The 1980 Postal Hearing Before Congress
In 1980, Larry Flynt testified before Congress after the USPS considered new regulations banning the mailing of sexually explicit content. He argued that if the mail carried political hate speech, it should also carry erotic material. This sparked an outcry from conservative groups who saw this as an attack on morality and family values. Ultimately, the regulations were never passed due to public backlash against censorship.
Background Information about the Event
Larry Flynt was born in Kentucky in 1942 and grew up in poverty before becoming a successful publisher of adult magazines such as Hustler. In the early 1980s, he faced numerous legal challenges for his publications' content but continued to push boundaries. When the U.S. Postal Service proposed new regulations to ban the mailing of sexually explicit materials, Flynt saw it as an attack on free speech and went to Washington D.C. to defend himself.
The Regulations Proposed
The regulations proposed by the U.S. Postal Service would have prohibited the mailing of any material deemed "obscene" or "lewd." They defined obscenity as anything that depicts sexual conduct or excretion in a way likely to cause offense or disgust. The regulations did not specify what constituted "excessive violence," which led many people to worry about government overreach.
Flynt's Testimony Before Congress
Flynt testified before a subcommittee of the House Government Operations Committee on October 3, 1979. He stated that the First Amendment protected his right to publish whatever content he wanted without fear of censorship and that the postal service had no right to determine what is appropriate for Americans to read. He argued that if political hate speech could be mailed through the post office, then why shouldn't erotic literature? Flynt said, "If you don't want your children seeing these images, put them behind a curtain, don't make me responsible for what they see."
Opposition from Conservative Groups
Conservative groups like Morality in Media protested Flynt's testimony and argued that the USPS should have greater control over what was mailed through its system. They believed that allowing pornography in the mail would lead to more crime and family breakdown. However, public outcry against censorship grew, and the regulations were never passed.
Aftermath of the Hearing
The hearing marked a turning point in American history regarding free speech rights. It demonstrated how one person can stand up to government censorship and win. Despite threats of violence, Flynt continued publishing Hustler until his death in 2021 at age 78. His legacy lives on today as an example of someone who fought for freedom of expression even when it meant facing down powerful institutions.