Tip of the hat, Wag of the finger - Porn Edition

In the style of my favorite fake newscaster Stephen Colbert, I’m going to do a porn edition of a segment called Tip of the hat, Wag of the finger.

A tip of my hat goes to students at the University of Maryland, who in spite of threats from conservative state legislators to cut funding, are planning to continue a scheduled screening of Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge:

“Sen. Andy Harris proposed a budget amendment to withhold funds from any state college or university allowing the screening of pornographic films. He argued that, “students would like to portray this as a free speech issue … it is not. This is about the use of taxpayer dollars … on something as detrimental to our society as hardcore pornography.”

But the notion that taxpayer money is being used to subsidize the horny whims of college freshmen is exaggerated, as tickets will be purchased to view the film. Clearly, only those who wish to partake in the pleasure will view Pirates II. Student groups like the Student Power Party and sympathetic professors correctly argue the screening represents the basic freedom of speech under the First Amendment.”

So to the students of University of Maryland, excellent job exercising your right to free speech, and good luck with your screening of one of the most entertaining full length feature pornos in our time.

A wag of my finger goes to the state of Massachusetts, who have decided that porn featuring elders or disabled persons is inherently unacceptable and exploitive:

“Massachusetts has come up with a novel new spin on the old prudishness:  targeting sexual depictions of senior citizens and the disabled. In order to protect these two groups from “exploitation,” Massachusetts State Rep Kathi-Anne Reinstein has submitted legislation that would punish the manufacture of adult materials starring persons over 60 or disabled persons with prison terms between ten and twenty years, plus fines ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Legal Satyricon notes that not only is this law an assault against constitutional protections of speech, but it’s also highly paternalistic about the sexual desirability and ability to consent of people who aren’t young and perfectly healthy:   “Believe it or not, there is a market for “elder porn,” as well as “disability porn,” and those markets are served by consenting, healthy, elderly and disabled models. Naturally, some of this market caters to fetishists, but before you start saying “ewwww,” consider that there also happen to be many healthy members of society who don’t believe that sexual desirability ends at 60, nor at any other age, and it’s not just big in Japan.”

This type of legislation is  a continuation of pervasive discourses surrounding the elderly and disabled that do not treat them as proper adults, but more like non-sexual children who need to be protected.  I suggest that Kathi-Anne Reinstein take a look at Bill and Desiree: Love is Timeless, Tony Comstock’s latest feature which features an older couple who are not only willing, but eager to show their love and lovemaking on film.  Here is a clip of Bill and Desiree discussing why they are totally comfortable with their decision to go on film, and why they think that pornography can be beneficial to people and give them opportunities to learn.