Los Angeles is now the first city in the nation that requires performers to use condoms while shooting porn in areas that require permits. The Mayor signed the ordinance pushed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation on Monday. The law will go into effect 41 days after the City Clerk posts the ordinance publicly. … Continue Reading
The Cambridge Union Society, founded in 1815, likes its debates. Last week, the historic union tackled pornography, concluding — by 44 votes — that it “provides a good public service.”
The debate attracted a great deal of attention in the media last month because of the amount of people from the adult industry who were on board to participate. For the proponents, there was Anna Span; Johnny Anglais, the Essex teacher who was outed as a porn star last year and dismissed; and the sex educator Jessi Fischer. On the side of the opposition was the born-again-Christian and former porn star Shelley Lubben; the antiporn feminist Dr. Gail Dines; and Dr. Richard Woolfson, a child psychologist. … Continue Reading
KTLA is reporting that Playboy Playmate and former Baywatch babe Donna D’Errico was singled out by a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent while going through airport security at LAX for a full-body scan — and not because she looked like a threat, if you get our drift. … Continue Reading
The Pentagon has told military recruiters that they must accept gay applicants. Lt. Dan Choi, who was honorably discharged in July under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy (DADT) headed to the recruiting station at Times Square with gay rights advocate David Mixner and Justin Elzie, who was also honorably discharged under DADT in 1997. … Continue Reading
It’s a day of victory for sex-workers in Ontario, who won a case challenging criminal code provisions against soliciting prostitution, pimping and operating an establishment where sex work takes place.
Superior court justice Susan Himel struck down all three provisions. The decision will take effect in 30 days — unless Crown lawyers can appeal with arguments strong enough to delay the decision from taking effect.
Federal justice minister Rob Nicholson expressed concern with the ruling, citing the welfare of sex-workers and the communities where they operate. … Continue Reading
After we ran the about what differentiates a master from a sex trafficker, last Friday, we received a tip about a case unfolding in Malmö, Sweden, also involving BDSM (which stands for “bondage, discipline and sadomasochism”).
According to The Local, a 32-year-old man charged with assault after engaging in consensual violent sex with a 16-year-old. This isn’t an issue of legal consent as the age of sexual consent in Sweden is 15. What the court is trying to decide is how much violence should be allowed between consenting parties. … Continue Reading
Usually we don’t regurgitate her column here, but this week, our editrix takes a stand against those who want to suppress the dialog on sex, desire and pleasure over at BlogHer and we think it’s well worth the read:
Here’s what is at stake: Recent censorship of online discussions of sex and pornography — not the porn itself, but discussions — isn’t an issue of us versus them, morality versus indecency, conservatives versus liberals, believers versus atheists. This is a matter of freedom to speak, freedom to congregate, freedom to learn about ourselves and to share that knowledge. That’s what this country stands for and it’s essential that those of us who believe in these tenets take a stance against those seeking to oppress them.
Head over to the site to read the whole thing — and don’t miss the comments. They’re getting interesting.
The Porn Cop fiasco over in Hollywood, Florida, has come to a settlement agreement. The decision ensures Mike Verdugo, the police officer who was terminated for his role in a gay porn film, retains his certification as a law enforcement officer. … Continue Reading
Proposition 8 was overturned last week, and today, chief judge Vaughan Walker lifted his temporary stay on wedding ceremonies, meaning gay couples so inclined will be able to wed here in California after Wednesday, August 18.
“The evidence presented at trial and the position of the representatives of the State of California show that an injunction against enforcement of Proposition 8 is in the public’s interest,” judge Walker told the New York Times.
Thus, he chose not to extend the stay. … Continue Reading
Mike Verdugo is a police officer in Broward County, Florida — or was until the Hollywood, Florida Police Department fired him over a role he played in a porn flick.
Verdugo, who served on the force for 10 years, appeared in the reality television show Design Star and was recognized by a fan, who had seen the porn film and who quickly posted a clip on the web. … Continue Reading
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