Republican lawmakers label porn a ‘public health crisis’

THURSDAY, March 11 — A resolution proposed by two Republican lawmakers aims to label pornography as a “public health crisis” in Michigan, contending it endangers children and leads to widespread “societal harm.” 

State Reps. Julie Calley and Ben Frederick, both Republican members of the state House, introduced a resolution in late January slamming pornography in Michigan, claiming it leads to a “broad spectrum of societal harms and requires education, prevention, research and policy change at the community and societal level.” 

That resolution was presented to the House Committee on Health Policy earlier this afternoon. Rep. Hank Vaupel, who chairs the Health Policy Committee, said the resolution will likely be up for a vote next week. 

“This resolution is a good idea to get out there and identify a lot of the issues that go along with pornography,” Vaupel said. “As Rep. Calley pointed out, in our electronic age, everyone — including young people — are only a click away from any pornographic site. We should create some awareness of this problem.” 

The resolution doesn’t call for specific policy changes or a prohibition related to pornography in Michigan, but it calls for additional education, prevention and research on the topic. Additionally, the resolution, if passed, would be transmitted directly to President Donald Trump and the Michigan congressional delegation. 

The resolution cites dated research that shows 93% of boys and 69% of girls have been exposed to pornography before age 18 in Michigan, contending its widespread availability has a “detrimental impact” on society through the promotion of “sexually toxic expectations” and “unrealistic, inaccurate and violent” forms of sexual contact. 

“Pornography objectifies actors, and its use often reinforces sexual scripts devoid of mutual relationships,” according to the resolution that was presented to the committee. “In addition, pornography normalizes sexual violence and abuse of women, men, and children and often depicts rape and abuse as if they are harmless.” 

Additionally, the resolution contends early exposure to pornographic images and videos can promote unhealthy sexual behaviors in adults, also leading to low-self-esteem and body image disorders among teenagers. Its widespread availability can also “increase dangerous sexual activity among children,” according to the resolution. 

“Emerging evidence shows some pornography users suffer detrimental effects, including impacts on brain functioning, development of emotional and medical illnesses, difficulty forming and maintaining intimate relationships and problematic or harmful sexual behaviors,” according to the resolution. 

It’s unclear what “emerging evidence” was cited in the resolution. Calls to Calley and Frederick were not immediately returned. It’s also unclear what motivated the sudden anti-porn sentiment in the legislature. 

“Consumption of pornography leads to a vicious cycle of supply and demand,” the resolution continues. 

“Pornography may be biologically addictive, which leads to an escalating consumption of pornographic materials depicting extreme degradation, risky behavior and violence. As a result, studies show pornography increases the demand for sex trafficking, prostitution, child sexual abuse images and child pornography.” 

As Michigan grapples with its first two confirmed cases of coronavirus amid an actual public health crisis, some lawmakers are hesitant to take the resolution too seriously. In other words, the legislature has other fish to fry. 

“The Michigan House Health Policy Committee is having a hearing on whether pornography is a public health crisis,” Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, posted to Twitter this morning. “What are they watching instead of the news?” 

“Conveniently, I suppose the advice is the same: Wash your dang hands,” tweeted Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Royal Oak Democrat. 

Click here to read the proposed resolution in its entirety.