Destin to review 'adult entertainment' ordinances

November 17, 2008

Fraser Sherman

Now that Destin has received its first request in at least a decade to open a topless bar, the city must review the rules governing "adult entertainment," City Councilor Dewey Destin says.

“We probably need to review those to bring them up to snuff on what the current status of the law is," the councilor said at Monday's council meeting. The council endorsed the idea unanimously.

Rocky Griffith, who owns the Oasis in Destin/Thai Delights property on Mountain Drive, has applied for a business license to open a topless bar there. City officials say the zoning at that spot doesn't allow adult entertainment, though Griffith could request a zoning change.

Section 3-2 of Destin's ordinances, which governs adult entertainment, is 20 years old. It prohibits nudity in bars, night clubs and any business "which sells alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises." The ban includes showing the female breast "below the top of the areola" and any exposure of genitals or buttocks.

City Manager Greg Kisela said the city would review the rules and report back.

For a play-by-play from Monday night's meeting, click here.

Porn and the Presidency

November 3rd, 2008
By: Luke Gilkerson
Under: Porn Industry

Question: Which candidate has the porn industry concerned about their profits?

Answer: John McCain.

In a recent article from Adult Video News (AVN), major adult industry analyst Jack Morrison explains what is at stake for pornographers in tomorrow’s elections. According to Morrison, there are only two things holding back the law from curtailing the availability of online porn: (1) the Supreme Court’s current interpretation of the First Amendment, and (2) the Department of Justice’s willingness to focus on enforcing such laws at the federal level.

Morrison further says, “Both of those barriers to revenue-killing legislation are currently hanging by a thread, and the November election will determine whether the thread breaks, and whether the online erotica industry suffers as a result.”

There will be at least one vacancy on the Supreme Court (nearly inevitable) in the next four years, and the new administration will probably appoint a new Attorney General to head up the Department of Justice. Morrison concludes that if McCain is elected today, he could very well appoint judges that will begin letting anti-porn legislation stand. This, he says, “will create a blank check for either Congress or state legislatures to pass more anti-porn laws by removing the ‘political cover’ of unconstitutionality.” McCain could also appoint an Attorney General who will enforce these laws. “And that could be absolutely fatal to the adult erotica industry,” Morrison contends.

He counsels the adult industry profiteers, “unless you want to risk laws and regulations that could clobber your revenue and profit, you’ll do everything you can to see that McCain loses.” He also quotes adult industry lawyer Lawrence G. Walters:

“There’s absolutely no question in my mind that this is the most important election for the industry in decades. If things go the wrong way, the industry could be in for a period of suppression that could last for decades.”

The Business of Porn

I assume for most readers, porn is not one of those make-it-or-break-it issues when it comes to decisions made in the voting booth. It isn’t for me. I assume porn will find a way, as it always does, to wiggle its way into people’s lives, despite all the legislation in the world.

What I find so fascinating is the language used by Morrison in this article. He uses the language of business: distribution, industry, revenue, profit. This is not surprising because this is exactly what AVN, the trade journal of the porn world, is all about. Contrary to what some may think, you don’t find many articles on AVN by perverts talking about sexual deviancy. What you do find is one article after another about the technology and business models that will help make the pornographer successful at his trade.

Andrew Edmond, President and CEO of the $20 million Internet porn business, Flying Crocodile, stated, “a lot of people [outside the adult industry], get distracted from the business model by [the sex]. It is just as sophisticated and multilayered as any other marketplace. We operate just like any Fortune 500 company.”

What do YOU think about Porn?

Ordinance aims to regulate adult businesses

November 1, 2008
By Stuart Peck - bio | email
Posted by Melissa Greathouse - email

OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) - Local leaders in Daviess County Kentucky are working on an ordinance that would put strict regulations on those adult oriented businesses.

Daviess County is crafting this ordinance to be proactive about adult businesses. "We want to do it before we have a problem, rather than try to deal with it after the problem," said County Commissioner Jim Lambert.

County Judge Executive Reid Haire says he doesn't know of any adult businesses that are planning to locate in the county right now.

"There's not a problem with sexually-oriented businesses wanting to set up shop in the county," Haire said. "While most strip clubs, adult book stores and toy stores are legal, the county doesn't want to dance around the issue. They're not really welcome."

In November, the county fiscal court hopes to put an ordinance into place regulating adult businesses.

County Judge Executive Reid Haire says right now, "You will get a lot of people, elected officials, who will say we don't want those types of businesses here, we don't need those kinds of businesses here. That's almost a personal decision that an individual makes."

County leaders say with adult businesses there are usually negative consequences. "They find a decline in value of properties, they find increased prostitution, they find increased drugs, they find increased numbers of thefts," Lambert said.

Included in the ordinance will be guidelines specifying where an adult business can locate. It will also include a requirement for employees to have a license to work for one of these businesses.

"We want to make sure that those other issues that often surround those other businesses such as drug abuse, prostitution aren't in an environment in which they can flourish," said Haire.

Haire says a first reading of the ordinance will likely go before the County Fiscal Court in mid-November. An ordinance could be adopted by the beginning of December.

The Indonesian parliament adopts anti-pornography bill

10/30/2008
INDONESIA
by Mathias Hariyadi



MPs present voted unanimously for the bill. Opposition parties did not however participate in the vote. Dissent explodes in online forums. A Jakarta court sentences an Islamic fundamentalist leader to jail for fomenting clashes last June.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – With opposition MPs absent, Indonesia’s parliament approved an anti-porn bill that was welcomed by supporters who loudly rejoiced with prayers to Allah. In online newspaper forums many ordinary citizens reacted angrily however, slamming what they consider a step backward for Indonesia and an “obscurantist” decision.

Today the lower house in Indonesia’s parliament approved the controversial anti-pornography bill, known in Bahasa Indonesia as Undang-undang Pornografi, Uu App. Since it was tabled it has been at the centre of intense discussions because it is seen as a step towards introducing Sharia law into the country’s legal system along the lines of Saudi Arabia.
In recent weeks human rights activists and representatives of political and religious minorities, including the Catholic Church, have strenuously objected to the law.

According to its critics, the law eliminates “cultural” differences and undermines “national unity”. As it stands it is all but an attempt by Muslim fundamentalists to introduce Islamic law into the country’s legal system.
The anti-porn law was approved almost unanimously but MPs for the Indonesian Democracy Struggle Party (PDIP) and the Christian-based Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) were not in the house in protest against the bill.
A supporter of the new law named Lasmiantini, a member of a group called Salima or Muslim Sisters, felt great about it.

“Inshallah, God willing, Indonesia shall finally see the rebirth of morality,” she said.
“We are happy,” she added, “because we won the battle to defend our children and it [the law] will also protect women.”
“Educational TV programmes” will be promoted “to improve moral values as the basis of society.

Pro-law activists said that the legislation can be improved to “avoid excesses”, denying at the same time that negative views were expressed “against the bill in some provinces.”
Meuthia Hatta, daughter of Mohammad Hatta, one of Indonesia’s founding fathers, noted that the law “does not violate the principles of freedom of expression” but instead protects people from the harm done by pornography.

“Our focus was on this aspect rather than on political squabbles with nationalist groups and NGOs,” said the minister of for Woman Empowerment.
In the meantime a court in Jakarta issued an important ruling in the fight against Islamic fundamentalism.

Judge Panusunan Harahap sentenced Habib Rizieq Shihab, head of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), to 18 months in jail for “fomenting clashes in Jakarta last 1 June between radical Muslims and moderates, who were demonstrating in favour of religious freedom in the country.”

At that time Muslim fundamentalists attacked moderate Muslims from the National Alliance for Religious Freedom (AKKBB), who were peacefully demonstrating in support of the Ahmadis, a small Muslim community (about half a million) who are considered heretical in several Muslim countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Porno-politics: a logical conclusion of historical processes

By Ben Wright
October 30, 2008
Politics has become porn. Negative campaigning is its biggest star.

“Not your finest hour,”
“Is this really the feature story?”

These were two of the comments that greeted Newspaper Tree’s treatment of the release of a pornographic movie starring a Sarah Palin look-alike.

These comments raise a valid question: What is credible news? Is this it? Surely, is it not too frivolous and distasteful a topic? Are we not giving it unjustified credence and dignity by reporting it? Doesn’t this sort of thing belong on a silly blog instead?

But one could argue that it absolutely is news. First, and most practically, the piece remained the top story for the day, and Newspaper Tree is not the sort of website that idle surfers stumble across. Our readers found this interesting.

I believe that because the event occurred, combined with the interest it generated, much can be said about society and politics in America. But its unimportance lies in the fact that it is a historical marker, not a turning point. It is a glaring example of where things are, not where they are going.

Recently, French President Nicolas Sarkozy lost a legal battle with a Parisian company that manufactured Voodoo dolls of him in effigy. (They came complete with pins.) Though Sarkozy lost the case, and the look-alike dolls continue to be produced, the issue caused a minor uproar. This side of the Atlantic, the McCain-Palin campaign have made no complaint, have taken no legal action against the porn film’s producer, Hustler....read more

Lobby group blasts council over brothel ban idea

May 22, 2008





A sex industry lobby group says the Wangaratta council is going too far by trying to ban brothels.

The council will ask the Victorian Government for permission to change planning rules so brothels cannot be established in the region. Councillors say they are taking action because the community is opposed to brothels and adult stores. But Eros Association representative Fiona Patten says the council should not be making moral decisions for the community.

"There is a large percentage of the population that does use these businesses, that buys adult books and novelties, that visits sex workers and they should have every right to do that," she said.
"They're adults and councils should not be making moral decisions. Let the market decide."

Google case claims porn approved, not pro-life ads

WorldNetDaily - A Free PressFor A Free People
April 09, 2008

'It seems to me to be the most appalling case of religious
discrimination'

Internet giant Google is facing court action in the United Kingdom after it refused to accept an advertisement from a Christian organization promoting its own biblical views on abortion.
The advertisement that Google refused to accept.....read more

Paper Makes Bigot of Principal Who Resigns Over High School's 'Gay Club'

By Warner Todd Huston
May 21, 2008

A small paper in South Carolina called The Statesman indulged in some blatant hetero bashing this week in a story about a high school principal who resigned because of his convictions that the school should not allow a homosexual club to be started in his school. Naturally, the paper tries to make it seem as if the principal is an unreasonable bigot. The paper even conveniently forgot the part of the principal's resignation letter that clearly explains why he disagreed with allowing a club based on sexual activity in a high school -- and the explanation had nothing to do with any anti-gay sentiment.
The headline of the piece, "Irmo principal to resign after gay club approved for school," frames this as if homosexuality was the only issue here but that is only an ancillary problem as far as the principal is concerned. The first line of the story affirms that the paper views the principal as a bigot....(read more)

Irmo principal Eddie Walker's resignation letter (PDF)
Lexington 5 statement on Eddie Walker resignation (PDF)

www.legalizeitall.com

Pro, Anti-Porn Speakers Debate in Mankato

04-24-2008 10:50 PM
KEYC Television

CTAs the political debates seem to be coming to an end, a new one is taking place right here in Mankato. Tonight, porn legend Ron Jeremy squared off with anti-porn activist Craig Gross, debating the pros and cons of the adult entertainment industry. Like it or not, porn has entered the mainstream... with stars like Jenna Jameson becoming best-selling authors, and Ron Jeremy himself breaking into mainstream films. But the industry has always had its critics... who insist that pornography has negative effects on adults, youth and relationships. Those concerns were spotlighted in tonight's debate at MSU. Ron Jeremy says, "We're having this debate because it's a multi-billion dollar business and I feel it deserves defending. Craig is a good guy, we're friends, but he attacks my industry. I'm not on the attack, he is. I like his career, I have no problem with his career." Pastor Craig Gross says, "I'm not here tonight to take away their right, to try to convince them that hey, you can't look at it. I'm here to say here's some truth about this stuff." Bresnan Arena at the MSU campus hosted the event entitled, 'Porn: Good or Bad?' A chance to let students and the public get a closer look and the inner-workings of the billion-dollar adult entertainment industry....(read more)

SEE THE ARTICLE

Wisconsin's Free Speech Legacy

What is freedom of speech? Why care about it? Is there too much freedom of speech? Does anyone ever have their right to free speech violated? This visual and descriptive introduction to freedom of speech addresses these and more questions through important historical and contemporary Wisconsin cases involving national security, political protest, religious speech and freedom of the press.

This is a non-partisan presentation aimed at stimulating discussion about, and increased knowledge of, our First Amendment right to free speech and its relationship to democracy and citizenship....(read more)

Porn At Library? Free Speech Issues Arise

Parents Speak Out On Porn At Libraries

April 24, 2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Pornography can still be seen on computers at Sacramento Public Libraries --for now.
The possibility of banning pornography on library computers was discussed Thursday by board members of the Sacramento Public Library.
However, the board was deadlocked in a 7-7 split vote and no decision was made.
Concerned parents made their voices heard at Thursday's meeting.
"How dare you not want to protect our children," Brenda Bennett said.
Robin Littau added, "I will never let my kids be alone in a library."
Some parents said the material should be blocked so children can't get to it; others said that's a violation of free speech.
The first issue being considered involves Internet filters. Adults can turn off the filters, but teenagers and children cannot. The filters sometimes block sites that have information about medications.
The second issue is a "shoulder-tap" policy that would allow library staff to ask people to stop looking at a Web page that might be offensive to others.
Board members told KCRA 3 that after seven years of debate they won't address the pornography issue again anytime soon.

Click HERE to go to the Article

Free speech wins out: Sign ordinance to stay as written

Thursday, April 24, 2008

By JO ANNE KILLEEN Staff writer

The city of Onalaska will not issue a moratorium on electronic signs. The issue came up before the city of Onalaska Planning Commission Tuesday night when commission member Knute (Skip) Temte raised an objection to the political message posted on the electronic sign at Del’s Auto during the mayoral campaign. The message was promoting Robert Muth for mayor.Muth was in the audience as the Plan Commission discussed the issue, but declined an invitation to speak.The sign ordinance on the books with the city of Onalaska might not hold up in a court of law, according to city Land Use and Development Director Jason Gilman. He told Plan Commission members the existing Onalaska code regulates the type of message a sign — whether on a business, electronic, billboard, or yard sign — may include. However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly struck down as unconstitutional any regulation of content or messages a municipality or government might try to enforce, most strongly protecting political messages.“I want everyone to be aware we don’t have control over content, but we do have control over installation,” Temte said. “We need to have a moratorium on these signs.” Temte was responsible for putting the item on the agenda......(read more)

WANT TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE? CLICK HERE

Adult shop issue felt across state

APRIL 18, 2008

THE CONTROVERSY surrounding the opening of a proposed adult shop close to a school in Proserpine has reverberated across the State.
Acting Premier Paul Lucas said the State Government would now review issues surrounding adult stores opening close to schools.
"The State Government will look at ways whether through changing state policies or strengthening council planning schemes to regulate how close to schools adult stores could be established," Mr Lucas said.
Director of Davy Lane Adult Shop Roley Jackson said he was surprised to a degree about the controversy surrounding his shop.
"It had to happen some time. I guess with all the controversy with the school it is not surprising."
Mr Jackson said he thought the uproar over his particular store would die down, but the overall issue of adult store locations wouldn't.....(read more)

Ben Stein and the ‘Fair Use Doctrine of Free Speech’

Posted by Dan Slater
April 17, 2008, 9:11 am

Newly-returned from three days at the Harry Potter fair use trial, a veritable crash course in fair use, the Law Blog was interested this morning to read that the producers of an upcoming movie — starring a lawyer, no less — had invoked fair use in a statement they put out.
Online at WSJ today is an article by the Journal’s Ethan Smith in L.A. about a group of filmmakers who, according to the piece, have “incurred the wrath” of Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s widow, for using 25 seconds of the song “Imagine” in their movie, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” which opens tomorrow.
The film, according to the WSJ, stars Ben Stein, a Yale-educated lawyer, game-show host, journalist and actor (”Bueller? Bueller?”) who for the film affects a persona akin to a conservative version of Michael Moore (”Sicko,” “Fahrenheit 9/11″). The film apparently tries to make the point that American academia discriminates against people who espouse “intelligent design” theory — an alternative to evolution that would allow for the participation of a supernatural force in critical biological processes.
In a statement, the film’s producers conceded that they didn’t seek permission, but they called the use “momentary,” and said, after “seeking the opinion of legal counsel it was seen as a First Amendment issue and protected under the fair use doctrine of free speech.” ......(read more)

The April 24th debate over pornography at MSU can be enlightening as well as entertaining

The news that a pornography debate has been scheduled to take place at Minnesota State University no doubt was greeted with winces and head-shaking in certain quarters. The pro-porn/anti-porn debate will feature a Christian critic of pornography against none other than Ron Jeremy, who has appeared in more than 1,900 pornographic movies.

Patrons may witness the debate at MSU’s Bresnan Arena at 8 p.m. on April 24.
At first glance, we might pooh-pooh this event as a frivolous show, something better suited to a Jerry Springer episode — an occasion for the kind of self-indulgence all-too-often associated these days with college-age sensibilities. But we should think again.

Whatever your take on pornography — that it is a harmless, even liberating form of entertainment protected by the First Amendment — or a degrading, even dangerous trap for many Americans — this kind of debate has done much to enlighten....(read more)

Berlin, Adult Novelty Store Face Off In State Supreme Court

BILL LEUKHARDT
Courant Staff Writer

April 15, 2008

Last year, a state Superior Court judge rejected a lawsuit by VIP that challenged the town's sexually oriented business ordinance. VIP still has another state case pending against the town, along with a federal lawsuit.

BERLIN — A court case sparked by the town's battle to keep an adult sex toy, video and "romance shop" from opening in a middle-class neighborhood played out Monday with dry legal arguments in state Supreme Court.

The hearing on "VIP of Berlin LLC v. Town of Berlin et al" was the latest round in a dispute over the legality of the town's ordinance regulating the location of sexually-oriented businesses, including strip clubs and adult novelty stores.

It's an important case to town leaders, who see their ordinance as a way to control the adult businesses that have popped up here in recent years, upsetting residents and giving the town unwanted notoriety

Everyone is holding their breath to see what happens with this case," Mayor Adam Salina said after the hearing. "We feel very strongly that we have every right to enact and enforce this type of ordinance."

"This is going to have far-reaching impact on many municipalities. Freedom of speech and right to privacy are at stake"

Click HERE to read the entire article.

Censorship of religious art fails educational and First Amendment tests

Religion has been a major theme of artwork ever since humans gained the ability to express themselves through drawing and sculpture. To remove religion from art is like removing the saxophone from a jazz band; it can be done, but the sound will contain considerably less richness and texture.

That’s the problem with the grading policy of a Tomah High School art class that says, “Art work that has any violence, blood, sexual connotations, religious beliefs will not be accepted.” It’s a policy that should be reversed before it’s struck down in federal court.

The Tomah School District last month was slapped with a lawsuit over a drawing that displayed a cross and the words “John 3:16. A sign of love.” The student received a zero for the landscape assignment, and the family contacted the Alliance Defense Fund, which filed suit in federal court.

Had the student simply gotten a zero for including an extraneous object on a landscape drawing, the grade would have been appropriate. However, the grading policy prohibits any religious expression in artwork done anytime during the course. The policy makes no sense, either from a constitutional or educational standpoint. The Alliance Defense Fund cited a 1969 U.S. Supreme Court case that said neither teachers nor students “shed their constitutional rights to free expression at the schoolhouse gate,” and Tomah’s grading policy is clearly censorship based on religious belief.

But it’s not just a First Amendment issue.....

UPDATE ON “UNION SQUARE BOONDOGGLE”: Street Artists Fight Back

By Alex Kane
April 14, 2008

Street artists expressing their First Amendment rights in Union Square Park won a victory after successfully protesting their eviction from the park early last week.

On Friday, April 4, a Parks Department official approached artists who had set up in the park and told them that, due to the construction of the private restaurant in the north pavilion, they would not be allowed to sell their art on Wednesdays and Saturdays, two of the most popular days for artists to sell their work, and that the artists were to vacate the park....

Support Freedom of Speech PETITION

We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:

Dixie Chicks - Freedom of Speech Threatened!
Target: Dixie Chicks, Rep. Catherine Ceips
Sponsor: Tyler Andrew


Support Freedom of Speech!A new assault on free speech arose today in the South Carolina State Legislature. In what is clearly an attempt to curb our civil liberties, State Rep. Catherine Ceips wants the Dixie Chicks "to apologize" to South Carolina military families for anti-Bush sentiments expressed by the lead singer in London. What is happening to America, if we cannot exercise our civil liberties and speak out when we disagree with our government?Ceips said that she plans to introduce a resolution to condemn comments by Dixie's lead singer Natalie Maines who supposedly "told an audience at a London show that she was ashamed" that Pres. Bush "was from Texas, the group's home state." Ceips said if the resolution "wins House approval," she'll "send the resolution to the Dixie Chicks.""To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong,is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -- Theodore Roosevelt speaking against Wilson's crackdown on dissent after the U.S. entered WWI. Sign this petition to the Dixie Chicks letting them know you support their freedom of speech, and tell Rep. Ceips that you are concerned about her willingness to overlook and seriously undermine the principles on which the United States of America was founded....(go to the petition site)