This story is featured in CityBeat's July 12 print edition.
Nothing goes inside anybody’s anything.
That’s the number one rule of Cincy Jacks, a private men's club for group masturbation. Voyeurism, exhibitionism, nudity, consensual touch, solo and mutual masturbation, however, are encouraged.
Before any condemning pearl-clutching ensues, take a deep breath and ask yourself: “Do I like to be choked?” Even if mutual masturbation isn’t your sex practice of choice, something is, and Cincy Jacks is a blueprint for healthy sexual exploration and sex positivity.
The founder of Cincy Jacks goes by Ace. He’s an intimacy professional who tells CityBeat that consent and sex positivity are two of the main factors that facilitate the men’s club. Of course, willing men are necessary – there are more than 100 members to date, he says.
“It's completely natural. I feel enough people have a relationship with masturbation for it to not be the most taboo thing to talk about,” Ace tells CityBeat. “There is a large self-care aspect of masturbation, whether you are solo-sexual, whether you have a heterosexual or homosexual or bisexual relationship, that self-care element is a missed opportunity for a lot of people. As an adult, it's something that I think people should be able to talk about. And it shouldn't necessarily be an inappropriate conversation.”
Cincy Jacks is a seven-month-old private organization for adult, cis-gendered men that provides safe spaces for sexual exploration and play. The club offers a healthy outlet to fulfill participants' sexual needs and gives them a tool to practice self-acceptance, body positivity, consent, sexual exploration and overall well-being, Ace says.
It’s a traditional jack-off club, which means no penetration, ever. But you can masturbate yourself, or others — if they’re into that.
The club was inspired by other regional Jacks Clubs like the Windy City Jacks of Chicago and the original “JO club” the New York Jacks, which was founded in 1980 and still operates today. The NY Jacks first coined the jack-off rule and overall guidelines that have been propagated throughout similar clubs since.
“We strive to be inclusive and welcome guys who are diverse in age, race/ethnicity, who consider themselves gay, bi, and straight, and who are HIV-negative and HIV-positive. Whether you're into edging, getting stroked, stroking others, Cincy Jacks invites you to a male masturbation event held in a safe and welcoming space,” the Cincy Jacks’ website reads.
“Edging” reportedly increases the pleasure of orgasms by repeatedly bringing oneself close to climax and immediately cutting off stimulation, according to Men’s Health magazine. Edging is one of many sex acts that, depending on participant preference, can be practiced at a jack-off event. Ace also emphasizes the use of toys, lubricants and themed sessions to enhance the “circle-jerks.” The only discouragement is inappropriate or non-consensual behavior.
A 2019 study by sex toy manufacturer Tenga found that even though 88% of people in the U.S. masturbate, half of the population is uncomfortable discussing the topic, citing feelings of shame or guilt.
“Sex tends to be associated with taboo, or shame and guilt. Putting the word positive behind it kind of opens your mind to what else it could be,” Ace tells CityBeat. “As an emerging intimacy professional, I find that consent is key to having a sex-positive space. And when consent is involved, communication opens up opportunities for people to fulfill things that they maybe haven't fulfilled and be their more authentic selves. It cuts down on confusion and awkwardness that a lot of people stumble into whenever it comes to sex and intimacy.”
An open-minded and non-judgmental attitude toward sexuality and sexual expression defines sex positivity, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A person doesn’t have to be sexually active to be sex positive, either.
The Cleveland Clinic also reports that masturbation can help prevent anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve sleep and body positivity and enhance sex life, among other benefits.
The reality is, people are touching themselves. Adopting a sex-positive outlook isn’t unconventional or shameful. Planned Parenthood reports that despite popular myths about masturbation, it’s not unhealthy or bad for you; the reproductive health and sex education organization states that only when masturbation impedes an individual’s job, social life or responsibilities does it become “too much.”
“There aren’t necessarily classes or structure for people to learn how to be in a relationship or how to navigate their own sexuality,” Ace says. “And we're in a climate where the gender assignments at birth aren't necessarily how people identify. And so there's no black and white to what sex and intimacy is, so you really have to get out there and figure it out for yourself.”
Cincy Jacks is a diverse group of men who connect through social masturbation. Sexual orientation is irrelevant. All Jack-ers aim to express physical desire shamelessly through an orgy-style event that honors the individual.
Inspired by Eros
Ace is the organizer and founder of Cincy Jacks. He is the facilitator of and sometimes a participant in its social and sexual events. His preferred name when relating to Cincy Jacks is an acronym for Aaron Creates Eros. For him, Eros – a Greek god of love – represents passion, physical desire and male erotic energy.
“Eros plays into my name, it shifts me into that mindset of thinking about who I am as an erotic being,” Ace tells CityBeat. “Oftentimes in my work, I meet people that have intimacy goals that are very specific and they don't necessarily know how to achieve those goals. So the Eros mindset is more of a spiritual approach to sexuality.”
Ace is a 39-year-old intimacy professional and life coach, which informs his leadership role in Cincy Jacks. He says the skills he’s acquired professionally enable him to create safe spaces for members to feel comfortable and own their sexuality. Through his business, So Perfect Coaching, Ace offers transformative life coaching, male sacred intimacy coaching for groups and individuals and intimacy coordinating and directing for television and film.
Ace tells CityBeat that So Perfect Coaching was born out of a curiosity for the human psyche and a heightened ability to hold space for others.
“So Perfect Coaching came about because I saw that there was an opportunity for me to use my old soul, this ability to hold space for others by listening and then coaching,” he says. “Much like any sports coach or business coach, when you gather information, you set goals and then you help that person achieve the goals. There's not a lot of sex-positive professionals in the Midwest to talk to. If you have intimacy goals, whether it's with a partner or with yourself, how do you achieve that?”
Ace relocated to Cincinnati from south Texas in 2020. His experience there was a lot more sex-positive than his time in the Midwest so far, he says. He struggled to find safe ways to connect intimately with other men. Seeing an opportunity, he launched Cincy Jacks in January of 2023.
“I started traveling to nearby [Jack] clubs in Nashville, Detroit and Pittsburgh and all those facilitators and hosts run their clubs differently,” Ace tells CityBeat. “So it was inspiring that I could use whatever background I have to create a space that’s safe and comfortable and private for guys to pursue an intimate and erotic opportunity that they wouldn't normally have.”
The alternative to a club like Cincy Jacks has a pulsing online presence, with options like Bateworld (a global online jack-off community for men) offering online and in-person hookups. Other than that, Ace says, men often go “cruising,” or scoping out certain areas for a sexual partner. It gets dangerous when people use substances to gain confidence or lower inhibition, a common occurrence for those who “put their sexuality on a shelf” until the opportune time to let it free, he says.
“When you are on a journey of self-discovery, you meet people, and you have conversations and you open yourself up to what could be. And you find your authentic self. It comes with practice, and talking about it and creating a safe space where people don't have to feel shame and guilt around sex as taboo, it's something that we can all celebrate and relate to. Because whether you like it or not, it's natural. And until you actually go to [a Cincy Jacks’ session], you don't know what the experience is going to be like.”
Cum as you are
In its simplest form, a Cincy Jacks session is men masturbating together, but it often goes deeper than physical interaction.
Cincy Jacks has hosted 15 sessions since its inception in January, some of which involved meet-and-greets or cocktail hours where members can socialize or discuss masturbation sessions but not partake in any action. The club also offers sessions that feature meditation walks, yoga, full-body workouts and even ax-throwing outings.
“It’s just like coffee,” Ace says. “Or going to see a movie.” There’s something for everyone. Socializing is part of making genuine connections and creating an overall sense of wellbeing.
“Part of me having these meet-and-greets is so that you can vet me out,” Ace says. “You have to go to find out what the whole vibe is going to be like. And the type of person that I am, I’d want to get as much information before my clothes come off and before I get into the setting.”
Hands-on interactions can be “traditional circle-jerks” in which sensual interactions enhance a certain, shall we say, cum-raderie. Cincy Jacks also hosts themed events like cuddle parties, campfire nights, porn viewing, sexy underwear night or erotic touch and massage evenings. Regardless of the type of event, each session begins with an orientation that includes an overview of rules, a consent talk and an icebreaker, Ace says.
Sessions typically occur on Tuesdays or Sundays at discreet locations that are only revealed to Cincy Jacks’ members.
Meetings can be messy. “Nothing goes inside anybody’s anything,” means when it comes time to climax, the bodily fluids have to go somewhere. The less cleanup the better, Ace says, so there’s a lot of furniture draping involved. Depending on the session, it can be a romantically lit room that probably sounds like an adult film is being produced, or maybe there’s actually one playing in the background; other times there’s music.
Ace finds destinations that he says are, “Wide open, sexy, bright, but also masculine. Kind of industrial but lofty areas, it's the vibe that I've been finding.” And yes – he discloses the nature of the meeting to whoever owns the space.
As the organization grows, Ace says he’s focused on refining quality, not quantity.
Ace isn’t interested in heading the most popular club in town or boosting numbers for number’s sake. While a large number of participants may seemingly equal a more comfortable experience, the events with fewer attendees can be the most intimate.
“It's about your collaboration to the experience that makes it something,” Ace tells CityBeat. “Whether it's six people or 50 people, you kind of have to go and figure it out for yourself to find that it's not just about you being ‘on.’ The idea of just being in a celebratory space of people allows you to get into your own sense of satisfaction faster.”
Ace says that during one notable session, six members signed up for a porn-watching experience. After orientation, a few participants agreed to be blindfolded to make the session more exciting. Ace says the movie became a trivial aspect of the session, as the men focused on being present.
“And so the men in the room became the porn,” Ace says. One participant in particular was exhibiting self-conscious behavior and even voiced his insecurity to the group, which steered the session further.
“He was really self-conscious about his body,” Ace says. “And he kept kind of sharing that and projecting that. And so the session turned into a body worship, celebratory kind of experience that allowed him to shift from that negative mindset. We all took turns worshiping each other's bodies and celebrating our masculinity. And that type of brotherhood was really liberating.”
In accordance with the guidelines and safe space created by Ace, the club validated the member who was wrestling with self-acceptance. Ace says this session turned into a healing opportunity and a transformative experience. After the session wrapped, participants stayed to recount their emotions.
“I think everybody can identify with some body insecurity,” Ace says. “To be in a safe space that allows you to practice something different, you walk away a different version of yourself.”
The creation of a safe space is aided by the guidelines each member must abide by to participate.
Rules for release
Men sign up for Cincy Jacks by filling out a member agreement form commiting to a code of conduct and age verification. All participants are willing, like-minded and attend for the same reason: to masturbate, enjoy a shared sexual experience and potentially climax. And for that, there are rules that assure the safety and comfort of Jack-ers.
There are 11 components to the Cincy Jacks Code of Conduct, each with its own subset of rules: Jack Off Only; Permitted Play; Prohibited Play; Nudity; Ejaculation; Explicit Consent and Mutual Respect; Discretion and Anonymity; Illness; No Alcohol or Drugs; Personal Hygiene; and Talking.
According to the official Code of Conduct, it’s best to keep conversation during play to a minimum. Dirty talk aimed at arousing Jack-ers is acceptable “at any volume,” but excessive talking throughout the session is discouraged, though it’s mandatory to verbally announce ejaculation.
“Don’t just breathe heavily. Say it loud with words,” the code reads, referring to ejaculation.
Ejaculation shouldn’t be a surprise, Ace says. Most importantly, there are health risks associated with bodily fluids. On the other hand, some members want to be a part of the unloading occasion, which could mean stroking someone until climax, watching the orgasm or achieving climax in unison with others.
“It's just realistic and reasonable to announce it,” Ace tells CityBeat. “It’s part of consent, it's a part of communicating and that makes people feel more comfortable. Also depending on where your body position is, we don't want it to end up in someone's face, or in anyone's orifices that could make them feel uncomfortable or like their safety is jeopardized.”
Consent is mandatory and ongoing. In order to touch another participant, verbal consent is required. No lips below the hips and don’t participate if sick, the guidelines read. Non-verbal cues like Cincy Jacks’ branded bandanas can be worn to show if Jack-ers are eager to indulge in specific ways. Anonymity is non-negotiable outside of Cincy Jacks’ programming.
There's a line between discretion and shame; Ace draws it well.
While a part of Cincy Jacks is proud participation, the code of conduct prevents the disclosure of a member's identity. Ace says feelings of guilt and shame come into play when others project their opinions or misunderstandings, which members could be subject to if their involvement is outed.
“Sex is a very private thing,” Ace says. “It's also not something that everybody celebrates. And so to be able to have a level of anonymity and discretion and celebration within who you are or who you're becoming, there's a lot of value there.”
Rotating venues and providing themed and regular events keeps Cincy Jacks diverse and inclusive, Ace says. Member feedback is encouraged and considered, especially pertaining to enhancing the experience. Ace once curated a “lunchtime” session proposed by a member, which turned out to be a desirable and satisfying success, he says.
“You could just take your lunch break and go and hang out with these guys, and you know, masturbate, that’s really hot and sexy, then go back to work,” Ace says. “You have some self-care, you've had endorphin release, some dopamine release, how can it get any better?”
One-time members pay $40 per session, while a 6-month membership is $90 and includes access to all events. The fees fund the sessions and certify that members don’t have to bring anything to participate. Mouthwash, hand soap and antibacterial wipes are provided, along with lubrication, toys and props.
While Cincy Jacks honors individual sexual preferences, participants must be cisgendered men (those who were assigned male at birth). Ace explains that this isn’t meant to be exclusive or offensive. He explains the reasoning by saying that the majority of jack clubs cater to cisgendered men.
“I think trans men have a space that is being further defined, and they need a space where they can feel celebrated, but there is a conflict of interest for a trans man and a cis-man in the approach for masculinity and sexuality,” Ace says. “It's not meant to be an offensive setup for anybody, but in the sex-positive space that is available in a Jack's club, cisgendered men is what the community is made of.”
Camaraderie and hot sex
BB, a 56-year-old bisexual man, has been a member of Cincy Jacks since its first session in Cincinnati. Like Ace, BB prefers to be identified by his Cincy Jacks nickname. He says that’s not out of shame but to honor the anonymity guidelines and also to keep his professional life separate.
“I'm a middle school teacher. I am out to 95 percent of my life with my sexuality, but I don't think my kids need to see that I’m in a Jacks club,” BB tells CityBeat. “And also, using BB kind of gets me thinking about being in the mood to engage at Cincy Jacks.”
BB says Cincy Jacks has been a safe outlet for not only satisfying physical needs, but a large part of his mental health has benefitted as well. Growing up with a “toxic-ly masculine” father and brothers who shamed him for being queer before he even knew he identified as such affected his sense of self, confidence and mental health throughout his life, he says.
“I've had a ton of shame,” BB says. “And how I dealt with that shame was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, alcohol, womanizing, I didn't have the best 20s or 30s, until I finally came to terms with my sexuality.”
A lack of community inhibited BB’s transition to becoming his most authentic self, he says. Because Cincy Jacks’ sessions are often infused with intimacy and camaraderie and a social aspect that doesn’t always include sex, BB found the support he’d been searching for.
“It's next to impossible to find ways to do this safely and legally,” BB tells CityBeat. “I've been looking for community. I didn’t ever feel like I was straight enough for my straight friends and I'm not really gay enough for my gay friends. So I'm trying to carve out this world for myself that accepts me as who I am. I do enjoy the camaraderie that is being built at Cincy Jacks as much as I appreciate the hot sex.”
A Spring Equinox-themed session spawned an unexpected connection between BB and another participant. During the session in March, Ace encouraged members to write down goals or struggles they’d like to address in the coming season, as some consider it a better time for resolutions than the new year. BB found platonic companionship and a special bond with a man who shared his struggle.
“I wrote the same thing as my goal that this guy was really struggling with. Like, I wrote the same thing. And although we didn't have sex that day, I didn't care. It was yoga and goals and talking and hugging and sharing emotions. So that was really cool,” BB says.
BB says that the difference between other Jacks clubs and the Cincinnati chapter is the safe space and intimacy that Ace creates. BB spoke to CityBeat while traveling in Denver, CO, where he participated in a Denver Jacks session. He says it was sexually fulfilling but lacked the personal connection and genuineness the Cincinnati version embodies.
“I was here at Denver Jacks last night,” BB says. “We had hot sex, but I didn't make a connection with anyone. There was no real intimacy, it was more of a sexually charged environment. In Cincy Jacks it can be as intimate as it is sexual. Ace does a great job of setting you at ease, he does a lot of work around consent and a lot about trust and building community.”
While a connection that goes beyond the superficial might make sexual acts more enjoyable at the time, BB says he doesn’t take any relationship further than a Jacks session. In fact, he is happily married to a woman who shares an “ethical non-monogamy” agreement with him. He says that the ability to safely explore his sexuality has made his marriage stronger than it's ever been.
“[Cincy Jacks] does wonders for my sex drive and my self-esteem, as far as interactions with my wife go, the difference is with her the love is so deep that I can separate the two. I’m in my body, in my head, in my heart, I’m in every element with her. [During a Jacks’ session] I feel it's more of a body and an energy I’m attracted to, the male sexual energy that is in the room. Not necessarily the guys themselves, but the energy that they bring to the situation.”
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