UN, S&M, and Scotch Guarded Fursuits (or, why I love Dan Savage)

This fits into so many categories, but...

UN Iraqi weapons inspector Jack McGeorge likes whips and chains and other ties that bind. In fact, he's a founding member of the Washington DC area Black Rose society and a former chairman of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. So, when the Washington Post discovered that he may not have a degree in weapons inspecting, they reported instead that he was a pervert.

The furry angle to all this is a very amusing interview that CNN did with Dan Savage discussing the situation. I guess we made a heck of an impression on Mr. Savage as somehow he and Anderson Cooper of CNN started discussing Plushophilia and furry conventions. You can read the transcript on CNN's web site.

Read more about why you should be outraged by the Washington Post (and not Dan Savage).First, Dan rocks. When discussing acceptable perversions, he thinks of furries. I respect that. We really should thank Dan.

Second, you should read more about what the Washington Post did and how their editors chose to harrass a man who has done piles of work in education and advancing your freedoms (including that to be either in favor or outraged by sexual content in the furry fandom.)

The following is from the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and may be reproduced freely.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2002 18:19:10 -0600
From:
Subject: [SSCN] NCSF Call to Action

CALL TO ACTION
National Coalition for Sexual Freedom

Support UN Weapons Inspector Jack McGeorge

News agencies are targeting one of the UN Weapons Inspectors to Iraq, Jack

McGeorge, because he is a respected SM community leader and educator.

McGeorge's professional credibility as a weapons inspector is being

questioned in part because of his background as former Chairman of the

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, and as a former board member of

both the Leather Leadership Conference and the educational organization,

Black Rose.

Jack McGeorge stated: "I have been very upfront with people in the past

about what I do, and it has never prevented me from getting a job or doing

service. I am who I am. I am not ashamed of who I am -- not one bit. But I

cannot allow my actions, as they may be perceived by others, to damage an

organization which has done nothing to deserve that damage."

Please support the SM community and Jack McGeorge by dropping a note to

the various news agencies covering this story. McGeorge's sexuality is a

personal issue and should have no bearing on his qualifications for any

job. Please state your support for the UN officials who rightly refuse to

accept McGeorge's resignation on the basis of his sexuality.

*Your note should only be 200 words long, and include your full name and

phone number for verification purposes only.*

NCSF's letter:

On behalf of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, I would like to

respond to James V. Grimaldi's article "Weapons Inspectors' Experience

Questioned: Va. Man Is Cited As Example" published on November 28. It is

irresponsible for a news organization like The Washington Post to attempt

to discredit Jack McGeorge as a weapons inspector simply because of his

sexuality. Many millions of Americans engage in SM according to a 1990

Kinsey Institute report. These people are doctors, lawyers, teachers, and

news reporters, as well as professionals like Jack McGeorge.

As a former Chairman of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom,

McGeorge ably assisted our national advocacy organization in fighting this

sort of discrimination and persecution. McGeorge has also volunteered his

valuable time to educate adults about safe, sane and consensual sexual

expression.

NCSF urges you to refrain from sensationalism usually found in tabloid

journals: McGeorge's private life has nothing to do with his professional

credibility.

Sincerely,

Susan Wright, Spokesperson

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom

5505 Connecticut Avenue NW - #184

Washington DC 20015-2601

917-848-6544

NCSF strongly urges you to take a few minutes to respond to the following

articles:

1. "Weapons Inspectors' Experience Questioned" (Washington Post, November 28)

see full text on www.washingtonpost.com and do a search for the

author: James V. Grimaldi

Write to: [email protected], [email protected],

[email protected], [email protected]

2. "World body not turned off by arms inspector's S&M" (NY Daily News, November 29)

see full text on: http://www.nydailynews.com/11-29-2002/news/wn_report/v-pfriendly/story/3...

Write to: [email protected]

3. "State Department Denies Involvement in U.N. Inspector Choices" (Fox News, November 29)

see full text on: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,71748,00.html

Write to: [email protected]

4. Interview with Dan Savage (CNN, November 30)

see full text at the bottom of the page: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0211/30/asb.00.html

To respond, go to: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/hottopics/4/frameset.exclude.html

5. "Sadomasochist" (New York Post, November 29)

see full text on www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/51175.htm

Write to: [email protected]

HOW TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Feedback letters are an effective way to convey a positive image of

alternate sexual practices such as SM, swinging, or polyamory. You can

help to correct negative social myths and misconceptions about these types

of practices. These letters help achieve the advocacy goals of the NCSF.

Generally, for a letter to be published, it's important to include your

name (or first initial, last name), city and daytime phone (for

verification only). For more information, see:

http://www.ncsfreedom.org/mop/writelettertoeditor.htm

Please alert us to positive, negative or neutral stories about SM,

swinging and polyamory at [email protected]

###

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) is a national organization

committed to altering the political, legal, and social environment in the

U.S. in order to guarantee equal rights for consenting adults who practice

forms of alternative sexual expression. NCSF is primarily focused on the

rights of consenting adults in the SM-leather-fetish, swing, and polyamory

communities, who often face discrimination because of their sexual

expression.

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom

5505 Connecticut Avenue NW - #184

Washington DC 20015-2601

410-539-4824

[email protected]

www.ncsfreedom.org