4/19 in Sacto: Adult Entertainment Industry Touts Economic Impact, Asks for Support

4/15/2005 10:13:00 PM

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Kat Sunlove, 818-456-6846 or Michelle Freridge, 818-269-5026, both of the Free Speech Coalition

News Advisory:

WHAT: Press Conference: Adult Entertainment Industry Touts Economic Impact, Asks for Support

WHEN: 9:15 a.m., April 19

WHERE: North Steps of California State Capitol, Sacramento, Calif.

For the eighth year in a row, representatives of the adult entertainment industry will be visiting the California Capitol this week lobbying legislators as part of Celebrate Free Speech Lobbying Days (CFSLD), a 2-day training and political action event conducted by Free Speech Coalition, trade association of the adult entertainment industry.

On Tuesday, April 19, Free Speech Coalition (FSC) will hold a press conference on the North Steps of the Capitol beginning at 9:15 a.m., as a prelude to their annual lobbying trip. Their message will be to urge the California Legislature to take a stand against an encroaching federal Justice Department that threatens its citizens' First Amendment rights to enjoy adult entertainment.

According to Michelle Freridge, FSC executive director, "Adult entertainment is an enormous industry in this state, a legal industry as well. We contribute million of dollars in taxes and employ thousands of Californians. California legislators should sit up and take notice of the pending attack on this home-grown California industry by the Bush administration."

"FSC Lobbying Days gives us a chance to communicate directly with our elected representatives," Freridge stated. "We hope that by providing them with accurate information on the importance of this industry to the economic health of our state, they may help us defend our rights to produce and distribute our products in this state without undue fear of prosecution by the feds."

Following the press conference, some thirty newly-trained lobbyists will keep appointments with California legislators or staffers to present their Year 2005 White Paper, which details the economic strength of adult entertainment in California and across the nation. The group will include adult entertainment stars Brittany Andrews, Nina Hartley, Stormy, Inari Vachs and Sunny Leone, as well as academics, attorneys, journalists, students and business owners.

This year's CFSLD will also include a Community Forum on Monday night, the 18th, as well as a legislative reception following the lobbying appointments on Tuesday.

For more information on Free Speech Coalition, visit their website at http://www.freespeechcoalition.com.

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