Showdown at Pure Pleasure

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Renting an adult entertainment video became an incriminating activity this week in a small but sophisticated city more popularly known as the home of the Kentucky Derby and legendary explorers Lewis and Clark.

An anti-pornography group headed by a former registered sex offender, John Reneer, stationed itself adjacent to the parking lot of the Pure Pleasure adult video store and is threatening to reveal the identities of an already skittish clientele.

Reneer and his group called War-Line have been taking still photographs all week of patrons as they come and go, including capturing their license plates on camera and then posting that information on a website.

Reneer has reportedly been an unflagging presence in the first and only act of protest the Pure Pleasure has experienced since its opening in January of this year.

Pure Pleasure Manager Michelle told XBiz that Reneer and his anti-porn posse maintain a routine of similar protests against adult entertainment businesses in the Louisville area. But because of an alliance with the Grizzly Boot Company across the street, Renner and his group have been permitted to camp out on the boot store's property.

Grizzly's owner, a woman named Beth, has been against the adult entertainment store since the get-go. According to Michelle, yesterday she blocked Pure Pleasure's driveway with her car and claimed it had broken down.

"We just have to play this like a game, piece by piece," Michelle told XBiz, clearly distressed by the weeklong onslaught of physical and verbal harassment.

"They've been yelling at our customers, threatening to put them on the Internet and saying things like 'God's going to get you,'" he told XBiz. But so far, Renner and his gang have only managed to scare off what Michelle refers to as "a few" patrons.

The Pure Pleasure was marred with controversy from the day it opened against an ordinance that restricts adult businesses in certain areas of the city. The store's owner, Don Kleinhans, who owns a chain of similar stores throughout the South, joined up with several other Louisville-based adult entertainment stores claiming that the ordinance was unconstitutional. The Pure Pleasure and other stores have remained open while the Kentucky court system deals with the issue.

In the meantime, the Kentucky State Police have done very little to stop the harassment, despite Reneer's criminal past, which includes felony charges for armed robbery in 1966, allegations of murder, and a 1988 sodomy charge accompanied by first degree charges of trafficking a controlled substance.

Renner has been quoted as saying that he admits to his past and blames pornography for leading him to a life of crime.

Renner was quoted by the Courier-Journal as saying that War-Line's protest is an effort to raise public awareness about the materials inside the store.

"Pornography creates callous attitudes toward women, promotes casual sex and violence against women," Renner was quoted as saying.

Last Thursday, Pure Pleasure filed harassment and trespassing charges against Renner and his group, although Michelle told XBiz that his company has to wait for the court to approve the charges, and that the complaint will probably get thrown into mediation because of its misdemeanor status.

As a last report, Pure Pleasure employees installed a sprinkler system so that if Renner or any members of War-Line approach the store, they can water them down. They also brought in a convoy of semi-trucks and formed a barricade in front of the store, blocking Renner's view of visiting customers.

"We're hoping it's going to calm down," said Michelle, "But so far it's been pretty bad."

Copyright © 2025 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

Taylor Nicole Launches New Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Creator Taylor Nicole has launched her new official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Adult Networking Platform SpicyGigs.com Launches

SpicyGigs, a new adult industry networking platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Cream Pie Challenge' Fundraiser

Pineapple Support is hosting its Cream Pie Challenge through August to raise funds for mental health services for industry performers.

Kyrgyzstan President Signs Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday signed into law legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

NC Legislature Overrides Veto of Extreme Anti-Adult Industry Bill

The North Carolina state legislature on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a bill imposing regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most creators and content.

Report: VPN Downloads Soar in UK Following Age Verification Deadline

Virtual private network apps, which can be used to circumvent geo-specific age verification requirements, are topping Apple App Store downloads in the U.K. in the wake of new Online Safety Act rules, the BBC is reporting.

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Show More