TL:DR I went to an event that was not actually kink related but where kink is widely accepted and praised and I just have to say how refreshing it was to be able to talk and not have to hide this part of myself.

This weekend I went to a masquerade ball hosted by a local chapter of the satanic temple, I'm not actually a member but I was invited and had no qualms of going, I consider myself a very accepting and understanding person, I was just expecting to go have a few drinks dance the night away and I was pleasantly surprised to be apart of not just one but several conversations involving kink and things of that nature. It was so surreal to not have to bottle this part of me up, it was honestly a great time.