A PORN star has been invited to talk at a science festival about the “benefits”
of X-rated movies.
Self-proclaimed “professional undresser” Vex Ashley will tell the
Edinburgh International Science Festival why she reckons porn “promotes
sexual freedom”.
Organisers admitted inviting the 26-year-old, from Leeds, to the
no-holds-barred over-14s event next month is “contentious”.
But a spokesman insisted: “We are happy with that. A festival is a
melting pot of ideas that brings together people that might not otherwise
have the opportunity to speak to each other.
“We were keen to ensure a panel with a variety of views.
“Vex Ashley is here to talk about the benefits porn can have, not just to
the viewer but to the performer, too.
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“As an independent porn producer, she will perhaps highlight a different
side to the world of pornography from that which we are used to.”
They added: “We think it is valuable to give people the opportunity to
think about controversial topics and hear about them from informed speakers.
“This event will be discussing sex and the viewing of pornography, but
will not contain explicit imagery.”
Ms Ashley will appear on a panel alongside Professor Polly Arnold, obscenity
lawyer Myles Jackman, psychotherapist Paula Hall and Richard Lucas, of the
Solas Centre for Public Christianity.
Each speaker will do a presentation on the topic before a discussion takes
place and questions are taken from the audience.
Religious figures plan to speak at the debate to highlight the “damaging
effects” of raunchy flicks.
Rev David Robertson, Moderator of the Free Church, said: “We want to
argue that pornography is dehumanising both men and women, particularly as a
feminist issue as well.
“We are concerned about the ongoing sexualisation of society and the harm
that occurs to children because around a third of 12 to 13-year-olds have
seen hardcore porn and the damage that is doing.”
Last year, around 300,000 people watched or participated in the Science
Festival.