canada.com
Actors to perform oral sex during play
Police promise arrests; group promises lawsuits over planned sex show
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
VANCOUVER (CP) -- Threats of criminal charges and lawsuits were exchanged
Tuesday between police and a group intent on performing a live sex play
during an artist's opening of his latest works depicting oral sex.
John Ince, a lawyer, self-described erotic-arts activist and owner of the
Art of Loving erotic art store, co-wrote the two-part play with artist
Martin Guderna.
Ince and Guderna -- whose works will be on display when the play opens at
the store -- called their play Public Sex, Art and Democracy. They've
scheduled three performances beginning June 26 at 8 p.m.
Ince, who is writing a book called Politics of Lust, readily acknowledges
his purpose in writing the play, which will feature a couple performing oral
sex, is both artistic and political.
"He likes to do a performance to open his art show," Ince said of Guderna.
"He often does a one-person performance but we came up with the idea of
actually having a performance that includes a couple doing (mutual oral
sex).
"I thought this would be an interesting vehicle to talk about erotic art, to
talk about the social control of erotic art and put it all together in a
two-act play."
But "we do want to challenge the laws," said Guderna.
City police shrugged off initial reports about the planned performances,
saying they would not interfere unless there was a complaint. But that
changed Tuesday.
"After consulting with the Vancouver vice unit, it is an offence to either
take part in an immoral, indecent or obscene performance, or to permit such
a performance in a theatre or venue," said Const. Sarah Bloor.
The performance, she said, would be the same as committing a sex act in
public "and that is an offence in relation to the Criminal Code."
The owner, manager or agent, along with the actors would be charged, said
Bloor.
The promoters say they anticipate being arrested and charged, and will fight
back by suing the police and the attorney general, he said.
"We'll sue the attorney general for damages because our argument would be
that any prosecution would be equivalent to a raid on a synagogue or a gay
theatre," said Guderna.
"It's not acceptable that in the 21st century that artists would be
subjected to even a charge to do this."
The current Criminal Code laws regarding obscenity promote the idea sex is
bad, he said.
"It's not that the laws are protecting society," said Guderna. "They are
harming society.
"You can see a knife going in a body and blood spurting out. That probably
won't be censored. But a penis going in a body in a loving context, that
will digitally blurred."
Bloor said before any action is taken on either side, the police would like
to discuss the planned performance with the troupe.
"We don't have any indication from them exactly what the plan is," said
Bloor. "It's fair that we go to the organizers and get exactly what their
plans are and from that discuss what the criminal implications are for what
they plan."
Ince argues that the current laws should only prohibit behaviour that is
harmful, such as child pornography.
"Anything that is demonstrably harmful (should be illegal) and the creation
of child pornography is obviously violating the rights of children."
If the play is performed and is a hit, Ince said they will tour the country.
Admission for the one-hour play and Guderna's art opening is $20.
� Copyright 2003 Canadian Press
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Macdonald Stainsby
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--
In the contradiction lies the hope.
--Bertholt Brecht
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