NOTE: The NOW S/M POLICY REFORM PROJECT was recently launched by feminists in opposition to the National Organization for Women's (NOW) official anti-SM stance. DIFFERENT LOVING is donating this space to the Project as a public service.

To see contributing comments by Gloria Brame, click on "Statements of Support" and "Quotes from Authors" below.

The NOW-S/M Policy Reform Project is in the beginning stages yet it has already gained the support of a broad range of feminists and NOW members. The National Organization for Women's current policy against S/M was codified in the "Delineation of Lesbian Rights" from the 1980 National NOW Conference, which states: "sadomasochism is an issue of exploitation and violence, not affectional/sexual preference/orientation."

The NOW-S/M Policy Reform Statement contends that safe, sane and consensual S/M is an affectional/sexual preference/orientation. NOW-S/M has gathered supporting evidence from psychiatrists and physicians, NOW feminists, and quotes from authors to prove that safe, sane and consensual S/M is not violence nor is it detrimental to a woman's mental or physical well-being. In fact, NOW's policy has actually led to violence against women in the past, such as the physical attacks on s/m women at a Michigan women's festival in which the attendees took NOW's anti-S/M policy to its "logical" conclusion by physically attacking and injuring their sisters.

In the past decade, the lesbian and gay movement has embraced the rights of s/m practitioners to participate in and help lead the movement and struggle for human and civil rights. Now is the time to overturn the outdated 1980 "Delineation of Lesbian Rights" and re-affirm the rights of adults to engage in any safe, sane and consensual sexual expression that they so chose.

NOW-S/M Policy Reform Statement:

WHEREAS, NOW affirms each woman's right to control her own body and actualize her sexuality -- her fundamental right to be herself; [from the 1980 Delineation of Lesbian Rights]

WHEREAS, NOW supports the repeal of any laws which criminalize sexual activity between consenting adults in private (such laws are often referred to as consensual sodomy laws); [from the 1980 Delineation of Lesbian Rights]

WHEREAS, fundamental to acknowledging the rights of adults to engage in any safe, sane and consensual sexual expression they so chose, NOW cannot oppose S/M along with other forms of sexual expression such as: role-playing, BD (bondage & discipline), D/s (Dominance & submission), fetish, and transsexual activities;

WHEREAS, there is a large body of supporting evidence from psychiatrists, physicians, feminists, and Anti-Violence organizations that safe, sane and consensual sexual expression, including S/M, is not detrimental to a woman's mental or physical well-being, nor can it be considered violence or abuse in and of itself;

WHEREAS, the 1980 Delineation of Lesbian Rights contradicts itself by stating: "Sadomasochists seek to legitimize and provide a premeditated structure for violence. NOW opposes any repressive legislation concerning private consensual sexual activity between adults. Nevertheless, NOW opposes institutionalized violence as well as social structures which encourage or advocate the use of physical and psychological violence or domination among individuals. This opposition to violence precludes support or advocacy of sadomasochism as a feminist issue";

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Organization for Women shall adopt an official position supporting the rights of adults to engage in any safe, sane and consensual sexual expression they so choice, including S/M.

If you would like to show your support for the NOW-S/M Policy Reform Statement, please add your name to the growing list of supporters.

Statements of Support

"Violence Against S/M Women Within the Lesbian Community" is a nationwide survey sponsored by Female Trouble, Philadelphia. This survey, published in March 1994, concerned violence committed by women in the lesbian community against S/M Women.

Because of their S/M orientation, 56% of the 539 women surveyed have been the victim of acts of violence including harassment, discrimination and/or assault. One quarter of the S/M women surveyed were physically assaulted by members of the lesbian community.

Discrimination within the lesbian community affects 30% of the women surveyed because of their S/M orientation, including being ejected or refused admittance from a public accommodation, denied housing, and/or refused membership in a social, recreational, political, educational or spiritual lesbian group.

The survey states: "Condoning and/or ignoring incidents of violence against S/M women makes you a party to that violence. Regardless of personal feelings and opinions about consensual S/M, no one has the right to harass, discriminate against or physically assault S/M women. As lesbian, bisexual and queer women living in a society that has condemned us en masse as perverse, immoral, criminal and insane, surely, we understand the terrifying consequences of institutionalized bigotry. As lesbian, bisexual and queer women, surely, we will not succumb to self-inflicted persecution."

Thanks to Lolita for networking with Female Trouble on behalf of the S/M PRP. Female Trouble Survey, copyright 1994 by Jad Keres, PO Box 30145 Phila. PA 19103

Education

The S/M Policy Reform Project is sponsoring an educational panel for NOW-New York City at their November 20th general meeting. An overview of the S/M PRP has been sent to NOW-NYC for inclusion in the next issue of NOW News.

NOW's current policy against S/M is codified in the 1980 Delineation of Lesbian Rights, yet the S/M Policy Reform Project contends that S/M is a sexual/affectional preference that is not detrimental to a woman's mental or physical well-being.

Everyone is welcome to attend and join this discussion at the November 20th meeting at 6:30 PM at 105 E. 22nd Street, New York City.

Publicity

Media kits with the official Barbara Nitke photographs are currently being distributed. Contact the S/M PRP if you would like a media kit or an interview. Our most recent interview was with AMICA, a mainstream German magazine.

For more information on the S/M Policy Reform Project or if you would like to Volunteer, you can e-mail NOWSM@aol.com or go to the S/M Policy Reform Website . Or contact:

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Updates Delineation of Lesbian Rights Statements of Support

Psychiatrists and Physicians Quotes from Authors Form for Support Links