Category: 
by Misty
I was just reading up on a news story about a Somethin’ Sexy store clerk being arrested early this month in Lubbock, Texas for selling sex toys for an undercover police officer. Yes, you read that right… an undercover police officer.
There are so many things wrong with this story that my head is spinning. Not only does it seem “obscene” that police in Lubbock, Texas go undercover to buy vibrators and dildos from adult stores so that they may then arrest the clerk but if she is convicted she would have to register as a sex offender.
Seriously?
The Texas penal code that was violated states “a person who possesses six or more obscene devices is presumed to possess them with intent to promote the same.”
“The Lubbock Assistant District Attorney couldn’t speak specifically about this case, but did speak to us in general about obscenity laws and what the definition of obscene is in Lubbock.
“If they tell them this is a candle put in on the birthday cake this is a novelty if they tell you to use it to enjoy sexual gratification, its no longer a candle on the birthday cake” says Assistant D.A. John Grace.”
What I find obscene about this is that selling sex toys becomes illegal once it’s deemed that they are for sexual gratification. Honestly, my brain hurts right now.
The Assistant D.A. went on to say: “If the seller is selling it as a novelty and the buyer is buying it as a novelty to make fun of, then it probably has not reached the level of an obscenity”.
So if you want “make fun” of a sex toy then you can sell whatever you want and call it a day?
It just seems so wrong to me to correlate the selling of items used to enhance people’s sex lives, sexuality and communication with being a sex offender. To me it cheapens why the registry is around in general.
Not every store has values around sex positivity and communication but to have obscenity laws that mandate what can be bought by a consenting adult seems so restrictive… and just, well, outdated.
As a random tie-it I just have to include the lyrics from a Dixie Chicks song, Lubbock or Leave It from their new album (and, yes, I love the DC)…
Dust bowl, Bible belt
Got more churches than trees
Raise me, praise me, couldn’t save me
Couldn’t keep me on my knees
Oh, boy, rave on down loop 289
That’ll be the day you see me back
In this fool’s paradise
Temptation’s strong
(Salvation’s gone)
I’m on my way
To hell’s half acre
How will I ever
How will I ever
Get to heaven now
Throwing stones from the top of your rock
Thinking no one can see
The secrets you hide behind
Your southern hospitality
On the strip the kids get lit
So they can have a real good time
Come Sunday they can just take their pick
From the crucifix skyline
Temptation’s strong
(Salvation’s gone)
I’m on my way
To hell’s half acre
How will I ever
How will I ever
Get to heaven now
Get to heaven now
International airport
A quarter after nine
Paris Texas, Athens Georgia’s
Not what I had in mind
As I’m getting out I laugh to myself
Cause this is the only place
Where as you’re getting on the plane
You see Buddy Holly’s face
I hear they hate me now
Just like they hated you
Maybe when I’m dead and gone
I’m gonna get a statue too
Temptation’s strong
(Salvation’s gone)
I’m on my way
To hell’s half acre
How will I ever
How will I ever
Get to heaven now
Get to heaven now
How will I ever
Get to heaven now
When their latest album came out I made sure to buy myself a copy. Not because I’d ever even heard any Dixie Chick songs but because I saw it as a statement. Political activism for busy people.
From the first play I loved it. I bought a few more for friends and family hoping that I could be a part of the Dixie Chicks not only gaining sales but also attention for their “fuck you” album and the following film, Shut Up and Sing.
Sadly, simply buying an album won’t get the sex-negative legislation in Texas, or anywhere else, changed – it’s going to take the people of each state demanding their legislators actually pro-actively change the antiquated laws. Free speech is more important now than ever… for more information on what’s being done in the adult industry check out the Free Speech Coalition and write your local legislator to make sure the issues you care about are being addressed.
