Bergthold has a long history in the Christian Right. He graduated from Pensacola Christian College in 1994. He received his law degree from the Christian university Regent Law School. At law school, Bergthold became involved with the Pat Robertson-funded American Center for Law and Justice.
Bergthold has ties with the organizations Community Defense Counsel and Victims of Pornography. The site has a poem Amber Smith wrote for those who have been victimized form one too many Ron Jeremy movies.
Once you've heard my story
Can you feel the pain?
Must I walk this cold, dark path?
Silenced by the shame?
Who will take a stand for me?
To say I'm not alone?
Who will take the pain I've felt,
And let the cost be known?
Bergthold has been on an anti-adult entertainment rampage ever since. He has an ongoing legal battle with Jenna Jameson. She released the statement: "The mayor and her council members used my fame to generate publicity that panders to the religious right wing, without regard to the rights of the majority of our citizens who simply want to enjoy adult entertainment." Jameson has launch a referendum to overturn the regulations Bergthold help write for Scottsdale. She needs 3,384 signatures.
Bergthold rallied concerned parents in Phoenix against an adult superstore.
"Our focus is not on the moral decay in America," says Scott Bergthold, executive director of NFLF, "but rather the tangible effects of the moral decay which local governments are quick to recognize an increase in crimes, lower property values leading to lower tax revenues, and health and safety issues like the spread of aids and other sexually transmitted diseases."
As far as crime from sex clubs in Phoenix ...
For example in Phoenix in a presentation before the City Council it was shown by police reports that the number of police calls to swing clubs was far lower than the neighborhood bars or places like Circle K's or 7-11's. But all the positive or information shown no negative secondary effects of swing clubs was ignored and they were simply declared a public nuisance with no facts to back up the City's determination.
I can't find no documented cases of a patron getting an STD from an exotic dancer. I wouldn't be surprised if it happened. But it certainly isn't the epidemic that Bergthold makes it out to be. What I hate is these people lie and use scare talking points. Just have the guts to say that adult businesses are against your Christian beliefs. The Religious Right doesn't want to speak candidly because they know too many people like adult entertainment.
Methinks the fella has an unhealthy interest in pursuing sin. His adult library must be overflowing with research, huh. But hey, his "calling" forces him to find, view -- perhaps participate? -- and root out all the little nasties that would corrupt the weaker minds and impure hearts of us sinners. Besides, we might enjoy it, and surely he does not. But it's a living, bless his heart.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine actually works in "the industry" and we were discussing licencing of dancers.
ReplyDeleteHe said that it would actually make things better for the clubs if the dancers were licenced. And that in Atlanta, for one, they are.
Basically it goes like this. If a dancer has a licence then the club can actually employ her rather than have her come in as an independent contractor. And as an employee they have a lot more control over what she does and where she does it. And for the dancer it gives her stability in that she is now an employee of the club. There was more to it, but that was the big advantage for everyone.
Bergthold is a lawyer. Instead of chasing ambulances, he is chasing a documented source of crime and community degradation. I think he is to be commended, and we need more lawyers like him.
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