May 5, 2005: Live Sex in Court: The Sex Party Sues Prov Govt

Violent touch OK in licenced premises; but erotic touch banned

The Sex Party has made good on its promise to challenge in court the sex-negative policies and decisions of the provincial Liquor Licencing Branch. The Party filed a Petition in the BC Supreme Court Wednesday afternoon May 4, 2005 against the General Manager of the Branch.

Liquor officials ban all entertainment involving erotic contact in any bar in BC or even private premises where liquor is sold under a Special Occasion Licence.

The Sex Party SAVY event (Sex - Art - Vote Yes!) 7.30-11.30 pm Thursday May 12 at The Video In 1965 Main St at 3rd Ave, will feature three of Vancouver's hottest couples making love as part of the art installation Eye Voyeur Agapornis. The SAVY event will also include body painting, nude photography, presentations by the three Sex Party candidates, and lots of interactive events. No such political gathering has ever occurred before in Canada.

Only adults will be allowed to attend and every person must sign a document indicating they are comfortable with the sexually explicit nature of the event.

Even with the special circumstances of this unique assembly, Liquor officials banned the art installations involving erotic touch.

"BC bureaucrats are treating the adults of the province as if they were children," says John Ince, leader of The Sex Party. "It is a sad day for democracy when the whims of unelected officials can control political gatherings."

While liquor officials ban all erotic touch, they allow violent contact in public licenced areas. For example, a Canucks fan can legally sip a beer in the stands and watch the bloody fights on the ice at Canucks games at GM Place. Prize fighting and kick boxing are also allowed where liquor is served. In BC blood can flow and so can booze. But no erotic contact.

"Imagine the outcry if a liquor official took offence at the fighting in hockey games and withdrew the liquor licence from GM Place. The media and the public would be outraged," says Ince. "The prohibition on all erotic touch, even as part of an art exhibition at a political event involving only carefully screened adults, should attract the same derision."

To interview officials or candidates of The Sex Party, email Jessie: Jessie@thesexparty.ca