Dear Kinky, BDSM & Leather Friends,
i am deeply disturbed and alarmed by our government's recent crackdown on websites containing BDSM content. The most recent news? US Law Code 18/Section 2257 has now hit our bdsm/leather community online. This morning, tribe.net sent a letter to all its members, stating:
"...We’re implementing Community Flagging…'We’re going to allow (other) members to flag content (photos and listings) for removal…'that are offensive in nature. Posting content that portrays obscenity, pornography, or sexually explicit conduct is for practical purposes illegal for members like ours under U.S. federal law.”
====================
Keep in mind - tribe.net members can flag as "offensive" any photo, event listing or even a discussion thread! Does this seem ridiculous? Perhaps. But tribe.net is only responding to the U.S. Government crackdown on ANY website that contains sexually explicit content.
To read the actual law, US Code 18 Section 2257 go to:
caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/caseco...57.html
This law was originally created to crack down on child pornography. But the recent change in the law has set the US government upon us -- consenting adults. There can be NO MORE denial. The far right in America had to pick a new target, and WE, my leather and kinky friends, are it.
In His recent address at the Together in Leather Conference in Charlotte NC, Master Steve Sampson said, "The far right has lost the war against gays and lesbians. The new "beat 'em up and feel righteous" target is the SM community – WE ARE the new gays. With current legislation, the possibility of a witch hunt designed to hurt and destroy SM websites and activities is very real."
Friends, this government crackdown was originally about child pornography. But they’ve found a way to use it against consenting adults. They are arresting and prosecuting owners of websites whose content includes sado-masochistic pictures AND websites with BDSM content in WORD only! In response, several website owners have decided to close down.
• Our own beloved MIDORI has removed her website, BeautyBound.com, citing fear of obscenity prosecution.
• The owner of three SM websites, known as GRANDPA DESADE, removed his websites from the Internet.
• SUICIDEGIRLS.COM announced they are self-censoring their materials over concerns about a possible obscenity crackdown
• The popular INSEX.COM has left America, is being run in another country, and has taken down all prior content
• An extension was made last month week, delaying enforcement of 2257 that some GAY MALE CRUISING WEBSITES say are threatening the use of nude photos, a staple of their popularity.
• And now, with TRIBE.NET changing what content they will allow, 2257 has reached our community's informational and educational resource sites.
Even website owners with NO bdsm pictures are being arrested. The erotic fiction website RED ROSE STORIES is facing obscenity charges after federal agents raided the owner's home on October 3rd, taking computer equipment and diskettes that contained all of their files and site information.
In His speech, Master Steve Sampson continued, "But we do have a voice and a choice. Our way of life is being threatened and we have to act now to protect it."
Throughout all this 2257 craziness, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) has remained hard at work on our behalf, working on obscenity cases that are before the United States District Courts, Appeal Courts and US Supreme Court www.ncsfreedom.org/news/2005/
This fight takes money and the time to take action is NOW. Please, i urge each and every one of us who is into bdsm, kink, fetishes and/or the leather lifestyle to take the time to join the NCSF, either as individuals or groups. Individual membership is $25.00 and for groups is $100. More details can be found on the NCSF's website at www.ncsfreedom.org
i do NOT work for the NCSF. i am just a kinky leather girl who is appalled and disgusted with our government's right-wing, closed-minded prudish attitude towards CONSENSUAL alternative sexual lifestyles.
Right now they're only coming after our websites. What's next? The closure of our bdsm and leather yahoo groups? Our dungeon spaces? Our leather bars? Please, don't buy into the saying "that would never happen in America." If we don’t stand up now, we will be putting the red carpet out for history to repeat itself. And let’s not fool ourselves. Our toes are already on that carpet...First it was adult porn producers. Then bdsm porn sites. Then online erotica sites. Then Pro-Domme sites. Then gay dating sites. Now our online communities. What’s next?
Please, will you join me in joining the NCSF now?
In loving service,
slavegirl debbie
PR Director, Southwest Leather Conference
Outreach Coordinator, L.A. Leather Coalition
Founder, L.A. Females United in Kink
Program Coordinator, Lair de Sade
For more discussion about this subject, feel free to join this new tribe i was asked to create: tribes.tribe.net/2257
======================
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom is a national organization committed to creating a political, legal, and social environment in the United States that advances equal
rights of consenting adults who practice forms of alternative sexual expression. NCSF is primarily focused on the rights of consenting adults in the SM-leather-fetish, swing, and polyamory communities, who often face discrimination because of their sexual expression.
National Coalition for Sexual Freedom
822 Guilford Avenue, Box 127
Baltimore, MD 21202-3707
410-539-4824
www.ncsfreedom.org
Please cross post and e-mail at will.
i am deeply disturbed and alarmed by our government's recent crackdown on websites containing BDSM content. The most recent news? US Law Code 18/Section 2257 has now hit our bdsm/leather community online. This morning, tribe.net sent a letter to all its members, stating:
"...We’re implementing Community Flagging…'We’re going to allow (other) members to flag content (photos and listings) for removal…'that are offensive in nature. Posting content that portrays obscenity, pornography, or sexually explicit conduct is for practical purposes illegal for members like ours under U.S. federal law.”
====================
Keep in mind - tribe.net members can flag as "offensive" any photo, event listing or even a discussion thread! Does this seem ridiculous? Perhaps. But tribe.net is only responding to the U.S. Government crackdown on ANY website that contains sexually explicit content.
To read the actual law, US Code 18 Section 2257 go to:
caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/caseco...57.html
This law was originally created to crack down on child pornography. But the recent change in the law has set the US government upon us -- consenting adults. There can be NO MORE denial. The far right in America had to pick a new target, and WE, my leather and kinky friends, are it.
In His recent address at the Together in Leather Conference in Charlotte NC, Master Steve Sampson said, "The far right has lost the war against gays and lesbians. The new "beat 'em up and feel righteous" target is the SM community – WE ARE the new gays. With current legislation, the possibility of a witch hunt designed to hurt and destroy SM websites and activities is very real."
Friends, this government crackdown was originally about child pornography. But they’ve found a way to use it against consenting adults. They are arresting and prosecuting owners of websites whose content includes sado-masochistic pictures AND websites with BDSM content in WORD only! In response, several website owners have decided to close down.
• Our own beloved MIDORI has removed her website, BeautyBound.com, citing fear of obscenity prosecution.
• The owner of three SM websites, known as GRANDPA DESADE, removed his websites from the Internet.
• SUICIDEGIRLS.COM announced they are self-censoring their materials over concerns about a possible obscenity crackdown
• The popular INSEX.COM has left America, is being run in another country, and has taken down all prior content
• An extension was made last month week, delaying enforcement of 2257 that some GAY MALE CRUISING WEBSITES say are threatening the use of nude photos, a staple of their popularity.
• And now, with TRIBE.NET changing what content they will allow, 2257 has reached our community's informational and educational resource sites.
Even website owners with NO bdsm pictures are being arrested. The erotic fiction website RED ROSE STORIES is facing obscenity charges after federal agents raided the owner's home on October 3rd, taking computer equipment and diskettes that contained all of their files and site information.
In His speech, Master Steve Sampson continued, "But we do have a voice and a choice. Our way of life is being threatened and we have to act now to protect it."
Throughout all this 2257 craziness, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) has remained hard at work on our behalf, working on obscenity cases that are before the United States District Courts, Appeal Courts and US Supreme Court www.ncsfreedom.org/news/2005/
This fight takes money and the time to take action is NOW. Please, i urge each and every one of us who is into bdsm, kink, fetishes and/or the leather lifestyle to take the time to join the NCSF, either as individuals or groups. Individual membership is $25.00 and for groups is $100. More details can be found on the NCSF's website at www.ncsfreedom.org
i do NOT work for the NCSF. i am just a kinky leather girl who is appalled and disgusted with our government's right-wing, closed-minded prudish attitude towards CONSENSUAL alternative sexual lifestyles.
Right now they're only coming after our websites. What's next? The closure of our bdsm and leather yahoo groups? Our dungeon spaces? Our leather bars? Please, don't buy into the saying "that would never happen in America." If we don’t stand up now, we will be putting the red carpet out for history to repeat itself. And let’s not fool ourselves. Our toes are already on that carpet...First it was adult porn producers. Then bdsm porn sites. Then online erotica sites. Then Pro-Domme sites. Then gay dating sites. Now our online communities. What’s next?
Please, will you join me in joining the NCSF now?
In loving service,
slavegirl debbie
PR Director, Southwest Leather Conference
Outreach Coordinator, L.A. Leather Coalition
Founder, L.A. Females United in Kink
Program Coordinator, Lair de Sade
For more discussion about this subject, feel free to join this new tribe i was asked to create: tribes.tribe.net/2257
======================
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom is a national organization committed to creating a political, legal, and social environment in the United States that advances equal
rights of consenting adults who practice forms of alternative sexual expression. NCSF is primarily focused on the rights of consenting adults in the SM-leather-fetish, swing, and polyamory communities, who often face discrimination because of their sexual expression.
National Coalition for Sexual Freedom
822 Guilford Avenue, Box 127
Baltimore, MD 21202-3707
410-539-4824
www.ncsfreedom.org
Please cross post and e-mail at will.
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Los Angeles
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