Hey Cindi,
I wanted to let ya know I am scheduled to be on Nightline this evening where they filmed me in DC at the Capitol Hill briefing US Congress members and had me in studio as well. Here is an article that someone wrote which I thought they described what happened really well.
Shelley
Here are some relevant excerpts. You can read the whole story here http://motherjones.com/politics
Have the Feds Gone Soft on Porn? Activists urge members of Congress to take a stand against online smut.
— By Stephanie Mencimer
…On Tuesday, a group of anti-porn activists and scholars arrived on Capitol Hill to brief members of Congress and their staffs and to call for beefed-up federal enforcement of obscenity laws. They weren’t there to fret about the pornographers of old: the loveable chauvinist Hugh Hefner and his scantily clad bunnies, or even the not-so-loveable-but-occasionally-principled First Amendment crusader, Hustler publisher Larry Flynt. No, they had come to alert Congress to websites like GagFactor.com, whose teasers alone are way more graphic than anything Hefner ever published, and whose content doesn’t portend a spirited First Amendment defense.
"The days of women wearing a coy smile and not much else are long gone," Gail Dines explained to the congressional crowd. A women’s studies professor at Boston’s Wheelock College and author of the upcoming book Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked our Sexuality, Dines has perused Gag Factor, and she described some of its content to the crowd—including a video of a woman with her head in a vice during oral sex. "Porn is an industrial product," said Dines, who has studied the industry for 20-plus years. "I cannot believe how brutal it has become so quickly." Gag Factor and their ilk, she added, are now the main source of sex education for boys…..
…But by far the most compelling argument came from Shelley Lubben, who during the 1990s performed under the name "Roxy" in such screen gems as The Cumm Brothers 3 and Beaver Hunt. She eventually left the business, found the Lord—Lubben showed up at the event with Bible in hand—and founded the Pink Cross Foundation, a nonprofit that offers support to adult industry workers.
Lubben described how her porn career left her with incurable herpes, papilloma virus, and ultimately cervical cancer. She is anemic, she added, due to hemorrhaging from reproductive injuries sustained during filming. "The last thing I want to do, people, is talk about porn," she said, dabbing her eyes with tissues. "I have been hit, spit on, penetrated in every orifice imaginable."
She also worked for a while as a prostitute: "At least with prostitution, you get a dinner sometimes." Her story had the kid sitting next to me weeping. Beyond pimps and porn producers, Lubben spoke of an epidemic of suicides and other violent deaths of film stars, and talked forcefully about the doctors who collaborate with the industry to keep the performers "wasted" most of the time on prescription drugs. "This isn’t happening underground," she said. "This is happening in America."
“Shelly also worked for a while as a prostitute: At least with prostitution, you get a dinner sometimes.”
What? you don’t get FOOD when you make porn? You don’t get PAID? Prostitution is better than working in porn?
How about this: “I worked in porn to make money. I also was a prostitute to make money. I sold my body for money/food because I was extremely fucked up. Since I’m so fucked up I’m now a religious nut, they prey on the weak, you know.”
And yes, organized religion is a whore, they will do ANYTHING FOR MONEY.
I posted a rather longish comment to the AlterNet posting of Mencimer’s story. Here it is:
What all the anti-porn types like Mencimer somehow always fail to mention is that even the actresses in movies and on websites like GagFactor.com perform their sex acts willingly, with full knowledge of what will happen during the scene, and they’re generally well paid for their work. As a journalist working for the adult industry’s main trade publication, I know this from personal observation — something else Mencimer lacks.
What the pro-censorship types also fail to mention is that pornography harms no one — no one, that is, who hasn’t already been brainwashed by their parents or clergy into believing that all depictions of nudity and sex are bad and that even one glance at it will scar the person for the rest of their lives. That’s simply not true — and if someone feels bad after looking at pornography, there are plenty of legitimate therapists willing to help them face their feelings. (And of course, they probably wouldn’t have those problems if the kids’ schools had simply offered a comprehensive course in sex education — which most don’t.)
The concepts of “sexual addiction” or “porn addiction” are also meritless. While there IS such a thing as obsessive-compulsive disorder, which may manifest itself as excessive porn watching or excessive sex acts, it might just as easily manifested itself as excessive hand-washing or excessive praying. In other words, the porn or sex is a *symptom* of a disease, and it’s the disease that must be treated. And all the anecdotes in the world about the horrors of seeing porn don’t trump the scientific evidence in such actual, peer-reviewed studies like the one conducted by professors at the University of Melbourne, and released in book form as “The Porn Report,” nor other studies as far back as 1987 collected in the book “The Question of Pornography” by Drs. Donnerstein, Linz and Penrod. And then, of course, there’s the Report of the President’s Commission on Obscenity and Pornography published in 1970, which disgraced President Richard Nixon wrongly rejected because it didn’t conform to his (and his supporters’) preconceived notions.
And finally, some of what’s reported in this article is simply impossible to believe. For example, ex-porn star Shelley Lubben, who made a grand total of 12 movies in 1994, would have to have been the unluckiest person in the world to have contracted both herpes and HPV in such a short period of time working in the porn industry — it’s more likely that she contracted the conditions during her time as a prostitute — and it is simply medically IMPOSSIBLE that the woman could STILL be anemic because of “hemorrhaging from reproductive injuries sustained during filming” 16 YEARS LATER!!!
Shelley only made 12 movies? Good points, Mark. I respect Shelley trying to help ex-porn stars but blaming all her personal problems (such as her drug use) on the porn industry while claiming an “epidemic of suicides and other violent deaths of film stars” to me is more obscene than any porno I’ve ever seen or even heard of. Epidemic? You shouldn’t blatently lie like that, Shelley. I don’t think Jesus approves.
You see, porn whores lie. Prostitutes lie. But NOBODY, NOBODY NOBODY LIES more than “religious” hypocrites. To them, it’s nothing to lie about about their past to get you to join their pathetic group, just to take advantage of you and take any money they can.
And by the way, I LOVE GAG FACTOR! It’s criminally GREAT!
I think its hilarious that Mark Kernes calls imself a jounalist Another funny thing, the adult industry has no problem citing ‘scientific studies’ that ‘prove’ porn harms no one, but if another ‘scientific study’ even mentions ill side effects from porn, industry “journalists”(lol) like Kernes will dismiss them as “simply not true”
Just for kicks, lets see if jounalist Kernes will tackle this one….Why hasnt AVn done one single follow up story on Jessica Dee, Missy Arroyo, etc…and what did the ‘Industry” do for these people when they were infected with their lifelong disease.?
As a ‘jounalist’ for the largest trade rag in the industry certainly you would think that such isssues as this would be covered by your publication.
And you statement about being the unluckies person to have gotten herpes an HPV in such a short period of time only shows your utter IGNORANCE of the std situation. Your chances of being exposed to both herpes and HPV are about even money on every single porn shoot. It would be EXTEMELY LUCKY to NOT NOT NOT be exposed to these diseases EVERYDAY in the porn industry. Before you start soouting about stuff you obviously know nothing about, give Mitch a call and let her know youre going to make a fool of yourself.
Aniother thing Mr. Kernes fails to mention,,,,,most prostitutes use condoms when turning trick, but porn performers, who have multiple contacts with multiple people who do NOT use condoms, is like comparing apples to oranges.
The pool of porn performers includes, gay men, drug useres, and prostitutes, and the porn industry does NOT use condoms. So tell us again Mr. Kernes how it is safer to have sex with a porn star.
And just for kicks again Kernes, do you know that the urine gon/.chlam test is worthless in detecting either disease in the throat or anus? Wouldnt you think that with all the oral and anal sex they would test for the disease in those body parts? Mr journalist Kernes, why does your industry NOT test for oral and anal goo/chlam on a regular basis when virtually every scene contains both oral and anal sex?
Did you knwo that oral and anal gonn/chlam can remain unsymptomatic for months and cause sterility in both males and females? Why does your HEALTH ORGANIATION(lol) not inform the performers that the urine test is WORTHLESS in detecting these diseases? WHy dont you ask Mitch this question, and post her answer.(like that will ever happen)
T
The reason this wont happen is becuase the TRUTH is the last thing the industry wants anyone to know about the RAMPANT stds.
So, Mr. self called ‘jounalist’ maybe you could answer a few of these questions. Questions that a REAL journalist would certainly look into.
I think the phrase “industry apologist” is more appropriate to describe Mr. Kernes than ‘industry journalis.”
When was the last time Kernes wrote anything even remotely critical of the industry. EVERY single industry has problems, byut if you read kernes you would think that porn is as harmless as Mother teresa.
Youre a joke Kernes.
In other news, word is out that Lisa Ann and Joel have closed or are closing shop.
More of the same washed up poor-me sob-sister babble. If this Gail Dines who has been “studying” porn movies for over 20 years isn’t fucked up from all that watching, I don’t think the average joe has to worry about it. Next.
I think I know who you are, joe. You’re pretty well known, aren’t you?
Jeremy, Lisa Ann is retiring?
I agree with joe about the STDs. It seems to me as if its entirely possible for a female performer to contract HPV and Herpes during a short stint in the industry. HPV is EXTREMELY common and Herpes is quite common.
I remember reading a comment on LukeisBack about a brief female performer during the late 90s that contracted herpes only after a couple of scenes.
Even Sharon Mitchell was quoted by Mariah Milano saying that 70% of porn actors have it.
I love hearing from Kernes, working for that whorehouse of adult journalism, AVN. What did porn do to deserve AVN, Margold, Dr Mitch, the Earl, the Trannyfucker and so on.
As far as STDs transmission goes,when you know that a girl like Kira Kener caught one while shooting 6 movies a year for only a few years and this always for the same top game company where she could choose her partners…it says it all.
I don’t know if Lisa Ann is retiring from performing, origin, but I’ve been told from a couple of sources that she’s closing or has shut down her porn talent agency. I also had a conversation with Derek about it. Word is def. out about it.
I saw that Nightline segment on porn after the Lakers game and riot. It started off with Steve Driver! Christy Canyon made some good points.
Thanks Jeremy.
Leslie,
You are correct. Did you know that Kira sued VIVID pictures on several grounds, including an “unsafe work environment’, and VIVID settled out of court?
Yes,I know.She was expecting doing a million out of this but…apparently,she made something like $100,000.
Jerry, you continue to amuse me.
Earlier TODAY Jerry says….”I’ve ben told from a couple of sources that she’s closing…..”
Could those ‘sources’ possibly be the article that was posted on AVN YESTERDAY.
Jerry and his “sources”. What a clown.
Yes Jerry the word is out,,,a full artcile on AVN. Are you sure this isnt your “Source” Jerry?(lol)
joe know Says:
Leslie,
You are correct. Did you know that Kira sued VIVID pictures on several grounds, including an “unsafe work environment’, and VIVID settled out of court?
Hmmmm so I guess porn is “actually” a job and companies can be sued and will settle for violating fair employment law… LOL … put that in your blunt and smoke it.. oh and go recite pornlaws argument now you fuck… argue one day but have conceeded it on many others.. what a poiece of shit you are
LOL
Saw the Nightline segment. Ted Koppel must be drinking himself to sleep these days…
Jerry,
Did your “sources” tell you not to reply to my post here? Another example of Jerrys secret sources, an article on the internet. What a fucking clown.
Joe, you attention starved loser. I actually get out doors once in a while. Maybe you should try the same.
I can vouch that through my secret sources that Jeremy does get outside from time to time. Joe, Steele is cool, if he wasnt the Colonel and more importantly Cindi wouldnt stand for it. Like to Thank Herbie Dingle Kernes for making me almost sympathetic to Shelley. Kernes, how many David Crosby lookalike contests have you won?
Thanks, Sir Lawrence Gelding.
I prefer Herr Horse as the late DAC called me once. Steele, enough about your secret sources what about Lucky and yours secret sauces?
my brothers The Colonel and Jeremy join me in the mosh pit for awhile lol
“Holy Smoke” is what a said when I discovered someone stole my “Piece of Mind” LP! I fucking hate thieves!
OMG LMFAO up the irons bro
one thing you need to address is what stealing. i would never ever walk into your home and steal something from you. now with that if i can watch or listen to something on the internet freely am i a thief? seriously am i thief??? or the one that put it there??? honestly i want to know because during the time i have been reading this site 95% of the people in the industry i have been able to look up and find scenes so i can put a face to them (yes even our pink cross chic it was hard but i found her in a gang bang scene) i guess im asking the difference between physical and virtual.
Mr steal read this one time and tell me if you thnk this is entraqpm3ent or not
http://extratorrent.com/article/559/%E2%80%9Churt+locker%E2%80%9D+producers+make+list+of+alleged+infringers+public.html
sobered up a little lol so now i can say i agree with you on the thieves part. back in the late 90s me and the wife had a roommate that was turning tricks to pay rent to us. not a big deal until she started bringing her johns to our house. still notta biggy until the day i was at work and this dude offered the wife some cash. we kicked the trick out and a few days later she broke into the house and stole a bunch of our stuff. well we knew where she was staying and told her we wanted our stuff back or we would call the police. next she called to let us know we could pick up our stuff. she scratched over 600 cds i had been collecting for 10 years!! still pisses me off thinking about it!
That sucks JAF, may that get what they deserve. I remember I let a dumb blonde French Canadian couple from Montreal, Candy Lee (there were a few Candy Lees that have done porn I think) and her bf Franco live in my living room, for what was supposed to be one month. After two months I asked them to leave and they stole and broke a bunch of shit. That’s what I got for being a nice guy.
Regarding your prior post I don’t know what to say about that.
yeah sorry i was slightly drunk not even sure what i was saying lmao
for what its worth i saw her last year working at my local mcds(not putting that down i have been having such a hard time finding work i might have to apply there) she talked to me wanted a hug and stuff so when i got home to eat my breakfast i looked her up on the net. didnt surprise me when i no longer saw her at mcds she had charges against her that im sure she in jail for a few years.
I could think of a few porn women who could work at Mc DDs, or Mc DDDs…
Just don’t ask what the secret sauce is…
Damn, givin away my ideas again.
I’m hungry for a Triple Mc-DDD (triple mc triple D) Burger right now! Delivery please.