from http://www.xbiz.com/news/142122
Larry Flynt to Receive First-Ever ‘Industry Icon Award’ at 2012 XBIZ Awards Show
NL- So well deserved!
LOS ANGELES — Hustler founder Larry Flynt will be presented with the first-ever XBIZ "Industry Icon Award" by noted industry attorney Paul Cambria at the highly anticipated 10th annual XBIZ Awards Show on Jan. 10 at the legendary Barker Hangar in Los Angeles.
The once-in-a-decade "Industry Icon Award" honors those very rare individuals whose contributions have had the deepest positive impact on the adult entertainment industry.
Flynt exemplifies the spirit, global infamy both within and outside of the industry, and has set the bar for all who aspire to excellence.
Peers of the industry icon lauded Flynt’s outstanding contributions and his unrelenting courage.
Free Speech Coalition executive director Diane Duke said, “Larry Flynt is inspirational in his relentless protection of free expression. He is provocative, as he always pushes the envelope of what society deems appropriate, leaving a wake of people saying, ‘Did he really just do that?’ He has built an empire on tantalizing titillation. Icon? Hell, that’s an understatement!”
XBIZ President and publisher Alec Helmy agreed and commented that Flynt was without a doubt the first choice for this special inaugural XBIZ award.
“Few individuals ascend to the status of ‘icon’ in any industry, and it is with the utmost respect and gratitude that XBIZ bestows this honor on Larry Flynt, a true pioneer, visionary and relentless crusader for First Amendment rights. His incredible accomplishments and invaluable contributions in every area of the adult entertainment industry have made him not only a hero to those within adult, but also a larger-than-life global celebrity,” Helmy said.
Cambria, one of Flynt’s closest confidants and himself a crusader for civil liberties, also praised Flynt’s accomplishments.
“I have the pleasure of representing some of the most dedicated and accomplished people in the movie and publication industry and Larry stands out as one of the true believers in the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. He is dedicated, fearless and always at the forefront of defending our right to free expression and he is a leader in exposing the hypocrisy of government and religious leaders. His legal battles have served to establish a body of law important which advances free expression for all of us. His First Amendment balls wouldn’t fit in a dump truck,” Cambria said.
Commenting on the honor, Flynt said, “I am truly honored to be selected for the first XBIZ Icon Award. This is a dynamic industry and I have always been proud to be a part of it.”
It IS well deserved, Cindi, and Mr. Cambria’s point about Flynt’s courage and place in history is spot-on.
I’m glad at least one adult industry awards show got it right.
It was one of the greatest honors of my career to have created the video tribute to Mr. Flynt which preceded his receiving an award a few years ago, and I believe I’lm slated to provide the video lead-in to this presentation as well.
Oddly enough, I also did the lighting for the photo that accompanies this post.
Mr. Flynt is much more than just a part of this industry. Without his contributions and balls-out legal fight most of us would likely not be working in this fun business. There might not even be an industry. I am proud of my association with Hustler and LFP over the years as that is where I was offered a chance to get into production.
This Icon Award is most deserving by a man that has paid a tremendous price while giving the industry and fans so much. Kudos to XBiz for this as I hope everybody attends.
BTW: The People VS Larry Flynt movie should be mandatory viewing for everybody in this business especially the cute new girl that asked me if Mr. Flynt had been in a car accident.
Please Larry, drop a dime on more of these shitty politicians. Forget just porn, Larry’s done a lot for this country and free speech period.
Its good that he was the 1st person to win this award. There is no one else that has done so much for adult entertainment in America.
The vast majority of the people in power in porn seem to be all about making as much $$$ as they can while fucking over anyone and everyone to make their $$$.
They look at the talent as a comodity to be used and thrown away. Larry has always been in it for the long haul. Nice to see some folks realize and reward him for what he has done.