I also want to dedicate my win to my Grooby partner-in-crime, Sparky Snakeden, who passed away last year from cancer. He believed in me as ‘Kristel Penn’ long before I did. If I felt like I wasn’t important enough or cool enough to be at a work function, he’d assure me I was and he’d accompany me with a confidence that I simply did not have. His support throughout our friendship has helped shape me into the person I am today in this industry.” 

In addition to being Grooby’s Creative and Editorial Director, Penn is also the Executive Producer of the Transgender Erotica Awards, created by Grooby over 13 years ago. In 2016, she started boutique PR and marketing firm, IkigaiMarketing.com, with a roster that includes many of the trans adult industry’s top performers. Follow her on Twitter at @thekristelpenn. 

Most recently, Penn started Sad But Rad Club, an initiative to change the narrative of mental health and wellness. More information can be found at SadButRadClub.com. 

ABOUT GROOBY
Founded in 1996, Grooby is the leading producer of trans erotica. In addition to operating over 30 membership sites, the company produces nearly 50 DVDs a year and hosts the annual TEAs (Transgender Erotica Awards). The 2021 TEAs will be hosted as a virtual show. More information about the event can be found at theTEAShow.com.

Visit Grooby.com or follow them on Twitter at @GroobyDotcom.

Kristel Penn Hosting Free Model Wellness Workshop Today at YNOT Summit

LOS ANGELES, CA – Grooby’s Kristel Penn will be hosting a free workshop from 4-4:50pm PST today titled, “Model Wellness: How and Where to Get Help When You Need It” as part of the online YNOT Summit.

“The purpose of this free workshop is to help those in the adult industry, whether performers or producers, find competent and affirming mental health care services,” explains Penn. “A complaint I hear often from our community is folks wanting to see a therapist but feeling like the process is extremely confusing and stressful only to have them receive subpar care. This workshop considers how the unique intersectional identities of the adult industry community affect how seeking mental health care is navigated and how it also informs the type of care people might need.”

Penn is Grooby’s longtime Creative and Editorial Director. She is an outspoken adult community advocate and hosts educational workshops across the country to help destigmatize the adult industry and the consumption of porn. Previous speaking engagements include the Contemporary Relationships Conference, Catalyst Con, Woodhull Sexual Freedom Summit, Kink’s educational series, YNOT Summit, and more.

“Model Wellness: How and Where to Get Help When You Need It” is a 50-minute educational workshop. Below is the workshop description:

Navigating the mental health system can be a labyrinth filled with confusing technical jargon, safety and privacy concerns, plus the fear of being judged and discriminated against because of your profession. Not to mention the extra task of trying to find a competent and affirming therapist who understands the unique concerns of being a sex worker. In this 50-minute workshop, adult industry advocate and MA in Psychology student, Kristel Penn, shares the 411 of different mental health services and its pros/cons (e.g. the difference between therapy and life coaching, different types of providers), finding a sex worker affirming provider, interviewing and selecting a potential professional, and navigating the system with/without health insurance. 

Those interested in attending may register for free at YNOTSummit.com.

ABOUT GROOBY
Founded in 1996, Grooby is the leading producer of trans erotica. In addition to operating over 30 membership sites, the company produces nearly 50 DVDs a year and hosts the annual TEAs (Transgender Erotica Awards) held in Hollywood, CA. More information about the two-day event can be found at theTEAShow.com.

For more information, visit Grooby.com or follow them on Twitter at @GroobyDotcom.

Grooby’s Kristel Penn Nominated for XBIZ’s Exec’s “Community Figure of the Year”

LOS ANGELES, CA - Grooby is proud to announce that their longtime Creative and Editorial Director, Kristel Penn, has been nominated for XBIZ’s Exec Awards. 

“It would have been an honor to be nominated in any category,” explains Penn, “but the ‘Community Figure of the Year’ award holds personal significance to me. Grooby, in many ways, is a small business and can’t compete with the budgets of the big studios, but we utilize all of our resources and pour it back into our performers. This includes concrete things like creating more opportunities for performers shooting with us, but also extends to less measurable efforts like increasing the visibility and acceptance of trans performers in our industry and supporting the trans community as a whole.”

Penn joined Grooby in 2008 when the company was still based in Hawaii. She is also the Executive Producer of the Transgender Erotica Awards, which celebrates the accomplishments of the trans adult industry. 

The annual XBIZ Exec Awards honors the best of the best from the adult business community, celebrating outstanding career achievement across a wide variety of prominent industry roles. Nominees are selected based on a range of success factors including business acumen, community standing and overall leadership.

Voting for the 2021 XBIZ Exec Awards is now open. Industry members may cast their votes here. Winners will be announced early next year. 

Penn adds, “As always, I owe a sincere debt of gratitude to Steven (Grooby). Through Grooby, he has given me a platform to use my voice and encourages me to do as myself. Without him, there would essentially be no ‘Kristel Penn’ as a public figure in our industry. 

To a certain extent, for anyone, it is a privilege to be able to live authentically both personally and professionally. For someone like me who grew up being bullied throughout high school for being gay and just honestly different than my classmates, being nominated for my work with Grooby and in the adult industry feels like being honored for my identity. Win or lose, I am grateful for the nomination and recognition from my colleagues and friends here.” 

Follow Penn on social media at @thekristelpenn on Twitter and Instagram. She also owns and operates boutique marketing firm, Ikigai Marketing. Visit the official website at IkigaiMarketing.com. 

ABOUT GROOBY
Founded in 1996, Grooby is the leading producer of trans erotica. In addition to operating over 30 membership sites, the company produces nearly 50 DVDs a year and hosts the annual TEAs (Transgender Erotica Awards) held in Hollywood, CA. More information about the two-day event can be found at theTEAShow.com.

For more information, visit Grooby.com or follow them on Twitter at @GroobyDotcom.

Domino Presley Signs with Ikigai Marketing

LOS ANGELES, CA - Award-winning performer Domino Presley signed this week with Ikigai Marketing, naming Kristel Penn as her official publicist. 

“I am so excited to be working with Kristel,” says Domino Presley. “I have known her for my entire time in the adult industry (10 years) and we have both watched each other grow to branch off and start our own business ventures. I am very proud of everything Kristel has accomplished while working as PR for porn icons such as Aubrey Kate and Casey Kisses. Kristel is part of the LGBTQ+ community as well, so naturally, when I was ready for PR again I chose Ikigai Marketing.”

“When I saw Domino’s debut on GroobyGirls.com 10 years ago, I already knew she was destined for stardom,” adds Kristel Penn. “It has been such an honor to follow Domino’s career since then. I’m also thankful for the many opportunities we’ve gotten to work together in various capacities -  we make a good team and have a natural rhythm to our flow. Domino is someone who took her experience in the adult industry and really used it to strengthen and diversify her brand. She is a powerhouse in our industry and I’m excited to be part of her journey.”  

Domino Presley is an American Adult Film performer, model, director, and Adult Talent Agent who first debuted in the adult industry in 2010 with her first scenes for GroobyGirls.com. Since then she has worked with some of the biggest companies in adult entertainment, including Wicked, Evil Angel, Grooby, GenderX, Transational Fantasies, and TransAngels. 

Presley has racked up numerous nominations and awards during her illustrious career. Notably, she was one of the first trans performers to be nominated for a non-trans specific award (XBIZ Best VR Sex Scene), which she won in 2019. In addition to her multiple TEA wins, she also served as the official TEA Mistress of Ceremonies in 2019 and 2020.  

Originally from Atlanta, GA, Presley started out as a Drag Performer under the name Jazmin Aviance. She still performs and competes in the Ballroom Scene as Jazmin Balenciaga. 

Follow Domino Presley at OnlyFans.com/DominoPresley for daily video clip updates or DominoPresleyxxx.ManyVids.com and Modelhub.com/DominoPresley for full-length videos. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @DominoPresley. 

Kristel Penn to Present Mental Health Workshop at YNOT Summit Tomorrow

CYBERSPACE - Grooby’s Kristel Penn will be presenting a free workshop tomorrow on navigating the mental health system as a performer as part of YNOT Summit’s online conference starting today. 

“Now more than ever, many of us are in need of mental health support due to the stress of the pandemic,” says Penn. “Whether you have insurance or not, you deserve access to competent and affirming therapy. People attending this workshop will learn how to find, interview, and choose a clinician that fits with their personal needs.” 

“Model Wellness: How to Get Help When You Need It” is presented by Grooby’s Marketing and Editorial Director, Kristel Penn, and is scheduled for July 21, 2020, from 12-1250 pm PDT. The workshop description is as follows: 

Navigating the mental health system can be a labyrinth filled with confusing technical jargon, safety and privacy concerns, plus the fear of being judged and discriminated against because of your profession. Not to mention the extra task of trying to find a competent and affirming therapist who understands the unique concerns of being a sex worker. In this 50-minute workshop, adult industry advocate, and MA in Psychology student, Kristel Penn, shares the 411 of different mental health services and its pros/cons (e.g. the difference between therapy and life coaching, different types of providers), finding a sex worker affirming provider, interviewing and selecting a potential professional, and navigating the system with/without health insurance.

Source: https://www.ynotsummit.com/schedule/model-wellness-how-to-get-help-when-you-need-it/

For those interested in attending, please visit YNOTSummit.com to learn more.

Follow Kristel on Twitter or Instagram at @thekristelpenn. For more mental health resources, please visit AdultIndustryTherapy.com.  

Kristel Penn’s Ikigai Marketing Featured in Voyage LA Magazine

LOS ANGELES, CA - Award-winning marketer, Kristel Penn, recently appeared in Voyage LA Magazine as part of their “Inspiring Stories” series. 

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to share my story with others,” said Penn. “When I tell people what I do for a living, the majority still have very outdated views of the adult industry, particularly their ideas of what it means to work in the business sector of porn. 

In the interview, Penn shares how she got started in the adult industry, what and who inspired her to create Ikigai Marketing, and her 11-year journey in the adult industry. To read the full interview, click here: http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-kristel-penn-ikigai-marketing-orange-county-ca/

ABOUT KRISTEL PENN

Kristel Penn is Grooby’s longtime Marketing and Editorial Director and runs her own boutique marketing and PR firm, Ikigai Marketing. She served as Transformation Magazine’s Editor for two years and is on the Board of Directors for TAIF (Trans Adult Industry Foundation). She is also the Executive Producer of the Transgender Erotica Awards, a two-event celebrating the trans adult industry and hosted in Hollywood, CA. 

In 2017, Penn was awarded the XBIZ Industry Exec Award for Brand Ambassador of the Year. In 2018, she received XBIZ Industry Exec Award nomination for Marketing Exec of the Year. In 2019, she scooped up nominations for Community Figure of the Year and WIA Woman of the Year. Recently she received the 2020 XBIZ Industry Exec Award nomination for Community Figure of the Year. 

Ikigai Marketing offers purpose-driven marketing and business coaching. In Japanese, “ikigai” means “reason for being.” Penn helps clients find the balance between their own personal and professional “ikgai.” For more information, visit IkigaiMarketing.com or follow on Twitter at @IkigaiMarketing. You can also visit KristelPenn.