Click here to take the survey!

* I will now voice my disappointment that I can’t vote for Trotskyists, who a friend of mine once described as “the cute communists”

The site is outdated and only speaks the the last presidential election, which I find a little sad, but,  I encourage you anyway, to take a gander at the site, considering making a pledge if only to yourself, and get your sexy self to the polls on November 4th.  This could very easily be the most important election of your life.

Happy Voting!

~*~Red~*~

P.S. Make sure to read up on Prop K as well! It’s about time sex workers get the safety and support they deserve.

Now, I know that lots of folks will have lots of opinions and beliefs about each of these. But we’ve been dealing with the social and public health consequences of a sex-negative president for a while now and if you haven’t been affected by our current policies directly, you probably know someone who has. Personally, I think that it’s time for the politicians to stop trying to control everyone’s sex lives and to stop trying to force us to accept ideology instead of accurate, non-judgmental information.

Things that John McCain opposes:

* Equal pay legislation, saying it wouldn’t do “anything to help the rights of women.”
* Requiring health care plans to cover birth control.
* Comprehensive, medically accurate sex education.
* Funding to prevent unintended and teen pregnancies.
* Funding for public education about emergency contraception.
* Restoring family planning services for low-income women.
* Roe v. Wade and says it should be overturned.

and…

* In his 25 years in Washington, DC, John McCain has voted anti-choice 125 times!

I also invite you to read John McCain in His Own Words, also courtesy of the Planned Parenthood Action Center. And if you want a grimly funny video clip, here’s one for you:

Ever since having a conversation with a dear friend about the Palin porn he envisioned (filed under MILF of course) I’ve been waiting for the industry to pony up and release a Palin-inspired title. And after watching last night’s debate… I was hoping somebody would hurry and start filming…

The wait is over! Just read this on AVN:

Hustler Reveals Details of Palin Porn Flick
Lisa Ann to play lead role in ‘Nailin’ Paylin’

By: David Sullivan

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Hustler Video has cast Lisa Ann as Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin in a porn spoof called Nailin’ Paylin.

Word of the latest political parody from Larry Flynt and company spread earlier today after the New York Daily News printed a rumor that Hustler was seeking Palin look-alikes on Craigslist. Hustler Video denied any connection with the ad but confirmed the Palin parody is in the works.

“Nailin’ Paylin will take the viewer on a naughty adventure to the wild side of that sexy Alaska governor,” the company announced in a press release. “Sara Paylin will not only be showing us some girl-on-girl lovin’ but will also be nailing the Russians, who come knocking on her back-door (wink, wink) and in a flashback, young Paylin’s creationist college professor will explain a ‘big bang’ theory even she can’t deny!”

One scene will show the Palin character in a lesbian threesome with characters based on Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice. The movie will also feature a Bill O’Reilly character as the announcer who dishes dirt on the Paylin sex scandals.

“Obviously, the real life antics of Sarah Palin are much funnier than anything we could ever make up,” Hustler exec Jeff Thill told AVN. “Her public appearances seem more like a trailer for a Farrelly brothers film then a carefully executed run at the White House.”

Jerry T. is signed to direct. Hustler plans to have Nailin’ Paylin on the streets in time for the November election.

You can donate to Prop K through a website Scarlot Harlot has created: www.yesonpropk.org, which helps some great folks spread the word about decriminalizing prostitution in SF. (Donating is an easy way for busy folks to participate.)

Photo: Sadie Lune

Recently the SF MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) showed it’s support for sex workers rights movement, providing free advertising through auditions via Tony Labat’s show “I WANT YOU”. Look for Sadie Lune, 1st place winner, on posters throughout SF during the week before the election. Check out a video screening of the auditions at a free screening at SFMOMA on Tuesday Nov 4th at 6pm. (Thanks SFMOMA for your support!)

Are you located in the Bay Area or know someone who is?

Let them know that they can come to the State Building this Wednesday (ie Tomorrow) August 13th at 6:30pm to testify or to support those who testify about why sex work should be decriminalized in San Francisco. You just need to get up and talk for ONE MINUTE about why you support this – regardless if you identify as a sex worker – just if you support this issue. Feel free to bring a mask if you do not want to show you face. There is an example of what to say listed below, so this does not have to be off-the-cuff. The summary that will appear on the ballot pamphlet is also listed below. For extensive informaiton, please go to: http://www.bayswan.org/SFInitiative08

(Warning: this clip is Not Safe for Sex Workers. ; ) If anyone has any tip on how to stomach watching Bill O’Reilly please let me know.)

THIS IS **YOUR** BIG CHANCE TO HELP DECRIMINALIZE PROSTITUTION!

Show up for Public Testimony at Democratic Central Committee. This Wednesday, August 13 at the State Building, 455 Golden Gate between Larkin and Polk, (across from the Federal Building) Milton Marks Auditorium (in the basement?)

Show up at 6:30 PM even though the meeting starts at 7 PM, but we are very close to the top of the agenda. This is the most important and most promising endorsement meeting, the Democratic Central Committee. They are the ones with the most flyer distribution and people take it pretty seriously. If we can get our friends to come to this meeting, it could have a HUGE impact on the initiative. We also have to make sure they don’t endorse in opposition to us! (BTW the Harvey Milk Club PAC endorsed us, so it’s coming along!)

Email Carol or Slava to let us know you are coming or call 415-751-1659 for more info. Pass this to your personal friends. We are also posting this around. We want sex workers and supporters, even (and especially) with masks for security purposes to come forth and ask the committee to endorse the Sex Work Prostitution Ballot Measure.

Please DON’T FEEL ANY PRESSURE TO ‘COME OUT’ as all supporters’ voices are important. Further info, contact:

Slava Osowska, IWW “Slava”
Carol Leigh, BAYSWAN Carol Leigh

So, the meeting is around 7 PM at the Sate building-AND PUBLIC COMMENT IS AT THE BEGINNING. You can gather outside and be with friends at 6:30 to be safe and so we can talk together. We believe phone banking for this would be helpful, calling your friends and asking them to show up. Please call me for help with that. 415-751-1659. Your speech will be 1 minute long. Even if you don’t testify, your presence will be appreciated. Personal experiences are valuable, etc. A focused message would be about WORKERS ORGANIZING and SAFETY, but individual accounts are also valuable.

For example, my speech is: (I have worked as a sex worker in San Francisco for ____ years. Or, you could say: Many people in my community are sex workers.) I am asking the Democratic Central Committee to endorse the prostitution ballot measure. We are workers. We are an important part of San Francisco. We have contributed a great deal, historically and now, through culture and economically. The criminalization makes us vulnerable to all sorts of abuses such as rape, robbery. As criminals, we can’t access police protection as we are targets of the police. We need to be decriminalized in order to be able to organize as workers. As members of the community, we ask you to endorse the ballot measure to support the health, safety and labor rights of sex workers. (You might also want to say you are a registered Democrat if you are. )

Background info for you: Below is the summary as it will appear in ballot pamphlet. For extensive information, including complete text of the measure. You can also see video including Leigh, Few (with Bill O’Reilly), Starchild (on CNN) and Cindy Sheehan at the rally advocating for the ballot measure.

San Francisco Prostitution Ballot Measure 2008: ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS RELATED TO PROSTITUTION AND SEX WORKERS Prostitution Ballot Measure as it will appear in the San Francisco Voters’ Pamphlet 2008 THE WAY IT IS NOW: State and local laws prohibit prostitution. State and federal laws prohibit human trafficking for prostitution or forced labor. Criminal laws also prohibit crimes such as battery, extortion and rape, regardless of the victim’s status as a prostitute or sex worker. In 1994, the Board of Supervisors established a Task Force on Prostitution (Task Force) to examine prostitution in the City and to recommend social and legal reforms.

In 1996 the Task Force released a report recommending that:

* City departments stop enforcing and prosecuting prostitution crimes;

* City departments instead focus on neighborhood complaints about quality of life infractions;

* The City redirect funds from prosecution and incarceration to providing services and alternatives for those involved in prostitution.

To date, the City has implemented some of the Task Force’s recommendations. In 2003, the City adopted an ordinance transferring the licensing and regulation of massage parlors from the Police Department to the Department of Public Health (DPH). In 2006, DPH adopted another recommendation by establishing an anonymous telephone message line for sex workers to voice concerns about their working conditions. The District Attorney’s office, in cooperation with the Police Department and a local non-profit organization, manages the First Offender Prostitution Program. This is a diversion program with separate programs for prostitutes and clients who have been arrested. It is partially funded by fees from clients who have been arrested.

THE PROPOSAL: Proposition __ would prohibit the Police Department from providing resources to investigate and prosecute prostitution. It would also prohibit the Police Department from applying for federal or state funds that involve racial profiling to target alleged trafficking victims and would require any existing funds to implement the Task Force’s recommendations.

Proposition ___ would require the Police Department and the District Attorney to enforce existing criminal laws that prohibit coercion, extortion, battery, rape, sexual assault and other violent crimes, regardless of the victim’s status as a sex worker. It also requires these agencies to fully disclose the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against sex workers.

Proposition ___ would prohibit the City from funding or supporting the First Offender Prostitution Program or any similar anti-prostitution program.

The Board of Supervisors would be able to amend this measure by a two-thirds vote if it found the amendments would reduce criminalization of prostitution and violence against sex workers.

A “YES” VOTE MEANS: If you vote “yes,” you want the City to:

* stop enforcing laws against prostitution,

* stop funding or supporting the First Offender Prostitution Program or any similar anti-prostitution program,

* enforce existing criminal laws that prohibit crimes such as battery, extortion and rape, regardless of the victim’s status as a sex worker, and

* fully disclose the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against sex workers.

A “NO” VOTE MEANS: If you vote “no,” you do not want to make these changes

Thanks Queerty!

Other folks from Good Vibrations had a great Pride weekend as well. Here’s a quick shout out from Jack, and our own bloggers Misty and smartyboots:

*******

From Misty:
“My sweetie and I had the pleasure of being guests at the wedding of two former GV staffers. City Hall was opened up special so they, and two other couples, could be married. This ceremony was extra special as it was presided over by former GV Board Member Margaret Cho. She’s shooting a new show and who better to star in an episode than people she’s already worked with!

The brides were both decked in 80s-style back and white and with only a few days to throw it all together – it went off smashingly.

It was a short ceremony but totally gorgeous with the nuptials occurring on the sweeping staircase right in the center of City Hall.

Usually I spend my Pink Saturday lounging it the park – and I look forward to running into old friends. But this, truly, was worth missing all of that. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

*******

From Jack: How I Spent My Pride Sunday, or Who Wore What

“I got up early on Sunday so that I could help my friend John Burnside get ready for the Pride parade. John is 91, the widow of Harry Hay and was one of organizers of the first Radical Faerie gathering in 1979. He rode in a car with Joey Cain who was one of the Grand Marshals of the parade.

Joey is a community organizer, a past president of the Pride Board and works at the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic. John wore puss-print jacket and a hat with orange flowers. Joey was in gold lame wearing a purple feather hat.

Since both John and Joey are Radical Faeries, Joey was able to place his grand marshal car right in front of the Radical Faerie contingent, which is where I marched with my friend Clayton, who was much photographed in his rainbow dress that was seven and a half feet wide.

At the end of the parade we hung out at Faerie Village, a fenced-off grassy area in the Pride Celebration at Civic Center. It turns out that Clayton’s dress could seat four or more Faeries. I wore a turquoise dress with the Hindu god Ganesh on the front and a turquoise feather wig.

I was not able to see Theresa Sparks, Good Vibrations CEO in her grand marshal car riding with Violet Blue and Margaret Cho, but I was able to snag a photo from the Internet.”

(here’s another image that is copy written so we couldn’t post it here: http://flickr.com/photos/mrdodgy/2623931626/)

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From smartyboots: Dyke March and No Pride

“When the little woman got home from work we bundled up in our winter coats (it being summer in San Francisco) to catch what we could of the Dyke March. I’ve never watched it from the sidelines before and I have to say, it’s definitely better people watching there than when you’re actually in the parade. Standing on Valencia we got a great view of the drummers and the gay boys hanging from the fire escape across the street and the OH GOOD LORD WHY AREN’T THEY WEARING SHIRTS AREN’T THEY COLD?!??? I have never exactly understood how marching down the street topless is empowering, but let’s all just blame that on my conservative heartland upbringing and move on, shall we? Afterward we stopped at the Valencia GV store to say hi to folks, have a free beer and check out the dancers. The dj kicked ass and the store was packed. Afterwards we proceeded to have some not-especially-gay sushi. Sunday we were even less gay and went to the Alameda County Fair instead of Pride. We saw a pig sitting on another pig’s head, so, while it wasn’t gay, it was a little queer.”

Here’s the information from Publisher’s Weekly:

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) has blasted a new Indiana law that requires bookstores to register with the government if they sell what is considered “sexually explicit materials.” The new law, H.B. 1042, was signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on March 13, and calls for any bookseller that sells sexually explicit materials to register with the Secretary of State and provide a statement detailing the types of books to be sold. The Secretary of State must then identify those stores to local government officials and zoning boards. “Sexually explicit material” is defined as any product that is “harmful to minors” under existing law. There is a $250 registration fee. Failure to register is a misdemeanor.

ABFFE spokesman Chris Finan said the law is the only one of its kind currently on the books in the country. Calling it “clearly unconstitutional,” Finan said ABFFE will urge the Media Coalition to challenge the law at the organization’s next meeting on April 9. H.B. 1042 does not go into effect until July, by which time Finan is hopeful the lawsuit will be filed and an injunction issued by the court.

Free Speech is not guaranteed and the more we sit by and allow laws like this to go through the less rights we are going to have. It’s frustrating to see other states following suit as well – especially Oregon, where I used to live.

Mike Powell of Powell’s books, is one of the booksellers fighting a similar Oregon law. Powell changed the face of bookstores in Oregon (and runs one of the most successful online book stores) opening a store that spans an entire city block with multiple floors and has opened 5 or 6 other stores around the city. It’s good to know that he is also willing to stand up for Free Speech and be vocal about all of our rights to sell books with adult content.

Good Vibrations has sold books of a sexual nature since the day we opened our doors. One of the reasons our founder decided to start her own business is she was having a difficult time finding any store that would stock the books she’d written that dealt with sex and sexuality. That was over 31 years ago and we still have to fight this same fight.

It’s important for people to have access to books that not only teach but help individuals and couples learn to communicate and how to have great sex. I’ll always remember the first time I heard that sexual pleasure was our birthright – and I believe it to the core. But we don’t grow up having real sex education beyond condom use (if you’re lucky enough to get that). How to give good head or what positions can assist in stimulating the G-Spot, how to safely enjoy anal sex or become orgasmic – these books are really important to our sexual enjoyment and long-term exploration. And where else can you get your hands on good smut – graphic novels, erotic compilations etc… I’m thrilled to be able to offer the amount of books that GV stocks and hope to expand what we offer.

Free Speech is important. If you live in one of the states where bookstores are under attack I urge you to stand up for your right to learn about sex and sexuality – and your right to read and enjoy books about sex, sexuality and smut!