Established in August 2017, Cognizance Of Varying Erotic Tastes (COVET) is a private BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Color) affinity community that provides education, social opportunities, connection, and community for those ranging from curious and new to experienced in Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadomasochism (BDSM), Kink, and Leather.
Based in Mobile, Alabama, COVET facilitates protected virtual and in-person spaces where Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color can gather, connect, learn, share, and build community while centering BIPOC voices and recognizing the varying unique lived experience of the communities represented within BIPOC.
COVET values integrity, confidentiality, consent, autonomy, and respect for self and others. Our spaces provide opportunities for discussion, education, social connection, and exploration of BDSM, Kink, and Leather without race having to be the focus of every conversation.
As a BIPOC affinity community, COVET is intentional about creating spaces where participants can engage without continually having to explain the racial context of their experiences or navigate microaggressions, stereotypes, tokenization, unwanted racial fetishization, or the expectation to educate others simply because they are present.
We recognize that BIPOC is an umbrella term and does not suggest that Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color have interchangeable experiences. COVET respects and recognizes the unique lived experience, histories, cultures, identities, and relationships to race represented within these communities.
Within our BIPOC affinity community, COVET welcomes diversity in sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, BDSM and Leather identities, roles and stations, and levels of experience.
A Word From The Founder
When choosing the name of the local community I wanted to build, I searched for terms that would grab attention. Terms that spark conversation. The word “covet” mainly has two definitions. It is because of the one rooted in religious beliefs that this word is why I have been questioned quite a bit.
“Why COVET?”
“Even as an acronym, don’t you know what that word implies?”
“Don’t you realize to covet is basically to sin?”
In the religious context covet means to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others. The general definition of covet is to eagerly yearn to possess or have something. I am guilty of coveting. Now don’t get me wrong, I can safely say I do hold other’s rights in due regard in my desire to have a community of fellow BIPOC in the BDSM lifestyle. I also can say it is not wrong for me to want this for not just myself but others in my local area. A safe welcoming space to socialize, learn, and grow. I chose a term that not only described the level of desire I have for this but also the level of work I am willing to put in to attain it.
Cognizance Of Varying Erotic Tastes (COVET) describes, in my opinion, the knowledge of the variety discovered within this lifestyle and others. There is a general foundation that is used but there certainly is no one way to live it. With the term used and the true name found within the acronym I wanted this group, this munch, and this organization to reflect that.
Do You COVET 