Club Raid

[Floorman56]

I found this on another group and thought people may want to email this TV station

I hope I posted in the proper board

NCSF CALL FOR ACTION - Swing Club in Philadelphia Raided.
Patrons showed on camera for sensationalistic attention.
Violation of privacy for members of this adult-only club. Speak out!

The Updated Story at http://kyw.com/seenon/local_story_321232643.html

Police raided a private swing club in Philadelphia Saturday evening,
November 12th after an undercover police officer carrying a concealed
camera came into the club posing as a patron. With an obvious interest in
the sudden and immediate outing of every person involved, the media,
specifically KWY Channel 3, has consistently given this story the most
negative press possible. The club is alleged to have zoning violations.
Regardless of the these violations, Channel 3 KWY news, led by
Investigative Reporter John Quinones has made a specific effort to
sensationalize and stigmatize the private members who were attending the
club.

John Quinones and Channel 3 KWY News need to know that millions of
consenting adults engage in alternative lifestyles, including swinging.
The vast majority act in a responsible and ethical way. They do not merit
the discriminatory and sensationalistic coverage. Channel 3 News should
know better than to present this kind of one-sided and unbalanced coverage
and they shouldn't be violating the privacy of individual club members in
order to score ratings during the sweeps period.

Don't let the media run rampant over our right to privacy. Write Channel 3
in Philadelphia and tell them you do not appreciate their unbalanced and
discriminatory reporting.

http://www.kwy.com
quinones @ cbs3.com.
http://cbs3.com/specialreports/local...320225353.html CBS 3
101 South Independence Mall East
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Administrative Offices, 215-238-4700
Newsroom
215-238-4850 (News)
800-223-8477 (Toll-free)
215-238-4783 Fax
E-Mail Tips
Programming
215-238-4516

Sample email:

Dear ,
I am outraged by the actions of KWY Channel 3. Your disregard for the
privacy rights of the citizens of Philadelphia is appalling as is your
disregard for any kind of balanced portrayal of people involved in the
swing lifestyle. Cheap stunts such as this coverage may increase your
ratings in the short term but they do nothing but undermine your
credibility as an objective source for information.

Shame on John Quinones and Channel 3 news.

Your Name

###

A project of NCSF and ITCR, The Foundation for NCSF.

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.

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom
822 Guilford Avenue, Box 127
Baltimore, MD 21202-3707
410-539-4824
media @ ncsfreedom.org
http://www.ncsfreedom.org

[intuition897]

Put in my 2 cents to them (or 4 cents I guess, what with the exchange rate to US dollars). This is what I wrote:

Originally Posted by intuition897

There is no WAY I would ever give my real name to your company! The treatment of the topic of Club Kama Sutra CBS 3 and Mr. Quinones gave was nothing short of appalling in its paranoid and misinformed manner. It is blatantly obvious that the opinions of the writers and the powers that be at CBS 3 have cast a very negative and sensationalistic light on something that, controversial as it is, should be treated impartially by the media.
It is unfortunate that the club management was (allegedly) operating illegally, but the patrons of the club most likely were unaware of any zoning violations. Indeed there are many clubs around the country what are properly zoned for such activity, and they believed that all was in order. Just the same as anyone dining in any given restaurant would assume about its particular zoning bylaws. The privacy and civil rights of the patrons of Club Kama Sutra were violated when your cameras exposed a part of their lives that they have every right to keep to themselves. This is like bringing a news camera into the privacy of your bedroom! Would you and your spouse appreciate a hidden camera recording and televising your particular sexual tastes to the world? I think not! Swingers do not conceal their activity out of shame, but out of necessity and consideration for the sensibilities of others who do not share their views. As a result of your irresponsible reporting, jobs may be lost, their children’s lives may be severely affected (what, did you think their friends’ parents didn’t watch your broadcast, too?), and they will be banished to social Siberia by their friends, neighbours, co-workers, church congregation…
As an example of just how poorly informed your writers are about this subject, you misquoted your expert in infectious diseases. It’s “human papilloma virus” (HPV), not “human Pamplona viruses”. Many doctors (perhaps specialists in epidemiology themselves) are in fact swingers, along with many other white-collar professionals. While many participants choose to not use condoms, most swingers, in fact, do insist on them. And swingers, of necessity, are quite well informed about the risks of infectious disease.
You have likely – correctly - surmised that I am a swinger. My husband and I have enjoyed swinging for over 5 years now. Happily and disease-free. We mind our business, and appreciate others minding theirs. This is something that is done in the privacy of our home, and for some, in the supposed privacy of a private club for consenting adults.
I would STRONGLY suggest that, if in the future, your company chooses to run another story on the Lifestyle, they delve a little more deeply into their research than they have this time around. At the very least, an apology to the club members whose lives you have potentially traumatized would be nice.

Sincerely,
A Canadian Swinger

This kind of shit just really pisses me off.

[SJCPL1]

I sent my 2 cent sworth the night the story aired. Apparently, I am not alone. KYW was inundated with e-mails and phone calls which blasted KYW for their reporting and sensationalizing this story.

[tracy1878]

i sent off an email too

[amid]

soapbox My two cents regarding CKS violating zoning laws. As far as I know they did not violate any laws. They were operating for more than 4 years with full knowledge of their operation by License and Inspections. Since the sensationalist news story to get ratings hit the air someone in L&I was asked how could you let this go on? Why is this happening? So as a result of the pressure L&I came out and found some minor violations that any business could easily fix, and since CKS management did just that L&I made up a story that they (CKS) needed a license to operate as a sex club. Well there is no such thing! You can't fight city hall! In the meantime with all the bad press and legal holdups they lost their lease! Once again the hypocrits who point the finger have hung the witch! She is dead because someone in the village feared what they didn't understand. I myself have stopped watching the news.. It disgusts me, especially in the Philadelphia area. With all the new laws Philadelphia is hitting it's residents with I wonder when we will have to apply for a "sex permit" to have relations with our respective spouses. I would also love to know what goes on behind the closed doors of the reporters involved? Hmm I think my two cents ran over a little. Thanks for listening.

[Charger500]

Mr. Quinones is worse than hitler!

[ShellyM]

We actually saw this just last night. The club did go wrong when they were zoned as a restaurant and not a private club. However, these are consenting adults. As we were watching this I saw the mayor talking about this and that, mr. frickin morals. I told jay i bet you money he is frickin banging his secretary. Thats what pisses me off about most vanillas. They don't have the balls to be honest, so they sneak around behind each other's backs and do it. And since no one sees it they think its okay.
Hey, I tried to click on the tv's link and it would not connect me to them.

[RDfnd]

We're Club Kama Sutra members and were there that night. An outrageous abuse of power. Kama Sutra's a great club with a wonderful staff. Everyone associated functioned with great professionalism and restraint in the face of such adversity. I know your support in the ongoing battle will be greatly appreciated.

[amid]

Just read this on the CKS website as WWW.clubkamasutra.com and got a chuckle. In Quinones bio he lists his favorite band as Pearl Jam which someone pointed out on that blog as being another name for sperm. As Charlie Rich I think it was, sang.. no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. And maybe they shouldn't either.

[WesternSwing]

The newest in the Club Kama Sutra drama. From WFMZ-TV

Sihouette Showbar May Face the Music

Today is the day we may find out if a gentleman's club in Coopersburg will get cited for hosting a sex party. Last week, Coopersburg Borough officials said they issued a cease and desist order at the Silhouette Showbar after a swinger's group called "Club Kama Sutra" hosted a sex party there. 69 News crews were there Saturday night and saw many people going into the bar. Coopersburg officials say they were told a sex party did in fact happen. They say they will take action on the matter at tonight's council meeting.

You can watch the clip at http://wfmz.com/cgi-bin/tt.cgi?actio...&storyid=20072

Does anyone else find it ironic that the news station is WFMZ-TV Channel "69" news?

Mr. WS

[WesternSwing]

From Philly's Channel 10 News.

Swingers' Club Invades Small Local Town

POSTED: 6:35 pm EDT September 1, 2006

Coopersburg Borough officials met with attorneys all afternoon on Friday, trying to figure out just how they can stop an existing strip club from becoming a new home for swingers.

"That's disgusting," said one resident. "It's wrong, it's immoral," said another.

"It's just not something you want in this quaint town of Coopersburg," said Kathy Meinhart.

It's the strip club that's got everyone talking. The Silhouette Showbar will no longer just feature topless dancers. Starting Saturday it will be the new home of a swinger's club called Club Kama Sutra.

Club Kama Sutra used to hold regular swing parties in Philadelphia, but was shutdown last year.

Now according to its Web site, it will host parties at the Showbar every Saturday night, featuring themes like Short shorts and Little T's and Bi-Ladies Luau.

Members pay $60 to drink, dance and use the 12 hotel rooms upstairs.

"Why do they need a club, why not go to their houses," said Glen Rowe. "We got a daycare across the street, I have a 16 year old daughter."

Rowe lives next door to the strip club which sits in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

He's worried about the kind of people the swing parties will attract.

Others are worried it will promote drugs and prostitution.

"The people who frequent those places have problems so it would be harmful to the families that live around there," said Jeanette Alosi.

NBC 10 tried contacting the owner of Club Kama Sutra, but he did not return our calls.

And when we asked the people here at Silhoutte's about the parties, they simply answered, no comment.

The video http://www.nbc10.com/video/9779563/detail.html

Ah, I love some of these comments like "The people who frequent those places have problems so it would be harmful to the families that live around there"

All the other comments are made by people that you just aren't sure are okay themselves.

[SueRic]

Originally Posted by Floorman56

Your disregard for the privacy rights of the citizens of Philadelphia is appalling.... who often face discrimination because of their sexual
expression.

As ridiculous as the raid was, the club owner basically asked for it if he violated zoning ordinances and permit regulations. As for the patrons...ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances. Which sucks mightily.

With regard to the claim of a right of privacy, folks, I have to tell you that as much as you might wish, the patrons likely had no reasonable expectation of privacy while engaging in sexual acts in a quasi-public club environment. Indeed, the US Supreme Court has been reluctant during the past 15 years to expand protectable privacy interests, and has been inclined to weaken the litmus test normally applied to privacy actions. And as for a sex discrimination claim, that dog ain't a gonna hunt, either. The Federal courts have only recognized the legitimacy of sex discrimination actions based on gender and sexual orientation, not sexual 'expression' (whatever the hell that might be).

Regarding the news media, good luck to the patrons in an action against KWY.

R

[Menage_a_Trois]

From Philly's Channel 10 News.


Swingers' Club Invades Small Local Town

POSTED: 6:35 pm EDT September 1, 2006

Coopersburg Borough officials met with attorneys all afternoon on Friday, trying to figure out just how they can stop an existing strip club from becoming a new home for swingers.

"That's disgusting," said one resident. "It's wrong, it's immoral," said another.

"It's just not something you want in this quaint town of Coopersburg," said Kathy Meinhart.

It's the strip club that's got everyone talking. The Silhouette Showbar will no longer just feature topless dancers. Starting Saturday it will be the new home of a swinger's club called Club Kama Sutra.

Club Kama Sutra used to hold regular swing parties in Philadelphia, but was shutdown last year.

Now according to its Web site, it will host parties at the Showbar every Saturday night, featuring themes like Short shorts and Little T's and Bi-Ladies Luau.

Members pay $60 to drink, dance and use the 12 hotel rooms upstairs.

"Why do they need a club, why not go to their houses," said Glen Rowe. "We got a daycare across the street, I have a 16 year old daughter."

Rowe lives next door to the strip club which sits in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

He's worried about the kind of people the swing parties will attract.

Others are worried it will promote drugs and prostitution.....

Anyone else find it more than just a little odd that people from this quaint town are just fine with a topless bar, but draw the moral line at swingers! Mr. Rowe has no problem with a strip club being across the street from a day care or next door to his 16 year old daughter. But heaven forbid if a group of swingers meets once a week in that same neighborhood. Also isn't it kind of strange that they would be afraid the swingers will promote drugs and prostitution, but they think NOTHING of the fact that you have 12 hotel rooms in the upstairs of a strip club! I am not bagging on strip clubs( I have worked around this industry for several years). I just find it very strange that people would be so comfortable with a strip club, and NOT consenting adults. It just shows how misinformed people are about us and also just how people outside of swinging let their insecurities about the lifestyle rule their judgement about it.

Mr. Menage

[WesternSwing]

I think Mr. Rowe and the others are pissed-off that the strip club and the swinging was closed to them that night.

In all seriously though, I thought the same thing. Nobody is concerned about the strip club being there (because they go to it), but when they are excluded from something going on there, there is going to be hell to pay.

The simple facts are:

a) there has been a strip club there that Mr. Rowe and the others have frequented for years

b) many couples have had sex in the rooms above the strip club and nobody has cared

c) but when you call it an actual "swingers party" then they cares about the same activities that have been going on, and they have been attending themselves, for years.

What went on at the Kama Sutra party was a regular Saturday night at the strip club, only the name of the event was different.

[Pepper & Drew]

Sorry, why on earth would swingers promote prostitution? Don't they know we get sex for free? It's the "monogomous" marrieds that promote that...

Pepper