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What
Can I Do?
How
can you make a difference in your community? Follow
these simple suggestions below.
What
to do about Indecent Magazines and Videos
Protecting
Children From Harmful Material
Indecent Public Display is a law that makes it illegal
to display any material in any place where a person
under 18 years of age has a right to be:
- If the material contains nudity,
partial nudity or sexual acts; and
- It has no value for a minor.
- Nudity or partially denuded means:
(a) Less than completely and opaquely covered (you
can see through the covering):
(i) human genitals
(ii) pubic regions
(iii) buttock; and
(iv) female breast below a point immediately
above the top of the areola; and
(b) Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state,
even if completely and opaquely covered (you can't
see through the covering).
This
law applies to movies, plays, video tapes, still photographs,
books, CDs, magazine covers and any other public display
where the person in the material is posed or presented
in a manner to provoke or arouse lust or passion or
to exploit lust or perversion.
This
also applies to printed text such as: "Have more fun
in bed: passion toys every Cosmo girl should try". "100
sex tips from guys". "Your secret sex cycle: discover
the days when you can achieve the most intense pleasure".
The
law may require that the material be placed out of the
reach of minors, behind opaque covers, or made available
to adults upon request only. These regulations protect
children from its content. Display laws have been known
to reduce pornography sales up to 75% because it's out
of sight. Many are surprised that it often takes just
one nice request to get a store to remove or cover inappropriate
material.
Politely
express your concerns. When you discover that
a store is selling, renting, or displaying sexually
oriented material, make a personal and polite request
that the material not be sold in your community. Tell
him or her of your concern about the effects of sexually
explicit materials. Peer pressure is also effective.
It is often helpful to provide
examples of the other businesses in your community that
do cover/remove indecent material. Ask that
the store:
- Provide
covers for magazines when the issues contain offensive
verbiage and/or pictures, for example: "Have more
fun in bed". "100 sex tips from guys".
"Your secret sex cycle": These magazines
may include: Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Glamour, Mademoiselle,
Vanity Fair, Cosmo Girl, Marie Claire, Instyle, Harper's
Bazaar, Vogue, Shape, Muscle, and Woman's Own.
- Discontinue
the following magazines that frequently violate the
Utah Indecent Display Law -Maxim, Gear, Stuff, Women's,
Photo, Photo America , Sport's Illustrated Swimsuit,
Girlfriends, Blackmen, American Curves, and Muscular
Development.
- Authorize
an employee to cover additional offensive magazines
on a month to month basis.
- Request that the store magazine
representative return magazines to the publishers
that do not meet store's standards.
- Offer Sport's Illustrated swimsuit
edition at the service desk only.
Be
persistent and encouraging.
- Have a conversation with the manager
at the service desk. Personal contact is encouraged
because it is more effective. It is helpful to take
someone with you to do this.
- Write letters to the store owner/manager.
This is a great CFD District meeting idea.
- Write a note on the back of your
receipt and leave it at the service desk.
- Leave preprinted business cards
with the manager or owner requesting that the material
be removed or covered.
- Make a phone call to corporate
headquarters or customer service. Sometimes several
calls that work up the chain of command are necessary.
When
your efforts are effective, don't forget to personally
thank and patronize family-friendly
businesses!
In
addition, you may want to contact Communities for Decency
for consideration of an action item - projects@communitiesfordecency.org
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