S/M Policy Reform Project

The S/M Policy Reform Project is being organized by members of the National Organization for Women who believe that the current NOW policy against S/M should be reconsidered. The National Organization for Women's official 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 S/M Policy Reform Statement contends that safe, sane and consensual S/M is an affectional/sexual preference/orientation. The S/M Policy Reform Project 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. The freedom of sexual expression between consenting adults is a fundamental human right - whether the individual is lesbian, gay, heterosexual, bisexual, or trangendered. Now is the time to overturn the outdated 1980 "Delineation of Lesbian Rights" and re-affirm the rights of adults to engage in any safe, sane and consensual sexual expression that they so choose.

S/M Policy Reform Statement:

WHEREAS, NOW does affirm 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 does support 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, 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 Deleneation of Lesbian Rights is erroneous in 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 not oppose 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 S/M Policy Reform Statement, please add your name to the growing list of supporters, and read what others have written.

S/M Policy Reform Statement: Plan of Action

1. The S/M Policy Reform Statement needs support. Please submit testimony and evidence, such as: quotes from legal precedents and authors; and supporting statements from feminists, psychiatrists, physicians, and human rights organizations.

2. NOW members must work with their local or state chapters to present educational panels that S/M is not violence or degrading to women. This means: a) contact the head of the Lesbian/Bi-sexual Committee in the chapter; b) educate the leaders of the chapter using the supporting evidence; c) educate the members of the chapter by proposing and sponsoring a panel discussion.

3. Once there is sufficient chapter education, the S/M Policy Reform Project will take the statement to the Presidents Council of NOW to present the supporting evidence to the chapters' presidents. Then we will educate the general membership of NOW by proposing and sponsoring panel discussions on the national level at the NOW national convention.

Eventually, a resolution of the S/M Policy Reform Statement will be submitted to the membership, and voted on at a national convention.

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Home SMPRP Updates Delineation of Lesbian Rights Statements of Support

Human Rights Organizations Psychiatrists and Physicians

Policy Presentation Quotes from Authors Form for Support Links

For more information on the S/M Project e-mail NOW SM@AOL.COM

Created Saturday, March 22, 1997 11:23:58 PM

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