RIP Dr Tuppy Owens

The unique and indefatigable Dr Tuppy Owens passed away peacefully on Friday 28th February 2025 from vascular dementia.

Tuppy’s life revolved around her two loves: The Outsiders Trust (including the Club, the Sexual Health and Disability Alliance and the TLC-Trust) and her life on the croft with her cherished husband. She had great fun when on Outsiders business visiting her friends around the UK, especially in London, and was equally as happy in her office looking over the countryside and concocting some plan for the Outsiders Trust.

Over the years she inspired immense loyalty through all her initiatives. She had a wonderful gift of building enthusiasm amongst people of all backgrounds and bringing them together to create something innovative – and always sumptuous; including the Sex Maniacs Ball (later known as the Night of the Senses) and the Erotic Awards (now known as the Sexual Freedom Awards). She persuaded some extremely able people to work for nothing without complaining!

She was a disruptor; leading the charge for disability equality, relationships and sexual expression. She was a leading light of the sexual revolution in the 60s and 70s; later on campaigning for the rights of sex workers.

The sexual freedom that we enjoy today undoubtedly was influenced by Tuppy’s open-mindedness. She walked her talk and she supported our right to follow our own forms of consensual adult expression. She was most definitely her own person and was unwilling to be categorised.

Rest in peace Tuppy – you have done the groundwork for positive social change.

Farewell My Friend – shared by Jo King.

Seems to be that you slipped away quietly,
With little fuss and sparse to-do,
You probably smiled with your restful breath,
Without fanfare or ballyhoo.
You left that foggy realm behind,
And the clarity of your release
Has led you to a brighter place,
Where pain and sadness simply cease.
Your presence here is already missed
(Which would amuse you greatly, I am sure)
However, now you’re flying free my friend,
And I will remember you, forever more. X