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Porn Fight: John Stagliano Vs. The World

Dashiell Bennett — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:20:49 EDT

The back-and-forth legal maneuvering between our government and our nation's pornographers may not get you hot, even if it gets you bothered—it even makes our eyes glaze over sometimes. But it is occasionally instructive to keep tabs on who is being put in jail with your tax dollars. It's also hard to have a First Amendment debate over a title like "Storm Squirters 2: Target Practice" without giggling, but it helps that the Supreme Court has no sense of humor.

Evil Angel head honcho John Stagliano is the latest target of the Justice Department, but he's fighting back the American Way—through the news media. In this video interview with Reason TV he shares his thoughts on his ongoing obscenity case and explains why you should care about it. And it's not to sell another copy of "Milk Nymphos." (Although if you're interested we could probably find you one.)

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· The U.S. vs. John Stagliano (reason.tv)

Previously: Coming For A Cause: Just About Everybody You've Ever Masturbated To In "Defend Our Porn"

Debating Porn (Again): What Is Obscene Anyway?

Dashiell Bennett — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:12:30 EDT

"Should there be an obscenity law that outlaws a product that is made with informed adult consent with no laws being broken, and that is increasingly distributed and consumed in complete privacy?"

You can probably guess what our answer is to that question, but apparently some folks still think this is a matter of some debate. That's why the Los Angeles Times threw together a little point-counterpoint between associate professor of First Amendment law Barry McDonald and indicted smutographer John Stagliano. It isn't a debate so much as is it Barry offering up such proof for the value of obscenity laws as, "Because I said so," and John helpfully pointing out that America isn't supposed to work that way. Of course, Stagliano is facing up to 39 years in prison because of these laws, so he's understandably a little touchy about the subject. Maybe next time the lawyer will remember to mention the actual law.

· "Stuff so raunchy, it's illegal" (latimes.com)

If you're a doctor who wants to "prove"...

Dashiell Bennett — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:40:00 EDT

If you're a doctor who wants to "prove" that porn causes all bad things to happen and destroy people's lives, it really helps to have ... you know, proof. After all, if a magician (like the excitable Penn Jillette) is telling you you're full of shit, you're really full of shit. (Jezebel)