Dave Cummings Blasts Mass. Proposal to Put Age Limits on Porn

BOSTON — Adult industry businessman and performer Dave Cummings blasted Monday a bill wending its way through the Massachusetts Legislature that would place a ban on producing and distributing porn involving anyone age 60 or over or anyone who has physical or mental impairment.

“In my 69-year-old opinion, sex between consenting adults, or with oneself, is a God-given gift to mankind that is natural, normal and healthy,” Cummings told XBIZ. “And by healthy, I mean not only sexually but also emotionally and physically.

"Sex provides focus, stress relief, increased productivity and a myriad of other beneficial effects for normal humans.”

Cummings went on to say that “pornography is legal, obscenity is not” and questioned the legality of the proposal.

“I wonder if prohibiting my right to work based upon age/occupation is constitutional,” he said. “Is Massachusetts also restricting employment to church ministers, physicians, legislators, politicians, volunteers and public safety folks who are over 60?"

Cummings is considered the oldest U.S. performer still performing professional in adult movies. He was almost 55 years old before he launched his acting career and now has more than 500 adult videos under his belt. As an entrepreneur, Cummings owns hundreds of adult websites and the Dave Cummings Productions label.

The piece of legislation (House Bill 1688), resembling child porn laws, was reportedly fueled by a rise of cases involving Internet postings and sex-abuse cases.

Calls to sponsoring state Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein were unreturned by post time.

Regional District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel, who helped craft the legislation, said that the intention with the bill is “to protect our two most vulnerable populations.”

But Boston-based attorney Harvey Silverglate said the proposal amounts to blatant censorship.

“It seems to be the latest in a long effort to broaden the definition of obscenity,” Silverglate said. “We’ve already got [laws] against coercion. Why is that not adequate?”

Cummings said that the bill “sounds like some right-wing religious radicals in Massachusetts might be leaning-on or influencing lawmakers, thus blurring the line between church and state.”

“I understand that many of these same religious people say one thing but still masturbate and otherwise have normal sex, but then needlessly feel guilty and brown-nose their God by publicly voicing to restrict others from having normal sex with themselves or other consenting adults,” he said.

“I think and pray that religious radicals learn to sexually relax and to leave the all-American populace alone,” he said.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Molly Little Headlines 1st Installment of Seth Gamble's 'Luminati'

LucidFlix has released the debut installment of "Luminati," the new cinemacore directing collaboration between reigning XBIZ Performer of the Year Seth Gamble and Siren Obscura, starring Molly Little.

Emma Rose Stars in 'Shifting Gears' From TransAngels

Reigning and two-time XBIZ Trans Performer of the Year Emma Rose stars with Tony Genius in "Shifting Gears," from TransAngels.

Age Verification: FSC's Mike Stabile Reports from the Frontlines

Two years into the religiously-inspired crusade to ban free access to adult material in the U.S. through carefully drafted "age verification" legislation, the constant onslaught of state-by-state proposals and laws — many of them copied from each other — can be hard to follow.

Written Erotica Platform 'Hevvn' Launches

Hevvn, a new platform aimed at erotica writers seeking to publish, promote and profit from their work, debuted Thursday.

Sssh.com's Angie Rowntree Speaks at Brown University

Sssh.com founder Angie Rowntree spoke at a Brown University class last week, discussing several topics related to adult filmmaking.

Bella Rolland Toplines 'The Sex Impulse' From Sweet Sinner

Bella Rolland headlines "The Sex Impulse," the latest release from Mile High Media studio brand Sweet Sinner.

Online Industry Veteran Joe E. Passes Away

Online industry veteran Joe E has passed away, according to friends and industry associates.

Judge Acquits Backpage Defendants of Most Charges Before 2nd Retrial

A federal judge acquitted former co-owner of Backpage.com Michael Lacey and two co-defendants on most of the counts remaining from the protracted trial launched against the website operators by the Justice Department in 2018.

Adult Time Partners With Animation Studio 3DGspot

Adult Time has signed a deal to stream content from animation studio 3DGspot.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Signs Age Verification Bill Into Law

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp this week signed into law a bill that includes provisions requiring age verification for viewing adult content in Georgia, mirroring legislation being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Show More