Mason Wyler and Bareback Inspiration

HIV+ former (?) porn performer, Mason Wyler has once again caught the attention of this blog with a  tweet yesterday which you can read below.

Mason has wrestled with a career that appeared to go off the rails after being diagnosed as HIV+, a desire to study in Texas, and balance university life with the life of a self-described slut.  This recent tweet suggests that he is either a) conscious of a reaction but curious what his followers think, b) genuinely clueless as to what his reaction 'should' be c) pleased about this and thus sharing among his followers to contribute towards his sexual persona.

Mason has flirted with bareback porn in recent years, and there is still probably a means to make some money that way.  I'd be surprised if he made the move to treasure Island Media given his previous performances which seem very much performances - rather than raunchy sex caught on camera.  Nonetheless, Mason does seem to be revelling in the status as an HIV+ barebacker.  If he does go back into making more porn, that continued status would mark him out as fairly unusual and at a time of Law condom laws, it would also render him a counter-cultural sexual warrior.

LA Condom Measures

By now, many of you will be aware of the news last week from LA regarding new rules on the use of condoms in the production of porn films.  I'm knocking together a piece for elsewhere so forgive me for not commenting further than my previous posts (see this and this, and also this).  However, you can read more about the latest developments here on LA Weekly and also this piece from the wonderful Katherine Sansom.

“We witnessed the horrifying spectacle of several elderly men wandering around naked"

Apologies for the lack of posts recently.  Life has become increasingly busy and I'm not going to be able to blog as much over the next couple of months as I spend my time with various academic projects that are pressing.  However, I'll still be blogging - just less frequently - so don't go away!

Anyhow, take a look at the photo for this story in the Hull Daily Mail and this story from the Northampton Chronicle.  They are different lay-bys in different parts of England but their similarity highlights the common structure of these public sex spaces. Signposted, removed from the main road and screened from the road - even in winter - by trees and shrubs.  They are also clearly designed as points to stop off on a journey to rest, or to make repairs, phone calls etc away from the busy main road.

Both locations have featured in public sex related stories in the last few days.   The Northampton incident is curious in many ways.  It occurred at 2pm in the afternoon on a Sunday.  A time when many people will be driving about, and the light is good.

The newspaper reported that “We witnessed the horrifying spectacle of several elderly men wandering around naked. “My daughter was very upset by this. “We then saw two men having sex in a coppice, and later on, more sexual activity. “At no point did any of these men attempt to cover up.” She said another man was performing a sex act in full view of passing traffic.

'Later on' is the phrase that struck me.  How long were they there?  Presumably the sight of 'naked' elderly men (what do they mean by make din this context, complete nudity is unusual especially in the middle of winter?) was so shocking they went back to their car?  'Later suggests' that they ere so horrified they carried on taking the dog for a walk.  Curious.

We also have the allegation that another man (obviously an unusually popular spot to have such  concentration of men) was performing a sex act in full view of passing traffic.  The photo accompanying the story suggests that this is unlikely unless the man was stood by the entrance and even there there are questions about visibility whence are are flying by at 60mph.

Another fascinating of the report from the complainants is the observation that “Someone had even left an obscene message on the car windscreen,” he said.  I come back to the earlier question, how long were they there?  Why was someone so agitated as to leave a message?  What did that message say?  It is clear that we are only getting half the tale but what journalist wants to truly investigate a story of this nature when the easy thing is to condemn the men involved and portray the complainants as straight forward victims.  Perhaps she was, and perhaps the complaint was justified but this piece of journalism does not clearly establish that.

Finally we turn to the response from the Police who indicate that “We have long been aware that these lay-bys have been used as a gay meeting place, however, we were not aware that the area was being used beyond initial encounter. “I will brief my staff to patrol the area and deal with any offences they find.”

So once again we have the Police responding to a complaint but also admitting they were aware men used the location as part of a hook-up process.  However, the Police also indicate that they have not policed the location (otherwise he wouldn't need to tell Police to now patrol the area).  If ever there was a case study in the complexities of policing public sex locations it would be this.

Then we travel to Hull to another lay-by and picnic spot that has apparently been used for dogging. According to the Hull Daily Mail, Police have confronted 18 people using a family picnic spot to have sex with strangers in public. Officers vowed to tackle the problem after residents of Skirlaugh and Coniston repeatedly complained about lewd activity in three lay-bys off the A165. Since making the issue a priority less than one month ago, officers have stopped 18 people at the sites, sometimes during the day. Although they were not found to be committing any offences, all were issued with a leaflet with guidance on public sex. There have been no complaints from members of the public since police made it a priority.

So, 18 confronted and zero were seen to be committing an offence.  So what were people complaining about?  As ever, it is the sight of people or cars rather than actually witnessing acts - or the Police would presumably have seen something. The behaviour complained about is 'intimidating behaviour' which I find puzzling.  Does this mean just sitting in a car, telling someone to "bugger off",  playing with an air freshener in a suggestive manner before driving off?  What on earth are they talking about?

The Police admit to using both plain clothed and uniformed police as part of the operation.  Why use plain  clothed police in this situation?  It is an admission that if someone using the spot for public sex sees someone entering who is clearly not interested, that person or persons will not see something.  By entering in plain clothes they appear 'legitimate' in the space.

Finally, we have the ultimate irony, that the local authority has cut hedges so as to make the location more visible.  Yes folks, previously you would not see any sexual activity from the main road due to the presence of shrubs but now you would, thus ensuring that an offence has taken place.  Truly, the barmy logic of Alice in Wonderland.

CFP: Forbidden Fruits, Forbidden Histories

Postgraduate students and their supervisors may be interested in this call for papers:

Forbidden Fruits, Forbidden Histories. 
A postgraduate conference exploring LGBT in the Arts and Humanities.
11th July 2012.
Cardiff School of European Studies, Cardiff University, UK.

Call for Papers.

“I always find it sad not to pluck the delicious flower that we shall soon be unable to pluck. For then it would be fruit…and forbidden.”

Marcel Proust to Jacques Bizet. Lycée Condorcet, 1888.

Writing a hurried response to his friend in a classroom of the Lycée Condorcet in 1888, Marcel Proust recognised that his desire for those of the same sex was a forbidden one that went against social, moral and political convention. Proust’s A la recherche du temps perdu (1913 – 27) has been widely recognised as a founding text by and for Queer Studies: whether it be the flamboyant characterisation of the Baron de Charlus or more subtle nuances visible in the narrator’s own curiosity, Proust’s explicit writings on homosexuality paved the way for a more open literary treatment of it. The beginning of the twentieth century witnessed experimentations in subject matter and slowly but surely, representations and portrayals of LGBT became more visible in European Literature and the Arts. At the same time as French authors such as Proust, Gide and Cocteau were transforming the literary canon, so too were their European neighbours, such as Thomas Mann with Tod in Venedig (1912) or Anna Elisabet Weirauch with her Der Skorpion trilogy (1919 – 31); or in Spain, Federico García Lorca with Oda a Salvador Dali (1926) and Luis Cernuda in La realidad y el deseo (1936), creating a much-needed cultural space for LGBT concerns. With the new millennium well underway, LGBT has continued to benefit from equality and diversity legislation together with an increasing and continued social acceptance.

Hosted by the Languages, Cultures and Ideologies Research Unit at Cardiff School of European Studies, the Forbidden Fruits, Forbidden Histories conference aims to highlight continuities and change within LGBT themes and motifs across a wide range of European cultural and social practices, seeking to highlight current academic research in, and facilitate discussions on the cultural presence of LGBT in Arts and Humanities research. The conference organisers warmly welcome abstracts for twenty-minute papers. Papers may focus on, but are not restricted to, Literature, Poetry, Visual Arts, Queer Studies and Gender and Sexuality Studies. Topics may include histories of closeting; disguise and revelation; desire and consumption; metaphors of sexuality; sexuality legislation and the arts.

If you feel your research would complement the aims of this conference, please get in touch. An abstract of no more than 300 words should be submitted to Matt Berry (berrymj@cardiff.ac.uk) no later than February 14th 2012 for consideration by the conference’s steering committee.

Equality Delivery System Event

This event may be of interest to some North East England based readers:

Equality Delivery System Event 
Promoting equality for people in Sunderland Gateshead and South Shields 

Thursday 26th January 2012
Either 9.30 am - 12.30 pm OR 1.30 – 4.30pm
MPH Training & Conference Centre Unit 2A, Stonehills Complex, Shields Road, Gateshead, NE10 0HW, Tel 0191 4952895, Fax 0191 4694862,
www.mph-conference.co.uk 

We would like to ask for your views about equality in healthcare
We would like you to help us rate how well we are doing Can you help us?

To book a place, discuss any requirements, or travelling arrangements, please contact any of the following people in your area: Gateshead: Coleen Knox on 0191 4453277 or email coleen.knox@ghnt.nhs.uk Sunderland: Stephanie Smith on 0191 5656256 or email… stephanie.smith@chsft.nhs.uk South Shields: Julie Murray on 0191 2831624 and email julie.murray@stft.nhs.uk

Public Sex Entrapment Exposed

Extraordinary, truly extraordinary.  My reaction on read a report by South Flordia Gay News (SFGN) after a year long investigation of Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. According to SFGN, more than 600 arrests were made by Detectives Peter Lazar and his partner Vaniclov “Van” Garner, from 2005 to 2010.

SFGN reviewed more than 300 of those police reports starting with the year 2007, but PBSO acknowledged their operation began two years before that. Only a handful of the arrests – four to be exact -- were between two men; the rest of them involved an undercover detective soliciting another man for sex using tactics that one lawyer called “disgusting” while another lawyer questioned the legality of the detectives’ behaviour.

The figures are staggering, the tactics despicable.  These tactics were challenged in the UK by the brilliant reforming 60s Home Secretary Roy Jenkins.  My forthcoming book on public sex will reveal government memos within the home office and minutes of meetings between Jenkins and the Met Police for the first time; minutes that document his battle to stop the police using agent provocateur tactics.   Although they persisted in the UK for some time, this approach is largely unknown in the UK today.

The tactics are unethical, homophobic and crime-generating.  By inducing men into committing  crime, the police ensure a soaring crime rate which in turn results in more policing (using these tactics) which means more 'crime', more police and so on.  It is bewildering to see these tactics  alive and well in the USA.   Six hundred arrests in five years for this offence is mind-blowing.

Read the story in full here, and  South Florida Gay News should be praised for this important investigation and report.

Mandatory Condom Usage...Again

Confusion reigns in the midst of another twist in the battle in LA to introduce mandatory condom usage in porn shoots and studios.  I've not had chance to really look into today's development but I'll try and get to the bottom of it in the next couple of days.

Read the latest on LA Weekly here. 

Sensationalism in HIV Reporting

I can't recommend this article enough.  It explores a recent case in the US and the sensational reporting of an HIV transmission case.  It also explores the role the County health department played in stirring up a moral panic.

Read the full story here.

Gay Panic Defence

Interesting news from Australia where the Queensland Labor Government is responding to community concerns about the use of the so-called "gay panic defence".

It seems a little unclear as to whether the announced review is a PR exercise or will result in real change.  Read the full story here.

Making a Fist of It: The Law and Obscenity

I've had an article published on the Freedom in a  Puritan Age webzine in which I offer my take on the recent Obscenity Trial.  I gathered a few background/analysis pieces together in this previous blog post.

Check my new article out here.

Journal Alert: Feminist Legal Studies

Readers may be interested to know that Feminist Legal Studies, Volume 19 Number 3 has now been published and it includes a book review that I've written. The full contents can be viewed below: 

“Unpalatable Messages”? Feminist Analysis of United Kingdom Legislative Discourse on Stalking 1996–1997
Helen Reece

Sexuality and Succession Law: Beyond Formal Equality
Daniel Monk

Review Essay
Radical Legal Theory Today, or How to Make Foucault and Law Disappear Completely
Nick Piška

Book Review
Roundtable on Eve Darian-Smith, Religion, Race, Rights: Landmarks in the History of Modern Anglo-American Law
Jonathan Goldberg-Hiller, Renisa Mawani, Didi Herman, Denise Ferreira da Silva & Eve Darian-Smith 

Book Review Barbara Babcock: Woman Lawyer: The Trials of Clara Foltz
Rosemary Auchmuty

Book Review Didi Herman: An Unfortunate Coincidence: Jews, Jewishness and English Law
Anastasia Vakulenko

Book Review Jackie Jones, Anna Grear, Rachel Anne Fenton and Kim Stevenson (eds.): Gender, Sexualites and Law
Chris Ashford

We Go Dogging

Thanks to Ian for flagging up this brilliant video from Fascinating Aida entitled 'Dogging'.  Enjoy!


 Here are the lyrics:

My husband came home friday with a brand new motor car.He told me I could drive, it I said Brian you're a star.We drove down to the boozer for a vodka and a fag then of course we had celebrate the purchase with a shag.
We go dogging,We go dogging,We're a treat for any passers by out jogging.We do it 'cos we've found that when people crowd around it is somehow more profound when we're dogging.
(Spoken)Oh now well some of the older members of the audience my have a little bit of difficulty with this one.I just say hang on in there and think the meaning will shine through.Bill how are you doing.Anyhow if you are still a little bit in the dark at the end.Just ask a young person or emm...Google.Just don't take your computer for repair immediately afterwards.
(Sung)Well we drove down to the far end of the car park back of Asda.A threesome was hard at it in a sporty little Mazda.It made it more exciting as they pressed against the glass.And when Brian got his torch out you could see right up her arse!
They were dogging,They were dogging,Believe me they were more than merely snogging.But though her cheek were parted she spoilt it when she farted and we wanted to get started on OUR dogging.
(Spoken)Now how are the older members doing now.Not finding it too impenetrable?Those of a sensitive disposition, leave now...
(Sung)Well we rushed back too our car 'cos we were randy as two goats.But being late november we had on our duffle coats.We should have stripped off first before getting back inside.'cos disrobing in a smart car isn't easy have YOU tried?
We were doggingWe were doggingIn the struggle poor old brian tore his frogging.Our Apparel was misguided 'cos when our heads collided Brian's manhood then subsided, but thats dogging.
Well I admit this was a setback but i wasn't beaten yet. 'cos i'm really very handy with my man's beef bayonet.I quickly had his flagpole up responding to my touch.And next thing I was upside down and staring at the clutch.
We were dogging,We were dogging,Oh the heat was on to stop the windows fogging.Thank god for plastic sheeting well one must protect the seating.'Cos the fabric takes a beating when your dogging.
Well by now a crowd had gathered it was cheering fit to burst.An Bri was close to peaking though he likes me to come first.My legs were out the sunroof as I really hit my stride.Then Brian promptly stopped and cried "The Rozzers are outside!".
We were dogging,We were dogging,We were so alarmed our arteries were clogging.But we took it on chin when the coppers with a grin said:"Can anyone join in with your dogging?
Well as you can imagine Bri and I were thrilled to bits.I love to feel a coppers truncheon in between my tits.My ecstasy was mounting I was feeling so alive,When who should wander by but a bloke from channel 5.
He likes doggingHE likes doggingHe signed us for a series he was flogging.So watch out for Bri and me and the odd Celebrity,We were shagging on TV likely dogging.
Oh we'll be doggingWe'll be doggingOh think of all the limelight we'll be hogging,Well the credits show my hand massaging Brian's gland,The Presenter's Russell Brand, lovely dogging!

Positive to Positive

If you're tested for HIV, you'll know your status and by knowing if you are HIV positive, you can change your sex life to protect others.  In short; know it, bag it.  So goes the logical of many contemporary safe sex programmes.

It's for this reason that a report out from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is all the more explosive. Fifty percent of new HIV infections in Lancaster County are caused by persons who already know they have the disease, according to Ken Culton, a nurse consultant with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the breakdown of how male and females become infected varies, Kirchner said. Eighty-five percent of women with HIV acquired it via heterosexual sex with an infected partner, and 15 percent from IV drug use.

Men having sex with other men accounts for 74 percent of males with HIV infection, heterosexual sex for 14 percent, IV drug use for 8 percent, and the rest from a combination or unknown reasons. Around 21 percent of the estimated 1.2 million HIV-infected persons in the U.S. still aren't aware they have the disease.

Let's also not forget the economics of HIV/AIDS.  The report also includes the statistic that avoiding just one HIV infection saves an estimated $365,000 in medical care.

Whilst even this reports indicates that the continued public health focus for HIV/AIDS workers in this part of the US will be upon testing those who don't know they are positive/their status, it also hints at the growing issue coming down the track.

That is to say those who know they are HIV positive, who have sex with someone else who knows they re HIV positive and transmit that infection.  This is to say nothing of those who think they might be HIV positive, or don't really care whether they are HIV positive and have unprotected sex with someone else who thinks someone might be positive but isn't sure or who doesn't care whether they are HIV positive.  Lawyers will focus on questions of consent, intention and recklessness but social behaviour is seemingly evolving at a much faster pace than both health and legal strategies.

Read the full story here.

Child-on-Child Sex Abuse

ABC News features a fascinating AP report on the subject of child-on-child sex abuse.  It's quite a detailed story with some fascinating academic and research insights, highlighting the complexities of this issue.  Whilst society arguably has a clear idea of the 'pedophile' and 'child abuser', cases of child-on-child abuse  disrupt these pre-conceptions, and challenge that totemic concept: childhood innocence.

Read the full story here.

Heterosexuality, Public Places and Policing

Readers may be interested that a chapter I've written on 'dogging' will be published in a  collection entitled 'Policing Sex' later this year.  The book can be pre-ordered via Amazon (And other stores), and the full contents of the book can be viewed on the Routledge website.

Stepping Back From Criminalising HIV?

Fascinating story coming out of Davenport, Iowa concerning an HIV transmission case.  It's reported that a man arrested for transmitting HIV was due to see his felony trial start Monday in Davenport, but prosecutors are backing off taking the case to court. Instead they hope to draw up a contract with the defendant, where he will pledge not to spread HIV, and reveal names of past sexual partners so they can be notified of the potential exposure. For the man he infected, this seems like he is getting a "free pass"and hits out in the video below:

 

Obscenity on Trial

The landmark obscenity trial, R v Peacock concluded on Friday (see my previous post on the trial here) with a unanimous acquittal.  I've finished putting a piece together this morning which I hope will be publish don a webzine in the next few days (I'll post a link once it's up).  In the meantime, there are a number of excellent pieces that are already on the web:

BBC News: Not guilty verdict in DVD obscenity trial 

The Guardian, Obscenity trial: the law is not suitable for a digital age

New Statesman, Obscenity Victory

New Statesman, It's time to abolish the obscenity law

The Guardian, Michael Peacock's acquittal is a victory for sexual freedom

Pink News, Not guilty verdict in gay escort’s obscenity trial

Readers may also find interesting a couple of videos below of the defendant, Michael Peacock in which he talks about his life.  They were conducted by the Erotic Awards finalist, escort and porn performer, Drake Blaize.

The Voracious Escort Habits of Lawyers

The Orlando Sentinel - surely the reading choice of ever Brit - carried a rather wonderful piece this week concerning Scott Rothstein who is embroiled in a  little local legal difficulty following a spot of fraud which led to his imprsonment and the downfall of his law firm.

Apparently, the Fort Lauderdale law firm maintained a condo across the street where he and his law partners would have sex with prostitutes/sex workers and then come back to work.  Rothstein is reported as saying: 

"There were probably times when we spent $50,000, $60,000 a month on escorts," Rothstein said. "It just depends. When there were political things in town, more. Big functions, conventions, more. People in town to entertain, more money. But it was a lot of money just for the law partners that were using escorts. Some of them had fairly voracious escort habits."

All of which got me thinking, how many other law firms do this?  Not on the same scale of course, or anything as obvious as arranging escorts in this manner in a local commercial harem, but putting people in the room with people who may be escorts as part of providing 'a good entertainment mix' for example.  None of which is to condemn, but I am curious as to the extent it can be found among the bigger city based firms in particular.

Just as high street solicitors must deal with those arrested for dealing with cocaine, and city solicitors must sometimes find a new dealer, it is a world that is not unknown to have some legal tightrope walking.  Drugs is a known cultural reality for some of our city-based elite in the course of commercial networking.  What of sex work?

Chris Ashford on Cottaging

I've previously mentioned that last year I took part in an interview for a documentary film project entitled The Strange Decline of the English Cottage -you can read more about that project here and join their Facebook page here.

I'm hoping it will get finished at some point this year as it's an amazing project but given it's a hobby project for the director and those involved, it's seems to be taking a while.

Anyway, you can see some edited highlights of my day filming.  Unfortunately for me, my hair suggests I have been dragged through a hedge before filming, I have no neck and my accent goes on something of a gripping journey.  All of which should give you some sadistic pleasure in watching, if the fascinating content on this aspect of public sex - specifically sex in public toilets - does not enthral you.  Enjoy!

LA Bareback Ban Campaign Launches

The battle over mandatory condom usage in LA (see my previous post here) has taken another step, as the Joe.My.God blog explains. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has launched a petition drive for a ballot measure that would require condom usage in all porn produced in Los Angeles County. The AHF must collect 200,000 signatures by June 5th in order for the item to appear on the November ballot in Los Angeles County.  This is an additional ballot measure to that which city officials have already gone to court over in a bid to block.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation called on Los Angeles County officials to mandate that adult films follow the same health department permit process required of bathhouses, sex clubs, and tattoo and message parlours. Under the county initiative, adult film producers would file health permits and pay a fee set by the health department that would pay for inspections and enforcement. If passed, the measure would allow the county to collect a $1,000 fine from adult film producers who do not have a valid health permit. In addition, the county could use nurses to provide spot checks on film sets.

Read more on this latest proposed measure here and in the LA Times here. This is shaping up to be a key socio-legal battle of 2012.

Why Does Hollywood Hate 'Gay' Sex?

Absolutely fascinating piece in the Daily Beast about whether Hollywood is terrified of gay sex. The piece argues that 'as Hollywood portrays it, the homosexual man is, astonishingly, sexless.'

Read the article in full here.

Raw Desire, Depicting Bareback Sex and Calling Out Hypocrisy

Long standing readers of this blog will know that I regularly rail against the bareback hypocrisy.  Whether it's celebrities such as Dustan Lance Black being exposed in a sex film engaging in bareback sex whilst telling others to always practise safe sex; porn 'stars' such as Chris Porter talking of his condom only stance, only to be revealed as having tried out for the notorious bareback company, Treasure Island Media - he claimed not to know they were a bareback company even though a video recording of his screen set suggests otherwise; or indeed safe sex advocates spending their day using charity or public funding to extol the virtues of 'safer-sex' whilst loving and engaging in bareback sex in private at night.  All highlight the hypocrisy which further erodes the safer sex message.

Yet now the porn blog, The Sword (owned by Naked Sword but with its own voice), seems to also be getting in the hypocrisy naming and shaming act. It may be my imagination but since the start of the new year, the blog seems to have become much more on the ball in highlighting this issue.

We started gently at the end of last year with an interview with the performer, Connor, from Corbin Fisher, performing in one of their new bareback titles (further evidence of the way the porn market - and sexual reality- is moving) (NSFW story link here)

The Sword said:  'There has been a lot of controversy over the “condomless” scenes from Corbin Fisher. Talk about the testing process and why you feel comfortable performing without the use of condoms.'

C: Our testing process is second to none. I can say for myself, since I’ve been a consistently active performer for over four years now, that I have been tested every 30 days of my life for the last four years. We are tested for basically everything, and the company also regularly has us visit and consult with a doctor prior to shoots. We also always get tested a few days before each shoot to rule out any possibilities. I’d imagine the most sterile, controlled environment anyone my age could have sex in would be our sets because of the strict testing.

TS: So is it fair to say that you prefer going bareback?

C: Put it this way…personally, I don’t like watching any porn with condoms. It just doesn’t do it for me, and I watch a lot of porn! The way I see it, porn is here for fantasy, and to let your hair down and see exactly what you want to see. So, if the danger of contracting a disease has been ruled out to the greatest possible extent, why are we worrying about it? I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say, if I could choose it all the time, porn would be sans condoms.

So, this is a sort of 'managed' shift in position.  All fine and dandy.  Companies that previously resisted bareback now embrace it on economic grounds.  Performers now talk of their desire for bareback but is this just marketing, or a revelation of authentic desire?

On 1 January, they celebrate a new bareback scene from Sean Cody - also now amazingly embracing bareback.  They wrote (NSFW story link here):

'I guess if you’re gonna do something, you might as well go balls to the wall and do it all. Sean Cody’s first bareback scene last week was nothing compared to this one, a three-way in which everyone (Dennis, Calvin, Jordan) fucks each other, Dennis gets double penetrated and then creampied, and everyone swallows cum. Happy new year! I’m glad that Sean Cody dropped the stupid euphemism (“unwrapped”) and is calling this exactly what it is: A bareback three-way starring three of the site’s best models. Unfortunately, that awful, hypocritical disclaimer still plays at the beginning'

Here's that disclaimer:

Although - like the Corbin Fisher interview - there is an emphasis on testing they put the second part in which amounts to a 'don't try this at home' kind of warning.

Next up, The Sword goes on the attack with Cody Cummings and a bareback video of him with a  woman (which they post here - NSFW).  They bitchily comment:

'For the company that has staked its reputation on keeping its performers STD free and the company that famously fired Mason Wyler after he contracted HIV, this is a wild and sexy change of pace! Of course, you can’t blame them for allowing one teensy weensy moment of barebacking to slip in when it’s hot as this, and especially when it’s starring gay porn icon Cody Cummings. Because if anyone should be allowed to skirt the rules, it’s our king, Cody. Plus, there’s the aforementioned fact that Cody is having straight bareback sex, with a woman, and everyone knows that it’s always safer to bareback when it’s with a girl. The Sword salutes Next Door Studios for giving their #1 star Cody Cummings the freedom to perform as he chooses—raw and unprotected. Fingers crossed that he doesn’t catch anything!'

Wow, it's a change of pace for Corbin Fisher, and - I think - a change of pace for Naked Sword too as they start to highlight these changes and continued hypocrisies.

As the 'gay' studios embrace bareback sex, it also creates a headache for long-standing bare backs studios such as Treasure Island Media.  They are featured in the new issue of Desert Knight News (see here - safe link) talking about their 'vision'/'mission' and this is increasingly important rather than simply defining themselves as bareback.  It's nothing new - and the message is one familiar to those who know the company well but they are now clearly putting it out there in a bid to define their niche more closely.  They do not, for example, 'make porn', they don't 'direct guys' (although some scenes suggest this does come in - especially from Liam Cole) but the Morris pure ideology is one of providing a natural habitat in which men can play and be observed.  The arousal comes in witnessing raw 'authentic' desire on display. No hypocrisy from these guys but we'll see who The Sword goes for next...

Revised 21.33 4/1/12

Obscenity Trial Continues

The #ObscenityTrial involving the issue of fisting (among others) goes into day three tomorrow (read my previous post on the trial here).  If you're not already doing so, be sure to follow on twitter the excellent activist and scholar, @lexingtondymock. I'd also suggest following the journalist @NichiHodgson. Both have been providing fascinating coverage through their live tweets from the courtroom.  Many of the exchanges today would be comical, were they not so serious.  I'll blog a comment on the trial once it's over - as I'm sure will many others.

Spate of New Legal protections in California

I previously blogged on the introduction of the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act in California but KPBS notes it's just one of a range of new laws that are coming into force in California and potentially transforming the lives of LGBT citizens.   These include:

California Gay Bullying Law or "Seth's Law," named after 13-year-old Seth Walsh, from central California, who killed himself in 2010 after years of bullying. The law forces schools to address bullying through mandatory policies.

The "Gay Divorce Law," which allows a gay couple married in California, but living in a state that won't grant them a divorce, the right to divorce in California.

The LGBT Equality and Equal Access to Higher Education Law, which is an anti-harassment law that applies to state universities and colleges.

The Transgender Non-Discrimination Law. It protects transgender Californians from discrimination with regard to employment, education and housing.

Exciting times.  Read more here.

Spain's first 'gay' retirement home

I have no fear of death but I am absolutely terrified of becoming old and infirm.  The prospect of losing my independence and finding myself in a care home horrifies me.  With a bit of luck I'll keel over dead with a heart-attack before it comes to that.  The only thing that scares me more than that is to be stuck in a home surrounded by people who identify as 'straight'.  Even now, in our transformed legal world, there is a strange assumption that old people are heterosexual.  Old people - we wrongly assume - do not have sex, they revert to a sexless state and thus become re-defined as heterosexual.  For many, going into a home means going back into the closet.

There does seem some hope for men (why only men?) in Spain who identify as gay.  The Guardian reported yesterday that a group of elderly Spanish gay men are rebelling against the homophobia of their generation by setting up what will be the country's first gay and lesbian retirement home.

The retirement home would cost €1,000 (£834) a month to live in, he said – much lower than the average Madrid price of €1,400. It will have 30 staff to look after the 230 residents in the 120 apartments and studios in the complex, with some set aside for people who are HIV positive.

Whilst the issue of care has been back on the UK political agenda already this year, the focus - as ever - is on cost and not on the nature of provision.  Hopefully as the year progresses, the issue of LGBT elders will begin to be addressed more forcefully.

Read the full story here.

Meanwhile, the Houston Chronicle reports a growing need for - and growing development of - low-income housing for GLBTQ seniors in the USA. Philadelphia developers have secured a site for a gay-friendly, low-income housing project in Philadelphia. Housing developments cannot discriminate in favor of gay seniors, but a facility known to be gay-friendly and marketed as such will be appealing to gay seniors.  You can read more on that story here on the Nonprofit Law Prof Blog.

Definitive guide to costs of gender re-assignment

Here's a really wonderful resource for all those interested in transitioning.  Jane Fae has released a definitive guide to the costs of gender re-assignment in the UK. This is published in part as a response to a growing spate of news stories that get these costs (very) wrong - often by quite significant multiples, and was compiled in consultation with some of the leading clinical experts in the UK on these issues.

She notes on her blog that for the vast majority of MtF trans people seeking treatment, who do not undergo surgery, the overall cost to the NHS is unlikely to exceed £1,000 over the person’s lifetime. For those who do go on to seek surgery, the cost to the NHS is likely to be around £2,500 in respect of hormone and endocrine intervention and around a further £11,000 for the surgery (both figures aggregated over a twenty year period). The corresponding figures for FtM transition are £15,000 and £50,000, due to the generally more complex nature of procedure involved. However, the typical figure for the latter group is likely to be much closer to £20,000.

You can read more on Jane's blog and download the full report directly from there.

Schools OUT Conference

Readers with an interest in education may be interested in this event - particularly if you are a school teacher. As always the Schools OUT Conference will be held on the first Saturday of February 2012. It is entitled: Educating OUT Prejudice through the LGBT Lens. Featuring the Classroom, The Rainbow Project and presenters and speakers from the other protected characteristics, the Conference will be rich in resources and ideas for practitioners in the classroom and stakeholders in education.

To register call the Drill Hall box office: 020 7307 5060

Fees
Until Jan 26 2012 Student or Unemployed £10, Retired £15 Individual £40 Organisation £50
After Jan 26, 2012 Student or unemployed £15 Retired £20 Individual £50 Organisation £60 

EDUCATING OUT PREJUDICE THROUGH THE LGBT LENS

Celebrating our new website the Classroom Gender Intelligence, Mermaids and GIRES will explore how to challenge the concept of binary gender Disability History Month will explore challenging disability HMI/Ofsted will explore how we can use the curriculum to celebrate diversity Workshops will explore the lesson plans on the website and there will be an opportunity to view the Rainbow Project films and hear from young people how they are working on the issues ...plus the usual chance to network and Schools out AGM vote in the new committee

More information here.

Fisting in the Courtroom

Myles Jackman, a solicitor with Hodge Jones & Allen LLP reports that the firm will be representing the defendant in an important case to be heard at Southwark Crown Court.  It's not often that a key case takes place in a lower court, but this case could help to clarify the law on obscenity.

The defendant in the case, Michael Peacock, is charged on indictment with numerous offences under the Obscene Publications Act for distributing supposedly obscene DVDs. The films in question feature: 'gay' fisting (the insertion of five fingers of the fist into the rectum of another male); urolagnia (in this case men urinating in their clothes, onto each others’ bodies and drinking it); and BDSM (in this case hard whipping, the insertion of needles, urethral sounds and electrical “torture”).

Myles further explores this issues on his blog with specific reference to the CPS guidelines on obscenity (which my students will recall we looked at in the online workshop on pornography and obscenity before the winter vacation).

The case should also provide another perspective on what constitutes 'extreme pornography' under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.  An important case and I wish the defendant well.  It will be interesting to see if the jury feels it is indeed helpful to criminalise these kind of images and what the contemporary boundaries of obscenity are.

Read the full post from Myles here.

Post revised 9.52, 3 Jan 2011.

Child Sex Offender Disclosure (CSOD) Scheme in Operation

It's easy to forget about a story once it's dropped out of the headlines.  The introduction of 'Sarah's Law' (like Megan's Law in the USA) enables parents to seek disclosures on whether their new partner has a record of sex offending.  The theory is to make homes safer for children.

One regional newspaper highlighted this week that 53 people in Lancashire made applications about someone their child has close contact with under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure (CSOD) scheme since it came into force on April 1.  The information was provided under the Freedom of Information Act and it will be interesting to see whether they are representative of the national uptake, and whether over say three years, the figures reflect an initial 'surge' of demand or an ongoing level of demand for information.

What it does show is that the scheme is up and running and potentially making an impact on hundreds of families around the country.

Read the full story here.

ACLU Liberty Watch 2012

US Presidential politics notches up a gear later today as the Iowa caucus takes place and Republican's take the first key step towards selecting their can date for the Presidential race in November.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the timely issuing by the American Civil Liberties Union of Liberty Watch 2012, its report card for presidential candidates on issues like surveillance, torture, gay rights and immigration. No one gets an A, including President Obama.

The survey 'report card' can be viewed here.  As the race goes on Obama will have to position is campaign in the centre but he also needs to provide a reason for Democrats to vote for him other than "have you seen the scary Republican candidate?".   His report card is a reminder of just how disappointing he has been as a President - great at campaigning, poor at governing - but there will no doubt be much lobbying going on behind the scenes to push him further down the reforming road.

Inclusive Education: SB 48

The start of 2012 saw a historic education change come into force in the US state of California. The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act – also known as Senate Bill 48 – requires that LGBTs' historical contributions be taught in schools.

According to the Bay Area Reporter, the new law was authored by gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in July. It's set to take effect next week, but Tina Jung, spokeswoman for the California Department of Education, said the state Board of Education couldn't review new curriculum until 2015.

Essentially the argument is that because the state is bust financially, that's the earliest they can look at this with new textbooks rolling out between 2017 and 2019.   This - you might think- falls outside of the statute but assuming that the Board of Education does not adopt new textbooks/instructional materials they are not in breach of the statute (although they re skating on thin ice).  There's no such wiggle room in the phraseology of other sections and it's clear that Californian schools and their teachers cannot discriminate their activities on the basis of sexuality (and other characteristics such as race).

One of the tensions which the California Department of Education seems to be hoping people won't notice is that:   'Instruction in social sciences shall include the early history of California and a study of the role and contributions of both men and women, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups, to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society.'

That seems pretty clear to me, and I'm a bit confused how that can be done without new instructional material (and arguably textbooks).  I'm no US attorney but surely a state lacking finance does not negate legal responsibilities?  I'd be curious for input from US readers.

Of course, the measure was argued against (ironically) on the grounds of cost by Republicans and they also opposed the 'indoctrination' of their children with radical notions such as not discriminating against someone because of their race, sexuality or gender (see the campaign ad on the right).  In truth, despite the pitching of this measure (by both sides) it's actually quite  gentle and sensible legal measure, but the real challenge comes in how it is now implemented.  A legal challenge on implementation from the left would be a gift to Republicans in an election year, enabling them to point to tax dollars being diverted from something uncontroversial (e.g. roads) to something that is (i.e evil homo indoctrination).  Other than Democrats, whatever happens, the real losers are potentially the kids who risk being failed by their political leaders and who might not get the education they deserve - and should now legally expect.

A potential solution would be for charities, campaign organisations and worthy individuals to stump up for new textbooks now.  Tell the people the bill Ms Jung, and let's get raising the money.  There's a lot of wealthy homosexuals in California - this would surely be a good use of some of their money.

The full story can be read on the Bay Area Reporter here.