Legal

Last week three Free Speech Coalition (FSC) board members, Jeffrey Douglas, Jim Everett and Nellie Symm-Gruender joined me in our nation’s capital to visit legislative offices on Capital Hill.  Although everyone was very friendly, we were met with mixed reviews.  Legislative staff were eager to speak with us, curious and attentive yet cautious and apprehensive.  They told us that these kinds of visits go a long way in opening doors for communication.  They also told us that we have a long way to go before any legislator would go to bat for us. 

Nellie and Jim spoke of the benefits adult businesses bring to a community from employment opportunities to additional revenue for the tax base.  Jeffrey and I discussed the importance of involving representatives from the adult entertainment industry in discussions when developing legislation that impacts the industry.  We also offered access to the Free Speech Coalition as a resource for lawmakers. 

By the end of the day, it was obvious that legislators don’t have the support to back our industry.  They suggested that we keep meeting with people on the hill but I know we have more work to do.  We have to create an environment where it isn’t political suicide to be allied with the adult entertainment.   We are nearly a $13 billion industry.  That translates into an enormous consumer base.  In order to prevent the enemies of the industry from defining our future through damaging legislation, the responsibility is on us to activate our consumers—our base, our future.

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