Why we support NCSF

2005 NCSF Incident Response Report

In 2005, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) again took the lead in
defending the rights of individuals and groups in the SM-leather-fetish, swing and
polyamory communities. NCSF's coalition of over 40 educational and social groups is
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's Incident Response team is directed by Director Leigha Fleming. In total, over
700 individuals, groups, attorneys, prosecutors, and businesses contacted NCSF for
help in 2005. Each incident sometimes required only one or two phone calls, but some
evolved into much larger projects.

NCSF received 726 distinct inquiries/requests for assistance. 327 required more than
one contact/response to resolve, often requiring multiple contacts.

31% were requests for referrals (criminal, divorce, custody, zoning, etcb&)
18% were requests for NCSF support regarding group/club/business formations
15% were custody/divorce related
9% were media driven/press related issues
9% were employment discrimination
4% were criminal in nature
7% were regarding harassment/domestic violence assistance
7% were other/misc.

Of the inquires NCSF received, 58% were driven by SM/leather/fetish issues, 22% by
poly, and 17% by swing, 3% by other. It is difficult to categorize many incident
requests as clearly falling into one camp or another. Many overlap in categories.
For example, many of our custody/divorce related issues involve at least 2 of our
core constituent groups (i.e. SM/leather/fetish and poly for example). In trying to
do a statistical breakdown of the requests, we placed it in the category it most
clearly matched.

2005 saw an increased number of requests around criminal and employment issues. NCSF
worked with more than 2 dozen attorneys representing defendants in criminal cases.
The vast majority of these criminal cases revolved around domestic abuse or
consensual sex/play issues. There is a clear need for education within our own
communities about the role and limits of consent and for education to police
authorities about the differences between SM and abuse. Employment related
discrimination is increasing as well.

The largest category of requests was for referrals. NCSFbs addition of the KAP
resource should in time lower the number of requests for referrals that need to be
handled by a person since webll be able to refer people to the KAP database. It
will be extremely helpful to us to be able to set up some kind of system or way to
track the where/why/who of the users of the KAP database.

The next largest group of requests for assistance came from groups, businesses, and
other support organizations who wanted information about how to operate legally, do
law enforcement outreach, file for non-profit status, deal with the media or the
press, do hotel/event outreach, or do research around zoning or other legal issues.

The next group of requests for assistance involved parents who were engaged in child
custody and divorce cases. Parents continue to experience difficulties gaining child
custody due to their interest in SM, swing or poly activities. NCSF worked with a
number of attorneys representing parents accused of being unfit because of their
alternative lifestyle interests. In many cases, because of information we were able
to provide, the courts decided that alternative sexual expression alone was not
cause to impugn a parent's ability to be a good parent.

NCSF is here to help you -- the SM, swing and polyamory communities. If you have a
problem with discrimination, persecution, or harassment because of your sexual
expression, please call NCSF for assistance. You can visit our website on
www.ncsfreedom.org or call our office at 410-539-4824. If you have a media-related
incident, you can call 917-848-6544. To find a lawyer, psychotherapist, or doctor
who is kink friendly, go to: www.ncsfreedom.org/kap

Please support NCSF in our effort to change the political, legal, and social
environment in the United States. We are committed to making a difference. Join NCSF
as a member or please hold a fund-raiser and donate to NCSF!