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Keynote Appress

By
C. Everett Koop, M.D.
SURGEON GENERAL
U.S. Pupiic HEALTH SERVICE
AND
Deputy ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

PRESENTED TO THE Denver NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PORNOGRAPHY
Denver. CoLoRApo
May 31. 1985
(GREETINGS TO HOSTS, GUESTS, FRIENDS, ETC.)

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS CONFERENCE,
"MORALITY IN MEDIA” OF COLORADO, FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE AND HOLDING
UP TO THE BRIGHT DAYLIGHT THE DISTURBING FACTS ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY IN

AMERICAN LIFE.

MY SPECIAL THANKS GO TO FATHER MORTON HILL. WHOSE INVITATION I
WAS PLEASED TO ACCEPT, AND TO DEWITTE GORDON, RAYMOND KIMBALL. AND
REVEREND EARL ROBERTSON, THE CO-CHAIRMEN FOR COLORADO. A STATE WITH A
WELL-DESERVED REPUTATION FOR GENEROSITY AND HOSPITALITY,

THE EFFORTS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR STAFFS HAVE PROVIDED
YOU WITH A PACKED AGENDA FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW, BUT THAT, MY
FRIENDS, IS A VERY DISTRESSING PIECE OF INFORMATION. IN AN IDEAL
WORLD, WE SHOULDN’T HAVE THAT MUCH TO SAY ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY. THERE
OUGHT NOT TO BE ENOUGH GOING ON IN THIS SUBJECT TO FILL THE AGENDA OF

EVEN ONE DAY, LET ALONE TWO,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE. AND EACH ONE OF US -- EACH DAY --
IS FACED WITH TROUBLING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF PORNOGRAPHY IN
OUR COMMUNAL LIFE..,IN THE MEDIA...AND IN THE FLOW OF DAILY COMMERCE:

WHY DOES IT PERSIST?

TO WHOM DOES IT REALLY APPEAL?

WHAT ARE ITS TRUE AFFECTS?

AND IS IT A SYMPTOM...OR IS IT A CAUSE?

THESE AND MANY OTHER QUESTIONS WILL BE COMING UP AT THIS
CONFERENCE AND YOUR MANY EXCELLENT SPEAKERS WILL WRESTLE WITH THE
ANSWERS, I URGE EACH ONE OF YOU TO GIVE ALL THE SPEAKERS YOUR VERY
BEST ATTTENTION BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING IN A COMPLEX AREA IN WHICH

LAW AND EDUCATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND CIVIL ORDER ARE ALL DELICATELY
INTER-TWINED,
AS A RESULT, THE SOCIAL SCIENTIST OR THE ATTORNEY WORKING IN THE
AREA OF PORNOGRAPHY CAN BECOME VERY DISCOURAGED. IT IS NOT ONLY
COMPLICATED BUT SOMETIMES THANKLESS WORK. NEVERTHELESS, WE KNOW IT’S
WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE, BECAUSE -- WHETHER BY INTUITION OR BY THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD -- WE PERCEIVE THAT PORNOGRAPHY IS A DESTRUCTIVE
PHENOMENON. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TO
SOCIETY BUT, RATHER. TAKES AWAY FROM AND DIMINISHES WHAT WE REGARD AS
SOCIALLY GOOD.

CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECTS OF OUR CONCERN WITH
PORNOGRAPHY WAS EXPRESSED EARLIER THIS MONTH BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,
MR. EDWIN MEESE. THE OCCASION. OF COURSE. WAS HIS APPOINTMENT OF 11
CITIZENS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S COMMISSION ON PORNOGRAPHY, AT THAT
TIME, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID...

"IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT WITH PORNOGRAPHY WE ARE NOT DEALING
WITH ONE PASSING INCIDENT -- ONE MAGAZINE, ONE PLAY, OR ONE
FILM. WE ARE DEALING WITH A GENERAL TENDENCY THAT IS PERVADING
OUR ENTIRE CULTURE -- INCLUDING THE CULTURE KNOWN TO VERY YOUNG
CHILDREN,”
THAT’S A VERY IMPORTANT OBSERVATION, IN THE PAST, WE’VE BEEN
CONCERNED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WITH THE BOOK STORES AND THE MOVIE
THEATERS THAT HAVE SPECIALIZED IN PORNOGRAPHY. BUT IT’S NO LONGER
QUITE THAT SIMPLE.

THE HUCKSTERS OF PORNOGRAPHY HAVE INVADED CABLE TELEVISION, THE
POPULAR MUSIC WORLD, AND THE WHOLE NEW FIELD OF HOME VIDEO RECORDERS.
TO THEM THEY ARE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THEIR MARKETS OF SLEAZE
AND TRASH. BUT TO US THEY ARE NEW AND COMPLEX CHALLENGES IN ThE
PUBLIC’S BATTLE AGAINST PORNOGRAPHY.

IN THE COURSE OF THIS MEETING YOU WILL BE LISTENING TO MANY
PEOPLE WHO ARE MUCH BETTER INFORMED ABOUT MOST OF THESE NEW DEVELOP-
MENTS THAN I AM, THEY WILL ALSO DEAL WITH A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT
MATTERS OF LAW AND SOCIAL POLICY. THOSE ARE ALSO NOT MY PARTICULAR
AREAS OF EXPERTISE.
NO, THE PURPOSE OF MY VISIT HERE TODAY IS TO SHARE WITH YOU MY
ANXIETIES ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY UPON AMERICAN PUBLIC
HEALTH,

I SAY THAT, HOWEVER, WITH A KEEN SENSE OF CAUTION AND CIRCUM-
SPECTION FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS:

FIRST, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS HAD LITTLE
EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH PORNOGRAPHY. IT IS A FIELD THAT IS FIRMLY
ROOTED IN THE SCIENCES. BUT THUS FAR THE LITERATURE REGARDING
PORNOGRAPHY IS STILL RELATIVELY -- AND UNDERSTANDABLY -- SLIM, WHICH
LEADS US TO TREAD WITH GREAT CARE AND, FOR NOW. MAKE NO PROMISES,

THE SECOND REASON IS RELATED TO THE FIRST. WE AMERICANS ARE VERY
QUICK TO “MEDICALIZE” ALL OUR WORST SOCIAL PROBLEMS. AS A RESULT,
PUBLIC HEALTH PLANNERS HAVE BEEN HANDED SUCH ISSUES AS DIVORCE. DRUNK
DRIVING, AND TEEN-AGE PREGNANCY AND THEY’VE BEEN ASKED TO “DO
SOMETHING” ABOUT THEM,
I THINK PUBLIC HEALTH PEOPLE ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN. EVEN
THOUGH THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY -- OR EVEN PECULIARLY --
MEDICAL PROBLEMS,

REAL SOLUTIONS TO THOSE SOCIAL PROBLEMS CAN BE GENERATED ONLY
WHEN ALL THE DIFFERENT INTEREST GROUPS OF SOCIETY -- ALONG WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH -- SHARE A SENSE OF PROPRIETORSHIP FOR THOSE PROBLEMS, AT THAT
TIME SUCH PROBLEMS ARE NO LONGER YOURS OR YOURS OR YOURS...THEY BECOME
OURS.

HAVING DELIVERED MYSELF OF THAT CAVEAT, LET ME GO ON TO SAY THAT
I BELIEVE WE HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO IMPLICATE PORNOGRAPHY AS A
SERIOUS CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO CERTAIN DISORDERS OF HUMAN HEALTH. AND
I FEEL STRONGLY THAT PORNOGRAPHY HAS ALSO BEEN CLEARLY IMPLICATED AS A
KIND OF “ACCESSORY” TO ANTI-SOCIAL ACTIONS THAT PRODUCE GRAVE AND
PROFOUNDLY HARMFUL OUTCOMES,
IN THE PAST IT MAY HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO IGNORE THIS EVIDENCE OR,
AT THE VERY LEAST, TO ASSIGN IT A LOW PRIORITY IN THE SCHEME OF PUBLIC
HEALTH CONCERNS. BUT AT THIS STAGE OF OUR UNDERSTANDING TO IGNORE THE
EVIDENCE WOULD BE TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS DECISION NOT TO SEE PORNOGRAPHY
AS A CLEAR SYMPTOM OF STRESS AND DISORDER. WE SIMPLY CAN’T DO THAT
TODAY.

IN PUBLIC HEALTH TERMS, PORNOGRAPHY HAS BECOME THAT KIND OF
SYMPTOM, HENCE, MANY PROFESSIONALS IN PUBLIC HEALTH ARE NOW BEGINNING
TO LOOK UPON THIS SYMPTOM WITH THE SAME DEGREE OF SERIOUS STUDY THAT
THEY’VE GIVEN EVERY OTHER SYMPTOM OF MAJOR HEALTH STRESS AND DISORDER,

FOR EXAMPLE, THE U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE DID NOT TURN AWAY
FROM THE HAVOC CAUSED BY A MYSTERIOUS NEW BACTERIUM CALLED “LEGIONELLA
PNEUMOPHILA.” OR SIMPLY “LEGIONNAIRE’S DISEASE,”

NOR DID WE AVOID THE CHALLENGE OF “STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS,” THE
AGENT THAT BRINGS ON “TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME.”
AND, OF COURSE, UNDER SURGEON GENERAL LUTHER TERRY AND CONTINUING
UNDER EVERY ONE OF HIS SUCCESSORS, WE HAVE AMASSED THE DATA THAT
IDENTIFY CIGARETTE SMOKING AS A MAJOR CAUSE OF CANCER, STROKE, AND
HEART DISEASE.

THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY MAY NOT BE PRECISELY SIMILAR TO THE
EFFECTS OF A BACTERIUM OR A VIRUS AND, AS A SPECIFIC CONCEPT FOR
PUBLIC HEALTH. IT CAN SOMETIMES BE ELUSIVE, PORNOGRAPHY NEVERTHELESS
SEEMS TO HAVE WHAT I WOULD CALL A “PERSISTENT PRESENCE” IN THE
FOLLOWING FOUR HEALTH AREAS:

* THERE IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIELD OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION,
PORNOGRAPHY INTERVENES IN NORMAL SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS AND ALTERS THEM
IN SOME WAY. IT SEEMS TO PROVOKE A DYSFUNCTIONAL RESPONSE AMONG
CERTAIN PEOPLE. I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW HOW PREVALENT THIS IS AND HOW
IT WORKS.
* SECONDLY, ONE OF THE MORE DISTURBING PIECES OF INFORMATION
FROM OUR NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS IS THE RISING RATE OF
SUICIDE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. RECENTLY, A NUMBER OF THESE SUICIDES WERE
JUDGED TO HAVE BEEN UNINTENTIONAL, THE RESULTS OF CERTAIN AUTOEROTIC
BEHAVIORS IN WHICH SOFT-CORE PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS APPARENTLY PLAYED
A SIGNIFICANT ROLE. THIS BEARS AS MUCH INVESTIGATION, IT SEEMS TO ME,
AS WE INVEST IN MANY OTHER TYPES OF INTENTIONAL AND ACCCIDENTAL
SUICIDE,

* THIRD, MANY WOMEN ARE JUSTIFIABLY CONCERNED ABOUT SO-CALLED
“COPY-CAT” RAPES. THESE ARE RAPES THAT FOLLOW THE PATTERN OR "STORY
LINE.” IF YOU WILL, OF A RAPE SHOWN IN A PORNOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE OR
DRAMATIZED ON VIDEOTAPE. WHILE WE SUSPECT THAT MANY RAPISTS HAVE
RELIED ON SUCH DISPLAYS BEFOREHAND, WE DON’T REALLY KNOW HOW PREVALENT
THIS IS. WE ALSO DON’T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT CERTAIN MEN ACTUALLY
REQUIRE SUCH INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMIT THIS MOST VICIOUS CRIME OF
VIOLENCE.
10

* AND FINALLY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, WHICH IS BY FAR THE MOST DISTURBING
ELEMENT IN THIS FIELD. THE EFFECTS UPON INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN ARE
PROFOUNDLY HARMFUL IN PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL. AND EMOTIONAL TERMS.

WE SUSPECT THAT THE CHILD WHO SURVIVES BEING USED IN THIS WAY MAY
NEVER AGAIN BE ABLE TO FUNCTION IN NORMAL HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.
TRAGICALLY, A NUMBER OF CHILDREN DO NOT EVEN SURVIVE.

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, ONCE IT IS RELEASED, CAUSES AN ADDITIONAL
ROUND OF PROFOUND HARM TO OTHER INNOCENT CHILD VICTIMS, WHO ARE USED
BY ADULTS OR OLDER CHILDREN IN WAYS DEPICTED IN THE PORNOGRAPHIC
MATERIALS.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE HAS CONTRIBUTED
TO THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD MOLESTATION AND I FEEL SURE
WE CAN MAKE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD
PORNOGRAPHY.
I]

IN AT LEAST THESE FOUR AREAS OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION, SUICIDE,
RAPE, AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SCIENTIST AND RESEARCHER MAY PLAY A ROLE OF SOME SIGNIFICANCE. MY
COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING JUST WHAT THE SCOPE AND DEPTH OF
SUCH A ROLE MIGHT BE. WE’VE FACED A SIMILAR QUESTION MANY TIMES
BEFORE AND WE’VE ANSWERED IT TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE PUBLIC. I
THINK WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN. ABOVE ALL, I THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO TRY.

TRUE... THIS IS A HIGHLY COMPLEX AREA, AS I NOTED EARLIER. IT IS
CROSS-HATCHED WITH SOCIAL THEORY...LEGAL THEORY...AND COMMUNICATIONS
THEORY, BUT FREEDOM IS NOT PARALYSIS. SO I BELIEVE WE WOULD BE
ACTING IN A MANNER WHOLLY CONSISTENT WITH OUR TRADITIONS OF FREEDOM OF
INQUIRY. IF WE WERE TO SEARCH OUT THESE AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH
CONSEQUENCES OF PORNOGRAPHY,

IN FACT, THE SCIENTIFIC TRADITION IN OUR SOCIETY HAS BEEN
SCRUPULOUS ABOUT PURSUING TRUTH BUT NEVER AT THE EXPENSE OF ANY
CITIZEN'S FREEDOM OR WELL-BEING. IT IS IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT
TRADITION THAT I AM SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY,
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I ALSO HAPPEN TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH
COMMUNITIES ARE BETTER PREPARED TO CARRY OUT THIS KIND OF INVESTI-
GATION TODAY, THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN FORMER TIMES. I BELIEVE
THEY FEEL MORE “CONNECTED” TO THE DAY-TO-DAY EVENTS OF CONTEMPORARY
LIFE AND ARE LESS ADDICTED TO THE ISOLATED LIFE OF THE PROVERBIAL
IVORY TOWER.

AND LET ME TELL YOU SPECIFICALLY WHY I FEEL THAT WAY.

THREE YEARS AGO I BEGAN TO VOICE MY CONCERN OVER THE LEVEL OF
VIOLENCE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. 1 BEGAN SOMEWHAT TENTATIVELY...AS I
HAVE TODAY IN THESE REMARKS REGARDING PORNOGRAPHY,..BECAUSE OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH EXPERIENCE WITH VIOLENCE WAS STILL NEW AND EVOLVING,

NEVERTHELESS, I SAID THEN -- AND I’LL REPEAT IT NOW -- THAT ACTS
OF ASSAULT, RAPE, MARITAL RAPE, CHILD ABUSE, CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. AND
HOMICIDE ARE OCCURRING IN NUMBERS FAR BEYOND WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT EVEN

IN A BIG COUNTRY LIKE OURS WITH ITS MINORITY OF CLINICALLY DISTURBED
MEN AND WOMEN,
13

OUR HOMICIDE RATE. FOR EXAMPLE, IS HIGHER THAN THE RATE OF ANY
OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATION IN THE WORLD. FOR EVERY 100,000 OF OUR
PEOPLE, 8 ARE VICTIMS OF MURDER. THAT’S UNACCEPTABLE IN A SOCIETY
THAT PURPORTS TO BE CIVILIZED.

AND FORCIBLE RAPE IS INCREASING. IT IS NOW OCCURRING AT THE
REPORTED RATE OF 165 VICTIMS FOR EVERY 100,000 WOMEN. RAPE. HOWEVER,
IS A CRIME THAT IS CONSISTENTLY UNDER-REPORTED. BUT EVEN 165 RAPES
PER 100,000 WOMEN MUST BE UNACCEPTABLE IN OUR SOCIETY,

THE OUTCOMES OF VIOLENCE ARE CATASTROPHIC NOT JUST FOR ITS
VICTIMS BUT FOR THE COUNTRY AT LARGE. OUR MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
AND SOCIAL SERVICES PEOPLE SPEND YEARS IN TIME AND MILLIONS IN DOLLARS
TRYING TO PIECE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN THE BODIES AND THE MINDS AND THE
LIVES OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE.
14

AS I SAID, THIS HAS BEEN MY MESSAGE FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, I’VE
DELIVERED IT TO PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS -- PEDIATRICIANS AND FAMILY
MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS. AND I’VE DELIVERED IT TO THE MEDIA, IN
PARTICULAR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE THREE MAJOR NETWORKS. EACH TIME, THE
MESSAGE BECAME CLEARER AND WE BEGAN TO SEE A SHARPER FOCUS AND
DIRECTION FOR OUR EFFORTS.

THIS YEAR I DECIDED NOT TO JUST TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT 10 DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I DECIDED TO FOCUS THE ATTENTION OF THE OFFICE OF
THE SURGEON GENERAL ON THE PROBLEM OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE IN OUR
COUNTRY.

I SAID I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME FOR PEOPLE IN MEDICINE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH TO COME UP WITH WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT OF VICTIMS AND ALSO TO PREVENT VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING IN
THE FIRST PLACE. TO FACILITATE THAT, I’VE ISSUED INVITATIONS TO A
"SURGEON GENERAL’S WORKSHOP ON VIOLENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH” 10 BE HELD
THIS OCTOBER.
15

WE’VE CONTACTED NEARLY 150 LEADING PHYSICIANS, NURSES,
PSYCHOLOGISTS, EMERGENCY MEDICINE SPECIALISTS, VICTIMS ADVOCATES, AND
MANY OTHERS WHO MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH A WORKSHOP. AND I’M
DELIGHTED TO REPORT THAT THE RESPONSE RATE HAS BEEN BETTER THAN 90
PERCENT.

AND FROM THE LITTLE NOTES THAT MANY HAVE ATTACHED TO THEIR
RESPONSE FORMS, IT SEEMS CLEAR ENOUGH THAT THESE COLLEAGUES IN PUBLIC
HEALTH SHARE A STRONG DESIRE TO HELP STOP THE VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED
THAT IS CORRUPTING OUR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY LIFE.

IN OTHER WORDS. THE PROFESSIONALS IN MEDICINE, NURSING, PUBLIC
HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SERVICES ARE STRONG AND WILLING ALLIES OF THE
GENERAL PUBLIC IN ITS EFFORT TO TURN BACK THE TIDES OF VIOLENCE,

AND I BELIEVE THAT, AS THE PUBLIC SHARES ITS GROWING UNEASINESS
REGARDING PORNOGRAPHY, THOSE SAME GROUPS OF PROFESSIONALS WILL AGAIN
STEP FORWARD, READY TO HELP.
16

AS YOUR SURGEON GENERAL, AND AS ONE WHO SHARES WITH YOU YOUR DEEP
CONCERN ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY ON AMERICAN LIFE. I AM
APPROACHING THIS NEW AND COMPLEX ISSUE WITH SEVERAL POINTS UPPERMOST
IN MY MIND, AS WELL AS IN MY PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE:

-- FIRST, PORNOGRAPHY IS A PROBLEM WITH IMPORTANT RAMIFICATIONS
FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH, I BELIEVE WE CAN RECOGNIZE THAT FACT
WITHOUT HAVING "MEDICALIZED” AN OTHERWISE NON-MEDICAL SOCIAL

ISSUE.

-- SECOND, THERE SEEM TO BE CERTAIN SPECIFIC AREAS OF MENTAL
HEALTH AND SOCIAL DYSFUNCTION TO WHICH PORNOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTES OR.
AT THE LEAST, TO WHICH IT SEEMS TO PLAY A STRONG “ACCESSORY”

ROLE. THESE COULD BE LEGITIMATE AREAS FOR FURTHER PUBLIC HEALTH
INVESTIGATION AND EXPLORATION,
17

-- THIRD, NEW MEDIA AND NEW METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION HAVE
PROVIDED PORNOGRAPHERS WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO SPREAD THEIR
LOATHESOME MESSAGE TO AN AUDIENCE COMPRISING A WIDER RANGE OF AGE,
EXPERIENCE, AND SENSIBILITY. THIS, IN EFFECT. INTENSIFIES THE
DANGER TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF SUCH VULNERABLE GROUPS AS
CHILDREN AND YOUNG WOMEN,

-- AND FINALLY, I BELIEVE THAT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TODAY ARE
DEMONSTRATING NOT ONLY A GREATER INTEREST IN THIS KIND OF ISSUE
BUT ALSO A GREATER WILLINGNESS TO BECOME INVOLVED. WITHOUT THE
FEAR OF COMPROMISING THE CANONS OF FREE INQUIRY, I REALIZE THAT
THIS IS STILL A HYPOTHESIS, BUT I BELIEVE IT WILL STAND A PUBLIC
TEST,

TODAY AND TOMORROW YOU WILL BE GAINING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND
INSIGHT ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY -- WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT DOES. AND WHAT WE
MUST DO TO FIGHT IT. IT IS A LONG AND RICH AGENDA, BUT I’M AFRAID IT
MAY BE A LITTLE SHORT ON CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE HEALTH SECTOR,
18

FOR THIS YEAR, THAT’S UNDERSTANDABLE. HOWEVER STRONGLY WE MAY
PERSONALLY FEEL ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT, AS PROFES-
STONALS, WE APPROACH IT WITH ALL THE NECESSARY SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE
SO THAT WE MAY LAY A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE STUDY AND ACTION.

IT 1S MY HOPE THAT AT A MEETING SUCH AS THIS, HELD A YEAR FROM
NOW, THERE MIGHT BE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS INDICATING THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN PORNOGRAPHY AND THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE,

T BELIEVE THERE IS SUCH A CONNECTION AND I BELIEVE IT WILL BE
MORE WIDELY UNDERSTOOD IN THE YEARS AHEAD BY THE VERY PEOPLE WHO HAVE
THE GREATEST NEED TO KNOW: THE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN OF AMERICA,

THANK YOU,

He HH #