NEW YORK — An association of rent boys and their supporters has organized a national advocacy group in response to the Homeland Security and NYPD raid on RentBoy.com in New York City last month.
The National Coalition of Rent Boys and Allies was created as a not-for-profit corporation in Florida by Fort Lauderdale 1st Amendment attorney Norm Kent.
Along with Kent, the initial incorporators include an internationally known rent boy, who is now a law student at Hastings School of Law in San Francisco, and Kink director mr. Pam, who has spoken out frequently on behalf of sex workers.
The group will also include a national advisory board, to be announced in the coming weeks.
One of the initial members will be Fab Scout Entertainment’s Howard Andrew of South Florida, who books many of the advertisers with the largest adult film studios in the country, Kent said.
"The Department of Homeland Security has initiated a questionable legal action which has terrorized thousands of men who were lawfully trading their time and companionship for legitimate compensation,” Kent said. “There is a need for these men to have a collective voice and open forum to speak out against the raid and for their rights."'
On its website, NCORB has created a media outpost for news articles, columns, reactions and information about the Rentboy raid.
"Our website will organize base of rent boys and their allies," Kent said, "fostering a global coalition speaking out on their behalf. To paraphrase a recent presidential candidate, the response to our endeavor has been huge. Huge!"
The site provides access to legal advisories on the status of the federal case against the principals of the Rent boy prosecution. The group asks for active memberships from rent boys in the trade, at three levels annually, Platinum, Silver, and Gold — $500, $250, and $100, respectively.
