PALO ALTO, Calif. - Adult filmmaker Michael Lucas drew a crowd of about 50 students for a candid, reportedly lively discussion at Stanford University on Thursday evening. During "An Evening with Michael Lucas," organized by the Associated Students of Stanford University Speakers Bureau, Lucas discussed the adult industry and sexual health in the age of AIDS and responded to accusations that his views about race, culture and religion tend toward the intolerant end of the spectrum.
Lucas very candidly admitted that although sex without condoms is "much more pleasurable," he insists performers wear condoms in his productions.
"I have always preferred to make less money and send the right message," he told the audience. "Seeing beautiful men enjoying each other while using condoms makes [viewers] think."
He also said despite "having sex more often and with more partners than most people" during his 12 years in the adult entertainment industry, he attributes his HIV-negative status to scrupulous condom usage.
Lucas also addressed questions about pornography's role in society.
"I think it can only serve very good purposes, such as sexual education," he said. "In general, porn saves people from lots of trouble. It's good for the economy. Very often, when you are on a business trip, you don't have time to run out to the bar and bring someone to a hotel room, so in that way pornography can be very handy."
According to campus newspaper The Stanford Daily, prior to the event some students had expressed concern about Lucas' anti-Muslim sentiments. He addressed those, as well.
"What's the point to respect [Muslim] culture, or supposed culture, when they have a strong contempt for mine?" he asked the audience. "I have a problem with people separating terrorists from the world that breeds them, from the world that originates them, which is the world of Islam.
"I don't generalize - a fact is a fact," Lucas continued in response to audience criticism that his remarks were biased. "I am definitely not a racist if I'm telling you the truth. The Muslim community is much more homophobic than the black community, the black community is much more homophobic than the white community - and there are reasons for that."
Students seemed to have a mixed response to Lucas's presentation. The former director of the campus' Sexual Health Peer Resource Center said he agreed with Lucas' sexual health messages but was disappointed by his approach to matters of race, culture and religion.
An ASSU Speakers Bureau spokesperson said the event was not what the bureau expected, but it was not the group's place to manage speakers' presentations.
"We thought [the presentation] would be a lot more about safe sex and AIDS prevention, but obviously the Speakers Bureau can't censor the people we bring to speak," director Meera Venu said.
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