And the erosion of civil liberties continues in 2022.
The rolling back of voting rights in states across the country, legislation prohibiting schools from discussing topics of gender identity or sexual orientation (aka ‘Don’t Say Gay’), educational gag orders to censor teachers, and draconian mechanisms to facilitate book banning in school districts. And in a historic and far-reaching decision, the U.S. Supreme Court recently reversed Roe v. Wade, declaring that the constitutional right to abortion, upheld for nearly a half century, no longer exists.
Furthermore, in a concurring opinion, Justice Thomas said the legal rationale for the Roe v. Wade decision could be applied to overturn other major cases, including those that legalized gay marriage, barred the criminalization of consensual homosexual conduct, and protected the rights of married people to have access to contraception.
It’s repressive pushback that’s been going on for decades. This week, we look back at the 1979 March on Times Square protest against pornography – and a selection of pictures from other demonstrations that took place during the so-called ‘golden age.’
The Rialto Report takes a few weeks off for its summer vacation. Happy protesting, happy holidays… see you on the beach – and on the streets.
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Valerie Harper protests, mid 1970s
Chicago, 1974
Toronto, 1975
Washington, 1975
Capitol steps, 1977
Madison, Univeristy of Wisconsin, late 1970s
Madison, Univeristy of Wisconsin, late 1970s
Protest against Robert Mapplethorpe, late 1970s
Capitol steps, 1977
Washington, 1977
Times Square, 1977
*
March on Times Square, 1979 – Anti-Pornography Demonstration
March on Times Square, 1979
With Gloria Steinem and Bella Abzug
Andrea Dworkin
Washington, 1984
Pompano Beach, 1987
*
In the faces of these protesters, I see a complete non-comprehension and condemnation of male sexuality. And a complete disinterest in understanding male sexuality. It is the mirror image of the very things that men have (often rightly) stood accused of.
And to think this roll back is very much due to a truly valueless man, 100% sleaze, with no conviction other than the need for power and praise — the worst kind of libertine — who catered to the mob of entitled and aggrieved comic book patriots who wanted ‘their America’ back in order to that he, the sleazeiest of the sleazy, the man with no soul, could enact revenge on the black president who made fun of him while calling him out on his BS. Elections have consequences. What’s going on now, is one of them. The furthering division is another. All because uglies thought it and think it a good idea to elect a witless orangutang who needs to be stroked in order to feel alive to lead what was the greatest country on earth.
I’d actually argue that TFG just let loose the far-right-evangelicals – the cristofascists.
*Those* were the people that drove previous hysterias over adult content. “Think of the children”, while the clergy were raping those same children. “Porn = Rape!” while the cops were raping prostitutes. “God is angry about Porn!” while there is not now, nor then, nor ever, a “God”.
F*ck Religion. Remove it, and all people too weak to live in polite society without fear of punishment by a faux deity, and maybe, just maybe, we can make some actual progress.
Til then? We’ll continue to be screwed by religious zealots who want nothing less than full control over everyone’s thoughts and deeds.
no. this started after Watergate. the gop set about taking control from local level up over decades.
Perfectly said!
Please dont disparage the beautiful, intelligent (and critically endangered) orangutan. Chump is a talking cheeto not worth listening to, ever. thank you.
Pure capitalism
Pure corporations
Country in total decadence
as long as women earn less than men for equal work they are being coerced into commercial sex. “you could be a vet assistant, but for real money try prostitution”.
I have no criticism of sex industry but it should be selected not backed into.
You could say the same thing about working in general. A lot of people are in jobs that they despise or expose them to abusive situations (injury and health risks, harassment, unwarranted stress).
Awesome Article Keep Up Good work
The picture marked Washington 1977 is actually Highland Park, Michigan. The bookstore is still in business in 2022 and adjacent to a nude dancing establishment.
Pure capitalism
Pure corporations
Country in total decadence
I do think the next GOP pandering to Evangelicals will be to curtail access to adult material in the form of mandatory internet registration to access it. Concurrently, conservatives will seek to close adult book stores/entertainment under the ruse of a “public health” hazard.
Dear Rialto Team,
Thank you for sharing these amazing images! With no doubt, the photos will inspire a lively discussion board. Enjoy a restful break from your delightfully thorough and truth-based reporting. The picture that evoked deep memories for me was the one of Andrea Dworkin sporting her signature overalls. Claiming that she was the voice of the “repressed women of Porn,” the Golden Age Goddesses (both straight and gay) fought fearlessly against Andrea’s control for power by becoming even hotter and nastier, while also taking ownership of the the evolving pornographic industry. RIP Andrea (2005). Your brilliant mind and ideations are beyond respected, but will always be forever countered. Perhaps one modern day “poet” who is an acclaimed singer/songwriter spells it out the best:
Who run the world? Girls!
Who run this mother? Girls!
– Beyonce (Run the World, 2011)
Who run the world? Girls!
Who run this mother? Girls!
– Beyonce (Run the World, 2011)
She’s co-opted herself into the Patriarchy to be a star. And how many people wrote that song – six people. Only two of them female. Not a great example of female empowerment, IMNSHO.
We don’t run the world now, no – but we did once. I don’t think we could repair the damage man has done.
As for the photos: I was 15 that year, and had NO clue what was going on and how it would affect my future. I think a lot of women wanted to be masculine-aggressive because they felt that fighting fire with fire was the only way to do things. Yeah, see how well *that* worked out.
Porn’s been around for a loooooooong time, and until humans resolve their moral problems – NOT holding my breath here – it’s going to be around and above-ground. If I had answers, I’d be working at the Mayo Clinic, and where I’m at is def not the Mayo Clinic!
Hope your time off is safe and fun and all that jazz!
Dear L.A. Gothro,
I deeply appreciate your thoughtful post, while only partially agreeing with your evidence-based argument that Beyonce sold her soul to the male-driven music machine, in order to achieve her long-range visualizations.
With that said, this accolade was all over Social Media today: https://power1069fm.com/2022/07/08/beyonce-makes-chart-history-as-first-woman-artist-with-20-top-10-singles-heres-a-full-list/#:~:text=You%20won%E2%80%99t%20break%20her%20soul%2C%20but%20Beyonce%CC%81%20continues,top%2010s%20as%20a%20member%20of%20a%20group
Just saying… You have to be one, serious BAD-ASS woman to power alongside Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Not to mention, she is by far, the most beautiful of the trio.
With gratitude,
– LM
I forgot Rialto is in NYC!… The is no curtailing of voter rights. Ask someone you think is “curtailed” and they will laugh you out into the street for your condescension. New voter laws are more liberal than Delaware’s – Biden’s home state. States that want abortion (NY, CA. NJ) will double down – 2 for 1, coupons, etc. States that don’t – MS, AL, etc will do first trimester only. Nothing has really changed. Even Notorious RBG thought the decision was bad law. Let’s not get crazy about it. We went from one nation to two – now to 50. Where policies, taxes, and social issues will be competitive against each state for population and representation in Congress. No woman is going to run to their supervisor for an abortion weekend or HR! It’s private and personal. Any company touting this is doing it for marketing. They ran the numbers – pregnancy leave and a rise in insurance premiums vs a weekend in SF? Meet the new boss…. same as the old boss. BTW – I”m pro choice. I just see the matrix code in the walls… and don’t suffer from trump derangement. Christ – it’s old…
Let’s keep RR what it is – a superb golden age info center for adult. I read some articles that need to be in magazines and books here! April and Ashley might have found the Holy Grail or Nazi gold by now if they wanted to
“I forgot Rialto is in New York”.
The dumbest opener I’ve ever read – along with “I forgot the sun shines”, “I forgot water is wet”, and “I forgot sugar is sweet.”
The Rialto Report is literally based on New York, about New York: it’s written on the home page. Are you brain dead?
Can’t be bothered to read the rest of your nonsense. You obviously haven’t got two brain cells to rub together.
And the second sentence makes no more sense either: “The is no curtailing…”
Another illiterate right winger.
Society (and the planet) is going down in flames, but keep up the excellent work, RR!
The morality police have always been around trying to push their vision of the world onto others. As was stated in the text, the pushback against the opening up of American society to other points of view and lifestyles in the 1960s and 1970s has been happening for several decades. The various forces that constitute the morality police (conservative groups, religious organizations, individual zealots, etc.) just happen to have attained a high level of political control at the moment. It will always be a fight to be able to access the reading and viewing material of your choice, and a new round in that political and cultural fight is opening up now. The pessimistic side of my nature tells me that the divisions are only going to grow.
The feature image is of the Zanzibar Tavern which still exists as a strip club here in Toronto. Apparently, pornography is here to stay.
A truly astounding array of photos. Great job as always RR!
Thank you for the incredible article.
Sadly, we have lost our priorities as feminists… But I hope more and more wake up.