You may have heard that adult gay entertainment studio Male Spectrum has joined the fight for equality by making an initial donation of $2500 to the Human Rights Campaign. We took a moment from our busy lives at MANHUNT to speak with Lea Busick, the company's Director of Marketing and Sales for online subscriptions and affiliate programs. Busick gave us the lowdown on Male Spectrum's latest venture into mobile porn and discussed why now is the perfect time for other adult companies to join the fight for our rights.
Read our interview below:
Tell us a little bit about Male Spectrum as a company.
Male Spectrum is our gay branded line of product that is available for consumers via online subscription websites, DVD and mobile.Our content is exclusive, unique and fresh and offers a combination of hot male talent guaranteed to get attention.
Your mobile site, imalespectrumpass, is blowing up! What's the appeal of being able to put porn on your iPod or iPhone?
The mobile sites have definitely opened a new avenue for us, both for the delivery of content and revenue generation. Our mobile sites are currently our fastest-growing properties. The appeal comes down to privacy, portability and instant access. Think about it, you’re stuck in the airport with nothing to do. What better way to pass the time than catch a clip or two of hot action via imsalespectrumpass.com? Plus, the quality of the content delivery is great. We film in HD and our videos are converted to H264 for our mobile devices, which include iphone, ipod and PSP/PS3.
Male Spectrum just donated $2500 to the Human Rights Campaign. Why was the company drawn to the HRC specifically?
Our company has a very diverse and talented staff who cares deeply about Human Rights in general, plus our gay customers have always demonstrated a fierce loyalty to the Male Spectrum brand. Those reasons combined with the knowledge of special interest groups pouring in money to keep GLBT rights from becoming reality, we feel there is more of a need than ever for people to stand up and show their support of equality for all. Our sponsorship of the HRC illustrates our commitment to helping assuage the hate and intolerance fostered by the conservative right and to advocate on issues of justice and fairness, including marriage, for the GLBT community.
To read the rest of the interview, follow the JUMP:
Why did Male Spectrum decide to step in to support gay marriage?
We feel the principals of equality are not up for debate. It’s equal rights under the law and that includes the right to marry. GLBT people pay taxes, do humanitarian work, contribute to society just as everyone else does. This country was founded on the principals of equality, so that’s what we believe in.
Do you understand why some might see irony in a gay porn studio supporting gay marriage – especially a company whose hottest property is HISFIRSTHUGECOCK.COM?
I can certainly understand why someone might think it is ironic for a gay porn company to come out in support of gay marriage – but I think that perceived irony says more about their attitude towards porn than it speaks to any inconsistency on our part. Porn is about fantasy, and both porn and fantasy can be a healthy and enjoyable part of a committed couple’s sex life, whether that couple is gay or straight. In my mind, there’s nothing at all inconsistent about selling the fantasy of sex outside of the marriage while simultaneously supporting the rights of all people to be married if they choose to be. One is the realm of fantasy, the other is real life; we know the difference, and I believe our customers do, too.
Do you feel the right to gay marriage is important to your members?
I think so, yes. While some of them may choose not to participate in marriage as a lifestyle choice, I do think GLBT folks are very sensitive to the right for fairness and equality for all.
Do you think other adult-oriented companies will follow Male Spectrum’s lead? What do you think is stopping them from getting involved in activism, particularly the fight for equality?
I know there are some companies who donate to worthy causes, such as the Free Speech Coalition etc. however, I think for some of them it’s more a question of what’s happening with the economy and their focus is on that right now. Believe it or not, the recession has affected the porn industry as well, so many companies are working on increasing revenue and cutting costs.
Why is it important that the adult-oriented companies join the fight now?
Because we’re all still too late in making equal rights for GLBT people a reality. And, now is a perfect time since there has been a change in the administration and a sense of newfound activism, i.e. the “taking back of America” if you will. Good time to jump on the bandwagon.
Any suggestions for individuals who want to contribute to the community but don't have any money to donate?
Activism and education. Participation in rallies, write to politicians, educate your neighbors and those in your community or business.
To have this porn company endorse gay marriage is fine, BUT it also validates the strong correlation between the gay porn industry and gay culture. Porn may be an aspect of straight culture; but gay porn/gay sex-themed industries are severely intertwined within the gay community. Proponents would want us to believe that porn applies equally across the board to both straight and gay circles, and we should reserve judgment when our culture is often associated with cruising parks, truckstops, bath houses, bathroom stalls and circuit parties…to name a few. Now are these stereotypes, or just the undercurrent of our behavior that has been going on for decades? It’s perfectly fine to keep the gay porn industry in business. But this overly saturated market, and aggressive advertising to its target audience continues to counter the progress of the gay movement. I would rather see the gay porn industry take a backseat to gay issues instead of placing any relevance within our community.