The ACLU is now suing to stop the Defense of Marriage Act because along with being arguably unconstitutional, the law “effectively imposes a tax on being gay.”
The American Civil Liberties Union is suing on behalf of Edith Schlain Windsor who married her sweetheart of more than 40 years in Canada in 2007. According to the complaint, Windsor was forced to pay over $350,000 in inheritance tax in 2009, which she wouldn’t have been responsible for if the federal government had recognized the legitimacy of her marriage. Windsor said, “The federal government taxed what I inherited as if we were strangers, not spouses.”
It’s an interesting point of attack, as perhaps now more conservatives might sympathize with LGBT opposition to DoMA if the law is hit on one of their major talking points—taxes. But a long battle is expected even despite a federal ruling on the unconstitutionality of DoMA back in July.
“The theory is that if the federal government has the practice of recognizing marriage, they cannot pick and choose,” said James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project. We’d call that a fact, actually.
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Another champion of freedom is Alabama resident Sherri Williams, who sued her state to end the ban on adult sex toys—and, in her words, “I’ll stop selling vibrators when they pry them from my cold, dead hand.” Now, Williams isn’t just a freedom fighter, but an innovator. Williams debuted the nation’s first drive-through sex toy shop.
Her store, Pleasures, features a privacy-screened drive-thru window, complete with a four-foot lighted menu sign reminiscent of the shop’s fast-food cousins. One can pull up and order toys, lubricants and stimulants, complete with complimentary condoms (like condiments?) and all the purchases are packaged discreetly in a plain brown paper bag. Pleasures even offers weekly seminars and workshops—called the Intimacy Clinic—for those interested in dining in.
“It’s a new level of privacy, and it feels good to give something back to the community,” said Williams.
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The illustrious Sasha Grey has landed another mainstream film role, leading some to speculate that the outspoken adult film star could save the NC-17 rating and help naughty art films live in the theater again.
Outside the hardcore realm, Grey first appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience, and now she’s set to star with Michelle Rodriguez, Danny Trejo and Eric Roberts in a yet-to-be made film Skinny Dip, directed by Trejo’s son Gilbert. Of course, regardless of what new ground the film might break, we’ll be waiting at the edge of our seats for its premiere—anything Sasha does is triple hot.
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Personal bedroom strip teases just got a little more interesting with the introduction of magnetized lingerie that comes off like a snap.
Designer Laetitia Schlumberger, of Parisian company Lingerie Dement, has created new bras and panties that are held together with tiny magnets that are practically invisible. They sell for around $100, come in luxurious fabrics, and are built to mirror the usual top-of-the-line French lingerie.
Because of the “tear-away effect,” celebrity stylist Sam Saboura said the underwear “brings a little bit of theatrics into the bedroom.” Sounds pretty attractive.