FSC Shoots, Scores With Y2K Lobbying Days

The Free Speech Coalition held its sixth annual Celebrate Free Speech Lobbying Days on May 7 through 9, and the effort was an unqualified success - at least partly because for the first time in many years, there was no legislation under consideration before either the state Senate or Assembly to which the adult industry objected.

"Attendance varied during the three-day session, with some busy folk like Moonlite Bunnyranch owner Dennis Hof showing up for the early sessions, and James Weiser (an actor and Shayla LaVeaux's significant other) arriving about midway through Monday's seminars.

"Also for the first time this year, the fledgling lobbyists took part in two separate learning tracks, the brainchild (as was the entire three-day session) of FSC lobbyist Kat Sunlove and N-ACT head Bobby Lilly; one for the several beginners, including FSC Chairman Scott Tucker (Topco Sales) and Executive Director Bill Lyon, Tucker's assistant and FSC Board liaison Francia Hinricks, actor/directorTaliesin, actress/director/performance artist/etc. Annie Sprinkle, actress Devinn Lane, writer/production assistant Liza Van Dohrn, Lynn Swanson (M&M Sales), authors Dr. Carol Queen (Good Vibrations) and Robert Lawrence, and several others; and one for "advanced" veterans such as Lilly, Joy King (VP of Wicked Pictures), actress/producer Juli Ashton, actor Dave Cummings, actress/director Nina Hartley, Mara Epstein (iCandy Entertainment and FSC Board member), actress/director Christi Lake, photog John Alleyn, plus FSC Board members/attorneys Jeffrey Douglas and Al Gelbard.

"The opening session on Sunday afternoon consisted of a "celebrity reception" and a panel discussion involving Hartley; Lilly; Queen; Terry Francke, General Counsel to the California First Amendment Coalition; journalist Stephen Levine; and Dana Mitchell, a consultant to the California Senate's Judiciary Committee.

"Monday morning, the lobbyists split into their separate tracks, with the beginners covering such essentials as the Miller test for obscenity, the Freeman decision and the Supreme Court-approved restrictions on speech, while the advanced students were treated to a long analysis of the results of the Pap's A.M. case and the history of expressive speech suppression explained by attorney Gelbard, with assistance from AVN Senior Editor Mark Kernes and N-ACT's Bobby Lilly.

"The two groups reconvened later for exercises in analysis of actual legislation and preparation of testimony before state agencies and committees, plus role-playing to test the lobbyists' ability to confront legislators spontaneously and still present coherent cases for their views. Monday evening saw a reception for legislators and their staffs at Brannan's Restaurant, which played host to much more California officialdom than had previous outreach attempts.

"On Tuesday morning, after a press conference on the Capitol steps which focused on the Pap's A.M. decision, the group split into six teams of three or four members each, and headed for appointments with legislators or their support staffs. Each team either visited or "dropped in on" (gave literature to) about 15 pols, explaining the workings of the industry and soliciting sponsorship for FSC's two proposed pieces of legislation: The "Access To Seized Records Act," which would permit a business owner whose records were seized by police to make copies of the records in order to continue in business while the investigation was ongoing; and the "Employment Through Fraudulent Identity Act," which would prevent minors from obtaining employment in sexually explicit features though presenting false identity papers.

The lobbying days finished with a cocktail party back at the Radisson Hotel, with an exhausted coterie of adult industry members flying off to gigs around the country. Look for a more detailed report in the July AVN.