“Ride my thigh. Yeah, ride it.”

This isn’t what one would expect to hear being yelled from inside Cafeteria Conference Room C at the UW Medical Center. However, yesterday evening, if someone had peered through the conference room’s window, they would have seen a man with a dildo strapped to his thigh yelling just that. There was nothing boring about this night in the hospital.

The event being held was a spinal cord injury forum focused on “sexability.”

Spinal Cord Injury Model Care Systems (SCIMCS) puts on about eight events each year for people affected by spinal cord injuries, which often includes lower-body paralysis. Funded by the Department of Education, these events range in topics from peer-focused groups to talks on recent research breakthroughs. Every February, the group tries to hold an event focused on dating, romance or sex. “Just in time for Valentine’s Day!” the event flyer announced.

Some attendees know one another and attend many of the offered events throughout the year. The “sexability” event was preceded by an hour-long dinner where some participants took the opportunity to socialize.

“I always see people I haven’t seen before,” said Jeanne Hoffman, co-director of SCIMCS. “Turnout is based on so many factors, including interest in the event topic, seeing friends, social opportunities and even the weather. We, however, usually get around 30 to 40 people.”

Last night was no different, with about 30 attendees.

“I came tonight to see people I don’t get to see very often,” attendee Billy Price said. “And my mom is on the board.”

But not everyone was there to socialize.

“I came to achieve orgasm,” said Mickey Gendler, another attendee. “I’m not here to socialize … unless I find someone way, way, way prettier than my wife,” he added with a laugh. His wife was sitting right next to him.

Others came into the room chatting about the best ways to increase upper body strength and the progress they have made in regaining movement in their hands. Some came alone, and others brought their partners. Two attendees were inpatients at the hospital who came down to the basement cafeteria to attend the event.

The speaker was Kelly Arbor, assistant manager of Babeland Sex Shop, who stood in front of diagrams of male and female anatomy and behind a table covered in pink dildos and leather harnesses, among other sex toys.

Arbor spoke about basic pleasure anatomy, masturbation, communication and sex toys. The tone of the evening was relaxed and open. Arbor tackled every subject with enthusiasm and humor.

“Masturbation is a great art in our culture,” he said. “Everybody does it, but nobody talks about it.”

He gave specific instructions to the audience about how to tackle self-image.

“My body is super-sexy. It’s so sexy I’m turned on by it,” Arbor said as he instructed the audience to tell themselves the same thing when looking at their naked reflections in a mirror. “Its important to love your body.”

Arbor emphasized communication, suggesting various activities such as a “Yes. Maybe. No.” list, in which he prompted the audience to call out intimate activities.

Lap dances, flogging, suspension, ice play and cuddling were some of the elicited responses.

Even though Arbor’s presentation was aimed at an audience affected by spinal cord injuries, what stood out most was that the advice Arbor gave can apply to anyone.

From his advice on opening up communication to the wonders of a dildo in the bedroom, Arbor covered it all, but captured the mood and intent of the workshop best when he stated, “The great thing about dildos is there are so many choices beyond what most people could grow on their own bodies.”

Reach contributing writer Chelsea Heniges at news@dailyuw.com.