National Coalition for Sexual Freedom
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) is a pro-BDSM political lobby founded in 1997, by a group under Susan Wright. The organization is based in Washington, DC.
Mission Statement
- "The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom is a national organization committed to creating a political, legal, and social environment in the United States that advances equal rights of 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."
History
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) was formed in 1997 by a small group led by Susan Wright under the auspices of the New York SM Activists. The goal was to fight for sexual freedom and privacy rights for all adults who engage in safe, sane and consensual behavior.
In September 2002, NCSF reaffirmed its grassroots mission to assist the alternative sexual communities, in particular SM, fetish, swing and polyamory practices. NCSF also continues to form alliances with other organizations defending sexual freedom rights. For example, NCSF holds a seat on the National Policy Roundtable and actively participates in GenderPac's Lobby Day and Creating Change, the national activist conference for the LGBT community.
NCSF receives its leadership direction from a Board of Directors that is elected by our Coalition Partners. The Coalition Partners are all non-profit educational and social groups created for SM, leather, fetish, swing and polyamory practitioners. The NCSF staff are volunteers who devote their time and energy to carrying out the missions and tasks set for them by the Board of Directors. The first five organizations who joined NCSF reflected its goal to be a national organization: the National Leather Association--International, Gay Male S/M Activists, The Eulenspiegel Society, Black Rose and Society of Janus. Currently, NCSF has over 30 Coalition Partners that are geographically diverse (New York to California, Texas to Wisconsin), and reflect a diversity of sexual orientations.
- Early Successes for NCSF
The "1998 Violence & Discrimination" survey revealed the extent of discrimination and persecution that exists against the SM-leather-fetish communities. NCSF found that 36% of SM practitioners have been victims of harassment and that 30% have been victims of discrimination. This discrimination resulted in 24% losing a job or a contract, 17% losing a promotion and 3% losing custody of a child. This survey helped NCSF gear our energies towards issues that matter most to our constituents.
NCSF also lent assistance to the local communities in San Diego and Baltimore, to help to stop the selective enforcement of zoning and public indecency laws against the SM-Leather-Fetish communities. Next, NCSF assisted the local communities in Attleboro MA and Washington DC as those cities faced the same selective enforcement that had been attempted in Baltimore and San Diego. NCSF continues to work with State Attorney Generals and local District Attorneys to help educate these authorities about SM, swing and polyamory practices to prevent dangerous precidents from being set against adult consensual sexuality.
- NCSF and the Media
As an advocacy organization, one of NCSF's strategies has been to educate the media about issues facing the SM-Leather-Fetish, swing and polyamory communities. You can help by signing up for NCSF's media updates list media@ncsfreedom.org. This weekly email will alert you to stories about alternative sexual expression in the news, and will give you contact information so that you can respond to an editor to let them know if you liked or disliked an article and why. We also give you tips on how to write a letter. Even if your letter is not printed, these letters influence how editorial decisions are made in the future.
NCSF's Media Outreach Program has developed a package of materials that provide information about NCSF and the communities we represent. This program provides education and training to groups and individuals on how to effectively interact with the media.
One example of NCSF's advocacy efforts took place in the Attleboro MA coverage in July, 2000. In the first media reports regarding the Attleboro arrests, the incident was characterized as a "sex club" raid. Within 48 hours, a coordinated effort led by NCSF and the local community to educate the media resulted in a major change in the characterization of the arrests. The tone of the coverage went from defending the actions of the law enforcement officers to questioning their judgment and several reporters raised legitimate questions about possible civil rights violations.
From February to May 2002, five SM conventions were targeted by Concerned Women for America, American Family Association, and the American Decency Association. NCSF worked with each event to counter sensationalized attacks in the media as well as resisting action by local authorities who attempted to shut down some of these SM conferences. The attacks took place in the midwest against My Vicious Valentine and International Mr. Leather in Chicago, Bound by Desire in Michigan, Tribal Fire in Oklahoma, and Beat Me in St. Louis in Missouri.
Contact Info
- National Coalition for Sexual Freedom
- 822 Guilford Avenue, Box 127
- Baltimore, MD 21202-3707
- e-mail: ncsfreedom@ncsfreedom.org
- phone: 410-539-4824
See also
- Sexual Freedom Coalition (SFC, a similar organization in the United Kingdom)
External links
- NCSFreedom.org Official website
- Sex-freedom group battles 'right wing',Joins forces with homosexuals to defend sadomasochism [1]
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