Downstate Town Doesn't Want 'Spanksgiving' Conference
The folks in the town of Fairview Heights in southern Illinois are less than pleased to be the hosts of "Spanksgiving," an event from STL3, Inc. -- formerly known as St. Louis Leather and Lace. The event starts today, and there isn't anything the townsfolk can do to stop it, but they have tried to make organizers jump through a few extra hoops, making some people question if the group is being discriminated against.
On the Spanksgiving website [Mostly SFW], it is described as "a three day adult educational seminar and play party held at a premier hotel that is exclusive to the event." The Four Points by Sheraton in Fairview Heights is hosting about 250 people to explore their kinky side. It's not an orgy, though. STL3, Inc., is a registered nonprofit organization. Now organizers say the town sprung them with extra fees in the last few days to make a little more money off of the group's event. Since the organization is nonprofit, the town originally had said it would not charge permit fees or vendor fees, but they had a change of heart when they learned more about the organization. The Belleville News-Democrat writes:
The city would not make nonprofit groups such as the Girl Scouts get permits, (Alderman Sandy) Baldwin said.
"I think there's a difference between a Girl Scout cookie and a sexual toy paraphernalia. When you sell Girl Scout cookies, that money is put back into the Girl Scouts. It's going back into the community."
Sure, there's a difference between a thin mint and a dildo, we'll give her that. But a nonprofit is a nonprofit is a nonprofit -- right?
"What is being asked of this conference that is not being asked of other conferences?" [National Coalition for Sexual Freedom spokeswoman Susan] Wright said. "You can't just enforce it against one group and not another. Did other conference vendors have to pay this fee? It's because of the nature of the event."
Alderman Baldwin told the Belleville News-Democrat that she doesn't want Spanksgiving in her town, "But I also understand, legally, when your hands are tied, we can only make sure the laws on our books are being followed." Wait, her hands are tied -- we'll let the folks at Spanksgiving finish that joke.
