LOS ANGELES — First Amendment lawyer and Free Speech Coalition (FSC) Board of Directors Executive Committee member Reed Lee has passed away at the age of 68.
Lee, a former president and current officer of the First Amendment Lawyers Association (FALA), had served on the FSC Board since 2002, serving as chair of the Legal Committee as well as on the Executive Committee.
"I write with tears in my eyes," said FSC Board Chair Jeffrey Douglas in a letter to FALA. "Our brother and friend, Reed Lee, died of an apparent heart attack. He was hospitalized on Christmas.
"I had the privilege of serving on the Free Speech Coalition Board of Directors for over 20 years," Douglas continued. "I traveled with him; together, we drafted policy papers, by-laws, pleadings and analyses of regulations and statutes; sat through countless hours of committee and board meetings; went to out-of-the-ordinary establishments in the variety of places FALA and FSC have taken us. We managed the numerous FSC statutory challenges handled by many of the great lawyers in this organization."
Longtime friend and former FSC Board member Colin Rowntree added, "I became close friends with Reed Lee almost 30 years ago, in the adult industry, working with the Free Speech Coalition, and several other advocacy projects over the years. One of my favorite memories with Reed was working with him to prevent the .XXX domain from being allowed by ICANN because we felt that it was a corrupt system that was going to ghettoize the porn industry. Unfortunately, we lost, but we did fight the good fight. Reed and I spoke once a week on the phone for a legal opinion, and, in payment, I would listen to him speak about a Supreme Court case for upwards of an hour and a half. I learned more from those calls about the legal system than I ever did from anywhere else in my entire life.
"As what we would jokingly refer to as the 'Porn Illuminati,' we will all miss Reed, and I personally will miss his headshot (above), which I always felt made him look a lot like Allen Ginsberg."
The Free Speech Coalition released a statement Tuesday night:
With great sadness, the Free Speech Coalition announces the loss of our brother and friend, Reed Lee, on December 26, 2023. Reed served on FSC’s Board of Directors for over twenty years after first becoming acquainted with the organization at the 1998 World Pornography Conference.
Reed was exceedingly dedicated to the Free Speech Coalition, gladly devoting his limited time and boundless analytical ability to defending the adult industry’s rights and freedoms from government obstruction and censorship. His fierce intellect, astounding command of the law, and deep passion for the First Amendment made him a natural choice to chair both the FSC Legal and Legislative Committees. In those roles, he not only led the drafting of policy papers, pleadings and analyses, but also managed numerous FSC statutory challenges, including its current battle against unconstitutional age verification mandates.
Those who served with him on the FSC Board knew Reed as a deep and critical thinker who loved a spirited debate. He admired the great civil rights icon Bayard Rustin and committed his life and actions to fighting for labor rights, the democratic process, and free expression. He was a person of immense integrity who lived his life in concordance with his principles in every possible way.
For those and many other reasons, the staff and Board of the Free Speech Coalition are heartbroken and mourn his passing with profound sorrow.
"Everyone at FSC is completely devastated by this sudden and incomprehensible loss," added FSC Executive Director Alison Boden. "Reed's inimitable brilliance, fundamental kindness, and total dedication to the causes he believed in leave an enormous hole in our hearts."
Added XBIZ Publisher and FSC Board Member Alec Helmy, "Reed was a man of tremendous conviction, someone who tirelessly fought for what he believed in. His extraordinary dedication to the FSC contributed immensely to its foundation and numerous pursuits for the betterment of the adult industry. In many ways, Reed was the unsung hero of the FSC. I hope we have the opportunity to commemorate him in the new year."
Longtime friend and former FSC board member Mark Schecter, owner of ATMLA, said, "I am heartbroken hearing of Reed's passing. I had the pleasure to get to know Reed while serving as a Board Director for the Free Speech Coalition from 2014-2020. A brilliant man who dedicated his time, energy and vast knowledge for over 20 years benefitting our industry, fighting our constant legal battles and challenges. I will always remember our one-on-one discussions, admiring his ingenious thought process. RIP Reed."
Lee is survived by his life partner, Claudia Halloran. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at a future date.