Just because you’re not into it, doesn’t mean others shouldn’t appreciate it.
The 5th of May has been declared as the “International Fisting Day” to “promote visibility, education, and acceptance of this sexual practice—particularly within the gay community, but also beyond,” according to Berlin-based Fist Club Europe e.V.
“May 5th, as International Fisting Day, initiated by our association, is intended to serve as a targeted opportunity to spread knowledge about safe practices, hygiene, and consent, and to function as a point of contact for related questions. We aim to fill a gap by pooling resources and creating a reliable platform for education and prevention,” said Balian Richter, spokesperson for Fist Club Europe e.V.
All for sexual diversity
Also known as handballing, hoofing, fist-fucking, or brachioproctic insertion, fisting is admittedly still a taboo for many, often packaged as a form of “extreme sex”. As FYI, however, it is not rare. In a 2016 European Commission Sialon II study done in 13 European countries, it was found that from 10.5% to 34.1% of men who have sex with men (including gay and bisexual men) engaged in fisting at least once throughout their lifetime.
But Richter added that “fisting is more than just a sexual technique — it’s an expression of intimacy, trust, and freedom. May 5th should be a day when we highlight this practice with respect, pride, and education.”
He added that fisting is a physically intense practice that requires a high degree of communication, consent, and trust. And “we see an urgent need not only to increase visibility but especially to actively dismantle myths and enable a fact-based, health-conscious discourse about fisting.”
Why May 5th?
The choice of the date is no coincidence: The number 5 symbolizes the five fingers of the hand, the central element of this practice. The doubled number — 05-05 — is “eye-catching, clear, and easy to communicate”.
“The day is meant to stand worldwide as a symbol of a form of sexual intimacy that is often lived privately but is firmly rooted in many queer life realities,” Richter said.
For those who do not know, there is actually another “International Fisting Day”, scheduled on October 21st, and was initiated in the US in 2011 to primarily addresses censorship and representation in pornography. The May 5th, however, “focuses on the lived practice within the global gay community — with all its facets, cultural differences, and personal meanings.”
“Our goal is not competition, but complementarity. We are creating a day that comes from within the community — visible, open, confident, and respectful,” Richter said, urging the media, sexual health organizations, and the community to use May 5th as “an impulse for well-founded education”.
“This day should become an annual event to emphasize the importance of knowledge, safety, and consent in the context of fisting around the world,” Richter ended.
More information is available at the “International Fisting Day” website, as well through its Instagram (@fisting.day) account. The organizer may also be reached through IG (@fist.club.europe).
