Celebrate Free Speech Lobbying Days 2002 is the fifth annual trip to Sacramento, the California state capitol, made by the Free Speech Coalition under the auspices of Legislative Director Kat Sunlove. Two earlier excursions were organized by lobbyist Mike Ross. The general purpose of these trips is to discuss issues of free speech and expression with legislators. This year there was an added bonus.

The FSC was flying high off a Supreme Court victory in Ashcroft Vs. Free Speech Coalition, the "virtual" child porn case. This gave those of us who participated a great deal to talk about with the legislators.

But that was just the final leg of the journey. Training for the event began a couple of weeks earlier on April 4. About forty individuals attended the training in Van Nuys, California. More than two dozen went on to Sacramento on April 22 and 23.

To mention just a few of the fine folks involved in this year's lobbying effort, there was the aforementioned Kat Sunlove;

Danni Ashe of Danni's Hard Drive;

LaSara Firefox of the Church of All Worlds;

Dara Lynne Dahl of Spectator magazine;

Heth Mares and Dan Metcalf of Wicked Pictures;

Scott Tucker, President of the FSC;

Bill Lyon, Executive Director of the FSC;

Stripper / attorney Margo Rothman;

Mark Kernes of AVN magazine;

Mara Epstein of Private North America;

Larry Kaplan of the Association of Club Executives (ACE);

First Amendment lawyers Jeffrey Douglas and Al Gelbard;

Activist James Weiser;

And porn personalities Nina Hartley, Julie Meadows , Mike Horner, Devinn Lane, Ted - The Male One, Syndee Steele and Dave Cummings.

We did two days of training, one day in Van Nuys, one in Sacramento. During the evening of the first day of training we attended a General Meeting of the Free Speech Coalition. Our training resumed on the 22nd in Sacramento, and on the 23rd we held a press conference on the lawn in front of the Capitol building. After that it was time to divide into groups of three and four and go off to our scheduled meetings with the legislators.

My group consisted of Jeffrey Douglas (team captain), Nina Hartley and Ted - The Male One. As Jeffrey was fully acquainted with the Ashcroft Vs. FSC case, he did a good deal of the speaking.

This was a most important issue as much of what was reported in mainstream media was not as clear as it could have been. Basically FSC challenged only two clauses of the CPPA (Child Pornography Prevention Act). Specifically challenged were the terms "appears to be" and "gives the appearance of"; these terms, applied to depictions of adults in movies, art, advertising, television and other media, criminalized the portrayal of children by adults if the characters portrayed by the adults "appeared to be" or "gave the impression of" being under the age of eighteen years and were engaged in actual or simulated sexual activity. This meant that movies such as Midnight Cowboy, Fast Times At Ridgemont High and Y Tu Mama Tambien were child pornography under the law though no children were engaged in sexual activity in them. Fortunately and surprisingly, the Free Speech Coalition prevailed in their argument and the Supreme Court voted 6 to 3 in favor of free speech.

All of our meetings went well, with many of the legislators and/or their aides showing interest and support for our position. In the late afternoon we regrouped at our hotel. Then it was time to say our farewells.

I headed to the airport and arrived in time to catch an earlier flight back to Los Angeles. Then, my new flight was delayed, so I managed to save only a few minutes on my flying time. Oh well that's the way it goes sometime.

On a personal note (And when in the past twenty years or so has anything I've written not been personal?) one of the joys for me of this annual excursion is getting to spend time with friends. There isn't much free time but there's enough. It's nice to catch up on what's been happening in the lives of people I care about even if I don't see those people very often. Not just those who are far away, but even those who live locally who, because of our busy schedules, never seem to have as much time as we'd like to spend a few quiet moments together. So this is a time for me to spend a little time with people I care bout. That's always a good thing.

I like politics. It's a wonderful expression of how people can learn to peacefully, is somewhat tenuously, co-exist. It's the second best field of endeavor for changing the world, for making it a better place for all to live. FSC did that with the Ashcroft Vs. Free Speech Coalition case. Hey, guess what? Our system of law and government actually worked!

But there's another arena, one I think that's a bit more suited to my temperaments and tastes, for changing the world. And that's the realm of the creative. The ideas and philosophies that permeate society and infuse the minds and spirits of those who write the laws by which we live come from there. This realm of imagination and ideas is the field in which all others play. Shaping thought is more my style than shaping practice. But politics certainly is fun every once in a while.

The annual lobbying event is wonderful. I truly enjoy participating in it, and that's the same feeling I get from others who do. I don't know if we'll have as important a free speech issue as the CPPA next year, but whatever happens, I'm sure it will be as exciting and rewarding as the previous years' experiences have been.

Text and photos copyright © 2002
Taliesin the Bard. All Rights Reserved.

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Maybe it's the checks and balances built into the system; maybe it's the pressure the legislators feel from constituents on (seemingly) all sides of the issues.  We want this, we want that.  I don't go to Sacramento with the Free Speech Coalition to lobby for what I want.  I go there to remind the lawmakers what the First Citizens (Founding Fathers, too sexist a term, hence my First Citizens.) of this great nation wanted, what they declared the law of this land should be. If the good ol' US of A is founded upon any principle it is that speech and expression should not be restricted.  I'm there to see that the lawmakers remember that fact.

Celebrate Free Speech Lobbying Days 2001 is the fourth in a series of annual trips to Sacramento, the California state capitol, made by members of the Free Speech Coalition, as well as others who join together in support of freedom of speech and expression.  FSC, originally organized by the adult movie industry in California, now serves as a watchdog on First Amendment issues.

About two dozen individuals representing a variety of interests were on hand for this year's event. Notable names attending included LaSara Firefox of the Church of All Worlds; Dara Lynne Dahl of Spectator magazine; Scott Tucker, President of the FSC; Bill Lyon , Executive Director of the FSC; Mark Kernes of AVN magazine; Francia Hinrichs of Topco Sales; Mara Epstein of Private North America; Larry Kaplan of the Association of Club Executives (ACE); Performance Artist Annie Sprinkle; First Amendment attorney Al Gelbard ; activist James Weiser ; porn personalities Nina Hartley, Lauren Montgomery , Shayla LaVeaux and Dave Cummings ; and, of course, lobbyist Kat Sunlove who puts the whole thing together.  Many other behind-the-scenes folks also participated, and though their names are not well-known to the general public their contribution is invaluable.  Though diverse in nature, temperament and ideology, all stood up proudly for the right of free speech and expression.

The event was held May 6 through 8.  For me it began a day early.  I flew into Sacramento on Saturday May 5 (Happy Cinco de Mayo!).  My plan was to get a lot of rest and sleep before the hectic pace of the lobbying training began.  That's always my plan before such big events, and this year, surprisingly, I was able to do so.  When the event began, I was ready.  The flight had been pleasant, surprisingly so; we took off and landed on time, and safely.  I shared a shuttle from the airport to the hotel with an interesting group of individuals including a retired fire chief who was in Sacramento to pick up a new fire truck that he would then drive to Los Angeles.  He had interesting tales to tell of his experiences as a firefighter, and I learned that the cost of  single fire truck can be up to seven-hundred thousand dollars. You never know when knowing something like the cost of a fire truck can be useful, like when, for example, you're trying to fill up space for an article you're writing, but I'm really much more professional than that and would never put something in an article just to fill up space. Seriously, friends, firefighters do an incredible job, and save lives every day.  I was in a restaurant one time in which a fire broke out in the kitchen.  It was not a big fire but it was a scary fire. (Any unplanned, uncontrolled fire is scary.)  Everyone got out of the building safely and the firefighters had the situation under control in short order.

There were supposed to be a few other early arrivals, but failing to find any familiar faces around the hotel that night I turned in early.  Sunday morning I was ready to begin.  The only problem, so far, was a minor one.  The light in the bathroom of my hotel room wasn't working.  I put in a call to the the Front Desk to get the light repaired, and headed out to begin the day.  Annie Sprinkle was the first familiar face I saw.  She and I used to be neighbors in New York City many, many years ago.  We rarely get to see each other, and it had been many months since last we spoke.  We caught each other up on what had been happening in our lives and then headed off to the Celebrity Reception that kicked off the lobbying event. (It's nice to be a celebrity -- if only a minor one -- at such events, talking with fans, posing for pictures, and, at an event like CFSLD, (hopefully) motivating some to become involved in the political process.

The Panel Discussion titled "The Flesh, The Spirit and The First Amendment" began at 4 PM.  The panel was moderated by Dr. Larry Meredith, author of "Life Before Death". The panelists were ACLU lobbyist Francisco Lobaco, lobbyist with Rose & Kindall lobbying firm Carl London, radio personality Greg Edmonds, legislative analyst Jerry McGuire, Bill Lyon and Nina Hartley.  The discussion was lively and informative and we were all in good spirits when we broke for dinner.

After our meal we were handed our "homework".  Lots of material to study to prepare us for our Monday training and for our Tuesday meetings with the legislators.  We adjourned for the evening.

Back in my room I discover that the bathroom light still isn't working.  Another call to the Front Desk, a little less polite than the first, follows.  Maintenance will call me, the Front Desk voice says, to let me know what's happening regarding the light.  I have a roommate for the night, one of the names you do not know.  He's also volunteered his time and talent to help fight for the cause.  I let him know to expect a call from Maintenance, then I hop in the shower.  With the bathroom door open there's enough light to see what I'm doing.

As I'm dressing to go out there's a knock on the door.  It's Manuel from Maintenance looking harried and stressed.  Manuel or Jose or Juan, whatever his name, he's one of the grunts, one of the faceless ones who do the shit work that keeps the rest of us happy.  The poor man is almost out of breath.  He's apologetic, almost subservient.  He's been ordered by the Front Desk to see me and has literally run all the way.  Apparently he's been given the impression that I'm some tyrant and that my unhappiness is his fault.  I try to set him at ease; all I want is the light fixed.  He's even more apologetic when he tells me that the hotel doesn't have in stock the part needed to fix the light.  But he has an idea.  What if he brings a lamp for the bathroom?  Fine, I say, all I want is a light.  He seems quite relieved as he goes off to get the lamp.  I also go out.  My roommate has stayed in, and when I return he informs me the Manuel hasn't brought the lamp.  But there's a knock on the door. It's the harried, overworked, under appreciated Manuel.  He sets up the light in the bathroom and is off to solve another problem from another bossy guest.  Clearly from the way he behaved Manuel has not been treated well by other guests. 

I'm reminded by this of how many people -- including sex workers like those in our group -- are also looked down upon by much of society and also of how much progress we have made in standing up for our rights.  There's still a long way to go but at least we are getting people to listen to more, though not yet all, sides of the issues.  The work of blue collar workers such as Manuel has great value but so does the work of red collar workers such as Nina Hartley. By protecting the right of free speech, we ensure that every voice gets to be heard. And if the United States of America is about anything, it is about the right of every voice to be heard.

Monday seemed like a continuation of Sunday as we lobbyists-in-training regrouped and resumed our training.  We studied how bills are proposed and how they move from committee to committee before either being rejected or becoming law, and what can be done about them along the way.  We analyzed some sample bills and practiced for our meetings with the legislators.

We got a bit of a break from our training that evening in the form of a little party at a local nightspot near the Capitol building.  A few of the legislators and their staffers also attended and we had good food, good music, good camaraderie.

Tuesday morning the real work began.

After breakfast we shuttled to the Capitol where we broke into groups of two and three for our scheduled meetings with various legislators and their aides.  James, Francia and I were a group with James serving as team leader.  We had about eight appointments on our list and four or five 'drop ins'.  These were unscheduled visits, and for the most part went as well as the scheduled appointments.  Some of the legislators and staffers remembered us from previous visits, and that gave me a good feeling.  In addition to speaking to the legislators about our concern for the protection of free speech and expression we distributed the FSC's "White Paper 2001" that provides information about adult entertainment and a report titled "The Myth of Secondary Effects" by Mark Kernes that debunks the notion that adult business cause harm to communities in which they are located.  In fact, the opposite has proven to be true.

It's a long, tiring but exciting day and our groups meet with close to a hundred legislators and/or their aides.  All in all a great success.

We relax at the hotel for a while afterwards and then begin heading home.  The last flight out that night from Sacramento to Burbank has a happy group of people on board.  Nina, Shayla, Lauren, James, Mark, Al and I are all on the same flight as is LA Times reporter Ralph Frammolino who covered the lobbying event.  It's a quiet flight through the night sky, and we touch down safely and on time.

I'm glad to be home and in my own bed, but my mind is already thinking to next year.  What's going to happen in that time?  Where will we be then? 

There are still many more battles to be fought.

Text and photos copyright © 2001
Taliesin the Bard. All Rights Reserved.

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The gang's all here; the Free Speech Coalition and friends gather in Sacramento.
 
 
 
 

LaSara Firefox of 
Church of All Worlds.
 
 
 
 

Performance artist 
Annie Sprinkle.
 
 
 
 

Actor Dave Cummings and
lobbyist Kat Sunlove. 
 
 
 
 

Business woman Francia Hinrichs and actress 
Shayla LaVeaux.
 
 
 
 

Erotic performer 
Lauren Montgomery.
 
 
 
 

AVN magazine writer/editor 
Mark Kernes.
 
 
 
 

Dave Cummings, 
Lauren Montgomery 
and Taliesin the Bard.
 
 
 
 

Shayla LaVeaux and husband James Weiser.
 
 
 
 

Porn superstar 
Nina Hartley.