S&M Conference Brings 'Wickedness,' Controversy

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A weekend retreat scheduled for this weekend in Worthington is raising a few questions -- and eyebrows.

Winter Wickedness 2009 -- and S&M conference -- will be held at the Holiday Inn in Worthington, and it's sold out, NBC 4 reported.

Conference organizers said they're working with the health department and police to ensure the event is safe, secure and clean. They said there will be no displays of activity in public areas of the facility -- other than conference rooms and a social area where participants are permitted to go without clothing.

Organizers said there are rules and regulations to be followed for the safety of the public and participants, but a local pastor is questioning the location of the event.

Pastor Dave Daubenmire of Pass The Salt Ministries said he is not taking on the morality of the conference, but rather is questioning the use of the commercial space for the event.

"It's not the sex concern … one of the things we're worried about is people are going to call us the sex police," Daubenmire said.

Daubenmire said he is concerned about using the hotel's commercial space for such activities, adding that people go with their families and significant others to the hotel -- what if a child or family stumbles into the wrong hallway or room?

He also raised a question about the cleanliness of the areas after the conference is complete, as conference rooms and spaces used for the event could be the site of a meeting or wedding the following day. What about the public areas of the hotel, like the pool?

"They have rented banquet rooms where they are going to have public sex in these banquet rooms and the next day possibly it could be rented out to someone holding a wedding reception or a birthday party. It's a health issue for us," he said.

"I certainly think it's certainly natural for people to have questions and want to make sure what's going on in their town is legal and safe," said Susan Wright, a spokeswoman for the Columbus-based Adventures in Sexuality group.

She said that despite publicity and rules on their Web site that allow total nakedness and S&M activity in a social area of the conference, there is no health risk.

"Sex is not allowed at the conference. It's not allowed at any S&M conference," she said.

When NBC 4 went to the Holiday Inn to ask some questions, crews were told to leave the property or face the police.

The Holiday Inn brand said they did not endorse or approve the activities at the conference.

Alliance Hospitality Inc., which owns the Holiday Inn in Worthington, issued the following statement Friday afternoon:

"The Holiday Inn Columbus – Worthington is independently owned and managed by Alliance Hotels & Resorts (Alliance). The Holiday Inn brand did not endorse nor approve the reported activities associated with this group.

"Alliance has chosen, due to its understanding of its contractual obligations, to allow the group to maintain their reservation. Alliance has assured Holiday Inn that the property is taking every measure to isolate the group to a limited area within the hotel, the event will not be marketed in public areas of the hotel, and that all group events will take place in meeting areas that in addition to being isolated will also be inaccessible to those who are not part of this group. It is our understanding that the hotel has taken several other precautionary measures to manage the impact of this event, including hiring extra security guards. Also, all guests with existing reservations have been notified of this event and have been offered alternate accommodations at a nearby hotel, and the hotel's inventory has been closed to incoming guests during the event."

The Columbus Health Department faxed the hotel a letter reminding the group that they need to obey the law and have no body piercing.

An inspector went sent to the facility to make sure they dispose of infectious waste properly, but the group said it has had no problems at other events in the past.