This first one isn’t breaking news but it’s new to me. I saw this posted over on FetLife: Turn Off The Blue Light
“The Turn Off the Blue Light poster campaign has been designed to challenge the Irish public’s perception of sex workers, to get away from the overly negative or positive images of sex work that are so often seen, and instead show a more balanced, realistic view.”
What a great idea! I too “choose the job that suits my needs”-sex work supports my artistic hippie lifestyle.
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From AVN: Buck Angel Asks Fans To Buy Girl Scout Cookies
“A YouTube video featuring the ruggedly handsome Buck Angel asking fans and the general population to forgo a boycott of Girl Scout cookies called for by a young girl.
The original YouTube video, which is no longer available, the girl asked people to boycott the Girl Scouts and the organization’s annual cookie sale after the group allowed a 7-year-old transgender girl to join a troop in Colorado.
Angel, a female to male transgender and former Girl Scout, recently posted his own YouTube video, and his response is gaining quite a bit of mainstream attention. News outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and Huffington Post have reported on the debate the original video sparked, as well as publishing Angel’s video.”
Buck’s video is here. Go Buck go! And the Girls Scouts too-very open minded of them.
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From the Free Speech Coalition: LA City Council Approves Condom Ordinance in 9-1 Vote
“The LA City Council voted this morning, in open session, to approve a mandatory condom ordinance that would require adult productions to comply with condom usage on any adult set requiring a film permit in the Los Angeles City limits. The ordinance was approved 9-1.”
(snip)
Weinstein’s grandstanding on the condom issue is groundless – using provocative language like “epidemic” and quoting statistics that have proven to be inaccurate – Weinstein has politicized the issue of mandatory condom use while alienating the industry he claims to protect. He also has suggested that the City Council add an $85 fee to film permits for adult productions, in order to fund enforcement.”
I think this is more about the morality police trying to shut down pornography films rather than trying to protect performers.
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Stanley Siegel sent me his article via Twitter. I always appreciate readers that send in tips! Curing Pornophobia
“The great majority of us watch pornography. Nearly 87 percent of men and 76 percent of women reportedly visit adult entertainment sites. In fact, pornography drives the economy of the Internet and our appetite for it has led to Internet innovation.
(snip)
If we learn to identify and understand our fantasies, we can use them to create sexual experiences that are more aligned with our true desires by intentionally choosing partners with whom we are sexually compatible. If we can even go a step further, by decoding what they say about our past, we can use that knowledge to heal the conflicts that originally gave rise to them. Understanding our sexual fantasies is a key to understanding who we are.”
From BoingBoing: Undercover police had children with activists
“Two undercover police officers secretly fathered children with political campaigners they had been sent to spy on and later disappeared completely from the lives of their offspring, the Guardian can reveal.
In both cases, the children have grown up not knowing that their biological fathers – whom they have not seen in decades – were police officers who had adopted fake identities to infiltrate activist groups. Both men have concealed their true identities from the children’s mothers for many years.”
Whoa man, how fucked up is this? I can’t even think of something snarky to say.
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A SOPA/PIPA update from the EFF: The Internet Spoke and, Finally, Congress Listened!
“The misguided proponents of the disastrous Internet blacklist bills have blinked. Today, Senator Harry Reid announced he would postpone a cloture vote on PIPA scheduled for next Tuesday, which means, as a practical matter, that the bill is dead for now. Shortly after that announcement, Representative Lamar Smith issued a statement conceding PIPA’s evil House stepsister, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), also wasn’t ready for prime time.
This is great news, and it is a direct result of this week’s mass protests. Together, we reminded the U.S. Congress who it works for. EFF alone helped users send more than 1,000,000 emails to Congress, and countless more came from other organizations. Web traffic briefly brought down some Senate websites. 162 million people visited Wikipedia and 8 million looked up their representatives’ phone numbers. Google received more than 7 million signatures on its petition. Everyone who wrote, called, and visited their Senators and Representatives this week sent a message that laws affecting the Internet can’t be made in a backroom by insiders bearing campaign cash.”
As the article rightfully points out this fight is not over. If you haven’t already I encourage you to join the EFF.
How has the movie industry reacted? By openly threatening the politicians they are buying.
From TechDirt: MPAA Directly & Publicly Threatens Politicians Who Aren’t Corrupt Enough To Stay Bought
“Reinforcing the fact that Chris Dodd really does not get what’s happening, and showing just how disgustingly corrupt the MPAA relationship is with politicians, Chris Dodd went on Fox News to explicitly threaten politicians who accept MPAA campaign donations that they’d better pass Hollywood’s favorite legislation… or else:
“Those who count on quote ‘Hollywood’ for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who’s going to stand up for them when their job is at stake. Don’t ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don’t pay any attention to me when my job is at stake,”
This certainly follows what many people assumed was happening, and fits with the anonymous comments from studio execs that they will stop contributing to Obama, but to be so blatant about this kind of corruption and money-for-laws politics in the face of an extremely angry public is a really, really, really tone deaf response from Dodd.”
“In the more than 30 years I’ve spent defending a woman’s right to choose, I can’t recall a time when politicians have been more out of touch with our nation’s values and priorities,” Keenan wrote in at op-ed at The Huffington Post.
Legislation aimed at restricting or eliminating women’s access to abortion abounded in 2011, thanks in part to the 2010 elections where Republicans took control of the U.S. House of Representatives along with a number of state legislatures.”
The abortion issue always riles me up. It’s 2012 and we still haven’t moved past this? How can we ever get prostitution decriminalized if we’re still fighting over abortion? And how can we ever evolve and reform our electoral system if woman are still fighting for control of their wombs?
Tomorrow many internet sites will go black to protest the SOPA bill. I don’t know how to turn my domain black so I’ll most likely skip blogging or put up a black square.
From SOPA Strike:
“On Jan 24th, Congress will vote to pass internet censorship in the Senate, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. We need to kill the bill - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity. We need internet companies to follow Reddit’s lead and stand up for the web, as we internet users are doing every day.”
I was tempted to dress up in a slutty costume-I love dressing up for protests. But December in Albuquerque is not warm weather so I went with warm clothes. I’m glad I did because no one else was dressed up either. Maybe the next Slut Walk I go to will be at a warmer time so I can wear my planned costume of a fishnet bodystocking and heels.
Roughly two dozen gathered for our event. Compared to bigger cities our group was small but that’s ok because every year our group grows a bit bigger. Before marching we gathered to make signs. Good signs are essential for a march. Ours said-My Consent Counts, Only “Yes” Means Yes, Rapists Cause Rape, Consent Is Sexy, Find The West Mesa Killer, My Clothes Can’t Consent. We walked down Central St. which is one of Albuquerque’s busiest streets. Central was also a symbolic choice because part of the street is known as the “War Zone” where many of the victims of the West Mesa Killer worked as street prostitutes.
We marched several blocks to gather at a local club that let us use a secluded room in back. While walking we came up with several chants, many of which repeated the messages on our signs. My favorite was “One two three four, we support sluts and whores”.
Once we arrived at the club we gathered in the back to read the list of fallen sex workers. Slips of papers with victims’ names were passed around the room. This is one of the hardest parts of Red Umbrella Day. Holding those slips of paper in my hand I wonder about the slain workers. Who were they? What was their story? We lit candles as we read aloud the victims’ names.
Our group was a diverse bunch-there were women and men, sex workers and non-sex workers, straight, gay and kinksters joined together for the night. As a sex worker myself I was particularly moved that so many people from different paths of life joined together to support us.
After all the names were read we held a moment of silence for all the sex worker victims that have not been identified. Then we invited the group to share their feelings. The space felt safe and non-judgmental. Several participants talked about being sexually assaulted, one person speaking about the assault for the first time. I was touched that we provided a safe and loving environment where these experiences could be shared. I felt a sense of community that night and walked away feeling renewed hope for both the sex worker and slut walk movements.
Wow, can you believe the sleazy Bush-like move Obama pulled NYE? While most of the country was out partying he signs a bill to lock up Americans without trial indefinitely. The candidate of change…really?
What’s this all about? Well, strap in as it’s not pretty. First up is the ACLU’s statement. I’m only posting a snippet but please read the entire statement at the link and afterward please consider joining this vital organization. President Obama Signs Indefinite Detention Bill Into Law
“WASHINGTON – President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law today. The statute contains a sweeping worldwide indefinite detention provision. While President Obama issued a signing statement saying he had “serious reservations” about the provisions, the statement only applies to how his administration would use the authorities granted by the NDAA, and would not affect how the law is interpreted by subsequent administrations. The White House had threatened to veto an earlier version of the NDAA, but reversed course shortly before Congress voted on the final bill.
“President Obama’s action today is a blight on his legacy because he will forever be known as the president who signed indefinite detention without charge or trial into law,” said Anthony D. Romero, ACLU executive director. “The statute is particularly dangerous because it has no temporal or geographic limitations, and can be used by this and future presidents to militarily detain people captured far from any battlefield. The ACLU will fight worldwide detention authority wherever we can, be it in court, in Congress, or internationally.
Under the Bush administration, similar claims of worldwide detention authority were used to hold even a U.S. citizen detained on U.S. soil in military custody, and many in Congress now assert that the NDAA should be used in the same way again. The ACLU believes that any military detention of American citizens or others within the United States is unconstitutional and illegal, including under the NDAA. In addition, the breadth of the NDAA’s detention authority violates international law because it is not limited to people captured in the context of an actual armed conflict as required by the laws of war.”
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From RSN: NDAA: Congress Signed Its Own Arrest Warrants
“Responding to the Senate’s overwhelming passage of the ‘Homeland Battlefield’ bill, Ms. Wolf first published this piece on December 12, 2011. However, her argument took on new relevance over the weekend when President Obama used the media blackout of the holiday season to quietly sign the bill during a vacation in Hawaii. - JPS/RSN
I never thought I would have to write this: but - incredibly - Congress has now passed the National Defense Appropriations Act, with Amendment 1031, which allows for the military detention of American citizens. The amendment is so loosely worded that any American citizen could be held without due process. The language of this bill can be read to assure Americans that they can challenge their detention - but most people do not realize what this means: at Guantanamo and in other military prisons, one’s lawyer’s calls are monitored, witnesses for one’s defense are not allowed to testify, and one can be forced into nudity and isolation. Incredibly, ninety-three Senators voted to support this bill and now most of Congress: a roster of names that will live in infamy in the history of our nation, and never be expunged from the dark column of the history books.”
The NDAA is the $662 billion National Defense Authorization Act that President Obama signed into law on New Year’s Eve. In addition to funding the United States’ ongoing wars and the 900 military bases it maintains in 130 countries, the bill provides for the U.S. president to have draconian worldwide authority to have the military seize anyone suspected of “terrorism” or providing aid to terrorists or “associated forces” anywhere in the world, including U.S. citizens on American soil, and detain them without charge or trial indefinitely. “It’s a little New Year’s present to our constitutional republic,” Alex Jones says angrily in a YouTube video.”
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Getting rounded up is not some fantasy scare tactic. It’s happened in this country before and it can happen again. During World War II Japanese Americans were rounded up for being the wrong race. From Wikipedia: Japanese American internment
“Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called “War Relocation Camps,” in the wake of Imperial Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.[1][2] The internment of Japanese Americans was applied unequally throughout the United States. Japanese Americans who lived on the West Coast of the United States were all interned, while in Hawaii, where more than 150,000 Japanese Americans composed over one-third of the territory’s population, 1,200[3] to 1,800 Japanese Americans were interned.[4] Of those interned, 62% were American citizens.[5][6]”
I think anyone who voted for this bill should be voted out of office regardless of political identification. Yup, that means I’m voting against Obama in 2012 despite voting for him in 2008. Some of my pro-choice friends tell me voting against Obama during the next election means voting to outlaw abortion. I counter that argument with this: If I get pregnant and I can’t get an abortion I can figure out how to give myself one. If I’m illegally detained for being a political protester I can’t figure out how to break out of a federal prison. That makes the choice easy for me.
Many I know are outraged over this. I certainly am. But not everyone. A disturbing trend I’ve noticed is people saying something to the tune of “this won’t affect me or anyone I know so why should I care”. I am baffled by this type of thinking.
Under that ideology straight people shouldn’t care about gay marriage because they can get married whenever they want. US residents shouldn’t care about the treatment of illegal immigrants because they’re legal. Non sex workers shouldn’t care about the West Mesa Murders because they’re not targets of a serial killer. But of course we care about the above and so we should care about this indefinite detention bill. Can you imagine who President Palin would like to round up? Just because this bill doesn’t affect you today doesn’t mean it won’t tomorrow.
At this year’s Red Umbrella Day I learned that the West Mesa murders were now a cold case. My first thought was that NO this couldn’t be true. But sadly it is. Checking the Albuquerque Police link on the murders confirms. Damnit!
The most recent news I could find was this story. From KRQE: Serial murder case on business cards
“A unique new business card is about to go into circulation that detectives hope will help find the killer of the 11 women found buried on Albuquerque’s west mesa in 2009.
The 2-year-old case has seen a lot of publicity since the first bone was discovered by a woman walking her dog. It’s even been broadcast on a national television show.
This will be the first time that the serial murder case is printed on a business card.”
On one hand I’m glad the Albuquerque Police is still trying to solve these murders. On the other hand I can’t help but think how much the APD itself has hurt the case. How? The Southwest Companions bust that’s how.
NM escorts and prostitutes have lost business and now can’t even trust each other because they fear one of their own may now be an informant. But most importantly a site that gave them the ability to verify a client’s reputation is now gone. This bust didn’t magically make prostitution disappear in New Mexico. I think it just makes these women take more risks to make money.
If one of these women has information about the case can we really expect her to confide in a police department that says it cares about the West Mesa victims but is putting living sex workers lives at risk by shutting down SW Companions? I don’t think so.
We will remember the West Mesa victims. And we will continue to hope for justice.
It’s that time of year again-holiday giving. If you can give to charity I encourage you to give to the following groups. Some are a repeat from last year, some are new.
American Civil Liberties Union
“The ACLU is our nation’s guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.
(snip)
The ACLU also works to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including people of color; women; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people; prisoners; and people with disabilities.
If the rights of society’s most vulnerable members are denied, everybody’s rights are imperiled.”
With the current loom of the indefinite detention becoming law the ACLU is one of the most important organizations out there fighting for our freedoms.
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Circle Sanctuary
“Circle, also known as Circle Sanctuary, is a non-profit international Nature Spirituality resource center and legally recognized Shamanic Wiccan church. Founded in 1974, Circle helps people from many spiritual orientations connect with each other as well as with the spiritual dimensions of Nature. Circle’s executive directors, Selena Fox and Dennis Carpenter, work together with staff and volunteers to carry out a variety of activities and services
As a Pagan I want to highlight Circle Sanctuary. They have been around for years and are an excellent resources for us Pagans.
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Electronic Frontier Foundation
“Blending the expertise of lawyers, policy analysts, activists, and technologists, EFF achieves significant victories on behalf of consumers and the general public. EFF fights for freedom primarily in the courts, bringing and defending lawsuits even when that means taking on the US government or large corporations. By mobilizing more than 61,000 concerned citizens through our Action Center, EFF beats back bad legislation. In addition to advising policymakers, EFF educates the press and public.”
Like the ACLU the EFF is one of the most important organizations fighting for a freedom. With the loom of SOPA happening it’s vital we support them.
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Food Not Bombs
“We recover food that would have been discarded and share it as a way of protesting war and poverty. With fifty cents of every U.S. federal tax dollar going to the military and forty percent of our food being discarded while so many people were struggling to feed their families that we could inspire the public to press for military spending to be redirected to human needs. We also reduce food waste and meet the direct need our our community by collecting discarded food, preparing vegan meals that we share with the hungry while providing literature about the need to change our society. Food Not Bombs also provides food to protesters, striking workers and organize food releif after natural and political crisis.”
Food Not Bombs is a great group though they don’t think of themselves as a charity. They run on the simple idea that we should feed the hungry instead of dropping bombs on people. They were one of the first groups at Ground Zero and at Katrina to feed the hungry. They are an awesome and important group.
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Sex Worker Outreach Project (SWOP)
“Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of sex workers and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy.”
SWOP does such good work. We sex workers need more groups like them.
For this year’s International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers I went down to an event in Albuquerque, NM. While I’ll blog about the event itself in a couple days I want this post to focus on the fallen sex workers whose names I read out that evening. A sign from the evening said “We remember”. We do. We remember and we seek justice for them.
Longtime readers know I don’t celebrate Christmas. The Christmas Resistance Movement seems more pertinent than ever. Mr. Radical and I haven’t exchanged gifts in years. It’s such a stress relief.
I was in a clothing store this past weekend and the place was packed with frantic shoppers. So many people looked so stressed. I couldn’t help but think how ridiculous it all was. Why not consider giving up the Christmas craziness? Realistically it’s too late to give it up this year if your family is expecting presents but why not scale back next year?
If you are buying presents this year consider buying handmade items. From Handmadeology: Reasons to Buy Handmade
“Buying handmade can become a total lifestyle choice. Choosing to buy handmade is just like choosing to buy local produce. You simply cannot compare mass produced products to artisan created goods in terms of inspiration, quality, and attention to detail.
(snip)
Buying handmade is also a tremendous boost to small business and to the economy as a whole. It’s small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. We need thriving small businesses in order for everyone to prosper. This certainly plays into our local markets, but in this day and age of global integration, the world economy can benefit as well.”
I recommend Etsy. There’s tons of handmade goodness over there. It’s such a treat to buy a product from the exact person who made it.
This Flickr set has men photographed in stereotypical pin-up poses. It’s adorable! What a fun idea. Thanks to readers S, N and T who all sent me the link.
