from Political News

UK S&M Gay Group
Protests Ban On Violent Pornography

September 12, 2006 - The Spanner Trust, a gay sado-masochistic organization in Britain has publicly condemned the efforts of the British government to criminalize possession of S&M pornography. (Birmingham Post, August 31, 2006)

The Trust is named after the Spanner trial, which took place in 1990. This trial resulted in the conviction of 16 gay males for engaging in S&M, which included the practice of nailing their penises to boards.

Spanner Trust Secretary Derek Cohen has criticized the Home Office for criminalizing S&M pornography. According to Cohen, "There is a danger of not just criminalizing people but putting a lot of fear into people who will be concerned that taking photographs of their own private sexual activities will send them to prison."

The Spanner Trust is also joined by other bondage and discipline groups, including the Sexual Freedom Coalition and SM Pride, as well as anti-censorship groups such as Ofwatch and Feminists Against Censorship in protesting the criminalization of S&M pornography.

According to the Spanner Trust web site, the organization "exists to defend the rights of sadomasochists and specifically to reverse the UK court ruling which made certain SM activities illegal even though all parties consent."

Chairman of the Spanner Trust is John Pendal, winner of the 25th International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago in 2003. Treasurer of the Trust is Ian Gurnhill, who describes himself as an "out gay kinky fetish action player." He was a member of Chicago's Hell Fire Club in the 1990s before returning home to Britain to join the Spanner Trust.

Additional Reading: Sexual Variety and Frequency, S&M Are Part of What Makes Gay Orientation "Distinctive and Valuable," Says Psychologist; Gay Men's Group To Present Sessions On Sadomasochism At National Religion Conference; British Psychologist Argues For Multiple Sex Partners; Partner Solicitation Language As A Reflection Of Male Sexual Orientation.