Feminists Against Censorship

FAC on the Panel at SOAS Porn Debate Tonight

2012-01-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

The Women's Society at SOAS are hosting a debate this evening and one of our members, Zak Jane Kier, will be taking part. Sian McGee from SOAS has more at the debate's wherevent page:

Porn: A tool for liberation or oppression?

A Women's Society and For'em Event

January 17th at 7pm, Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS

Can the production of pornography be used as a tool for female liberation? Or does it bind us to passive stereotypes? The role and impact of the porn industry is currently an important debate both within and outside feminist circles. Both women and men are exposed to over-sexualised images everyday and it is difficult to escape the impact that the porn industry is having on our society. We want to ask whether it can be used as a way to reclaim the female body and sexuality or if it indeed causes more damage to the aims of gender equality. Join us on the 17th January at SOAS, listen to those involved in this debate and add your own voice. Hope to see you there.

Networking and support site for proud sex workers and their allies coming soon

2012-01-09T06:28:00.000-08:00

This site is for anyone who works in the sex industry - from escorts, porn stars, adult TV staff, sex shop assistants to sex academics, sex researchers and sex journalists - to network and find support. We live in a hostile time against our industries and this site is meant as a place for us to meet new people and share our thoughts about our work.

We also welcome anyone outside of the industries who supports us too...

This site is also the one-stop-shop for anyone researching the sex industry - students, journalists, policy makers, researchers as well as interested members of the public - to read up on, and access all of the major research and readings - as well as relevant media - on the issues related to sex work and its major contributors.

We also run public campaigns fighting for the rights of all sex workers to be able to enjoy equal employment rights and a fair representation in society and the media.

So come on in, membership is free! We welcome you to join us as we tell the world 'We Consent!'

Watch this space.

Dorries' abstinence education bill protest - 20 January‏‏‏‏

2012-01-09T06:24:00.000-08:00

Beth Granter and Holly Smith, who are organising against Nadine Dorries' Sex Education (required content) bill, have shared the following details with us:

On 20 January 2012, Nadine Dorries' proposed amendment to sex education, Bill 185, which suggests GIRLS be taught abstinence, is due to get a second reading in parliament.

A demonstration opposing the bill is being supported by Youth Fight For Jobs, The British Humanist Association and Queers Against The Cuts. The demo starts at 10:30am at Old Palace Yard, Westminster, outside Parliament. Details of the demo are at http://on.fb.me/stopdorriesdemo.

The bill is sexist as it positions girls as being solely responsible for decisions about sexual activity and boys as having no responsibility for ensuring that sex is mutually wanted, fully consenting and safe. Dorries even said that teaching children to 'say no' could reduce child abuse. This victim blaming is dangerous, incorrect, and offensive to survivors of abuse.

Abstinence education on its own is ineffective in reducing teenage pregnancies and STI rates. Good quality comprehensive Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) should already explicitly address the option of abstinence as part of decision-making about sex, and safer sex.

SRE should be informative and fact based. Some of the most important bits of SRE, which really helps young people to take responsibility for themselves and make healthy decisions (namely the relationships and communication aspects), are optional for schools and this bill will not change that. If this bill passes, some schools could end up only teaching the biology of reproduction and STIs (within the science curriculum) plus abstinence.

If Dorries really wanted to help young women to stay safe and healthy she would be advocating for statutory, comprehensive sex and relationships education for all young people, of all genders, and in all schools whether they are faith schools, academies, free schools or community schools. Her party in Government has already stated that they have no intention of making SRE statutory.

More information on the campaign can be found at http://facebook.com/stopdorries and the demonstration at http://on.fb.me/stopdorriesdemo.

Belated Congratulations to Michael Peacock

2012-01-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

Things have been pretty quiet over here at the Feminists Against Censorship blog, as lots of us have been busy on other projects and not reporting back here about our FAC work. However, we couldn't let the opportunity to mention this recent landmark obscenity trial pass by so here are some links to some of the best reporting on the story in case you missed it:

Nichi Hodgson (who also live tweeted during the trial) writing at The Guardian's Comment is Free about how Michael Peacock's acquittal is a victory for sexual freedom and at The New Statesman, arguing that obscenity law robs us of agency

Dr Brooke Magnanti at Sexonomics calling out the way some people talk about kink (scroll down past the picture of her with Michael)

Myles Jackman welcoming the verdict but pointing out that the Obscene Publications Act means that the state is still capable of acting as a voyeur in the bedroom

A detailed piece over at Freedom in a Puritan Age from queer theorist Chris Ashford, mentioning that those hoping this verdict will simply mean the sweeping away of the existing law may need to be careful what they wish for

Jane Fae arguing that what comes next could be a real challenge to those who see this as ushering in a new era in sexual liberation

New CAP newsletter available

2010-09-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

Campaign Against Censorship has a new issue posted on the web for September (.pdf).

In Memory of Jo Opie

2010-03-01T07:47:00.000-08:00

We are very sad to announce that our dear friend and Feminists Against Censorship colleague Jo Opie has died. An early supporter of Gay Pride, Jo joined FAC in 1990 and was active up to date. Founder of Islington MIND, Jo worked there as a volunteer until she became ill in August of last year and played a major role in their continued development, including co-founding the organisation's Crisis Line, serving on planning groups for local mental health retreats and presiding over a major drop-in facility.

Jo was also a member of Women in Prison and, in 2006, contributed to an enquiry into Deaths in Custody and Bereaved Families in the Corston report.

We will miss Jo very much and always appreciated her liberated and refreshing approach to relationships, freedom and feminism.

If you have any anecdotes or publication details you can share related to Jo as a person, her life, work or her anti-censorship, feminist and LGBT activism, please send them over to facnews at googlemail dot com or comment here.

Erotic Film With Feminist Aims Wins Award Despite Ban

2009-09-04T07:38:00.000-07:00

The film Matinée, directed by Jennifer Lyon Bell, has been given the “Best Short Film” prize by an official jury at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival 2009. The August 26 scheduled screening was halted by the OFLC (Australia’s Office of Film and Literature Classification) banning it from the festival and, interestingly, it was the only R-Rated film in the festival to receive such treatment:

The OFLC cited “sexual content” as the reason. Matinée includes an erotic, explicit sex scene between the film’s two main characters, Mariah and Daniel. Matinée is the story of a reserved stage actress who decides to improvise her onstage lovescene in a bold attempt to inject creativity into the play. Their improvisation evolves into actual sex onstage in front of a live audience. Matinée’s themes involve trust, ambition, and creative risk...(Blue Artichoke Films Press Release)

The Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF) are said to have opposed the ban and seriously considered defying it. They have also pointed out that the OFLC has "historically privileged violent and misogynistic representations of explicit sex over the type of unabashed female sexual pleasure shown in Matinée".

I've not seen any of Jennifer Lyon-Bell's films myself yet but I certainly like what I've read about her approach on the Blue Artichoke Films website's About page:

Jennifer’s mission to create better sex film is an integral part of her feminist sexual expression. She believes that sexual freedom is an essential component of women’s freedom. And that creating beautiful, hot films that turn women on is possible, safe, and necessary...

...Part of our appeal to modern women is that our stories and situations aren’t bound up in monogamous romance. Pop culture is rife with messages for women that sex is only awesome once they’ve found True Love. Love is lovely, but we think that hot, meaningful sex can also happen between total strangers...

...It’s of the utmost concern to us that the actors and (particularly) actresses we work with be knowledgeable, thoughtful, and enthusiastic about doing films with us. Jennifer meets personally with every actor and actress even before allowing them to audition, so that she can be sure they have like-minded motivations and understand what the risks might be. Also, everyone on the cast and crew is encouraged to ask questions. We think that’s the only way to create a safe space for people to experiment sexually."

Matinée was released May 1 and the next screening will take place at the Strasbourg International Film Festival in France in early September. Along with the MUFF award, the film has also won the CineKink/NYC film festival’s jury award for “Best Narrative Film”, an Honorable Mention at the 2009 Feminist Porn Awards and was selected for the number 4 spot in the “5 Best Sex Films For Women” in the July 2009 German edition of Cosmopolitan magazine. Jennifer Lyon Bell's letter to the OFLC and open letter to the press can be found on the Blue Artichoke Films website.

Meanwhile, The Local has news on the Swedish government helping to finance a Swedish feminist porn film. Mia Engberg's film, Dirty Diaries, shows a selection of women using mobile phones to film their faces as they masturbate. While I think this particular use of female images could possibly be critiqued, I also think the responses Engberg talks about when explaining the thinking behind the film are very telling:

The film was put onto the internet and provoked a strong reaction. A lot of the reactions were negative, with comments like: "Damn, they're ugly. Could they not at least have put on some make-up." I found the comments interesting. They showed that we're still living with the age-old belief that a woman and her sexuality should please the beholder above all else.

Cross-posted at the f word.

Pornsaints

2008-09-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

Pornsaints will be in London For the Fetish Weekend on 2-5 October.

Spanner Trust on the new "extreme" porn law

2008-08-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

From the Spanner Trust's August 2008 newsletter:

Is your PORN collection still legal?
In May 2008 the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 was passed by the UK parliament. This new law makes it illegal in the UK to possess certain types of sexually-explicit imagery. This email contains important information about the new law and how it affects you.

WHAT DOES THE NEW LAW SAY?
The new law makes it an offence punishable by up to three years in prison for someone to possess what it calls “extreme images”. The date when this provision becomes effective has not yet been fixed but is probably 1 January 2009. The law affects images in your possession after this date.

An “extreme image” is defined as one which portrays in a realistic way any of:

An act which threatens a person’s life
An act which results in or is likely to result in serious injury to a person’s anus, breasts or genitals
A sexual act with a corpse or an animal (but we will not be addressing these categories here)
and the image...

Is grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character
Has been produced solely or principally for the purpose of sexual arousal
It is claimed that only a small number of images are intended to be caught by this law (“images” means both still photographs and video but excludes drawings and works of art). Unfortunately many of the terms used in the Act are vague and open to interpretation. So until some unfortunate people end up in court and a jury decides, it is difficult to give absolutely definitive advice on what the Act means and how it will be enforced. In addition, police investigations, seizure of computers etc can cause disruption and damage to people’s lives even if no charges are brought.

However, based on the way cases involving possession of child pornography have been decided in court we are able to give some advice.

FIRST OFF – DON’T PANIC!
Images of bondage, fetish wear, role play, watersports, sexual intercourse and domination/submission are not “extreme”.

Images of corporal punishment, whipping and flogging, needle play, cutting, heat play or medical scenes involving areas besides the anus, genitals or breasts are almost certainly safe to possess (though the activities themselves may be illegal due to the Spanner ruling - see below).

In fact the list of images which are certain to fall under the law is very small compared to the wide range of BDSM, kink and fetish images available. If there’s no injury to the areas of the body mentioned above or threat to life the image is almost certainly legal to possess. But there are grey area activities as well which are detailed below.

WHAT DOES “POSSESSION” MEAN?
In the age of the Internet and digital media, possession of images has needed to be refined in law. Clearly if you own a physical photograph or a DVD or video tape then you possess it. But images on your computer are a different matter.

For a start just viewing an image or video on a web site does not constitute “possession”. So you can browse the Internet quite legally.

Your web browser may keep a temporary copy of the web pages and images you browse on your hard disk (the “cache”) but this too does not constitute possession. Nor do unsolicited images received by email as part of a message.

However, if you actively save or download an image or video to your computer or other device from a web page or email, or move or copy the files from the cache then case law has established that this does constitute possession. As, obviously, does printing out such images.

WHAT TYPES OF IMAGES WILL IT BE ILLEGAL TO POSSESS?
If the image or video shows a serious injury to breasts, anus or genitals or the activity is life threatening and the image is produced for sexual arousal it will be illegal to possess it.

WHAT IS SERIOUS INJURY?
“Serious injury” is not explicitly defined in law and it is up to the jury to decide. As a result of the Spanner trials (see below) it was established that “serious injury” when part of sexual activity was anything beyond “transient or trifling” which are equally subjective terms and open to interpretation by a judge or jury.

Breaking limbs, disfigurement, castration and other lasting disabling injuries are very likely to be included. Images of a whipping, beating or cutting of breasts, genitals or the anus which leaves cuts and bruises may be illegal to possess too. Genital modification and medical scenes involving catheters, needles, sounds etc are a grey area but see the Defences section below. A video or series of images which shows that any injuries healed quickly may be a defence to the charge that the injuries were serious. But again this is up to the court.

WHAT IS LIFE THREATENING?
This too is a grey area. Putting a plastic bag over someone’s head, tying a cord around their neck, forcing smoke into their lungs, water immersion, breath control, holding a gun or knife to their head can all be life threatening in the context of a real non-consensual kidnap or torture scene.

Where these activities take place during a consensual BDSM scene the intention is clearly not to threaten or endanger life. However taken in isolation it may not be obvious from the image whether or not there is a real threat to life. If the image is part of a sequence or a video which shows the consensual nature of the activity and that the recipient of the activity was not harmed then that could provide a defence should the images be seized, particularly if you are a participant in the activities.

ARE CLASSIFIED FILMS AND VIDEOS OK?
If a film or video has a certificate from the British Board of Film Classification then it is legal to possess it. However if you take stills or clips from the film to make pornographic material then you could be prosecuted for possessing that material if in isolation it falls under the category of “extreme pornography”.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES?
If found guilty under this section of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act you could be sent to prison for up to three years or fined (or both) and be put on the sex offenders’ register if you receive a prison sentence of over two years.

ARE THERE ANY DEFENCES?
The law provides two relevant defences.

That you did not know you possessed the image, or that you had not requested it and that you did not keep the image for an unreasonable time after becoming aware that you possessed it. So if someone emails you illegal images you should delete the
That the owner of the image directly participated in the acts shown and that there was no non-consensual harm. So in theory it is legal to possess images which show you or a play/partner’s activities even if they show serious injury to breasts, anus or genitals.
HOWEVER

Under the current law in England and Wales consent is not a defence to a charge of assault if the sexual activities cause injuries which are more than “transient or trifling”. So even though you and your partner have actually consented, that consent is not legally allowed as a defence to either a prosecution for possession of the images or prosecution for the activities themselves.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?

Do not download or save images from web sites you visit if you think there is a risk that you could be prosecuted for possessing them
Clear your web browser’s cache regularly or set it to keep images in the cache for as little time as possible (even for no longer than until the end of a browsing session).
Do not take photographs or videos of your own BDSM sexual activity if they show serious injuries to breast, anus or genitals. It may be illegal to possess those images and if you can be identified in the photos or videos you could be prosecuted for the activities themselves
If you have pornographic images which show activities which appear to be life threatening make sure you know who the participants are and that you can be sure there was no real threat to life
If you take pictures or videos of legal consensual SM activity it will help defend any prosecution if you can prove that you participated in the activities (include your face or tattoo or something identifiable, even if just reflected in a mirror)
HOW CAN I BE SURE IMAGES ARE PROPERLY DELETED FROM MY COMPUTER?
Deleting images on a computer usually just moves them to a Recycle bin (in case you made a mistake). So the first thing to do is regularly empty the Recycle bin (or configure your computer to do it automatically).

However the physical space on your hard disk where the deleted files lived may still contain a “ghost” of the files which could be recoverable using special software. To make sure that no trace of the files exists you should download and install a utility usually called a “file shredder” (check Google for where to find one). This will overwrite unused areas of the disk (sometimes to military standard) so that neither you nor anyone else can recover the images you have deleted which might be illegal.

WHAT IS “THE SPANNER RULING”?
In the late 1980s a group of 16 men were charged with various counts of assault as a result of consensual SM activity. The prosecutions were the result of a police investigation called “Operation Spanner”. The men were under the impression that their consent to the activities was a valid defence. But this was rejected by the High Court and by subsequent appeals made as far as the European Court of Human Rights in 1996. In England and Wales consent is not a defence to a charge of assault where injuries caused during sexual activity are more than “trifling or transient”.

WHAT IF I NEED LEGAL ADVICE?
You can contact these solicitors
David Clark 020 7433 1562 email: office at davidclarkandco.co.uk
John Lovatt 020 7247 9336 email: john.lovatt at btinternet.com
You should also inform the Spanner Trust if you are investigated or prosecuted under this new law.

REMEMBER THAT IF YOU ARE ARRESTED OR QUESTIONED BY THE POLICE YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS WITHOUT CONSULTING A SOLICITOR FIRST.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
Make sure as many people as possible are aware of the law. Put a link to the online version of this document on your web site. Forward this email to other people who might be concerned or affected by this new law. Visit the Spanner Trust web site and make a donation to help support our work.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
The Spanner Trust – protecting the legal and human rights of those involved in BDSM
Backlash – the campaign against this new law
SM Gays - a social and educational group for gay men

DISCLAIMER
The Spanner Trust always tries to ensure that all information provided is accurate and up-to-date. However, the law can change and is open to interpretation. Before relying upon any statement made in this document you should take your own independent legal advice and the Spanner Trust cannot accept any liability whatsoever.

Backlash meeting notice

2008-06-21T05:07:00.000-07:00

Mail from Backlash:

The next backlash meeting will be at :

The Wine Tun
2-6 Cannon Street, London EC4M 6XX
Telephone: 020 7248 3371
Fax: 020 7248 3371

Meeting starts at 6.30.

We'll be discussing the future of the campaign against the extreme porn law and everyone is welcome.

Please post anywhere where this might attract some interest.

2007-10-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

Last March, a symposium was held at Durham University, Positions on the Politics of Porn: a Debate on Government Plans to Criminalise the Possession of Extreme Pornography.

The report has now been posted in .pdf form, with submissions from Backlash and from Avedon Carol of FAC.

The F Word interviews Anna Span

2007-10-03T03:54:00.000-07:00

"No porn is good porn?"

Anna Span creates pornography that ignores conventional porn's demands, and says her work is porn "from a woman's perspective". Anna joined FAC several years ago and has since become reasonably successful as an erotic filmmaker.

The article also mentions FAC.

Feminist Fightback

2007-09-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

Feminist Fightback II - Saturday 20 October ‘07

To register, click here.

English Collective of Prostitutes - "Safety First"

2007-07-03T04:30:00.000-07:00

The ECP is holding an event on Wednesday, 11 July at 4:00-5:30 PM at the House of commons called Safety First:

The tragic murders of five young women in Ipswich have brought us together as individuals and organisations concerned with women´s and children´s safety in the area and elsewhere. There is an unprecedented outcry of never again from many who have understood that women are made vulnerable by legislation which criminalizes them, by lack of support, resources and appropriate health treatment, by lack of viable economic alternatives, by violent men being allowed to get away with attacks so they attack again and again.

We are determined that value judgements over the way women live their lives – either because they are sex workers, addicted to drugs, or for any other reason – must never again be an excuse to deny protection. Everyone in our community deserves to be safe from attack, regardless of their occupation, sexual preference, race, age, nationality or lifestyle

Contact: ecp@allwomencount.net

"Extreme" porn clause from the new bill

2007-06-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

The clause relating to so-called extreme pornography can be found here.

Women and Pornography at Sunderland

2007-06-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

We've been alerted to this conference:

May 31, 2007
Women and Pornography
I thought colleagues might also be interested in another event the Centre is hosting, again places are free but you need to email me to reserve a place.

MeCCSA Women’s Media Studies Network presents…

Women and Pornography
An afternoon seminar examining women’s production and consumption of porn in film and on the net.

Venue
University of Sunderland
The Sony Media Building, Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peters

Date and Time
Wednesday 13 June 2007, 1.00pm – 5.15pm

This event is organized by the Centre for Research in Media & Cultural Studies, University of Sunderland. All women working in media, communication and cultural studies welcome. The event is free, but please register before 2nd June 2007 by emailing Clarissa Smith on clarissa.smith@sunderland.ac.uk

For full programme please download file below:

Programme: Download file

(Links in original post.)

Home Office consultation on more child porn laws

2007-04-03T03:46:00.000-07:00

We now go beyond the claims that pictures should be banned because people were harmed to make them, or because they are harmed by having pictures of their own abuse in circulation:

Consultation on the possession of non-photographic visual depictions of child sexual abuse

This consultation paper outlines the concerns about non-photographic visual depictions of child sexual abuse, i.e. computer generated images (CGIs), drawings, animation, etc, and seeks views on proposals to make its possession an offence.

Under current law it is an offence to possess indecent photographs (including videos) and pseudo-photographs of children. However, it is not an offence to possess non-photographic visual depictions of child sexual abuse. The police and children’s welfare groups report a growing increase in interest in these images, including an increase in websites advertising this sort of explicit material.

Police and children’s welfare groups are concerned that these images could fuel the abuse of real children by reinforcing abusers’ inappropriate feelings towards children. These images, particularly as they are often in a cartoon or fantasy style format, could be used in 'grooming' or preparing children for sexual abuse.

Under current law owners of these explicit images could not be prosecuted for their possession, nor could the images be forfeited by the authorities.

The purpose of this paper is to seek a wide range of views on the issues set out in the document and in particular the proposal to make the possession of these images an offence.

The closing date for responses to the consultation is 22 June 2007.

Responses should be sent to:

Consultation On The Possession of Non-Photographic Visual Depictions of Child Sexual Abuse
Criminal Law Policy Unit
2nd Floor, Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

Tel: 020 7035 6981
Fax 0870 336 9141
Email: npvdcsaconsultation@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Date: Mon Apr 02 09:56:41 BST 2007

Full Document
Consultation on the possession of non-photographic visual depictions of child sexual abuse | Download PDF file (336 K )

Woman's Hour misleads on "extreme porn"

2007-03-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

If you want to see how dishonest the debate in Britain about "extreme pornography" is, here's your chance with this episode of Woman's Hour.

Let's be clear: It's just a bit dishonest to say that the search for evidence that this material causes harm is "inconclusive"; the evidence is that people have tried for decades to establish any link between pornography and harm, and have been unable to find support for it. There is a point at which the consistent failure to find that link is pretty strong evidence that this line of enquiry is a waste of time that deflects resources from more fruitful and promising courses.

Moreover, the casual assurances of these guests that the police would take civil liberties concerns on board are at best naive; that's not how it works in the real world, as history has repeatedly shown. You may want to ask Women's Hour why this show had no speaker who understood the concerns of people who oppose this legislation.

Deborah Hyde's speech from the Durham conference

2007-03-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

Deborah Hyde of Backlash and Avedon Carol of Feminists Against Censorship were both invited to speak at the Positions on the Politics of Porn conference at Durham University on Thursday, 15 March 2007. The Times wrote an article on it, here.

Deborah has also posted her speech on the Backlash site.

Lets's go back to the start of the discussion.
The government says there is no evidence but ...
Substitute any word you like for the word pornography in that sentence and then see whether you would still support the government's plans to criminalise people who have done nothing wrong.

Abortion Rights March

2007-02-15T16:56:00.000-08:00

We have received the following message from Femininist Fightback:

Dear sisters and brothers,

We need your help in building the protest for abortion rights due to take place on Saturday 3 March.

On 21 October, more than 220 people attended the Feminist Fightback conference at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London to discuss issues including feminism and sexual expression, women's movements in the Middle East, women workers organising against low and unequal pay, men's role in the fight against sexism, sex workers' struggles - and abortion rights. To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act which legalised abortion in Britain, the organising session of the conference agreed to hold a torch-lit march for abortion rights in central London a day close to International Women's Day (which is Thursday 8 March). With anti-choice right-wingers currently on the offensive, we believe that this protest is very important indeed.

We will be meeting on Saturday 3 March from 6.30pm at University of London Union on Malet Street (Goodge Street, Euston, Euston Square or Russell Square tube), to march followed by a rally. This event is open to all, men and women. Our demands are:

- No reduction in the 24-week time limit for access to abortion.
- The right to abortion on demand (this means an end to having to get the consent of two doctors) up to the legal time limit.
- The extension of abortion rights to women in Northern Ireland.
- Abortion to be integrated into the NHS as an ordinary medical service.
- An end to privatisation, marketisation and fragmentation in the NHS; increased public funding to guarantee free and equal access to abortion.
- Improved access to and increased choice of publicly funded contraception.
- Clear, honest, comprehensive and confidential sexuality and relationship education for all children which addresses issues of consent and domestic violence.
- A real 'right to choose' which also means the right to have a child free from economic and social pressure. This requires a real living wage for all workers, benefits which can be lived on and rise with earnings, universal publicly funded childcare and an end to the stigmatisation of single mothers.

What you can do:

- Officially support the march. If you, your women's group or other organisation would like to do so, just get in touch.
- Advertise the march as widely as possible by putting the information on websites, email lists etc, putting up posters, distributing leaflets (both of which can be downloaded for copying online here).
- Bring a delegation on the march (if you can let us know in advance, that would be helpful for planning, but of course you can just turn up on the day - the more, the merrier!)
- Invite a speaker to your women's group etc to tell you more about the march, Feminist Fightback, ENS Women or feminist activism generally!

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on 3 March!

In solidarity,

Debbie Hollingsworth and Laura Schwartz
Feminist Fightback organising team

Sofie Buckland
National Union of Students National Executive

- www.fightback.org.uk / www.socialistfeminist.org.uk
- team@fightback.org.uk

Update on Scotsgay

2007-01-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

Scotsgay magazine is still trying to fight the ban on their magazine at the LGBT Centre in Dixon Street, and would welcome a bit of help from supporters. Go to the link for more information.

London Map project

2006-12-24T04:23:00.000-08:00

Londoners might want to help Agnes Poitevin-Navarre with her map project.

This is an art project - completely non-toxic, as far as I can see, and might end up being interesting. She'd love to have FAC's members and supporters participate.

ScotsGay magazine banned from Glasgow LGBT Centre

2006-12-17T04:51:00.000-08:00

We've received this message from John Hein at ScotsGay:

If you have been used to picking up your monthly copy of ScotsGay in Glasgow's publicly funded LGBT Centre in Dixon Street, we regret that you are no longer able to do so. This is because the Centre has banned distribution of the magazine in their premises.

According to the Centre's Ruth Black, "We consider the sexual content of the magazine inappropriate for the Centre. We have to take into account that people as young as thirteen are using the place".

She told ScotsGay that the ban also extends to the privately run cafe/bar in the Centre.

The bone of contention appears to be what is claimed to be the explicit nature of some of our personal ads (tame by comparison with other publications), the fact that (in common with most LGBT publications) we carry adverts for escorts and that there are willies on the covers of some of the DVDs advertised by a licenced gay sex shop in Edinburgh.

When we asked Ms Black if young people using the Centre were entitled to the information contained in the magazine, we were rather primly informed that the Centre would provide them with information that the Centre considered appropriate. We didn't have the heart to ask about safer sex information (something which the last two issues of the magazine has carried with explicit detail).

Jamie Rennie, Chief Executive of LGBT Youth Scotland (which provides services for 13-25 year olds and has recently opened an office in the Centre) told us, "ScotsGay should not be denied to the LGBT community at large. If the Centre's management take the position that the publication is not suitable for under 16's, they should put in place suitable safeguards. We would not ban ScotsGay from any of our projects and consider it to be a valued resource for our community".

The directors of the charity which runs the LGBT Community Centre in Edinburgh (who include the publisher of ScotsGay) laughed until the tears ran down their legs at the very idea of banning the magazine, "We're a Centre for the LGBT Community - not a Children's Adventure Playground".

The LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing (also in Edinburgh) hosts parents' meetings at which children are present but they take place in a room which does not display ScotsGay or, for that matter, any sexual health information material. The magazine is freely available elsewhere in the Centre.

Martin Walker, editor of ScotsGay reasoned, "If ScotsGay is banned from a gay centre because of homosexual content, then all the LGBT magazines must be banned.What kind of gay community centre refuses to stock gay community publications? There are those in Glasgow that don't use the scene, because they don't drink, or use sex shops, who depend on the Centre to be an outlet for ScotsGay. Who's going to serve them?

Graham Coutts' murder conviction overturned

2006-10-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

The so-called "violent porn internet killer" who was convicted of murder has had his conviction quashed, according to the Register:

In the original trial, jurors heard how he had viewed extreme violent internet pornography, particularly strangulation fetish sites. Coutts' defence argued that Ms Longhurst's death was an accident during consensual sex.

A trio of appeal judges yesterday upheld a Law Lords decision that the conviction was unsafe. The Law Lords said jurors should have been given the option of a manslaughter verdict.

Via Epicycle.

Feminist Fightback conference agenda

2006-10-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

Feminist Fightback is a one day activist conference, initiated by Education Not for Sale Women, for anyone interested in the struggle for women's liberation. The conference is on Saturday October 21, at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square, London. Nearest tube stops are Russell Square, Euston and Goodge Street.

Speakers include Abby Lee, author of the "Girl with a one track mind" blog on feminism and sexual expression; sacked Gate Gourmet workers; NUS Women's Officer Kat Stark; International Union of Sexworkers; Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq; Scottish Socialist women on sexism on the left; health workers on low pay and abortion rights; and many more...All day: stalls, exhibition on Grunwick strike, creche

12-12.40pm Opening plenary: International solidarity for women's liberation Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq; Azar Sheibani, Iranian women's rights activist; Women of Zimbabwe Arise (invited); ENS Women.

12.45-1.45pm Session 1 a) Sex workers organising for their rights Speaker: International Union of Sexworkers b) Trans liberation Speaker: Joanna Stuart; Beaumont Society c) Asian women's struggles Speaker: Amrit Wilson, South Asia Solidarity Group; Faz Velmi, TGWU activist

1.45-2.25pm Lunch Showing of 'Stand Together', film about Grunwick struggle, 1976-8

2.25-3.25pm Session 2 a) Building campaigning women's groups. Speakers: Sussex Uni women's group; Kat Stark, NUS Women's Officer b) Challenging sexism on the left, building a socialist feminist labour movement Scottish Socialist Party women; Jean Lane, author of "Women in a 'man's job': experiences of a woman building worker and trade unionist" c) Feminism without borders: trafficking, asylum and immigration rights Speakers: No Borders network; refugee speaker; Carys Ofoko, Close Campsfield campaign

3.35-4.35pm Session 3 a) Low pay, equal pay and women workers' struggle Amrit Wilson; Marsha Jane-Thompson, Unison London young members' convenor; Maria Exall, CWU; Lorna Campbell, PCS Equalities Officer b) Feminism and sexual expression Speakers: Abby Lee, author of “Girl with a one track mind” blog; Feminists Against Censorship; Backlash; Sofie Buckland, NUS c) Queer liberation Emma Persky, NUS LGBT committee, 2005-6

4.35-4.50pm Break

4.50-5.50pm Session 4 a) Abortion rights campaigning (Women only session) Speaker: Kate Ahrens, Keep Our NHS Public and Unison; others TBC b) Men's role in the fight against sexism c) Film: Bread & Roses, the women's movement in Argentina

5.55-7pm Plenary What way forward for the women's liberation movement? Speakers: Gate Gourmet worker; Cathy Nugent, editor, Solidarity; ENS Women; other speakers Collection for Gate Gourmet workersClosing remarks from Sofie Buckland

Close 7.10pm followed by fundraising social with bands at the Ivy House, 8-10, Southampton Row, London

Feminist Fightback Conference on Saturday

2006-10-16T05:24:00.000-07:00

FAC, Abby Lee (author of the "Girl with a one track mind" blog) and Backlash will be speaking about feminism and sexual expression at the Feminist Fightback conference on 21 October. This will take place at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square, London. (Nearest tube stops are Russell Square, Euston and Goodge Street.)

This is is a one day activist conference, initiated by Education Not for Sale Women. Other speakers on the agenda include sacked Gate Gourmet workers; NUS Women's Officer Kat Stark; International Union of Sexworkers; Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq; Scottish Socialist women on sexism on the left and Kate Ahrens from Keep Our NHS Public on abortion rights.

Blogging for Backlash Day today

2006-10-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

I've posted a blog on my Livejournal here and Hazel has posted blogs by both of us on her blog here.

Compensation for Big Brother Contestant

2006-10-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

It has been reported that Lesley Sanderson, a contestant from the 2005 series of Big Brother, has received a payout because of a false claim in the Sunday Sport that she had a threesome. Her advocate told the judge that the story caused her "huge distress, humiliation and embarrassment" and that "she found it horrific and extremely upsetting, especially knowing that it would be read by her friends and family. She still finds it difficult to go out socially knowing that people have read the false claims about her."

While I appreciate that Sanderson would want to put the untrue story straight and seek compensation from the paper for printing it, I would also say it's rather sad that we still live in an age where the suggestion that a woman has had a threesome is something that can cause "huge distress, humiliation and embarrassment." The story seems to indicate that, even in 2006, we women are subjected to the same scrutiny as we ever were. We are free to bare our breasts or proudly and publicly refer to their size (as Sanderson frequently did during the show) but enjoying sex with more than one man at a time would be somehow shameful.

It seems that, yet again, the ominipresent Conservative critique wins the day. We might not be expected to play "virgins" anymore, but we're still under pressure to defend our precious reputations by not being seen to do anything that could lead to us being branded as "whores".

New feminist blog

2006-09-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

Hazel has just started a new blog which may be of interest.

Blogging for Backlash on the 9th October

2006-09-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

On the 9th October parliament returns from the summer recess. Backlash is asking that anyone who opposes the violent porn proposals writes a blog about this on that date and has it listed on a master list - http://bloggingforbacklash.blogspot.com/

Blogs can and do influence opinions. The Blogging for Backlash day would enable us all to be heard in one concentrated effort. And we could repeat this after the Queen's Speech in November.

If you would like to take part, please go to the Blogging for Backlash blog and add a comment.

Please pass on this message to anyone you think might be interested.

Some "violent porn" article links

2006-09-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

Links for posts and articles about the proposed legislation on "violent" or "extreme" pornography:

FAC member Holly Combe contributed to this Guardian article with various comments, pro and con.

Frank Fisher in Comment is Free, with a comment from Avedon.

Bobette's summary of the consultation paper and the submissions to it.

Val Dobson disagreeing with anti-porn activist Julie Bindel. FAC member Feorag comments at her own weblog.

More from Charlie Stross and Epicycle.

Download the petition

2006-09-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

Unfettered is circulating this petition (click to download) to lodge objections to the proposed ban on "violent" or "extreme" pornography. The text reads as follows:

To: the Home Office and the Scottish Executive

It is proposed by the current UK government to criminalise the viewing of certain pornographic material. We, the undersigned have no objection to laws which make extreme violent and dangerous acts illegal, but feel current proposals are too vague and not defined tightly enough to implement fairly.

We therefore oppose government proposals to make it illegal to view these images because:

a) The proposals could lead to hundreds of thousands of ordinary, innocent people being sent to jail and possibly having their names added to the Sex Offender’s Register just because the government doesn’t like what they choose to look at;

b) If it becomes law it will put unnecessary strain on already stretched police resources.

We call on the Government to get out of our bedrooms and abandon the proposed legislation.

We encourage you to download a copy and try to get a few signatures, and forward them on to Unfettered.

New FAC Book

2006-07-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

We are currently inviting more contributions for the next FAC book 'Come Quietly'. This project has been on hold for a while and we are very pleased to announce its return!

Our invitation is mainly for the group but we also welcome input from FAC supporters who are not necessarily members of FAC.

"Come Quietly" will be an edited collection of personal essays by women, detailing the effects of censorship on our lives, both directly and in more subtle insidious ways. The book will be a follow-on from "Tales from the Clit" and one of its aims is to promote the idea that equality of the sexes shouldn’t inevitably lead to restricted sexual freedom and limited access to sexually explicit material. We would also like the book to draw attention to wider censorship issues that are not necessarily concerned with sexually explicit material or the suppression of non-standard sexual preferences. We are presently short on submissions of this sort and would therefore be interested in receiving more pieces that look at issues such as free speech and politics.

Pieces can be anywhere between 600 and 6000 words. Updates and revisions to our guidelines will be published on this blog.

Backlash

2006-07-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

Backlash have produced an animated banner and are asking people if they would include it on their websites and in their blogs to help spread the word.

The Government's proposals on 'extreme' porn

2006-07-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

Backlash is continuing to urge everyone who is concerned about the Governments proposals to outlaw the possession of so-called extreme porn, to write to their MPs and MEPs.

The consultation period is now over and we are waiting to hear whether the Government intends to take the proposals any further. It seems likely that they will. It is not yet known whether they will make any announcements about their intentions before or after the summer recess, which begins on the 25th July.

FAC fundraiser at LAM

2006-07-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

This was a great success and a significant amount of money was raised for FAC.

I'd just like to say thank you, on behalf of FAC, to all those who donated raffle prizes - Fairygothmother, Richard Larsen, Precious, Jungle Black Widow, Monkeyspanker and LAM. To the two food stalls - My Lady's Crepes and The Deviant Diner for donating a part of their day's takings to FAC. And to the London Alternative Market for giving us the opportunity to publicise ourselves at their event.

Our condolences

2006-07-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

FAC shares the grief of Pink Floyd fans everywhere upon the death of Syd Barrett.

"Shine on You Crazy Diamond."