Anti-Porn Protest Gets Weird

The Lion’s Den chain has undergone an impressive image change lately. I don’t know about your local store, but the one near my hometown is lovely and even features clean and friendly restrooms. When I lived in Louisville, the local Lion’s Den was one of 2 stores where I could enter knowing with full confidence that the staff would be respectful and make sure that my fellow customers also treated me appropriately.

Unfortunately, a Lion’s Den in Indiana has come under attack by anti-porn protesters, who are not only violating local ordinances in their protest, but also harassing customers and employees by means such as taking their pictures and posting them on the internet.

Now, I will come right out and say that I am not a fan of the push for increasingly edgy porn that has led to a flood of violent and painful portrayals of sex between male/female actors, as well as male/male actors. I’m also aware that watching violent porn has been shown in some research to increase a desire to engage in violent sex. Yes, we’re monkeys with a drive to impersonate what we see from the day we’re born. Does that make all porn, the porn industry, and all sex toys something to wage a war against? Does it mean that porn is nothing but horrid and getting rid of it will fix major social ills? Or perhaps that decent people don’t patronize sex stores? *Cough* So why are protesters in Indiana flipping out in front of their local Lion’s Den over an unrelated sex crime that happened before the store even opened?

Heck if I know! People get very excited about their causes and lack the sense to see if the information backs them up. These folks are upset, and rightfully so, about a sex crime against a female minor that occurred prior to the opening of the store. In response, they have organized to try to shut down the store by violating area laws (with no response from police or government) and attempting to ruin the lives of customers and employees. It seems that they believe this store, and its wares, somehow caused the crime.

Countless studies and professional accounts demonstrate that adult products, especially when tastefully done (but including the trashy stuff), can help couples to have more frequent and enjoyable sex. Both men and women are turned on by watching explicit videos, so it is NOT just a guy thing. While some porn producers have gone to the unpleasant side, others have invested in high quality films with a focus on women’s pleasure and lots of sexy outfits and performers who apparently love their jobs!

Now, if you don’t like porn, then don’t buy it. I’m a vegetarian but I don’t run around threatening people who go to McDonalds. Instead, I refuse to support the meat industry with my cash and try to increase attractive veg options for people to consider. And if you still want beef, well all the more for you… so enjoy. If you hate violent porn, then have a constructive conversation with your local vendors, offering alternatives and seeking solutions. Or, make your own erotica according to your tastes and offer it to the public! You could even donate the proceeds to your local sexual assault center. Those who commit such vile offenses have bigger problems than watching porn, and eliminating pornography is not going to solve those issues.

But I doubt the protesters in Indiana have bothered to read this far. As a woman, and as a volunteer at my local domestic violence shelter, I agree that the crime they have organized behind is terrible, tragic, and must be acted upon. I question, however, the value of their actions regarding the prevention of future harm to minors. Perhaps there is a way for all sides to sit together and see how both can serve their community in ways that raise awareness and resources toward the protection of vulnerable girls. By threatening customers, government officials, police, and store employees, this caring but erring group has diverted attention away from valuable efforts that would provide sustainable and essential assistance in the areas they seek to address. Again, this store was not open when the crime occurred and I have read no reason to believe that they participated or encouraged this behavior in any way.

To read the full story from the pro-porn view of AVN, click – here

To read the full story from the anti-porn view the protesters, click – here

The protesters are posting photos of customers on their site. Many of these customers are making an act of protest by posing for the photos. Check out their body language – here

And well done commentary on the anti-porn protesters’ actions is available – here



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