Woodhull Freedom Foundation

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Woodhull Freedom Foundation
FoundedFebruary 2003 (2003-02)
FounderMary Frances Berry, Melinda Chateauvert, Richard O. Cunningham, Judy Guerin-Cunningham, Jeffrey Montgomery, and Ricci J. Levy.
Type501(c)(3)
Focushuman rights
sexual expression
sexuality
civil rights issues
freedom of speech
social and political change
Location
OriginsNamed after suffragist Victoria Woodhull
Area served
United States
MethodResearch, advocacy, public education, social change
Key people
Ricci J. Levy (President & CEO), Hardy Haberman (Board Chair)
Websitehttp://www.woodhullfoundation.org

The Woodhull Freedom Foundation,[1] also known as Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance, is an American non-profit organization founded in 2003 that advocates for sexual freedom as a fundamental human right.[2][3][4] The organization is based in Washington, D.C., United States. Named after an influential member of the American woman's suffrage movement, Victoria Woodhull, its focus includes analyzing groups and individuals that seek to perpetuate a culture of sexual repression.

Sexual Freedom Day, officially recognized in 2011 in Washington, DC, and held every September 23, celebrates the birthday of Victoria Woodhull. The Woodhull Freedom Foundation (WFF) has held the Sexual Freedom Summit annually since 2010. Organization members have included LGBT activist Jeffrey Montgomery, former chairwoman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights Mary Frances Berry, writer Eric Rofes, lawyer Lawrence G. Walters, and activist Dan Massey.

In the furtherance of activities relating to its goals, the organization has allied itself with groups including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, the Tully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University, National Coalition Against Censorship, the Heartland Institute, National Association of Scholars, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, Accuracy in Academia, and the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. An academic paper in the Journal of Homosexuality characterized the organization as one "that addresses both international and national sexual freedom issues as well as a host of other health and human rights issues."[5]

History[edit]

Foundation: 2003[edit]

Executive Director of Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Ricci Levy, testifying in Washington, D.C. at a hearing on same-sex marriage on November 2, 2009 in front of the Council of the District of Columbia; Chair of the hearing was Commissioner Phil Mendelson.

The organization was founded in 2003 with the name Woodhull Freedom Foundation.[5] It began with a focus on global and domestic human rights, specifically looking at sexual freedom.[5] It is named for Victoria Woodhull (1838–1927), the first woman to own a company on Wall Street and to run for President of the United States.[6] Its focus includes examining the stakeholders that maintain a climate of sexual repression.[7]

The organization releases an annual report in September on "Sexual Freedom Day" called the "State of Sexual Freedom", which describes goals towards increasing sexual freedom.[6] Woodhull's public relations representative Jeffrey Montgomery told the Washington Blade that their goals intersected with human rights: "Woodhull is the organization at the intersection of all sexual freedom issues because of the common core value of fundamental human rights. ... Without sexual freedom all personal freedoms are at risk."[6] Woodhull tracks laws and regulations pertaining to sexual activity in the United States.[5][8]

Early activities: 2004–2009[edit]

In 2004, Woodhull joined with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in devoting resources towards analyzing old regulations used to harass LGBT people.[9][10] The purpose of the study was to analyze existing regulations in the United States with regards to sexual activity, and simultaneously to foster ties between those against sexual repression and LGBT organizations.[10] In 2005, Woodhull again coordinated with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in order to organize an event known as "Red, White and Leather for Independence Day", in which over 30 leather bars in 17 cities took part.[11] Writer Eric Rofes served on the board of Woodhull before passing away in 2006.[12][13] In 2007, its Sexual Freedom Day was commemorated with a discussion group examining the idea of sexual freedom as a segment of human rights.[7] Sexual Freedom Day took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the first event of its kind on October 6, 2007 and included "a fund raiser featuring the Peek-a-Boo Revue and DJ Johanna Constantine and DJ Roots and Groove."[14]

Left to Right, 2011 Vicki Sexual Freedom Award recipients, Ajamu Baraka, Ricci Levy, the Executive Director of Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Pamala Stanley, Carmen Vázquez and Robert Corn-Revere at the Vicki Award Ceremony on Sexual Freedom Day, 2011.

In July 2008, when the American Family Foundation called for a McDonald's boycott after the fast food restaurant said it would join the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Woodhull's executive director announced a "buycott" asking those interested in supporting the restaurant to purchase additional meals.[4] Woodhull joined with the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups in 2009 on an amici curiae brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case, Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations.[2] On November 29, 2009, the Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW) organized a leather dance reception in San Diego, California, so as to raise money for charitable purposes to assist the activities of Woodhull.[15]

Recent work: 2010–present[edit]

The organization gave its 2010 Victoria Woodhull Sexual Freedom Award on September 23 of that year to Kushaba Moses Mworeko, an individual from Uganda who sought asylum in the United States due to his sexual orientation.[16] Author Hardy Haberman was a board member of Woodhull in 2011.[17] On November 17, 2011, Woodhull worked with the DC Trans Coalition, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, Gender Rights Maryland, Get Equal DC, Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS), the Rainbow Response Coalition, and Transgender Health Empowerment to form a coalition sponsoring a "Transgender Day of Action" in Washington, D.C., that highlights examples of mistreatment of transgender people by law enforcement.[18] The event served as a precursor to the Transgender Day of Remembrance which followed on November 20.[19]

In January 2012, the organization joined with other groups including the Tully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University, National Coalition Against Censorship, the Heartland Institute, National Association of Scholars, Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom, Feminists for Free Expression, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, Accuracy in Academia, and the American Council of Trustees and Alumni to send a letter asking the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to use the precedent of the 1999 Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education case to apply a definition of harassment for academic institutions (so as not to harm freedom of speech).[20] In 2012, Buck Angel served on the organization's Board of Directors of the organization,[3] and sexologist Megan Andelloux served as an advisory board member.[21] Lawrence G. Walters was the general counsel for Woodhull in 2012.[22]

On June 28, 2018, attorneys for Woodhull filed the first legal challenge to the unconstitutional SESTA/FOSTA legislation.[23] According to Ricci Levy, President & CEO of Woodhull, "FOSTA chills sexual speech and harms sex workers. It makes it harder for people to take care of and protect themselves".

In August 2019, Woodhull's Sexual Freedom Summit celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Reception[edit]

An academic paper by Susan Wright in the Journal of Homosexuality about those who faced discrimination due to sadomasochism (SM) described Woodhull as an organization "that addresses both international and national sexual freedom issues as well as a host of other health and human rights issues."[5] Wright noted Woodhull dedicates its focus towards changing regulations and existing laws.[5]

Vicki Sexual Freedom Awards[edit]

2022

  • Shanna Katz Kattarri
  • Al Vernacchio

2020

  • Cyndee Clay
  • Joan Price

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

[24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About Us". Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  2. ^ a b Shapiro, Steven R.; Christopher A. Hansen (2009). "FCC & USA v. Fox, et al., No. 10-1293 (Sup. Ct.)". Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations. alternate link
  3. ^ a b Tungol, JR (October 18, 2012). "LGBT History Month Icon of the Day: Buck Angel". The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Flournoy, Raymond (July 17, 2008). "Business briefs: A walk on the style side – Big Mac under attack". The Bay Area Reporter. San Francisco, California: Benro Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Wright, Susan (2006). "Discrimination of SM-identified individuals". Journal of Homosexuality. 50 (2–3). Routledge: 217–231. doi:10.1300/J082v50n02_10. ISSN 0091-8369. PMID 16803765. S2CID 5912959.
  6. ^ a b c Reese, Phil (June 9, 2011). "Fighting for a liberated view of sexuality". Washington Blade. Brown, Naff, Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Dyer, Deesha (October 2, 2007). "Just Do It: Sexual Freedom Day". Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  8. ^ Angle, Monique (January 24, 2005). "Old laws hover over Virginians' bedrooms". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. C1.
  9. ^ Miller, Kevin (October 29, 2009). "Gay marriage critics say 'radical' groups at work". Bangor Daily News. Bangor, Maine. p. B4.
  10. ^ a b Highleyman, Liz (June 10, 2004). "NGLTF, Woodhull announce sex law study". Bay Area Reporter. 34 (24). San Francisco, California: 23.
  11. ^ "General news". The Leather Journal (183). Hollywood, California: EBSCO Publishing; Database: LGBT Life with Full Text: 20. June 2005. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  12. ^ Highleyman, Liz (June 29, 2006). "Author, activist Eric Rofes dies". The Bay Area Reporter. San Francisco, California: Benro Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  13. ^ McMillan, Dennis (June 29, 2006). "Veteran Activist Eric Rofes Dies at 53". San Francisco Bay Times. San Francisco, California: www.sfbaytimes.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  14. ^ "Sexual freedom comes to Philly". Philadelphia Gay News. 31 (39). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 9. September 28, 2007. ISSN 0742-5155.
  15. ^ Teague, Bryan (January 2010). "CLAW Nation San Diego Helps Woodhull Foundation". The Leather Journal (238). Hollywood, California: EBSCO Publishing; Database: LGBT Life with Full Text: 20.
  16. ^ O'Bryan, Will (October 2, 2010). "Radical Retelling". Metro Weekly. Washington, D.C.: Jansi, LLC. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  17. ^ Haberman, Hardy (December 23, 2011). "All I want for Christmas ." Dallas Voice. Dallas, Texas: Voice Publishing Company, Inc. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  18. ^ Riley, John (November 23, 2011). "Activists Picket MPD and Prosecutors: Transgender Day of Action protesters deliver complaints and demands to D.C. authorities". Metro Weekly. Jansi, LLC. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  19. ^ Riley, John (November 17, 2011). "Protestors Picket Police and Prosecutors: Transgender Day of Action activists deliver complaints and demands to D.C. authorities". Metro Weekly. Jansi, LLC. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  20. ^ Lukianoff, Greg (January 12, 2012). "Free speech hindered on campuses". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  21. ^ "Pawtucket-based sexologist wins First Tracks Award". The Pawtucket Times. Pawtucket, Rhode Island. July 17, 2012. p. A3.
  22. ^ Walters, Lawrence G. (2012). "Shooting the Messenger: An Analysis of Theories of Criminal Liability Used Against Adult-Themed Online Service Providers" (PDF). Stanford Law and Policy Review. 23 (1). Stanford University: 171.
  23. ^ "Woodhull Freedom Foundation v the United States of America" (PDF). Woodhull Freedom Foundation.
  24. ^ "Vicki Award Recipient List". Archived from the original on 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-07-22.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance.
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