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Free Speech Coalition
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| Free Speech Coalition | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Canoga Park, California |
| Type: | 501(c)(6) |
| Top official: | Eric Paul Leue, Executive Director |
| Year founded: | 1991 |
| Website: | Official website |
As of 2016, the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) was a 501(c)(6) national organization based in Canoga Park, California. The group was the trade association of the adult entertainment industry in the U.S.
Mission
In 2016, the Free Speech Coalition's mission statement was as follows:[1]
| “ |
The Free Speech Coalition is the national trade association to the adult entertainment and pleasure products industry. Its mission is to lead, protect and support the growth and well being of the adult entertainment community.[2] |
” |
Background
The Free Speech Coalition was officially founded in 1991; however, the group existed prior to that. In 1968, the group was known as the Adult Film Association of America (AFAA) and represented adult film theater owners. Later, the group changed to the Adult Film and Video Association of America, when home-recording became affordable and included producers. In the late 1980s, prosecutors charged adult film producer Hal Freeman of pandering. The case, Freeman v. California, went to the California Supreme Court where Freeman won. The court's decision eventually led to the legalization of pornography production in California and a need for a coalition to represent the industry in government.[1]
In 1990, Federal search warrants were issued against 30 companies in the adult entertainment industry, while most cases were settled, the industry officially formed the Free Speech Coalition, which would seek to advocate, educate, and lobby on behalf of the adult entertainment industry.[1]
Political activity
As of 2016, the FSC was politically active and advocates at a local, state, and national level for the adult entertainment industry. In 2016, the group listed the following issues as its focus:
- Zoning Laws Against Adult Pleasure Product Stores
- Revised Age-Verification Rules Under Section 2257
- 510k Regulations for Lubricants
- Counterfeit Products
- Private Censorship
- Anti Adult Film Regulation And Legislation
The group also operated No on Proposition 60, Californians Against Worker Harassment, Sponsored by the Free Speech Coalition, which opposes California's Condoms in Pornographic Films proposition.[3]
Ballot measure activity
2016 activity
In 2016, the Free Speech Coalition opposed California's Condoms in Pornographic Films proposition, which proposed to require the use of condoms and other protective measures during the filming of pornographic films, as well as requiring pornography producers to pay for certain health requirements and checkups.[3]
The group's argument against proposition 60 was as follows:[4]
| “ |
Prop 60. is a California ballot initiative that violates performer privacy and weakens workplace safety. The proponents say it will protect workers, but if passed, it will incentivize any Californian to sue adult film performers and workers when a condom is not visible. This dangerous bill threatens to make work less safe for performers. Just imagine the potential for abuse and harassment? And the cost. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) estimates that it could cost California taxpayers millions to enforce. Performers should have the ability to choose a condom on an adult set, as well as a host of other prevention options, but allowing anyone with a laptop to punish them for how they do their job is not a California value.[2] |
” |
The measure appeared on the ballot on November 8, 2016.
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details Free Speech Coalition's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for Free Speech Coalition | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| California Proposition 60, Condoms in Pornographic Films (2016) | 2016 | Opposed | |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Free Speech Coalition'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 FSC, "History," accessed October 10, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 CA SOS, "No on Proposition 60, Californians Against Worker Harassment, Sponsored by the Free Speech Coalition" accessed October 10, 2016
- ↑ FSC, "No on Prop 60," accessed October 10, 2016
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