Arrow Productions and Deep Throat Digital celebrate the history of sex with an online auction for limited edition original adult film posters from the 1970s era.

After uncovering a small cache of sexual history artifacts, Arrow Productions called upon its sales and licensing arm Deep Throat Digital to bring the artwork to market. Pieces include original artwork from “California Gigolo,” two Gail Palmer films and more. The films capture the popularity of the legendary “Johnny Wadd” actor John C Holmes.

The posters, which were intentionally more ‘tame’ in flavor than their X-rated movie subject matter, used to hang with pride in the glassed-in marquees of the adult walk-in movie theaters that dotted busy streets in major cities across the USA and abroad.

Four of these limited edition poster art pieces have been professionally framed and prepared for the public Internet auction, which launched this morning, Thursday Jan 3, 2013, and will run for ten days, ending Sunday, Jan 13, 2013, at 11pm, EST.

For the gentleman or alpha superstar who has everything for their man cave, we invite you to have a look and consider owning a piece of sexual and free speech history in the form of art that can look smashing, even above the perfect couch or easy chairs.

In terms of the shopping environment for this rare collection, the Auctionopia platform was chosen based upon its unique web auction environment, which includes built-in social media sharing and instant messaging tools, as well as its use of PayPal for the financial security of all parties involved in high value internet purchases.

A portion of the net auction proceeds from each piece will be donated to Free Speech Coalition.

To view items for sale and place a bid, visit AdultMoviePosters.com.

For more information about the Deep Throat movies, other Arrow Productions films, vintage content licensing and brand licensing opportunities, as well as your own historical sexual artifact auctions email posters@deepthroatdigital.com or visit DeepThroatDigital.com.

The Free Speech Coalition has sent ballots to members for election of its 2013-2014 Board of Directors on Thursday, December 27th.

Ballots were sent electronically to current FSC members who had joined by December 11^th, close of nominations and the record date set by the FSC Board of Directors. The ballots were sent via e-mail survey through Zoomerang-SurveyMonkey. In addition, FSC posted the bios of Board candidates on the FSC blog.

Incumbents up for re-election include Board Chair and adult industry attorney Jeffrey Douglas, Board President and owner of AAA News Sid Grief, Board Secretary and Senior Editor for AVN Mark Kernes, Board Treasurer and Sales Manager for Pipedream Products Lynn Swanson, Founder and CEO of Kink.com Peter Acworth, Sales and Marketing Director for Maia Toys Mara Epstein, Founder and President of XBIZ Alec Helmy, President of Good Vibrations Joel Kaminsky, and adult industry attorney Reed Lee.

Non-incumbents running for the Board include: VP Production & Licensing for Vivid Entertainment Marci Hirsch, adult industry performer Amber Lynn, Vice President for Girlfriends Films Moose, Co-owner of Porn Guardian Peter Phinney, and adult producer, director and photographer Mo Reese.

FSC members may vote for nine seats available in this year’s election, from the field of 14 candidates.

“If you are a Free Speech Coalition Member as of December 11, 2012 and you haven’t received a ballot, call our office today a (818) 348-9373, or email me at diane@freespeechcoalition.com,” said Diane Duke Free Speech Coalition CEO. “It is important to make sure we have current information to allow all of our members to participate in the election process.”

Elections close Thursday, January 10^th at midnight.

The following list includes all candidates for the upcoming 2012 FSC Board of Directors election to be held this month. Only active FSC membersmay vote in the election; electronic ballots will be sent by online survey service Survey Monkey-Zoomerang.

FSC members may vote for nine seats available in this year’s election, from the field of 13 candidates. First-time candidates include Vivid Entertainment’s Marci Hirsch, veteran performer Amber Lynn, Madness Pictures’ Mo Reese, and Porn Guardian’s Peter Phinney.

If you are an active FSC member and DO NOT receive your electronic ballot by Dec 27, please contact the FSC office at (818) 348-9373 or email joanne@freespeechcoaliton.com.

If you are interested in information about the election, please use the same contact information.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE! This is an opportunity for active FSC members to choose those who will represent the FSC and the adult industry’s business & legal interests for the coming year. Thank you.

In alphabetical order by last name (* indicates incumbent status)

Peter Ackworth*

BIO

Peter Acworth was born and raised in rural England. While pursuing a doctorate in Finance at Columbia Business School, Peter came across an article about the nascent online porn market and began Hogtied.com, a subscription site selling bondage pictures.

In 1997, after the success of Hogtied.com, Peter moved to San Francisco and founded Kink.com. From its headquarters in the San Francisco Armory, Kink now employs about 125 people and operates two dozen sites. Kink.com prides itself on producing high quality BDSM entertainment, and is currently investing in live and social networking products.

STATEMENT:

WHY I’M RUNNING

I’m running again to bring the perspective and voice of the producer to the table. Kink.com does production, post-production, and distribution under one roof; we work in concert with affiliates, models, developers and retailers — their concerns are our concerns. These are a few issues about of which I’m particularly passionate.

CONDOMS

Models deserve to have access to safe and sane working conditions.  But Measure B — and many of the Cal OSHA regulations — ignore both the ways in which the industry has worked to make this a reality, and the calamitous effects forced condoms will have on production and existing protocols. We cannot let a vocal minority force companies out of state and out of business. We need to be more forceful in reframing the debate in the media, and with the public.

APHSS DATABASE

I’m proud to have helped design the APHSS, the central database which protects both models health and privacy. APHSS lists only if a given model is available or not, but does not store a model’s personal information — such as ID or medical data.  If this database were to be compromised, there would be little damage to the models and no repeat of the Porn Wiki Leaks incident. During a second term, I’ll continue advocating for model rights and model privacy.

2257

The requirements of 2257 are overly cumbersome, and too vaguely written—and disproportionately effect certain producers.  For instance, a strict interpretation of 2257 means that we cannot admit an unpaid participant to one of our ‘community style’ shoots if they have an expired ID, or a foreign passport.  The 2257 requirements placed on secondary producers and companies involved in live programming make the law almost impossible to comply with.

OBSCENITY

Free speech should cover sexual speech. The government needs to get out of the business of criminalizing and censoring consensual sex between adults. If there are statutes, we deserve to know what they are, and how they apply. As it stands, obscenity laws are an arbitrary political tool. Why are some companies prosecuted and not others? An attack on one of us is an attack on each of us. As an FSC board member, I’ll continue to fight to make sure our rights as an industry are preserved.

Jeffrey Douglas*

BIO

Jeffrey Douglas is a Santa Monica criminal defense lawyer, representing all segments of the adult entertainment industry since 1982.  He has chaired the Board of Directors of the Free Speech Coalition for over 15 years. He is deeply committed to our trade association.  The opportunities and challenges of the next two years inspire him to work even harder for the growth and success of the adult trade.  A nationally recognized spokesperson for the adult entertainment industry, as well as an expert witness, Mr. Douglas appears regularly as a media commentator, and on invitation, has testified before Congress.

Mara Epstein*

BIO

Mara Epstein is with Maia Toys and a current FSC Board member.

STATEMENT:

“As a member of both Boards of the Adult Video Association and then the Free Speech Coalition for over a decade, I bring to the table an experienced knowledge of the adult industry and the problems facing it. I have also worked on the vanguard of each new technology as it has evolved.

Like most FSC and industry members, I have been a small business owner and independent consultant, so I understand the issues that affect small business people. I will work to develop resources and services that will benefit the many diverse businesses in different segments of the industry.

With nearly a quarter century of immersion in this business, I have, and always will, work to improve its impact on society. I believe I have made a difference and ask that you give me the opportunity to continue doing so.”

Sid Grief*

BIO

Sid Grief’s (aka Redrob) background includes 37 years of adult retailing in Texas including adult bookstores, video rental stores, newsstands, Internet websites, internet content sales and internet fulfillment operations.  His education includes a BBA with Highest Honors, with majors in Marketing and International Business and a BA with High Honors, with major in Asian Studies from the University of Texas. Sid was one of the original founders of First Amendment Coalition of Texas, which rose over $1 million for lobbying in Texas. Sid served on the PBAA’s Anti-censorship Committee, on the VSDA Adult Advisory Committee and two terms as a VSDA Chapter President. During Sid’s four terms on the FSC Board, he has served as President, Vice President and on the Legal, Internet and other committees.

STATEMENT:

“I think the FSC’s major challenges will be monetizing new technologies for our existing members, preventing ‘the cloud’ from becoming a piracy platform, securing the recognition of our intellectual property rights for content owners, and challenging restrictive legislation such as ‘Measure B’ in LA before it spreads to other communities.  Also, one of my goals is the development of new financial and political resources for the FSC to meet these challenges by means of expanding our membership base and political clout through the recruitment of new industry segments such as the hotel industry and the sale of individual memberships to our customer base.”

Alec Helmy*

BIO

Alec Helmy is the founder and president of XBIZ, a leading publisher of industry news and business information, providing up-to-the-minute coverage of the global market at XBIZ.com and in three trade publications — XBIZ World, XBIZ Premiere and XBIZ Sensuals. In addition, XBIZ produces five trade events, which culminate with the annual XBIZ Awards show in Los Angeles. XBIZ is frequently cited in mainstream media for coverage of the industry and has been published in CNN, Fox News, Newsweek, MSNBC, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, CNET, ABC, USA Today and The Los Angeles Times among others. One of the early pioneers of the online adult entertainment industry, Helmy is also the founder of ASACP and currently serves as a board member of the Free Speech Coalition.

STATEMENT:

The Free Speech Coalition serves a vital role in protecting the best interest of adult oriented businesses. Whether it be 2257, obscenity or zoning laws, you can count on the FSC to aggressively explore and pursue any and all avenues of relief. In my capacity as an active board member of the FSC, I intend to continue to provide close guidance and contribute to the organization’s objectives through both personal and company experience and resources.

Marci Hirsch

BIO

Marci Hirsch is VP Production & Licensing for Vivid Entertainment and is a tireless supporter of civil liberties causes, particularly on behalf of The Free Speech Coalition. Marci is a strong, behind-the-scenes senior executive, well known in the industry as someone who takes on big challenges and completes them successfully.  She is a veteran of adult entertainment, having worked with her father’s companies, AVC and its 8mm division Sunrise International, starting when she was 18. Her brother Steven Hirsch is the founder and co-chairman of Vivid and she joined him in the company in 1992 as a special projects manager. She took on increasing responsibilities and quickly focused on building relationships with Vivid’s clients as well as in production.  She has played an important role in helping Vivid become a global leader in adult entertainment and in winning more awards than any other single studio in the industry.

A native of Cleveland, Marci graduated from the University of Las Vegas.  She lives in the Los Angeles area and has two sons.

STATEMENT:

“We must all be on the alert to safeguard our Constitutional liberties and the freedoms that make America the great country that it is.  I am particularly passionate about our First Amendment rights. I believe that freedom of speech is the cornerstone upon which all of our laws rest.  That’s one reason I am so committed to the mission of the Free Speech Coalition and have worked actively to support its ‘No on Measure B’ campaign. I’ve worked to organize our industry to support the FSC, helped raise funds and organized events to gather leaders together — and I will continue to do so in the future.”

Joel Kaminsky*

BIO

Joel Kaminsky, 59, is president of Good Vibrations…a woman centric chain of retail stores and e-tailing business.  Joel is the father of 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren.

Growing up, Joel worked as a paperboy for two newspapers, cut lawns, shoveled snow, worked in a clothes factory, a rack jobber, and often in the adult distribution warehouse his brother Mel headed.  The latter job is one that exposed Joel to the adult marketplace, and provided income while between semesters and winter/spring breaks in the late 60’s and early 70’s.

After graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1976, he moved back to Cleveland to assist his family in handling his dying mother.  His brother Mel found him a temporary warehouse position, but an upper level manager moved him to the retail store division.  Before long, Joel was supervising stores in Cleveland and surrounding areas…and soon after was promoted to Pittsburgh, Pa. to run a larger retail operation.

In 1978, Joel was again promoted to San Diego to take over an ailing retail operation and open more stores for the headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.  In a matter of 5 years, Joel opened 9 stores, a discount magazine pack route, and an arcade vending machine operation.

In January of 1984, Joel was offered a district manager position in San Francisco, Ca. that would include running 16 stores.  Soon after, he was instrumental in the opening of dozens of more stores including Hawaii and Australia, and along with the CEO of Bay Management was the chief architect starting GVA-West, Sin City Video, and numerous other ventures.  Under his direction, which included a nearly two year stint running the operation without a CEO (prison sentence), the company grew from a few million annual revenue into the mid to high eight figure range and hundreds of employees.

In October of 2002, Joel moved to Cleveland, Ohio to assist family in a transitional time of business succession. His brother Mel was retiring and selling GVA-TWN to his daughter Rondee. Joel was offered a COO position there and the chance to work with family was enticing enough to come “home”. There, he assisted in running distribution, over 50 retail stores, opening new locations, publishing, a web division, and the purchasing of a video manufacturing business in LA.

In 2007, the company purchased the renowned woman-centric retailer Good Vibrations, which Joel went on to purchase solely from them in 2008.

Joel was instrumental in turning Good Vibration’s near bankrupt condition into one of solid general business health.  This led to his decision in ending his career at GVA-TWN and devoting full time attention to Good Vibrations at the beginning of 2010 as the president.

STATEMENT:

Joel was indicted in legal cases because of the industry he worked in and was a personal witness as a member of companies that were involved in some of the most significant cases of its time.  From this, he gained first hand knowledge and experience the “threat” the adult industry is cloaked under.  Additionally, he has been involved in zoning cases, has worked with cities on amending laws, has witnessed his family’s commitment to a long running 2257 battle.

Mark Kernes*

BIO

Mark Kernes is a senior editor and legal analyst for industry trade publication AVN.com and current FSC Board Secretary.

STATEMENT:

Certainly, one of the most important subjects the FSC Board can deal with over the next few years is making the public understand how fucked up the government and many social institutions are about sex and sexually-related subjects. And of course, the war has only intensified since I last wrote in this space. Both the City and County of Los Angeles have their versions of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation-sponsored ordinances which, in the first case, will force any adult company looking to shoot in the city to promise that the shoot will be all-condom, though the County’s Measure B is worse. I know because I actually studied the ordinance, and was the first person in the adult entertainment community to point out that that law requires not only condoms, but latex gloves, pussy-covering “dental dams,” Goggles, face shields and possibly a complete hazmat suit for people having sex on camera. I also thought up the idea of filming a fully-Measure-B-compliant sex scene, which anyone can now see on YouTube.

It’s that kind of activism you can expect from me on the FSC Board.

Reed Lee*

STATEMENT:

I have served five terms on the FSC Board. I now ask you, the members, for another because I believe that I offer the Board and the organization a background and perspective which remains valuable as the adult entertainment industry faces new and on-going threats to the freedoms upon which it depends.

Although the industry’s adversaries are not always of the traditional “culture wars” variety, they continue to present problems which need to be addressed in cultural, political, and sometimes legal terms. For this reason, I think that my organizing background, lobbying experience, and legal training have been and will continue to be helpful as the organization strives to represent and serve a dynamic but still controversial industry.

Although recent events have provided little time to breathe, we continue to envision and work toward an organization which can serve and defend the adult entertainment industry and its fans not only by promoting all aspects of adult commerce but also by making our society and our communities safe for those who want to enjoy their legitimate freedoms in peace.

I hope that you will allow me to continue to be a part of this work.

Amber Lynn

BIO

An adult superstar since the ‘80s, Amber Lynn (real name Laura Allen) is symbolic of a California born-and-bred, rockin’ wild child – blonde, bold and smokin’ hot. Ginger

and Amber were often known as “the Lynn sisters.” But the mark Amber would leave on the hearts of XXX fans, far and wide, would be indescribably her own.

Amber’s career is long and distinguished. She was already a bikini and figure model and involved in the raucous Sunset Strip club scene when she met Althea Flynt, the wife of iconic pornographer and Hustler founder Larry Flynt, and famed Hustler photographer Clive Mclean. Starting out in photo spreads for Hustler, Chic and Penthouse, Playboy, High Society and Club, Amber’s 1983 film debut is titled “Personal Touch III,” directed by Bobby Hollander.

After a few years in the movies, Amber then succeeded as one of the most famous feature dancers on the gentlemen’s club circuit and opened the doorway for adult performers to become headliners in cities all over the world. A hiatus from film work in the late 80’s saw her earning up to $25,000 a week in clubs from coast-to-coast and throughout Canada, performing to sell out crowds.

She has also survived tragedies and turbulent times. While many close friends and co-workers were affected by the scandal surrounding underage performer Traci Lords, Amber avoided involvement in the now-notorious circumstances. However, the suicide of fellow performer and friend Shauna Grant was the catalyst for a break from the adult industry in the late ‘80s. And like so many celebrities of the time, Lynn found herself involved in substance abuse. The limelight dimmed for a period, before Lynn entered rehab in 1999, and successfully put those issues to rest once and for all.

Amber also has the unique distinction of being the actual younger sister of another well-known male performer Buck Adams. Sadly, Adams died of heart failure in 2008.

Male performer and ‘70s icon Jamie Gillis had a onetime relationship with Amber after they met on the set of her second movie. Gillis passed away in 2010 after a short bout with cancer.

Clean and sober since 2000 Amber is a member of the AVN Hall of Fame, and the recipient of The FSC Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as Hot D’or Lifetime Achievement Award, and countless others.

Her most notable charity work in 1992, to benefit the Youth AIDS Foundation of Los Angeles set a new standard for acceptability of adult performers by the public and marked a first for nonprofit charities accepting contributions from the adult industry. At times when she has stepped away from her adult career, Amber has been a sober counselor working with world renowned interventionists on extremely high level cases, as well as a real estate broker.

Most recently, Amber was vocal in her opposition to the Los Angeles “Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry” initiative, or Measure B – an initiative to mandate condom and barrier protection use in adult films in L.A. County. Though she has been a “condom-only” performer throughout the latter part of her career, Amber recently performed a non-condom scene with U.K.-based performer Keiran Lee. The scene was meant, in part, to show her support for performer’s choice in regards to condom use, as well as support for industry self-regulation through frequent performer STI testing.

Loyal fans have followed Amber for nearly 30 years and she remains one of the most recognizable names in the adult industry.

STATEMENT:

Although I have been intimately involved with the Adult Entertainment Industry for over 30 years, it took the imposing impact of Measure B for me to realize just how little my performances have really mattered until I became active in the fight to defeat the constricting “condom-nation” of what I had essentially been taking for granted.

To that extent—with my passion to repay the business that has allowed me to become a formidable presence in the minds of millions of fans – I am humbly seeking to serve on The Free Speech Coalition’s Board of Directors.

With my on-going opportunities to deal with the public as a feature performer in adult clubs, I can provide a conduit between the public and the FSC, and in the process keep the organization abreast of what those who economically support our industry are looking for as well as what they are afraid of losing.

And as a highly respected actress, I would be honored to provide leadership within the talent circle, creating a series of meetings wherein the actors and actresses can express what they are looking for as well as what they are afraid of losing.

Peter Phinney

BIO

Peter Phinney has been fighting copyright infringement online since the earliest days of the Internet.  He formed Porn Guardian in 2009 with partner Dominic Ford, to work from inside the adult industry combating DVD bootlegging, tube site infringement, illegal peer-to-peer “sharing,” and cyberlocker distribution of stolen property.  The company has removed more than 4-million stolen video files using existing US law and international intellectual property treaties.  Phinney has spoken as an expert on content theft in London, Prague, Los Angeles, and Phoenix and he will deliver a keynote on piracy in January at Eurosonic Noorderslag, the International Independent Music Festival near Amsterdam.  Representing over 350 adult client brands across all content niches, Porn Guardian employs more than 35 people in 20 countries over 17 time zones to search for illegal content in 16 languages including Russian and Japanese.  The company works with several adult industry attorneys, providing pivotal evidence in recent successful high-profile prosecutions, even shutting down Oron.com in summer 2012.

STATEMENT:

Peter Phinney has been fighting copyright infringement online since the earliest days of the Internet.  He formed Porn Guardian in 2009 with partner Dominic Ford, to work from inside the adult industry combating DVD bootlegging, tube site infringement, illegal peer-to-peer “sharing,” and cyberlocker distribution of stolen property.  The company has removed more than 4-million stolen video files using existing US law and international intellectual property treaties.  Phinney has spoken as an expert on content theft in London, Prague, Los Angeles, and Phoenix and he will deliver a keynote on piracy in January at Eurosonic Noorderslag, the International Independent Music Festival near Amsterdam.  Representing over 350 adult client brands across all content niches, Porn Guardian employs more than 35 people in 20 countries over 17 time zones to search for illegal content in 16 languages including Russian and Japanese.  The company works with several adult industry attorneys, providing pivotal evidence in recent successful high-profile prosecutions, even shutting down Oron.com in summer 2012.

Mo Reese

BIO

Mo Reese is an adult content producer and photographer with an extensive and rich professional background. Mo, as he’s most commonly known, was born and raised in Oregon state. He moved to Los Angeles after graduating from the Art Institute of Seattle in 1997. He then worked in mainstream commercial photography for eight years before actively making the transition to adult.

Mo has since worked in a variety of production capacities for several noteworthy studios – as a Director, Producer, and General Manager for Madness Pictures; as a Production Manager for Adam & Eve; and as a PA for New Sensations and Wicked Pictures (among many others). Ever invested in the entire creative process, Mo has directed, edited, and performed in several award-nominated POV titles including Latin Mouth Club and Asian Mouth Club 5 and 6. And, though his skill set has diversified, Mo’s passion for photography has not fallen by the wayside – he has continued his work with the camera, shooting some of the industry’s top performers and hottest rising stars.

Fueled by his love of porn and politics, Mo has become a vocal activist for adult industry rights and welfare. He maintains: “I’m an average guy – I don’t have fame, I don’t run a big company, and I don’t have a political agenda. But I have built many close personal and business relationships over the years. I’m passionate about what I do, and I’m committed to helping make the industry a better place for everyone.”

Mo Reese – average guy, not so average job.

www.theaveragemo.com, Twitter: @MOXXX

STATEMENT:

When I first began contemplating running for a seat on the FSC’s Board of Directors, I was faced with a difficult question: what exactly did I have to offer?

I’m really just an average guy, one who cares immensely about the industry in which I work. I have a broad professional skill set, but I don’t specialize in any one thing. I talk about industry-relevant information with people throughout our community, but I don’t speak for anyone but myself. At the same time, however, my experiences relate directly to the experiences of a large proportion of the industry. I thought about all this, and then it dawned on me – the voice I bring to the table is that of the adult industry’s general public.

As a member of the FSC Board of Directors, I hope to bring a more “average citizen’s” point of view to our trade organization. I feel this type of “daily life” perspective would be beneficial in at least two ways. First, I am closely connected to relatively typical “life and work in porn” experiences. Conversations about issues impacting our community could benefit immensely from this sort of familiarity. Second, my involvement will provide FSC with an additional way to connect with members of the industry. Ideally, this will make the organization feel more accessible to the entire adult community and will foster increased performer awareness.

Ultimately, I am running for a seat on the FSC’s Board of Directors because I want to actively work toward bringing members of our industry closer together. This way, we can take on the challenges we collectively face.

Lynn Swanson*

BIO

Lynn Swanson is a true veteran of the Adult Entertainment business. With a resume spanning practically every facet of the industry, Lynn offers over 30 years of experience including retail (Goalie Entertainment), distribution (General Manager of M&M Sales),  manufacturing (Topco Sales, Pipedream Products). As a current Board member of the Free Speech Coalition, Lynn offers a broad understanding of the entire industry.

STATEMENT:

As a long-term member of the industry, Lynn understands the many obstacles and challenges we face today. Her dedication to the cause of free speech has been a priority, and she understands that decisions she helps make today will have far-reaching effects on the industry in the future. With her vast knowledge and long-standing relationships with members of the domestic as well as foreign adult marketplace, her voice on the Board resonates with the wishes of the many, rather than the few.

Lynn is running for re-election to the Board, and her goal is to help lead the industry into a future that is free from government intervention, and the strengthening of our First Amendment rights.

In response to a letter sent out by L.A. County to some adult producers and directors on December 17^th concerning the “Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act,” the Free Speech Coalition wishes to provide information to aid in decisions concerning shooting in L.A. County.

First and foremost, all adult businesses should consult with their attorneys as far as where to shoot, permitting procedures, the interpretation of the law, as well as the civil and criminal risks involved. FSC cannot provide legal advice. Only a lawyer familiar with your company’s circumstances can advise you how to reduce risk of liability.  What is good advice for one company could be disastrous for another.

The letter states that the ordinance pertains to the unincorporated cities in L.A. County and cities that have adopted “Title 39.” That is an error by the Department of Public Health; the correct code section is Title 11.39.

For unincorporated areas in L.A. County go to these listings of unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County.  It is up to adult businesses to track cities that have adopted Title 11.39 — there are 88 incorporated cities in L.A. County, listed here. Vernon, Long Beach and Pasadena have their own Public Health Departments and do not contract with the County. It may be that those cities will not be enforcing Measure B. FSC will try to undertake this analysis, but it will take time and staffing which we do not currently have.

Film LA (the entity that grants onsite permits for filming) has been asked to provide L.A. County with information about adult companies that apply for a permit. The County plans to provide Film LA with a list of adult companies on which to report. Therefore, when an adult company applies for an on-site permit from Film LA for filming in L.A. County, the County will be notified about the shoot. L.A. County can inspect shoots at will without giving prior notice. A permit from Film LA will NOT mean compliance to the County’s permit requirements and the County will be notified about the time and place of adult filming for those who obtain a Film LA permit.

The letter sent by L.A. County is the County’s interpretation of the law and it is possible that the law could be interpreted even more strictly by the courts. Also the ordinance allows for private citizens and entities — like AIDS Healthcare Foundation — to file civil complaints concerning ordinance compliance.

A legal challenge to the ordinance by the adult industry is forthcoming and we will keep you notified about the litigation and issues pertinent to adult filming in L.A. County.

A group of adult industry leaders announced today their intent to file a lawsuit soon against Los Angeles County over Measure B.

On November 6^th voters of Los Angeles passed Measure B, an ill-conceived law that makes it mandatory for adult actors to wear lab coats, goggles and gloves as well as condoms while shooting adult films in the County. The law was funded solely by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).

“The industry has organized a team of highly respected attorneys to protect our First Amendment rights. I am confident that we will prevail and ultimately save LA County millions of dollars as well as save thousands of jobs. As an industry we are united in this effort and look forward to our day in court,” said Steven Hirsch, founder/co-chairman of Vivid Entertainment.

Industry attorneys Paul Cambria of Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, Louis Sirkin of Santen Hughes, and Bob Corn-Revere of Davis Wright Tremaine will represent the industry in the US District Court for the Central District of California.

The attorneys plan to challenge the law on the question of whether the County has jurisdiction to regulate adult production on performer health and safety, as these issues would typically fall under CalOSHA and thus State regulation.  Additionally, attorneys plan to challenge the law on Constitutional grounds.

“This law will waste taxpayer dollars and compromise the effective performer health protocols already in place,” said Diane Duke CEO for the Free Speech Coalition who is helping coordinate the litigation.  “We are making a broad appeal for donations to consumers to protect the content they enjoy; to performers, to protect their right to perform without the absurd regulation that will require them to wear a virtual hazmat suit; to producers and directors who face jail time for any noncompliance of this ill-conceived law; and finally to anyone who opposes government overreach and government waste.  AHF has threatened to replicate this effort nationwide — we have to stop them in their tracks.”

Donations can be sent to FSC-Measure B Litigation (100% of the donation will go to the litigation), PO Box 10480 Canoga Park, CA 91309 or donate online at www.freespeechcoalition.com.

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) Board Chair and attorney Jeffrey Douglas has responded to comments in a recent Los Angeles Times article titled, “Condoms in porn measure won by 14-point margin, final tally says.” In the article, Los Angeles County spokesperson David Sommers is quoted as saying that Measure B will “become effective on December 14.”

To avoid confusion, it should be made clear that the ordinance will become effective on Dec 14, due to the counting of votes having been finalized. However, L.A. County is still without regulations or infrastructure in order to implement enforcement of the new “safer sex” ordinance.

“Despite contrary information disseminated through the media [by AHF/parties opposed to the interests of the adult industry], the mandatory barrier protection initiative, Measure B, cannot be enforced until a regulatory system is created by multiple County agencies,” said Douglas.

“That is to say, no one could comply with Measure B today, no matter how much they wanted to. There cannot be any liability pursuant to Measure B for producers who continue to record images in Los Angeles County under normal circumstances until such time as the regulations are in place,” Douglas added.

The article states that development of an enforcement strategy may take a “considerable” amount of time.

Free Speech Coalition (FSC), the adult industry trade association, has opened nominations for its 2013 Board of Directors election. There are nine board positions up for election, out of 13 board seats.

You must be an FSC member to make a nomination. Active FSC members should have received an email form that allows them to nominate candidates for election (sent through Zoomerang-Survey Monkey survey service). Any member making a nomination must supply contact information for each candidate.

Candidates must be active FSC members. The nomination form can be found at this link.

Nominations will be accepted through December 11th, and candidates will be announced mid-December. The election will take place the second half of December.

“This is a great opportunity for members that would like to become more involved with the FSC to either be nominated, or vote in the upcoming election,” FSC CEO Diane Duke said. “Especially now, we need the support of all our members to help choose board members that will offer their insight in some of the challenges the industry faces – including Measure B, retail zoning restrictions, performer health and safety and patent trolls.”

For more information about the election process or to join FSC, contact (818) 348-9373, or diane@freespeechcoalition.com.

County Board of Supervisors

Room 358, Hall of Administration,

500 West Temple Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Dear Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors,

I write to you on behalf of the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), the adult product and entertainment industry’s trade association. With the passage of Measure B, put on the ballot and funded solely by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), FSC has a number of concerns with the law, its potential implementation and the ramifications  not only for the adult industry but also for Los Angeles County residents.

The law, as passed, is untenable for adult production. Besides the obvious excessive costs of compliance, FSC and the industry have a number of concerns with the law itself.  In reviewing the ordinance, numerous Constitutional  issues arise as well as the question of jurisdiction. We believe that the law is not only unconstitutional  on the grounds of forced expression, but also falls within the jurisdiction  of the state of California rather than local government. Therefore, we will file suit and challenge this intolerable  law in court.

There are several other problems, of course, including the definitional vagueness, enforcement conundrums  and the development  of an implementation  process. We ask that the County Board of Supervisors suspend the implementation of the law until the courts have rendered their decision on the aforementioned  issues. Furthermore, as the County moves to develop an implementation plan, we ask that FSC, the industry’s trade association, be given a seat at the table.

Finally, our industry has been approached,  with open arms and tax incentives, to move our adult production  to communities that welcome adult production as a vital industry and a positive economic force. In the upcoming weeks and months, we will provide a road map for adult production to move its over a billion dollar industry and its accompanying  10,000 jobs to these welcoming communities.

Evaluating  the County’s best interest in this matter, we trust that you will consider all of the foregoing legal and practical problems. Please let us know how we may facilitate a discussion and provide additional  information concerning this critical matter.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Diane Duke

Chief Executive Officer

Passage of Measure B on the Los Angeles County ballot has prompted Free Speech Coalition (FSC) to schedule a discussion of the latest developments at tomorrow’s FSC Summit, to be held at the Sofitel Hotel in West Hollywood, CA.

In addition to the day-long program of Summit seminars, Measure B will be highlighted at a special session from noon-1:30pm.

“Coming off of the momentum of the campaign, we must press forward and come together pro-actively, to decide the next steps for adult industry,” FSC CEO Diane Duke said. “We strongly encourage all industry members in Los Angeles to attend the Summit tomorrow, if only for the special seminar on Measure B. This is a great opportunity for discussion and unity as we move to confront this challenge.”

Attendance for the Summit is free-of-charge, due to the generosity of our sponsors. Industry members can go to the FSC Summit webpage to register for the show online. On-site registration opens at 9am on Thursday.

Other topics slated for Summit program include World Markets, Sex & Politics, Diversification, the Legal Hot Seat and “If I Knew Then, What I Know Now.”

Immediately following the day’s sessions, the FSC Awards will be presented at a gala cocktail reception, to be held in the Stone Rose Lounge at the Sofitel.

For more information on the FSC Summit, please visit the event webpage, or contact FSC at (818) 348-9373.

Measure B Approval by Voters Ushers in Start of Lengthy Litigation and Implementation Process

In the wake of Measure B’s passage by Los Angeles County voters, the No on Government Waste Committee, a broad coalition of business, entertainment, healthcare, minority and community organizations, announced an effort to stop its implementation through the courts, as well as urged the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to delay implementation pending litigation resolution.

“After being heavily outspent by a well-financed AIDS Healthcare Foundation which poured millions of dollars into passing Measure B, the adult film industry will not just stand by and let it destroy our business,” said Diane Duke, CEO for the Free Speech Coalition, the trade group representing the adult products and entertainment industry. “While the misinformation and outright distortions made by AHF during this campaign may have deceived voters, we believe in the calm, serious deliberations of the legal system we will find that Measure B is in fact unconstitutional.”

In a letter sent to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the adult film industry outlined its move to challenge Measure B in court, as well as asked for a seat at the table as the county considers how to implement provisions of Measure B.

The industry also announced its intent to begin exploring the entreaties made by neighboring states in facilitating the move of production jobs out of Los Angeles County as quickly as possible.

“While the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has tried to portray any move of jobs outside of LA County as unrealistic, the hard truth of the matter is that is exactly what this industry plans on doing now,” said James Lee, communications director for the No on Government Waste Committee. “The inevitable consequences of Measure B’s passage and AHF’s short-sightedness will be a significant loss of jobs and tax dollars flowing to local governments to fund police, fire protection and public health services.”

According to the No on Government Waste Committee, the campaign was outspent heavily by the Yes on B side, with all of the support coming from a single entity — the AIDS Healthcare Foundation — which waged a relentless two-year campaign attacking the adult film industry to impose a costly and unenforceable government inspection, permitting and enforcement system.

No on Government Waste Committee

The Committee is comprised of entertainment companies, local business organizations, community activists, adult entertainment performers and healthcare advocates who oppose Measure B’s plan for creating an underfunded government inspection program diverting badly needed resources from local community clinics and underserved minority communities. For more information, please visit the campaign website.