If you’re near New York, you can celebrate Banned Books Week with an evening of stirring readings from erotic classics at Fifty Shades of Banned: A Celebration of Erotic Literature. The event starts tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Village Pourhouse on 64 3rd Ave (11th Street Entrance, across from Webster Hall). The reading benefits the National Coalition Against Censorship and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
If one thing attracts the attention of the would-be censor, it’s sex. Depictions of sexuality in books, comics, art and film have drawn the eager attentions of Vice Squads and Morality Police since long before the days of Anthony Comstock. Those censorship challenges continue to this day, and are fought by the important work of NCAC and CBLDF.
Fifty Shades of Banned will feature dramatic readings from censored literature, including The Story of O, Joe Blow, Howl, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, and Fifty Shades of Grey. Performers include sexologist and author Dr. Logan Levkoff, erotica author Rachel Kramer Bussel, comedy group MURDERFIST, and more.
Attendees have a chance to enter a raffle to win a signed copy of Fifty Shades of Grey and other exciting raffle prizes courtesy of Babeland. All door donations and raffle proceeds will go to benefit free speech defenders NCAC and CBLDF, therefore ensuring that we all have access to stimulating lit for years to come!
Who: The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund & the National Coalition Against Censorship
Where: The Village Pourhouse, 64 3rd Ave in the East Village
When: Tuesday, Oct. 2, 8 p.m., doors open at 7:30
How Much: $10 suggested donation, includes raffle ticket
Featuring: Banned Books, 2 for 1 Abita Beers, $5 Fat Tuesday menu of hurricanes, hand grenades, po’ boys and jambalaya.
For more information, visit Blogging Censorship (http://ncacblog.wordpress.com/), www.cbldf.org, or visit us on Facebook and invite everyone but your mother: http://www.facebook.com/events/466670673364331/?notif_t=plan_user_joined.
About the National Coalition Against Censorship:
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) is an alliance of more than 50 national non-profit literary, artistic, religious, educational, professional, labor, and civil liberties groups that are united in their commitment to freedom of expression. Founded in 1974, NCAC has worked to protect the First Amendment rights of thousands of artists, authors, teachers, students, librarians, readers, museum-goers, and others around the country.
About the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund:
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals. https://www.cbldf.org