Dallas Bans Torture Porn Expo After Pastors Speak Out Against Sexual Violence
Dallas' city leadership narrowly voted to ban an adult entertainment conference known as the Exxotcia Expo from using the publicly owned convention center.
In a vote of 8 to 7, the Dallas City Council decided Wednesday to not allow Exxxotica to use the public facility for its three-day expo, previously scheduled to take place in May.
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation hailed the decision, given what both Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and the organization know about Exxotica.
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"The Exxxotica event promotes hard-core pornography and torture sex, despite the fact that it is sexually exploitive and linked to increases in sexual violence, sexual dependencies, and decreases in brain matter," stated NCOSE.
J. Handy, spokesperson for the producers of the expo, said in a statement published by local media station WFAA that they are planning legal action.
"We absolutely have the right to produce the event at the convention center and the citizens of Dallas have a right to attend, and after today's testimonies, we realize the city of Dallas understands those rights," stated Handy.
"It's just unfortunate that their personal, religious and conservative beliefs compelled them to make decision which obviously violates the law."
Purportedly the largest adult entertainment expo in the nation, Exxotica previously held an expo in Dallas last August, their event being met with protests.
Last week, Rawlings expressed his intention to ban the expo, stating that he did not want such a convention to come to his city.
"I believe in civil liberties, as well as in my civic obligation to fight for what is right for the city of Dallas. Based on what I know about this organization and event, it is not something that belongs in our city," the mayor said.
Local media reported that during the city council meeting numerous people, including those representing local churches, spoke out against the Expo. Only Handy spoke in favor.
While Exxotica and Dallas prepare for a likely legal battle, an anti-sexual exploitation group has commended the city for rejecting the conference.
"[Rawlings] said that after hearing about a place in the Exxxotica event where women are tied up and whipped he realized that it had crossed a line and he could not stand by while Dallas accepted money in order to host the event in its convention center."
