Op-Ed: Speak Up

After reading some of the varied reader and listener responses to Jason Ridge's interview recap, I felt like I should step in and make a response of my own.

You see, regardless of whether or not I agree with his opinions, I support Jason Ridge's right to voice them and am elated that he did. I don't think you get anywhere in any industry by burning bridges, but I will say that everything Jason Ridge mentioned is the stuff that people in our inner-industry talk about every day but never write about. He said the things that even I have always been afraid to write. And let's face, it's porn. Why should we be afraid to talk or write about anything? It's not foreign policy. This is not a matter of national security. It's pornography.

It was really refreshing for me to have a sit-down interview with someone who was, though definitely joking about a lot of the things he said, also very impassioned and unafraid to speak out against things and people he feels are corrupt. Porn stars complain to me about the status of the industry every day and then they keep silent and do nothing to change it. Nothing will ever change if every porn star tries to just keep the status quo out of fear that a company may or may not hire them.

I ask you, what would you rather have? Companies who have to do right by their models for fear that the models will speak badly about them and harm the company's reputation? Or models who have to keep their mouths shut when they're treated poorly for fear that they may never work again?

If you've been treated poorly by a company, speak up. If a director demeans you, speak up. If a porn star is behaving like a fool behind the scenes, speak up. If you feel you have a good idea for how the system could be bettered, speak up. If you have opinions and you're passionate about them, speak up. Speaking up is the only way people will listen and it is the only thing that will bring about the changes you seek.

Not everyone will love Jason Ridge. Not everyone will love Michael Lucas or Chi Chi LaRue or Jason Sechrest. That's why I allow comments here where people slam me. You're all entitled to your opinions and I will always fight to support your right to say whatever the hell you want about anyone and that includes me. I can't understand the hypocrisy of some in this business who throw their fists up in the air and scream, "Our rights to free speech!" and then start crying, "How dare you say those things about me?"

Are these companies really for free speech? Or just their right to keep making money off naked boys? I know this business is all about the money, but I do wish there was better treatment for the stars. Some of these bigger companies out there, they have the power to make great change and give back to the performers who have made them what they are and instead they choose to focus on how to keep costs down, how to get the models to work for less. Instead of looking for ways to improve the mainstream's image of pornography in the midst of an administration that is hellbent on destroying us, they choose to focus on how to acquire more titles by the end of the year.

If you insist on spending 8-12 hour work days on something as insipid as naked people and you've decided that's going to be your personal legacy, I ask you to please make sure some of that time is used to better our community. And that doesn't mean getting the cover of a mainstream magazine. I'm talking about the infrastructure of our community. The wheels and the grease that makes the whole thing go. Get in there and get your hands dirty with the machinery.

Finally, to answer one specific readers' response, Kabbalah, by the way, is all about "stirring the shit." It's about making change and it is about being fearless and refusing to keep the status quo.

P.S.: Was so swamped this week. Back to daily "News Desk" updates on Monday. Thanks guys! xo L, J.