Sunday May 13, 2001; 12:25 p.m. EDT
N.O.W. Approves Porn Magazine Fundraiser for Tom Hayden
The National Organization of Women has approved a plan for Los Angeles City Council candidate and radical leftist Tom Hayden to hold a fund-raiser at the offices of Larry Flynt's "Hustler Magazine," which specializes in particularly degrading pornographic depictions of women.
Shelley Mandel, president of the Los Angeles chapter of N.O.W., signed off on the "Hustler" event after Hayden checked to see if the organization had any objections.
"They have said it is acceptable," Hayden told the Los Angeles Times Saturday, explaining that he would have moved the venue from the pornography king's offices had Mandel or her N.O.W. colleagues made the request.
Hayden's "Hustler" fund-raiser came to light when Jack Weiss, his opponent in the June 5 election, complained of a double standard. Hayden had made a point of criticizing Weiss on the issue of women's rights.
Despite the fund-raiser, the candidate told the Times that he disagrees with "Hustler's" content and had even complained to Flynt about its pornography. Still, explained Hayden, "I respect what (Flynt) has gone through, particularly his battle against censorship."
Questioned about "Hustler Magazine's" degrading portrayals of her sisters, Mandel said, "I think it's garbage. But regardless of who gives money to Tom or hosts a fund-raiser for him, Tom Hayden's committment to women has been proven time and time again."
During the 1980's Hayden was married to one-time leading feminist Jane Fonda before Fonda married, then divorced CNN founder Ted Turner. |
