The Pincus Center

Make a Splash! A Fabulous Fat Pool Party
2026-08-15 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Private Residence, VA, United States
Come play in the sun with other fab fatties & allies at a private, inclusive party for adults by body-affirming professionals & activists.

Sign up on our Eventbrite!
Bust out your cutest suit and bask in the summer sun with a few dozen gorgeous fat folks at a pool party created just for us! Splash, swim, and luxuriate in the coolness of a totally private pool, make new friends and bring your own, and indulge in summery snacks and cold drinks. It’s a no-judgment zone where you can be at home in your whole body.
(Remember the pool party scene in Shrill? We loved it so much we decided to make it happen!)
We are The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment & Education, a queer-inclusive, sex-positive, and body-affirming therapy and wellness practice. We host educational and supportive events to build local community.
The party’s happening in the backyard of a private residence with a very large in-ground pool and plenty of room to socialize. There will be refreshments (snacks and soft drinks) on the back porch. Bring your own towels, coverups, sunglasses, and sunscreen. You’ll get the address in your confirmation email.
Queer, trans, and polyamorous/non-monogamous folks of all genders are encouraged to attend! And yes– your straight-sized partners and friends are welcome as long as they understand that this space centers the comfort and safety of fat folks. 18+ please– while this is pretty innocent fun, we want to make a space for adults to enjoy adult company.
Let the sun shine on your skin and let’s revel in having a place to enjoy summer fun together!
How can I help ensure that this feels like a safe, welcoming space for everyone?
Great question, thanks for asking! A couple tips:

Avoid talking about diets, intentional weight loss, weight loss surgery, or similar topics that could be triggering to others.
Try not to engage in negative self-talk about your body, how you look in a swimsuit, or how much you’re eating. We want to keep the vibe upbeat and stay neutral about our bodies and eating habits today!
Give your pronouns when you introduce yourself to a new friend, and make sure you remember and use theirs.
Don’t touch anyone without their clear and enthusiastic consent unless they need to be saved from drowning.
Be careful how you’re complimenting other people– flirting is great, but fetishizing people isn’t.
If you’re bringing a straight-sized partner or friend with you, please talk to them about what it means to center the comfort and safety of fat folks and make sure they’ve read these tips.

The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment and Education specializes in working with queer, transgender/nonbinary, kinky, and ethically non-monogamous/polyamorous people. We value sex positivity (including asexuality), body positivity and fat liberation, and racial justice.

Monthly Support Group for Mono/Poly Relationships
2026-09-09 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-10-14 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-11-11 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-12-09 20:00 - 21:30 | Online Event
Monthly coaching support group for relationships where one partner wants monogamy and the other wants nonmonogamy, led by an expert coach.

This group is designed to offer support for people who are in mixed dynamic relationships in which one partner wants an exclusive relationship, and another partner wants an open or multiple partner relationship. Meetings are online and last from 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the group energy.
The current meeting time is the second Wednesday of every month at 5 pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern time, beginning February 11. Please contact Dr. Eli at drelisheff@gmail.com with any questions. Sliding scale is available; please contact us at events@tamarapincus.com to discuss it.
Please sign up on our Eventbrite page to reserve your spot!
About your facilitator
Dr. Elisabeth “Eli” Sheff (she/her) has researched polyamorous families with children for over 25 years. She is the author of four books, 30+ peer-reviewed publications, and 130+ blogs on Psychology Today, with 10+ years’ experience coaching people facing challenges with CNM and BDSM. Dr. Eli specializes in the mono/CNM mismatch because she intellectualized her fear, and has been the mono partner in two CNM/mono marriages. Her super-power is combining research findings and trends gleaned from her coaching practice with personal insights to understand if, when, and how mono/CNM relationships can work or not.
