Grab the protest signs! Call all your friends! The censors are coming, they're coming to take away our Freedom of Speech, and they're coming to drown out our message. What are these constitutional de-constructionists up to? If there is one thing that we know, it's that the censors want to remove our rights to free choice and Free Speech. "It's my body, it's my life, it's my choice", must be the chant we sing as we lock arms and resist the powerful censors and their legions of mindless followers.

Censorship is a powerful tool, employed by those who have or seek power over those whose would be denied. I am now, have always been and will forever be an active, aggressive and unrepentant anti-censorship activist. From attorneys like Sirkin, Fahringer, Cambria and Douglas to adult industry activists like Margold, Leonard, Sunlove, and Lyons there has been real resistance to censorship. As an industry we must stand against censorship in ANY FORM! So unite against this ugly face of censorship.

Your juices must be flowing by now. Who is this enemy of Free Speech, this axis of evil leader? Is it Attorney General John Ashcroft, maybe David Willman, or some new crazed right wing-nut? No, it's a segment of the adult industry itself. Not the entire industry, but enough of the industry to worry even the most casual observer. BLASPHAMY, you might think! How could Charlie Latour, or for that matter any person in the adult industry accuse the industry of censorship? Censorship and the Porn industry in the same sentence! What's next John Ashcroft and Al Goldstein becoming best buds, Bill Clinton and Ken Starr playing golf regularly or maybe Maxine Waters giving a favorable testimonial for Jesse Helms? Folks, there are just some things that don't belong together and that includes Porn and Censorship. Look, I understand that no industry wants a competing voice, no industry likes to be bad mouthed, and silencing the opposition is a normal urge. AN INDUSTRY THAT LIVES BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION OF FREE SPEECH CAN NEVER ACCEPT CENSORS IN THEIR RANKS!

Let's get to specifics. At this years' AVN adult convention in Las Vegas there was a booth occupied by a group called xxxchurch.com. Mr. Paul Fishbein, editor of AVN accepted the fee from this group and gave them a booth. Now, I can not tell you what motivated Mr. Fishbein. It could have been a pure economic issue, but maybe he felt a need for fair play and Free Speech. I know I've been called a sap before (along with many other names) but I want to believe that Free Speech was the motive more than free enterprise. So AVN and Mr. Fishbein get my praise, but there are those in the adult industry who are critical of the decision. They believe that this is a right wing conspiracy to undermine the adult industry. You can read this dribble on any of the adult websites. I saw some of the dribble on www.generossextreme.com site. I like Gene and I understand he prints what people send him, even if he disagrees with it, (now that's Free Speech) and I'm glad he printed the censor's words. My question is, "What are they so afraid of"?

I met with the young men running the booth. I accepted their literature only after they agreed to accept mine. I just had my card (with a really nasty picture on it) and some Free Speech Coalition literature that I always carry with me at the conventions. We had several great discussions. He recognized that I was not an anti-God reactionary. In fact, when they found out I was a preacher's daughter they were floored. They were under the impression that all of porndom was Godless. I laughed and told them it only seems that way. There are many people in the adult industry who are practicing Jews, Christians, Moslems and other religions. The public doesn't hear much from these folks, because those who see all religions as a threat mute their voices. "Just think", I asked them, "if only anti-God people enjoyed porn how could the industry be a 6 billion dollar business"? Well over 95% of the US population believes in a God. I know they talked to many people and I heard many say they were glad they were there. They may have a different point of view. You may agree with some of what they say, I know I do, but you can also disagree with them, again I did. To ban them from the convention is censorship and fear!

During the pre 9-11 days in New York City, when efforts to close all adult enterprises was in full swing I wrote an article that simply stated that we did not need fewer adult book store, what we needed were more Bible stores. A Bible store next to every adult bookstore is what this nation needs. Then a patron would have a choice. If he or she sought sexual stimulation they would go to the adult bookstore ( or the Diocese of Boston..if you have been following the sad story from Beantown) or if they wanted spiritual guidance they could go to the Bible store. Free Speech has to be for everyone or no one can really have Free Speech.

So grab your sign and head for the streets. We must stop this cancer from spreading. Free Speech is for everyone and I am glad to see xxxchurch.com come to the convention. I really don't care if they are part of the anti-porn faction. We are legal, we are permitted and we must stand for Free Speech. I find that only the most radical right and left wing-nuts want to censor speech. Just look at who is attempting to stop Free Speech and you will see the face of extremism. The ultra-left and the ultra-right have a lot in common and censorship is just one area of agreement they have, although each is usually trying to censor the other. Those of us in the middle have to stand up and say, FREE SPEECH FOR EVERYONE. Thanks, Mr. Fishbein, for standing up for Free Speech, at least in this instance.

If you have comments about this or any of my other articles you can e-mail me at MissLatour@aol.com or through ainews.com. I love to hear from you. Also, my best wishes to all the men and women of the armed forces. I get hundreds of e-mails from them each month and I have directed them to www.ainews.com for all the information about the adult industry. The adult entertainers have sent their message to the troops and many of us in the adult business appreciate your sacrifice for our freedoms. God Bless you and be safe. Oooopps, there I go with God again.

Miss Charlie Latour