Phoenix Sexual Liberty Activists Need Your Help
The
Woodhull Freedom Federation, December 31, 2003
A Message To Our Friends And Allies From The Woodhull
Freedom Federation
The Woodhull Freedom Federation has entered the struggle
in Phoenix against that city’s repressive and, we believe, unconstitutional
prosecution of gay men’s and swingers’ private clubs. We need your help on
this important effort, not just from those in Phoenix, but nationally as well.
For five years, an agency of the City of Phoenix has been
raiding and harassing swingers’ clubs under a local ordinance that makes it
a crime to “operate a live sex act business.” Recently, a gay men’s
bathhouse was also raided under that ordinance. These actions fly directly in
the face of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling, in Lawrence v. Texas, that
governments cannot take action against private sexual-expression solely to
impose moral views on its citizens. This ordinance has no legitimate
justification. Moreover, its enforcement has discriminatively targeted sexual
minorities—swingers and GLBT clubs—while ignoring businesses (like adult
motels) that obviously fall within the terms of this ordinance.
This will not be an easy battle. Powerful religious
political extremist groups, notably the Community Defense Counsel, are behind
the Phoenix oppression and will pull out all the stops to continue what they
see as a significant vindication of their anti-sex agenda. However, even
though Phoenix is in many ways a conservative city, polls show public
disapproval of these raids and the local press has thus far been largely on
our side. Phoenix residents are organizing politically to fight this battle,
but they need your help. WFF is helping these activists as part of our
initiative to help local communities organize around issues of sexual liberty.
Please take a moment to write a letter to the City Council about this
important issue. Email letters can be sent to the appropriate City Council
representatives automatically at http://www.clubchameleon.com/letterofconcern.htm.
You can find form letters or create your own. All email addresses are
provided.
Please feel free to share this email with appropriate
individuals, groups and organizations.
Thank you for your help and support.
Sincerely,
Judy A. Guerin
Co-director, Woodhull Freedom Federation
Woodhull Freedom Federation and Foundation
1312 18th Street NW, Suite 103
Washington, DC 20036
202-466-2900 (phone)
202-466-6242 (Fax)
www.woodhullfoundation.org
jguerin@woodhullfoundation.org
The Woodhull Freedom Foundation and Federation (WFF) are
devoted to education and public advocacy in support of the proposition that
safe and consensual sexual _expression is a fundamental human right.
Based in Washington, DC, WFF brings together experienced,
successful sexual freedom activists who seek to eliminate the barriers,
governmental and private, to expressions of human sexuality in the United
States and around the world. Helping to mobilize diverse grassroots
communities, WFF utilizes lobbying, outreach, and education to help change
antiquated and unjust sex laws.
WFF supports civil liberties, primarily emphasizing
issues of sexual _expression, sexual orientation, gender and racial
discrimination.
[Home] [News] [Arizona]
