Artists, Musicians Rally In Olympia Against `Harmful To Minors’ Bills

Thu., Feb. 23, 1995

Associated Press

Musicians, artists and civil libertarians, rallying on the Capitol steps, said Wednesday that legislation aimed at keeping pornography away from minors is so broadly written it could easily lead to censorship and artistic repression.

Committees in both the Democratic Senate and the Republican House are poised to approve a “Harmful to Minors” law. The plans would make it a crime to display, sell or distribute to minors any obscene movies, books, magazines, compact discs, or sexual devices.

The Senate version, SB54566, exempts schools and museums. The House plan, HB1448, does not. Senators also are considering eliminating music lyrics from the purview of the bill. The courts have thrown out a recent state law requiring “adults only” labeling of recordings that a judge declares erotic or offensive.

Gov. Mike Lowry vetoed a “Harmful to Minors” bill last year and has said he’d likely do so again “if it’s a censorship bill.” Thus far, this year’s bills haven’t changed much from what he vetoed. Some lawmakers, including Sen. Dan McDonald, R-Bellevue, have pushed for a veto override, which would require a two-thirds vote in both houses.

Gerard Sheehan, lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union, conceded Wednesday that it’s tough fighting the politically popular legislation.

He and others at the Capitol rally said it’s ironic to see lawmakers pushing the bill when, as candidates, they railed against creeping government intrusion into family affairs and parental responsibilities.

One teen carried a placard that read, “Let the parents decide.”

About 100 teens comprised the bulk of the crowd, drawn by notices on rock radio stations.

Krist Novoselic, bassist for the rock group Nirvana and president of the new Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee, provided the star attraction for the rally.

Seattle is on the world music scene and contributes to the economy, he told the cheering crowd.

“We care about our community, we care about freedom of speech and we’re not going to go away,” he said.

Mark Murphy of the Metropolitan Arts Council in Seattle said the bill could have a chilling effect on performing arts, libraries, book stores, museums and others.

The Senate sponsor said at a hearing earlier this month that his bill is aimed at helping parents, not taking over their role.

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