Squibs
Squibs
An Alabama law banning the sale of sex toys was struck down last month by a federal judge as a violation of the right to privacy. “The fundamental right of privacy, long recognized by the Supreme Court as inherent among our constitutional protections, incorporates a right to sexual privacy,” said U.S. District Judge Lynwood Smith Jr.
For the last four years Good Vibrations, a San Francisco-based worker-owned cooperative specializing in sex toys, has supported the American Civil Liberties Union case against the Alabama sex-toy ban. The 1998 law – part of a package of legislation strengthening the state's obscenity law – had banned the sale of devices designed for “the stimulation of human genital organs.”
In 2000, Good Vibrations collected an emergency supply of sex toys and collected nearly $10,000 worth of products from generous vendors to distribute free to the unfortunate, toyless masses in Alabama.
Throughout the ban Good Vibrations argued that sex toys are not obscene and sexual gratification is indeed a basic human right. As Good Vibrations Sexologist and author Dr. Carol Queen says, “Alabama may have maintained that ‘There is no fundamental right to purchase a product to use in pursuit of having an orgasm,’ but we strongly disagree, and have for the last four years. What exactly do they think the constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness means?"
To celebrate the victory, the store will offer formerly depraved – oops, deprived – Alabama residents a 15 percent discount on mail order purchases for the month of November.
Now play nice – or nasty – y’all.
Kiwi Fruits to Finance Gay Rugby
According to an email press release, Kiwi Fruits is the First ever LesGayBiTrans New Zealand calendar.
It is also a fundraiser for the Touch Blacks, the gay Touch Rugby Team going over to compete in the Gay Games.
The calendar “features 12 colourful, fun and quirky images of Queer New Zealand. Not only does it feature bars and clubs in Wellington, Auckland and Palmerston North, but also hairdressers, cafes, adult venues, milk company and an automotive company – all supporting the Queer Community in New Zealand and Australia!
The group printed only 3,500 copies, selling briskly at NZ$10 “(3 quid)” so we may have missed our chance to get a gander at going down down under. Check them out at www.gaynz.com or by way of Robert at touchblacks@hotmail.com.