|
This site promotes the concept of "BDSM Rights":
the belief that people whose
sexuality or relationship preferences include Bondage and Discipline,
Dominance and Submission, or Sadism and Masochism ("BDSM") deserve the same
human rights as everyone else, and should not be discriminated against for
pursuing BDSM with consenting adults.
This page links to ongoing campaigns,
BDSM-specific organisations,
other human rights groups, and
documents.
Our
BDSM Rights Flag page describes the flag design
we use, and has
free prebuilt flag images, and a live flag maker program to create
custom images you can use commercially or personally if you support the
above BDSM Rights statement.
There is also a standard 480x60 banner that
you're welcome to use to link to BDSMrights.com.
Campaigns related to specific abuses of the human rights of BDSM people.
http://www.backlash-uk.org.uk/
"The
Home Office has begun a process to make it illegal to possess extreme
adult images. ...
Backlash is the campaigning organisation bringing together individuals
and activist groups to oppose this legislation."
http://www.caan.org.uk/
"Although not specifically a BDSM campaign or organisation as we appeal
to a far wider cross section, our roots are firmly within the BDSM community
and much of our campaigning has impact on those who practise BDSM.
We believe in the right of consenting adults to make their own sexual
choices, in respect of what they do, see and enjoy alone or with other
consenting adults, unhindered and unfettered by government.
We believe that it is not the business of government to intrude into the
sex lives of consenting adults."
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BDSM-HumanRights
"On Wednesday 26th July 2000 in the UK began the start of a violation
of human rights by an employer. So far it has resulted in the dismissal of
someone because of so called 'inappropriate activities', that is involvement
in BDSM. This list was set up as a place where people can be kept up to date
with the progress of that case, find out how they can help with the 'fight'
and as a general resource for others, in both the UK and other parts of the
world, that find themselves in similar positions."
http://www.revisef65.org/
"A European network built to work towards the removal of Fetishism and
SM as psychiatric diagnoses from the ICD, the International Classification
of Diseases published by the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative
was started by the Norwegian National Association for Lesbian and Gay
Liberation (LLH) and is supported by the European region of the
International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and the European
Confereration of Motorcycle Clubs (ECMC.)"
Organisations with an ongoing role in promoting the rights or civil
liberties of BDSM people.
http://www.nla-i.com/
A North American association which aims to
"promote the success and welfare of individuals, organizations,
publications and businesses within our community; especially against threats
to their freedom of expression, freedom of the press, rights to free
association and right to equal protection under the law."
http://www.spannertrust.org/
"The Trust was set up in 1995 in the wake of the Spanner case to manage
the monies raised in the UK, Europe and the USA for the defendants' appeal
to the European Court of Human Rights. The objectives of the Trust are now
primarily to advocate and lobby for a change in the UK law with regard to
consensual sadomasochistic activity. The Trustees are SM practitioners of
standing within the fetish communities - gay, lesbian or heterosexual."
http://www.uksmpride.org/
A United Kingdom campaigning organisation for informed and consenting
adult sadomasochists. It exists to represent the UK SM scene and to campaign
on its behalf.
http://www.unfettered.co.uk/
A new UK voluntary group formed to celebrate and defend the diverse BDSM
/ Fetish community in the UK, and to run educational and entertainment
events in the UK to further the cause of BDSM & Fetish, including,
KinkFest, a major day of workshops, demos and meetings in London.
http://huizen.dds.nl/~wildside/english/info_e/spanner_e.htm
"The Spanner Fund Netherlands (SFN) ... is
a fundraising organization which aims to support informative, educational,
or other worthwhile projects that aim to improve the social and legal
position of SM practitioners. The group, which has grown out of the old
action group, "Spanner Group Netherlands" believes that we've all
got to take care of our own community; no one else will do this for us."
Organisations with a wider role in promoting civil liberties and human
rights, especially those that have acknowledged past abuses of BDSM people's
rights.
http://www.aclu.org/
Main US campaigning organisation promoting civil liberties.
http://www.fiawol.demon.co.uk/FAC/
Feminists Against Censorship was formed in 1989 by a group of long-time
feminist academics and campaigners who wished to fight censorship from a
feminist perspective. FAC's current aims include the elimination of de jure
and de facto prior restraint in the production and distribution of media
images; the removal of the powers of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to
confiscate magazines, videos, films and other media; elimination of the
powers of the police to enter a person's home to search for entertainment
materials.
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/
Main UK campaigning organisation promoting civil rights.
http://www.ncsfreedom.org/
"The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom is a national organization
committed to creating a political, legal, and social environment in the
United States that advances equal rights of consenting adults who practice
forms of alternative sexual expression. NCSF is primarily focused on the
rights of consenting adults in the SM-leather-fetish, swing, and polyamory
communities, who often face discrimination because of their sexual
expression."
http://www.sfc.org.uk/
The SFC's activities include: running a campaign, with other groups, for
body acceptance; advising the Home Office and political groups on law
reform; keeping a watch on sex censorship and legal restrictions; providing
legal contacts and advice on sexual freedom issues; holding an annual
conference in London.
National and international documents on which everyone's civil liberties are
based, including those of people who happen to do BDSM.
http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.htm
The United Nation's human rights convention, signed by most member states
of the UN in 1948.
http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/005.htm
European statement of human rights, signed by the UK in 1950 and
directly incorporated into UK law in October 2000. This includes several
highly relevant rights protecting private life, freedom of expression and
association, and preventing discrimination. The UK
Human Rights Unit of the
Lord Chancellor's Department has links to human rights information. The
"Study Guide"
provides a commentary on the European Convention on Human Rights.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.table.html
Including the 1791 ammendments which form the "Bill of Rights."
|