Woodhull Freedom Foundation

Last updated

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

Contents

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 LGBTQ 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

Foundation: 2003

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. Ricci Levy testifying in Washington, DC.jpeg
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

In 2004, Woodhull joined with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in devoting resources towards analyzing old regulations used to harass LGBTQ 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 Vazquez and Robert Corn-Revere at the Vicki Award Ceremony on Sexual Freedom Day, 2011. 2011 Vicki Sexual Freedom Award recipients.jpg
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

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

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

2022

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

[24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ movements</span> Social movements

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) movements are social movements that advocate for LGBTQ people in society. Although there is not a primary or an overarching central organization that represents all LGBTQ people and their interests, numerous LGBTQ rights organizations are active worldwide. The first organization to promote LGBTQ rights was the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, founded in 1897 in Berlin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Coalition for Sexual Freedom</span> Organization

The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) is an American sex-positive advocacy and educational organization founded in 1997. NCSF has over one hundred coalition partners, and over sixty supporting members. NCSF advocates on behalf of adults involved in alternative lifestyles with respect to sexuality and relationship composition, specifically for tolerance and non-discrimination of those so identified, as well as education for adults involved in such lifestyles. The organization's main office is in Baltimore, Maryland.

This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homomonument</span> Memorial in Amsterdam

The Homomonument is a memorial in the centre of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. It commemorates all gay men and lesbians who have been persecuted because of their sexual orientation. Opened on 5 September 1987, it was the first monument in the world to commemorate gays and lesbians who were killed by the German Nazi regime.

"Gay agenda" or "homosexual agenda" is a pejorative term used by sectors of the Christian religious right as a disparaging way to describe the advocacy of cultural acceptance and normalization of non-heterosexual sexual orientations and relationships. The term originated among social conservatives in the United States and has been adopted in nations with active anti-LGBT movements such as Hungary and Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Jamaica</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people in Jamaica face legal and social issues not experienced by heterosexual and gender-conforming people. Consensual sexual intercourse between same-sex partners is legally punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Lebanon</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people living in Lebanon face discrimination and legal difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Various courts have ruled that Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code, which prohibits having sexual relations that "contradict the laws of nature", should not be used to arrest LGBT people. Nonetheless, the law is still being used to harass and persecute LGBT people through occasional police arrests, in which detainees are sometimes subject to intrusive physical examinations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Long</span>

Scott Long is a US-born activist for international human rights, primarily focusing on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. He founded the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, the first-ever program on LGBT rights at a major "mainstream" human rights organization, and served as its executive director from May 2004 - August 2010. He later was a visiting fellow in the Human Rights Program of Harvard Law School from 2011 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Montgomery</span> American LGBT rights activist (1953–2016)

Jeffrey Montgomery was an American LGBTQ activist and public relations executive. In 1984, his partner, Michael, was shot to death outside a Detroit gay bar, prompting Montgomery to engage in LGBT advocacy. He started work on LGBT anti-violence issues upon learning that the police were not spending many resources on solving the murder, "just another gay killing". In 1991 Montgomery became the founding executive director of the Triangle Foundation, and served until September 2007. Initially engaging in victim advocacy around LGBT violence, and to improve handling of LGBT related cases, the foundation's work expanded to LGBT civil rights and advocacy, with projects for anti-violence, media activism, and legislative education on LGBT civil rights. He became nationally known for his work and served at numerous organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Uganda</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in Uganda face severe legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal for both men and women in Uganda. It was originally criminalised by British colonial laws introduced when Uganda became a British protectorate, and these laws have been retained since the country gained its independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in El Salvador</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, non-binary and otherwise queer, non-cisgender, non-heterosexual citizens of El Salvador face considerable legal and social challenges not experienced by fellow heterosexual, cisgender Salvadorans. While same-sex sexual activity between all genders is legal in the country, same-sex marriage is not recognized; thus, same-sex couples—and households headed by same-sex couples—are not eligible for the same legal benefits provided to heterosexual married couples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ movements in the United States</span>

LGBTQ movements in the United States comprise an interwoven history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer social movements in the United States of America, beginning in the early 20th century. A commonly stated goal among these movements is social equality for LGBTQ people. Some have also focused on building LGBTQ communities or worked towards liberation for the broader society from biphobia, homophobia, and transphobia. LGBTQ movements organized today are made up of a wide range of political activism and cultural activity, including lobbying, street marches, social groups, media, art, and research. Sociologist Mary Bernstein writes:

For the lesbian and gay movement, then, cultural goals include challenging dominant constructions of masculinity and femininity, homophobia, and the primacy of the gendered heterosexual nuclear family (heteronormativity). Political goals include changing laws and policies in order to gain new rights, benefits, and protections from harm.

Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) is a human rights organization that addresses discrimination against lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LBTIQ) people in Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Massey</span> American activist, scientist, and author

Dan Massey was an American LGBT rights/sexual freedom activist, scientist, author, blogger, and fundraiser based in Washington, D.C. He was a co-founder and CEO of VenusPlusX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandy Carter (activist)</span> American activist

Mandy Carter is an American black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activist.

This is a timeline of notable events in the history of non-heterosexual conforming people of African ancestry, who may identify as LGBTIQGNC, men who have sex with men, or related culturally specific identities. This timeline includes events both in Africa, the Americas and Europe and in the global African diaspora, as the histories are very deeply linked.

The National LGBTQ Wall of Honor is a memorial wall in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, dedicated to LGBTQ "pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes". Located inside the Stonewall Inn, the wall is part of the Stonewall National Monument, the first U.S. National Monument dedicated to the country's LGBTQ rights and history. The first fifty inductees were unveiled June 27, 2019, as a part of events marking the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. Five honorees are added annually.

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. 1 2 3 Reese, Phil (June 9, 2011). "Fighting for a liberated view of sexuality". Washington Blade . Brown, Naff, Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  7. 1 2 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. 1 2 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

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.