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Free Speech Coalition

"People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public or in some contrivance to raise prices." (Adam Smith) 

The Free Speech Coalition is the porn industry trade group. It exists not to protect free speech, but to promote the profits of pornographers. It frequently acts like a cartel, trying to reduce output and raise prices. The FSC should truly be called OPEC - Organization of Pornography Exporting Cunts.

A fascinating reflection of an industry filled with self-hatred, the FSC has demonstrated a long history of ineptitude, including a tin ear when dealing with the outside world. Pornographers frequently forget how despised they are by middle America. 

Veteran con artist David Friedman started the first porn trade group in the mid '70s, the Adult Film Association of America. In 1986, Gloria Leonard was elected president. She tried to rally the troops against censorship and the Meese Commission but had little success with her fractious peers. In 1987, Ron Sullivan, Robert Best, Dave Kastens and the late Perry Rosen formed the Adult Video Association. They chased away Gloria Leonard and used attorney John Weston as their representative. 

Founded in 1991, the Free Speech Coalition succeeded the Adult Video Association. In the last few years, with great publicity but mixed results, it has devoted increasing resources to lobbying politicians. 

The Los Angeles Times wrote 6-19-96: "In what was billed as the first organized lobbying effort of its kind, a platoon of actors, actresses, directors and other representatives of the X-rated video business descended Tuesday on the Legislature. 

"Leaving their high-gloss makeup and low-cut dresses at home in favor of conservative skirts and blouses and business suits, the contingent blended in with the many lobbyists and special interest groups usually found in the Capitol's corridors. 

"And like most special interest groups, they were narrowly focused. 

"Their goal: Kill bills that would clamp more government regulations on the adult entertainment industry and support proposals to toughen penalties against child pornographers and sexual offenders. 

""We are real people, not trench coat people," said actress Julie Ashton, who described herself as a star of adult videos and host of the cable television show "Night Calls." 

"Another entertainer, Nina Hartley, a self-described "erotic actress-model" from Berkeley, insisted that the market for adult movie rentals is rapidly expanding and may even promote romance for middle-aged couples in the privacy of their homes. "It's no different than Hamburger Helper," Hartley told a news conference called to kick off the first organized lobbying campaign by adult video performers. " 

"They may have some impact, but the bottom line is that public sentiment is not on their side," said freshman Assemblyman Scott Baugh (R-Huntington Beach)." 

The Free Speech Coalition vigorously opposed most 1990's legislation ostensibly aimed at child porn. In 1996, Free Speech Coalition chair Jeffrey Douglas said Sen. Orrin Hatch's bill "demeans the suffering of actual child molestation victims." The new law "makes the horrific crime of the rape of a minor legally indistinguishable from the commercial filming of the actual lovemaking of a 27-year-old, pretending to be 17." 

Douglas says the law "converts into child pornography hundreds of mainstream motion pictures, the sale or private possession of which is now a serious federal felony." The Free Speech Coalition offers (and has awarded) a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons creating or trafficking in child pornography. 

Douglas said: "If you own `The Last Picture Show,' `A Clockwork Orange,' `Animal House,' or numerous other videotapes in your personal library, you are condemned by Congress not only as a criminal, but a child pornographer and probable pedophile." 

The suit added: "The Act's inclusion of visual depictions of adults who appear to be minors in the definition of `child pornography' is unconstitutional because it suppresses the discussion of the sexuality of minors via visual depictions in works of art that have serious literary, artistic, scientific or political value." The suit further alleges that by prohibiting the use of adults who appear to be minors, the act "exceeds the constitutional boundaries of the First and Fifth Amendments...and complexly suppresses the communication of particular ideas, i.e., sexuality of minors, via visual depiction." 

The law was sponsored and introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in a "Saturday night amendment" to the spending bill and was signed by President Clinton effective Oct. 1, 1996. 

Films criminalized under the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 according to the FSC include: "Sleepers," "The Exorcist," "A Clockwork Orange," "Halloween," "Big," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Blue Lagoon," "If," "Risky Business," "Porky's," "Bull Durham," "Blow-Up," "Dirty Dancing," "The Hollywood Knights," "Once Bitten," "Angel," "Murmurs of the Heart" and "Pretty Maids All In A Row." 

On August 13th, 1997 a US District Court Judge upheld the Orrin Hatch sponsored law that outlawed computer generated child porn. Judge Samuel Conti rejected the Free Speech Coalition's claim that the law is "unconstitutionally vague," and said the Act is not "an improper prior restraint on speech." 

Conti said the Act was designed to thwart those who would use computers and imaging technology to depict the impression that kids are being used in pornographic pictures or movies. Although no children would be harmed in this type of pornography, the material would have a negative effect on society, he said. 

Northern California ACLU attorney Ann Brick told Newsbytes the court's decision was "a troubling loss," and that the rationale the government had used in labeling child pornography -- the actual use of children for such content -- has now disappeared. In addition, she asked, "How do we know that's where they'll draw the line?" 

Brick said the "law does makes ideas criminal. (The ruling) will make the idea of minors having sex illegal." She said the Act could be taken as far as outlawing drawings, paintings, and even books describing sex with children. 

Between 1989-92, Gloria Leonard served as administrative director of the now defunct Adult Film Association. When it merged with Free Speech Coalition, Gloria was tossed out. Several video company owners thought that an ex-porn star could not have credibility with the public. 

Gloria and company also fought over the name for the industry's new trade group. She wanted "adult" in the name while many of the company owners preferred something more generic in the vain hope of attracting broader support. "Many of us are motivated by passion and principle rather than just profits." 

In 1993, Gloria moved to Hawaii. She returned to Los Angeles to work for Private in October of 1997. "Sometimes you have to go away for a few years for people to appreciate you." 

In early 1998, she was elected president of the Free Speech Coalition. 

1/31/99

Mike Ross writes on RAME: "I am afraid of the whole bunch.... What I have read here confirms my "suspicision"... namely that something needs to be done about "anti-trust" violations... namely price fixing... and stiffling competition.

"For the record, the people whom I am most "scared of" is the cartel called the Free Speech Coalition.... they are the people on the FSC board. Not only do they continually screw up when representing our rights (in court and the legislatures), but they are the ones controlling prices, distribution and content (condoms only)."

AVN publisher Paul Fishbein replies: "Mike Ross has a personal agenda because Free Speech fired his ass and hired Kat Sunlove. I was one of the people who fought to keep Mike as Free Speech's lobbyist because I felt he earned another chance. But his relentless bashing is nothing short of unprofessional and he spews misinformation.

"I believe that Mike is a valuable asset but he can't keep his mouth shut. Had he handled himself in a more professional manner, he might have gotten another shot or a position, but he pisses everyone off.

"If he really knew how the price structure worked in this business, he'd realize that there is no price structure. The industry only wishes they could price fix. They'd all be doing better. The guy obviously hasn't studied the economics of the adult business."

Mike Ross responds at 5:26 AM, Wednesday: "Luke, I wish you would have asked me for a direct comment from me based on what Paul said... I would have asked Paul this question: If Michael Ross spews out "misinformation" why would you (Paul) say this:

"I believe that Mike is a valuable asset but he can't keep his mouth shut. Had he handled himself in a more professional manner, he might have gotten another shot or a position, but he pisses everyone off."

"For the record, I am not going to "To keep my mouth shut" just because it makes them happy. Additionally, I don't want another shot or a position... I will not be "bought off"... Why? Because I am doing what I am trained to do... and the problem the "industry has" is they have never had a professional lobyist (they still don't) and don't understand how they think and act. I have set standards and am achieving them, which is why more and more businesses are hiring me to represent them, which means that FSC is loosing money and membership.

"In fact, its interesting... after getting fired for what every stupid reason they come up with today, would you think I would accept another position with them? Thats a crock, and the main reason I don't trust them.

"Finally, as you can see by my RAME post, Paul missed out on the most important part of my "debate" with AVN..... namely why are the censoring the news that others around the country participate in, understand and accept? Namely when is it that everytime I do something, its not reported in AVN. And to understand this, all one has to do is look at the last issue (page 318) where they wrote a great story about EMAIL, but..... left out the fact that the AEIEF represented the industry in the negotiations, and, FSC never showed up. In other words, If I report something, both FSC and AVN opt not to "mention/report it" why? For instance, not one of them has written anything about "Indiana" and the attempts to close down the industry (I have been working out there, but FSC is missing in action-again!).

"Additionally, Paul's following statement is WRONG: "If he really knew how the price structure worked in this business, he'd realize that there is no price structure. The industry only wishes they could price fix. They'd all be doing better. The guy obviously hasn't the economics of the adult business."

"Paul, I understand economics, and I am worried that now that the "FSC" Board is now complete with vivid and wicked, and that they will start price fixing and all of the nice other "anti-trust" items.

"In closing, I just have to say this:.... I guess someone has to watch them, and I guess that's you and I! (Mike - politics and Luke - gossip) I believe I am in good company."

Rich pornographers like Fishbein gather in Denver for an intimate weekend with Goalie Entertainment owner, Eddie Wedelestedt. A convicted felon who inherited most of his stores from Reuben Sturman in the late 1980s, "Eddie W." received a Special Achievement Award from AVN publisher Paul Fishbein at this year's AVN Awards (which started January 9th and are only halfway through as we speak). In his thank-you speech, Wedelstedt praised, among other porn pioneers, the memory of murdered mobster Robert DiBernardo, a member of both the New York Gambino crime family and New Jersey's DeCavalcantes. "Dibi" ran Star Distributors (through 1986) with New York porn legend Theodore Rothstein.

This weekend in Denver, the sultans of smut will do deals, meet with Goalie store managers, and listen to lectures from lawyers. A major donor to charity, Wedelstedt is throwing a large dinner-dance.

Fishbein: "Luke, I am not rich and I don't think I am a pornographer. We do a magazine about pornography but it's a trade publication. Maybe I am a pronographer yet I never thought of myself that way. And I wish I were as wealthy as you think."

...............

The FSC's lobbyist in Sacramento is Kilgore Rangerette aka pornographer Kat Sunlove, publisher of the politically correct Spectator, a sex weekly out of San Francisco. 

In 1992, California legislators banned vending machines for pornographic publications, because they allowed anyone, including children, access to explicit material. Sunlove jumped into bed with her fellow smut peddlers and fought the case all the way to the US Supreme Court. The pornographers lost. The PTA crowd won. 

"I'm delighted when people tell me they jack-off to the material in the paper," Sunlove told WIRED. "But, in all honesty, I think to myself: For a couple of more bucks, I'd probably buy a Penthouse… It's in full color, it's grand, majestic photography of these gorgeous women. We can't compete with that level of pornography." 

Kilgore Rangerette starred in the Scene section of the 3-3-98 Sacramento Bee, one of California's three best newspapers. Reporter Darragh Johnson, however, was too lazy to find out her real name. 

"Kat Sunlove is mainstreaming sex. Known as the "Dear Abby of S&M," she's come to Sacramento to put a fresh face on the sex industry, complete with a wardrobe of tailored blazers and conservative earrings. A porn star turned policy wonk, she is the new Capitol lobbyist for the adult entertainment industry. This promises to be a rocky journey. Legislators are leery. Some have compared her plight with ex-convicts who agitate for their rights." 

"They deserve to have a voice, but they make people uncomfortable," said Assemblyman Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles. "No one wants a story in The Sacramento Bee that says they hung out with the porno people." 

Johnson: "In January, Sunlove kicked off the legislative session with a reception for the legislature's power brokers. She chose the basement of Brannan's, a watering hole across L Street from the Capitol. The wood-lined walls sport vintage posters -- Reagan, Goldwater, Muskie, Nixon/Agnew. It's a cozy place. "We all go there," Murray says. 

"Sunlove planned the party for a Tuesday night. She fretted over the hors d'oeuvres and got so nervous that she couldn't shake a head cold. 

"In the end, it didn't matter. No one came but some staffers and a corps of family values protesters who picketed. At one point during the evening, Sunlove walked up to the bar and noticed state Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon. She invited him over, but he refused." 

"Not in this political lifetime," he told her. Later, he distanced himself even further. 

"I think they're wrong," he says from his Capitol office. "They are so far out of the mainstream in their views. I believe legislators are driven more by personal experiences than by lobbyists or money or anything else... And this is an issue where legislators have very strong views, and they ain't gonna change them based on who's lobbying them." 

Sac Bee: "The industry consists of video producers, actors, manufacturers and distributors, the exotic dancers, Internet providers, owners of juice bars and adult bookstores, and everyone in between. Sunlove thinks there is strength in those numbers. Because sex sells, she believes she's on the brink of a powerful and well-funded grass-roots pornography movement. 

"She plans to start registering everyone involved in the California sex industry to vote. She talks about allying herself with the Motion Picture Association of America and cable TV and, for example, any business worried about restricted access and discriminatory taxation." 

EroticaSF@oranj.com posted on RAME in mid March 1998: "…Kat Sunlove…is bright, charming and articulate and appears mainstream enough that she would not instantly intimidate the sexually phobic. In the San Francisco Bay Area sex community Spectator Magazine and Kat are greatly respected and they have helped unite and educate the community about political issues and safe sex. Because of the work of Kat and her allies, (and, of course, the well-organized and politically active gay community) politicians do not routinely tread on the rights of sexual minorities in the SF Bay Area. 

"Spectator magazine and Kat have a long history of quickly responding to negative political situations, at least occasionally with significantly positive results. 

"Fighting for sexual freedom is an uphill battle. It is important for everyone who believes in the rights of consenting adults to enjoy their sexuality to work together. Our enemies would love to see us get mired in interpersonal conflicts and turf battles. Let's move forward and support her efforts. Instead of debating the personal merits of Kat Sunlove, write your state senators (if you are in California) to oppose the Juice Bar Bill. The members of the Free Speech Coalition can and should consider the merits of Kat's work after she has had an opportunity to get established and prove herself." 

The Free Speech Coalition held a fiery meeting with leading industry producers April 12 [1998] to discuss the latest HIV breakout in the heterosexual industry. Leading pornographers like Vivid, VCA, GVA, Goalie and Wicked decided to mandate the use of condoms. Porn maven Roger P. Tipe posted to RAME: 

"Chief speakers at this meeting were the heads of Vivid, Wicked, VCA, Odyssey and Metro video. Apparently these companies are pushing to make condom use in EVERY scene, in EVERY video standard operating procedure in the adult industry. 

"How do they plan to push this policy onto the viewing public (Including yours truly, since above all, I am still just a fan.)? Through the use of large distributors such as GVA and Goalie. A letter from GVA was read aloud to the group, stating in part, that companies that do not comply with the all condoms rule, will suffer. (Presumably from lower distribution by the company.) A spokesman from Goalie was a bit less threatening, stating that companies that did the right thing (Stepped in line with the powers that be) would be rewarded. He was quoted as saying, "...the decision is up to you, so do the right thing." 

"Perhaps even more frightening was the announcement by the "Free Speech Coalition" that the only HIV tests that will be deemed 'proper and authentic' are the tests administered by their own testing staff, every thirty days at $95 a shot. 

"Now, those of you who read my column last month heard me praise Shane for her decision to make her series an 'all condom' line. I heard it from readers all over who hate condoms and will stop watching her stuff. So, why am I so upset if I support Shane and Juli Ashton (Who told me in her interview that she thinks everyone should use them.) 

"Well my friends, the difference here is choice. When a producer says to me they want to be safe and use condoms in their movies, I applaud their decision. I don't care one way or another. They don't bother me to look at, and if they keep the people doing porn safe, then great. However, I don't want anyone dictating this kind of decision to producers, performers and viewers. I don't care if it comes from Jessie Helms, Jessie Jackson, the Free Speech Coalition of the head of some big time video company." 

Voyager7 followed up: "This sounds like they are looking out for their best interests, i.e, their wallets... 

"What they are trying to counter is some potential bad publicity. Sweeps month is coming in May for the TV (were aren't talkin' about transsexuals here) industry. I believe they are trying to ward off some knee-jerk-wet-behind-the-ears-empty-headed-bleach-blond-reporter doing an expose on the porn industry and AIDS. This would be sensationalized, leading up to potential bills before the California or even the US legislatures. This is what the "industry" is afraid of, policing from the "outside", they probably figure condom self-policing will ward this off, showing them to be "concerned citizens and benevolent employers". 

"Me, while I don't care if condoms are worn for vagina or anal scenes. The sight of bare or raincoated cock, buried in puss or ass flesh doesn't excite me. Its the girls' reaction and the level of her "heat" which gets my motor off of idle. However, I would be greatly disappointed in the venerable blow job scene would be done with a raincoat. This would send me over the edge." 

Ex-porn star Brandy Alexandre posted to RAME: "Widespread condom use would not be necessary if it wasn't for the widespread violent anal. I know it's a corner of porn that some people like, but anal scenes had become the standard and is a far easier mode of transmission than anything else. 

"IF they could somehow prove that their testing procedures work, and did them every three week on EVERYBODY, and held off the condoms for anal scenes alone, I don't see where the risk factor would increase much over the way things are presently done." 

For the most part, the Clinton Administration has not bothered pornographers with "obscenity" prosecutions. During this respite from persecution, the industry has grown increasingly raunchy. As of 1998, porn shops, particularly those in big cities like New York and San Francisco, frequently carry tapes featuring urination, defecation, S-M with penetration, minors and bestiality. (11/97 AVN) 

"Because of the intense competition for customer dollars, for shelf space and all that, there is an increasing tendency to use material that is very risky," Douglas told the 11/97 AVN. "And it's just self-destructively stupid. In the real world, stocking movies that have a urination scene, to get an additional $15, is irresponsible." 

AVN features editor Mark Kernes visited the retailer Videoactive at 2522 Hyperion Avenue where he found such Swedish gay videos as Young Russian Innocents and Russian Soldier Boys that appeared to feature several boys under 18 years of age. 

Douglas told AVN: "It is important to communicate to people who are hostile to the very existence of sexually explicit material, that there are rational guidelines, that the industry is not indiscriminately pandering to the lowest common denominator; that there are standards… So all this does is lower the reputation of an industry that has done an excellent job of increasing the quality of the product available." 

In its 12-18-95 edition, LA TIMES described many of the forces that the FSC must battle:

Dozens of Buena Park residents turned out last week to applaud the demise of the neighborhood's Pussycat Theater. The scene illustrated the deep disdain that much of the public has for adult cinemas and why city officials across Orange County have long battled to rid their communities of such businesses. 

The war is almost won: The closing of the Pussycat leaves just one X-rated cinema in Orange County--the Studio Theatre, also in Buena Park. Two decades ago, the county had nearly a dozen adult theaters. 

The main reason for this decline is the triumph of video. "The business is shifting into other areas like computer pornography on the Internet," said Monique Nelson, executive director of the antipornography group Enough is Enough, based in Santa Ana. "Just like any other business, it's changing with the times." 

That has led some urban planning experts to question the wisdom and fairness of government campaigns against adult cinemas. Under pressure from residents, some cities have adopted unworkable anti-pornography ordinances and pursued quixotic legal battles. At times, city councils have acted over the objections of their own staff attorneys. 

"It's a sticky issue because many of us say these businesses are bad things," said Scott Bollens, an associate professor of urban planning at UC Irvine. "But it raises a larger issue about whether cities are stepping on basic rights to suit their own self-interest." 

Public aversion to X-rated theaters and other adult businesses such as nude juice bars and strip clubs is being voiced across the nation. But opponents have been especially vocal in Orange County, which is home to many people who fled urban centers in search of quiet, "family-oriented" neighborhoods. 

"I think people see [adult businesses] as a sign of moral decay that they don't want in their suburban areas," Bollens said. 

City officials have responded to voters' wishes by adopting a string of laws targeting adult businesses. Although the ordinances have generally succeeded in restricting new businesses, many rules targeting existing establishments have been struck down in court. 

Legal setbacks didn't stop some cities. Santa Ana, for example, spent $700,000 and filed 42 lawsuits in a bid to close a theater in the Old Honer Plaza shopping center. The city pursued its case for 11 years, even after many officials saw clearly that it would never prevail. The hearings became so routine that an Orange County Superior Court judge allowed the theater's attorney to make his arguments by telephone. Finally, in 1987, the city gave up. 

The cinema shut down three years later, but its closing had much more to do with economics than government pressure. Like adult movie houses across the nation, it simply could not compete with the proliferation of X-rated videotapes. 

During the 1980s, tapes became the primary outlet for adult entertainment, said Jeffrey J. Douglas, an attorney and spokesman for the Free Speech Coalition, the industry's trade association. Most adult movies are not even distributed on film anymore, he said, forcing some adult theaters to use VCRs for their feature presentations. 

The shifting focus of filmmakers also dealt a blow to the theaters. In the 1970s, the industry favored big-budget "general interest" adult movies such as "Deep Throat," "The Devil in Miss Jones" and "Sodom and Gomorrah." But today, movies are produced with the aim of satisfying the tastes of specific segments of the market, Douglas said. 

"There used to be 100 or so movies released a year. Now, there are literally thousands of titles," he said. "People are aiming for a smaller portion of the market and making fewer general interest films. That makes it harder for theaters to draw decent crowds." (LA TIMES 12-18-95) 

Until 10/97, Mike Ross represented the FSC in California's state capitol of Sacramento. Then he was replaced by Kat Sunlove.

Condoms Sink FSC

The Free Speech Coalition aka The Porn Mafia, Vivid, VCA and AVN have righteously proclaimed for 18 months that condoms have not hurt sales. Baloney. All these companies are in trouble. Sales are down.

According to , Steve Hirsch, Michael Warner and Steve Orenstein as well as Christian Mann, have submitted letters of resignation from the FSC.

Jim South told : "I think Free Speech gets a lot of bad press from people who don't understand the workings of the Free Speech Coalition. Those people work really hard. They do get together as a team. They do a lot of good. Do they make mistakes. Of course. Everybody does. But they do a helluva lot more good than they make mistakes. If some of these people, whether on the Internet actually took the time to investigate, the criticism would be about 85% off."

Mann told : "We have had a chance to discuss among ourselves our mutual concerns that none of us seem to have the time to devote for this thing deserves. It's easy to criticize other members about how they're proceeding with board business. Sadly, the same people who might make those criticisms, don't have the time. A guy like Steve Hirsch has so much on his plate. Michael Warner is first and foremost a printer; Steve Orenstein - we're all bogged down. It's one thing to go to one meeting a month. It's another ball of wax to devote some hours outside of the board meeting to effectuate a good change.

"I feel I've let the board and the Coalition, in general, down by not being able to follow through on many of the projects that I thought to do for the board. After three years I've lost my intensity, and my feeling of direction and purpose on the board."

What's really going is that Mann, Hirsch, Orenstein and Warner all feel that the FSC is a complete waste of their time and the organization is effectively dead.

Gloria Leonard and company have made numerous overtures to Russ Hampshire to bring him back on the board but it will be a cold day in hell before that happens. Russ is disgusted with the board, and with the FSC, particularly Leonard and Douglas.

Porn fans hope that VCA will now stop running those obnoxious FSC propaganda spots at the beginning of each tape.

In the Spring of 1998, AVN, VCA, and Vivid and Wicked and the FSC decided to push the use of condoms in response to porn's HIV outbreak. But overseas sales dropped immediately and now domestic sales are plummeting also.

Russ gives and gives to the industry which has responded often by telling him to take a hike. For years Hampshire functioned as an enabler with the screwed up FSC and Jeffrey Douglas. Betty Hampshire is particularly tired of Russ getting the shaft. Everybody always asking for money. Take, take, take, nobody wants to give.

Mike South writes Luke: IMHO the problem with the FSC is a total lack of any real sense of purpose. Nobody on the FSC gave a f--- about consumers or what they wanted, didn't even have a clue. There is no vision, so certainly there is no plan for getting anywhere. The FSC desperately needs to be more in touch with store owners and porn consumers and Mike Ross may be correct in that our industry might be better served by joining forces with gentlemens clubs. The FSC should also be more responsive to the needs of performers. You are correct if I were a member I would quit.

If I were made King I would probably push the following agenda:

1. Get rid of Douglas, as far as I can tell he is worthless.

2. I would strongly push for Mike Ross's participation in at least some capacity. he may whine or whatever but he is tireless and he is politically astute which is a damn site more than I can say for Kat Sunlove.

3. I would push strongly for retailer participation offering free legal help as an incentive, ditto for performer participation, performers would recieve free membership in exchange for a very modest amount of service to FSC.

4. I would probably rename it because of the poor image that the name conjures up thanks to prior ineptitude.

5. I would consider bringing in gentlemens club owners and taking advantage of lobbying efforts that could benefit both businesses as well each business singularly.

6. I would work with performers and manufacturers to set up a central repository for IDs and maybe even custodian of records.

7. I would consider setting up guidlines for content that would guarantee FSC resources in the event of an obscenity case being levied. ie an FSC seal of approval or something and if an approved video got hauled into court the FSC resources would be available to members free of charge to help fight the case.

8. I would take steps to insure that the consumer is protected as well by attempting to educate through PSA's on videos and in magazines. Poor duplication, cheap compilations and other plagues on this business could be gotten rid of altogether by simply educating the consumer. The net result would be to, hopefully, drive prices up along with demand.

9. Acting in a responsible manner is the best defense against those who would destroy us.

If the FSC wants respect it has to earn that respect and it has to do so by acting responsibly and in the best interest of the business as a whole. Passing condom regulations and similar feel good bullshit doesn't do a thing to help this business when it is common knowledge that it DOES hurt sales, both foreign and domestic. Good and inexpensive testing proceedures and education of performers is a far better answer. Most people in this business know nothing about how HIV is really transmitted and many consider other STD's to be nothing more than a minor annoyance. Honest education would solve many problems. I have more but it's late. If the FSC wants to know what job qualifications would make an appropriate member/director... try COMMON SENSE!

5/18/00

Moffitt Timlake writes GeneRoss.com: "Good evening Gene, Just wanted to weigh in on the pithy duel between Mike South and Mark Kernes. While I in no way condone or applaud Mike's tact, I do think the core of his rant is fairly on the mark. What truly substantive results have they (the FSC) produced?

Not counting that dizzyingly triumphant "just say boo to censorship" campaign, mind you. Despite Mark's valiant efforts to defend himself and the FSC, some key questions prevail: do the top executives at the FSC make absurdly high salaries? Why won't they make these salaries public like similar organizations do? Why were there so many defections by top level members such as VCA, VIVID, and Video Team? I appreciate the efforts of people who travel to those "lobbying days" in Sacramento, but I believe that Mike Ross is simply way more effective and produces the tangible results we all need. Ross' ensuing post after the whole South vs Kernes pissfest says it all- while Kernes falls back on the questionable laurels of some of the FSCs "accomplishments" (I believe Frank at IVD and Stagliano at Evil worked unilaterally with their own counsel in their effort to battle piracy, not in conjunction with the FSC), Mike Ross successfully deters an anti-adult cabaret ordinance, creates the Secondary Effects Handbook, and attains official Lobbyist status in D.C.

When faced with Gloria Leonard's elitist and pompous attitude, Kerne's lead-balloon defense of the FSC, and Mike South's antagonism, I think the obvious option is to back Mike Ross- the guy who gets results on a weekly basis.

Mike South writes GeneRoss.com: Mike South writes: "Ok Gene, now that I thoroughly trounced Kernes, who still has not come up with one thing the FSC has done..tell me Gene why does he always specifically DUCK the tax exempt issue? It's plain and simple they do not want the books opened, I know it, you know it, we all know it. Reckon what they are hiding?

Now lest you think that all I am capable of doing is pissing in the pool I would like to point out that in it's early stages I was critical of AIM, but AIM has certainly cleaned up their act. Disassociating themselves from Margold, Getting Tax Exempt status, they have made themselves into an organization that I can respect and support. Kudos go out to Mitch for her tireless efforts, and for talking to me and being honest. Same for Doc York. This organization deserves our support. Personally if I were Mitch I would not be thrilled about being mentioned along with the FSC.

Ok Im back to watching from the sidelines and doing my thing...Oh one last thing...I am going to be speaking with the Governer this weekend, Mark, and believe me the LAST thing on this earth I want is you morons undermining my efforts, and rest assured until you stop robbing the people in this industry I am going to continue to hold your little f---ing feet to the fire. Mike South, http://www.mikesouth.com

P.S.: While my email has been in universal support for my stand against the Free Speech Cabal I have been asked to elaborate on my suggestions. I guess that Kernes and the others don't have what it takes to figure it out so I am going to give them another little shove in the right direction. I suggested they educate and involve the performers, to which Kernes squealed about AIDs awareness and other nonsense that any 4th grader these days knows.

Let me be more specific. The performers are the front line of this business, particularly the high profile performers, they should know what the FSC is doing in terms of sponsoring legislation or repeal thereof and promoting resposibility, and they should be proud and instantly ready to do so.

The FSC should offer to prosecute any illegal piracy of our product free of charge in exchange for 50% or more of the civil judgement. I can and will give them store names addresses and phone numbers that they can begin work on tomorrow. Piracy is rampant in this business and it is too large for any one person to get a handle on. I for one would donate 100% of all such judgements .

The FSC should institute an FSC "Seal of Approval" and any store owner, producer, manufacturer or distributor who is an FSC member gets taken into local, state or federal court on a charge involving a tape bearing this seal will be defended free of charge by the FSC.

The FSC should become Tax Exempt, plain and simple. If the FSC wants lobbyists it should hire outside, registered persons to do so in compliance with the tax exempt status.

The FSC should sponsor legislation beneficial to this industry and sponsor repeal of legislation which is not. Example Sponsor a bill that makes California's child pornography laws the toughest in the nation at the same time rewrite that tangled mess of a sodomy code that California has essentially repealing it and incorporating relevant parts into the child abuse code.

Or maybe just flat out repeal the law against herding more than 2000 sheep down Hollywood Blvd. Who could argue with this? It removes restrictions on consenting adults, tightens child abuse and pornography laws, call it The Millennium Child Protection Act, no legislator would dare vote against that.

Ok there are a few things for you to get off of your lazy asses and actually WORK on. But I can hear them now squealing about how this isnt possible....yadayadayada. What would you all like to bet that the FSC one year from today is no different than the FSC today and one year before today and...... And it took me all of 20 minutes to sit down and jot down these ideas, imagine what great thinkers like Glorioski and Kernes should be able to come up with.

Oh yes one more thing...I was an FSC Member in July 1997 I know this for fact your books, if you actually keep them, will also bear me out. You should know what is coming Mark...I am FORMALLY requesting that the FSC open it's books to me and or my authorized agent for fiscal 1997, I want to see where my money went.


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