Sex Party (British Columbia)
Encyclopedia
The Sex Party is a political party
based in British Columbia
, Canada
, that contests provincial elections to promote libertarian
and sex-positive
attitudes towards sexual education, pornography
, indecency laws, and prostitution
. It describes itself as "the world's first registered political party dedicated exclusively to sex-positive issues".
The Sex Party was founded in 2005. Its leader is John Ince
, a lawyer, longtime sexual politics activist, and co-owner of "The Art of Loving", a store that sells sex-related products.
campaign, the party staged a fundraising event that included sexually explicit performance art produced by artist Marcus Bowcott. The BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch refused to allow the event in any premises licensed to sell liquor, citing regulations regarding exotic dancer
s and prohibiting "live, realistic or simulated sex acts", as well as performers touching each other or touching the audience.
The Party responded with a lawsuit alleging a violation of its constitutional
rights, arguing that the art exhibits were adult-oriented presentations and were legal as long as they were announced as such. The art was chosen to express political themes and should therefore be seen as political discourse.
The party nominated three candidates in the May 17, 2005 provincial election, none of whom were elected:
, it attempted to lobby voters on sex-related issues by distributing a pamphlet. When Canada Post
refused to deliver the Party's pamphlet, the Party sued again.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
based in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, that contests provincial elections to promote libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
and sex-positive
Sex-positive
The sex-positive movement is an ideology which promotes and embraces open sexuality with few limits. Sex positivity is "an attitude towards human sexuality that regards all consensual sexual activities as fundamentally healthy and pleasurable, and encourages sexual pleasure and experimentation...
attitudes towards sexual education, pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
, indecency laws, and prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. It describes itself as "the world's first registered political party dedicated exclusively to sex-positive issues".
The Sex Party was founded in 2005. Its leader is John Ince
John Ince (politician)
John Ince is a lawyer, politician, an erotic arts enthusiast, and the controversial author of a book called The Politics of Lust. He founded The Erosha School of Erotic Massage and The Art of Loving, a sexuality center in Vancouver, British Columbia...
, a lawyer, longtime sexual politics activist, and co-owner of "The Art of Loving", a store that sells sex-related products.
2005 provincial election campaign
During the 2005 provincial electionBritish Columbia general election, 2005
The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
campaign, the party staged a fundraising event that included sexually explicit performance art produced by artist Marcus Bowcott. The BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch refused to allow the event in any premises licensed to sell liquor, citing regulations regarding exotic dancer
Exotic dancer
The terms exotic dancer and exotic dance can have different meanings in different parts of the world and depending on context. In the erotic sense, "exotic dance" is a often used to refer to practitioners of striptease...
s and prohibiting "live, realistic or simulated sex acts", as well as performers touching each other or touching the audience.
The Party responded with a lawsuit alleging a violation of its constitutional
Constitution of Canada
The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the country's constitution is an amalgamation of codified acts and uncodified traditions and conventions. It outlines Canada's system of government, as well as the civil rights of all Canadian citizens and those in Canada...
rights, arguing that the art exhibits were adult-oriented presentations and were legal as long as they were announced as such. The art was chosen to express political themes and should therefore be seen as political discourse.
The party nominated three candidates in the May 17, 2005 provincial election, none of whom were elected:
- Yvonne Tink, the vice president of the party, a sex educator, and organizer of alternative sexuality events through her company "BIO Event Production", won 73 votes (0.37% of the total) in Vancouver-KingswayVancouver-Kingsway (provincial electoral district)Vancouver-Kingsway is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.- Demographics :- Member of Legislative Assembly :Its MLA is Adrian Dix. He was first elected in 2005...
. - Patrick Clark, a man with cerebral palsyCerebral palsyCerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
who wanted to make changes to help people with disabilities to have healthy sex lives, won 121 votes (0.43% of the total) in Vancouver-FairviewVancouver-FairviewVancouver-Fairview is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.- Demographics :-MLAs:#Gary Farrell-Collins, Liberal #Gregor Robertson, NDP #Jenn McGinn, NDP...
. - John Ince won 111 votes (0.39% of the total) in Vancouver-BurrardVancouver-BurrardVancouver-Burrard was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It first appeared on the hustings in the 1933 general election....
.
2006 federal election campaign
Although the party did not nominate candidates in the 2006 federal electionCanadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, it attempted to lobby voters on sex-related issues by distributing a pamphlet. When Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
refused to deliver the Party's pamphlet, the Party sued again.
See also
- List of British Columbia political parties