| Meet Coyote — GV’s Senior Toy Buyer — Us Weekly reader, cat mom, and high femme since birth.
Where did you grow up?
I mostly grew up in the rainy, lush city of Portland, Oregon, though I spent many weeks each summer basking in the sun in Bridgewater, Massachusetts with my Grams. Oh and on the way, spent time in Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico and Florida… to name a few stops.
When did you start working at GV?
My first day working as a temp in the Customer Service Center was June 19th, 2003 – two days after I drove down in a broke u-haul with my best friend.
What did you do before working at GV?
I was working as a professional stage manager for the union theatres in Portland as well as helping to run a small non-profit touring theatre company.
What’s your favorite thing about working for GV?
I love knowing that every single day — by selling the best products we can find and through our amazing customer service and education — we change the world, one person at a time, for the better.
What’s the most interesting experience you’ve had at work?
One of the most interesting experiences I have had was when I was working in our Customer Service Center and got a woman on the phone who’d had a mastectomy. We talked for over an hour as I listened to describe what it has been like for her trying to feel present in her body — a body that betrayed her and no longer felt like hers. She talked about how her partner still finds her attractive and how it’s her own struggle to feel sexy in her new body that was proving really difficult to her. I recommend a bunch of products to help bring her back into her body, recommended she take some time to herself, to get to know her own responses without the pressure of performing with a partner. And mainly what I got out of this conversation was the profound knowledge that our words and products and effort impact people around the world. People who we may never meet will be forever changed by their experience with Good Vibrations. I realized that day that what we do matters, and that without our resources there are people in the world who might not feel pleasure in their body — whatever kind of body they have. And I realized that I am so lucky to work here and have this job, and know that what I do matters.
Did you ever think you’d be selling sex toys?
Um, no. When my Auntie found out I was having sex (at age 15) she dragged me into Good Vibrations to make sure I had all the information (and tools) needed to enjoy myself and be safe. Since then, it’s been a long, long journey to sexual acceptance and unlearning all the crap we are taught in our society and schools about our bodies and sexuality…so to be working in this industry was the farthest thing from my reality. And even when I started here I thought it would be a short-lived thing. But once I got here, I fell in love with the mission of Good Vibrations and can’t imagine never having worked here.
What’s your idea of a “perfect” day?
Getting to sleep in and spend some extra time laying around with my sweetie and my two cats… leisurely breakfast with some strong, good-tasting coffee… reading and playing cards… hanging out at the ocean or in a clear river. Essentially a perfect day for me is about being with people I love, relaxing and not rushing.
Name five things you couldn’t live without?
There are so many more than five… but I would be really sad if I didn’t have:
My cats
My Monster
My Mac lipstick
Good Coffee (which I could not fully enjoy without my Us Weekly or cheesy detective novels…)
Fresh fruits and vegetables
What’s your favorite (sexy) movie?
Harold and Maude and Secretary
What’s your favorite book?
Too Beautiful by Mark Pritchard
Favorite Song?
Anything by Tool… or Wait(the whisper song) by Ying Yang Twins
Where could we find you on any given Saturday night?
Snuggled up with my sweetie is how I prefer it… but if that is not possible, then we like to go out and about our town with friends.
What’s one thing about you that would surprise your co-workers if they found out?
My mom dressed me andro or butch even though I’ve been high femme since birth… or maybe that I lived in a canyon with dogs and lesbians when I was 4 and wore my toothbrush around my neck… I’m sure there are lots.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? I mean, if you’re not still working at GV!
I love my job a lot, and most days can’t see myself anywhere else…but we all grow and change so I would hope to still be at GV but growing in my personal life; paying less rent or a mortgage and spending more quality time with my friends and community.
What’s one thing you’ve learned by working at GV that you’d like to share with our customers?
Pleasure is our birthright but not something that comes easily for everybody. Read books, watch porn and ask questions. Each of our journeys takes a different path…but what waits at the end of that journey is well worth the wait. And it lasts a lifetime!
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