NCSF/DCSMA Action Alert Make Washington a safer place for safer-sex! Contact: Glenda Rider National Coalition for Sexual Freedom www.ncsfreedom.org media@ncsfreedom.org Jonathan Krall District of Columbia Sexual Minority Advocates www.dcsma.org/abc jonathan@dcsma.org For the past three years, bar owners and clubs have faced an aggressive crackdown that has targeted SM activities. Current regulations force bar owners and hotel operators to regulate customer and employee behavior, under threat of losing their liquor licenses. Educational workshops, fantasy portions of leather contests, performance art involving flagellation, as well as casual physical contact between bar patrons are currently prohibited by ABC enforcement officers. Selective enforcement of these regulations has had a chilling effect on safer-sex education (such as that presented by Black Rose and SigMa), on conventions, and on night clubs. These regulations have forced the joint SigMa/MOD/Black Rose seminar series out of Washington, DC, and into private homes in the suburbs. On December 18, the ABC Board heard several excellent statements from Washington, DC, residents opposing section 905 of the draft ABRA regulations (see http://www.dcsma.org/abc). The ABC board was surprised by strength of the testimony and by the number and diversity of individuals and groups opposing section 905. It is time to follow-up on our success with action. ABC SHOULD REGULATE ALCOHOL, NOT EDUCATION - SPEAK UP NOW Tell the Alcohol and Beverage Commission to remove Section 905 of the proposed regulations. E-mail the "postcard" below, by cutting and pasting the sample text and sending it to Fred Moosally, General Counsel, Alcohol and Beverage Regulatory Agency, Fred.Moosally@dc.gov. And please CC: dcsma@dcsma.org and media@ncsfreedom.org All emails should be sent by Friday, February 28, 2003. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please e-mail this "Postcard" by Friday, February 28, 2003. To: Fred.Moosally@dc.gov CC: dcsma@dcsma.org, media@ncsfreedom.org Subject: ABC Regulation 905 Fred Moosally, General Counsel, ABRA Dear Sir: I am writing to ask that you remove section 905 from the proposed ABRA regulations. I understand that a version of this regulation is in effect today. In fact, this regulation has affected many people, including myself, who support and attend dance, theater, leather contests, SM-leather-fetish social activities and safer-sex education at restaurants, bars, and hotels in the District of Columbia. I am concerned that section 905 of the proposed ABRA regulations turns officers into morals police with the right to punish bar owners for the behavior of their customers. This is unnecessary and unjust. Please delete this section from the regulations. Thank You, NAME ADDRESS (you do NOT have to be a D.C. Resident) PHONE NUMBER (Optional) ------------------------------------------------------------ ### A joint project of NCSF and DCSMA National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) is a national organization committed to altering the political, legal, and social environment in the U.S. in order to guarantee equal rights for consenting adults who practice forms of alternative sexual expression. NCSF is primarily focused on the rights of consenting adults in the SM-leather-fetish, swing, and polyamory communities, who often face discrimination because of their sexual expression. National Coalition for Sexual Freedom 5505 Connecticut Avenue NW - #184 Washington DC 20015-2601 410-539-4824 media@ncsfreedom.org www.ncsfreedom.org