YNOT – Colin Rowntree, founder and chief executive officer of longstanding BDSM resource and playground Wasteland.com, will receive the 2011 Free Speech Coalition Leadership Award during a gala celebration at the Paladium in Hollywood, Calif., on Wednesday evening.
Although Rowntree is a longstanding FSC supporter and adult industry advocate, his outspoken stand against the proposed dot-xxx sponsored Top Level Domain during the past year went beyond even his usual stalwart activism on behalf of the adult entertainment industry, FSC Executive Director Diane Duke said.
“Colin volunteered his time and efforts to oppose dot-xxx, an issue that FSC has been dealing with for nearly 10 years,” she noted. “By dedicating himself to spreading the message on dot-xxx opposition, Colin not only went above and beyond to support FSC, but also to reach out to his colleagues and peers in the industry.
“Colin’s work exemplifies the kind of community building the adult industry needs in order to face the issues that challenge us today,” Duke added.
In addition to engaging in nearly constant dialogue about the topic, Rowntree produced and directed .XXX – The Movie, a public service announcement denouncing dot-xxx in parody fashion. The video features industry leaders including Evil Angel CEO John Stagliano, CCBill CEO Ron Cadwell, Kink.com CEO Peter Acworth and Netbilling CEO Mitch Farber, among others. by FSC board member Theresa “Darklady” Reed wrote the script.
“I am delighted and honored to be tapped for this particular award,” Rowntree told YNOT.com. “Being not only a long-term adult content producer but also, for much longer, an old “lefty,” this is a wonderful combination for me. Free speech is the backbone of all civilized and progressive societies, and I do my best to support its defense in any ways I can.”
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial]Still, he added, “I’m not sure one could call me one of the leading voices. So many others have passionately lent their voices to this for much longer than I have. But, I did truly enjoy producing and direction the dot-xxx parody-satire film. Satire in theater, prose and film is a time-honored tradition in Western culture, to send a wakeup call to people with words and images that bring issues into a new light. From what I can tell, .XXX – The Movie did just this by re-invigorating
thought and debate, as so much of it had deteriorated into fatigue after so many years.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial]And, Rowntree said, he has no intention of curtailing his advocacy on the industry’s behalf just because the FSC honored him with the Leadership Award.[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial]”I always have and always will be a passionate advocate for social justice, free speech and the adult entertainment industry,” he told YNOT.com. “Whatever demons and dragons arise in the future, I’ll always lend a hand and my voice in fighting oppression, restriction and any other ‘forces of evil.'”[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial]In fact, he’s already tackling another primary threat to the fabric of the industry.[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial]”My other big interest at this point is the protection of intellectual property,” he said. “The current wholesale pillaging of everything from video to photography to the written word is a travesty of biblical proportions for hardworking and honest performers, writers, directors, shooters and producers who put their lifeblood into this work in order to make a living and contribute to the creative body of our culture and media.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
FSC annually presents the Leadership Award to the adult entertainment business or individual who demonstrates excellence in leading by example. Past presentations have been based on community service, activism, creating a positive and outstanding work environment, innovations and other qualities that elevate the business or individual above the norm.
