More History on the Groping Scandal

Here’s a list of key links.

Ronee Garcia Bourgeois reveals Taki’s name and announces the FOL Fund.

L.R. Jonte nicely summarizes some of the reaction to the fund announcement while Katherine Keller lists key questions that needed to be answered (as well as pointing out that a messenger should pay attention to how she presents herself when representing a group) and discusses potential conflicts with the group’s charter.

Jane Irwin writes a terrific piece about how she’s conflicted in supporting Friends of Lulu. This is must reading, especially the followup comments which indicate how smart, dedicated women can disagree. (Something that too often people need to be reminded of — there is no one female viewpoint on this or any other issue.)

Ronee, a week after the fund announcement, posts the fund criteria and in the comments, denies that Taki chose not to press charges.

Rich Johnston covers the problems Jim McLauchlin faced when people thought the original, anonymous report referred to him.

My original comments when the story first broke in January. My more recent thoughts went like this:

My reaction? That it’s terribly disheartening that we’re having the exact same conversations I had on the subject when I worked in the industry ten years ago. That there’s still no reason for anyone to change, especially those in a position of power to do something. That this is only the most obvious, hurtful example of a sexist industry, and that you can’t separate this kind of assault from most of what’s published from the “big two”. That while I appreciate both sympathy and strength in numbers, a bunch of guys telling women what they should and shouldn’t do about the problem seems closer to being part of the problem than the solution.

That was posted on Warren Ellis’ latest message board, and it was promptly followed by a warning message about how the discussion was making him angry, which I took to illustrate how uncomfortable some men are when the women don’t react the way they’re expected to.

Steven Grant makes a similar connection between the material and the mindset, but much more articulately.

Let’s wrap up with the ever-sensible Colleen Doran posting information [link no longer available] on Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

I have recommended THE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS to a number of creators over the years, and they represented me when I was a young and poor artist, and they also recommended adequate legal counsel elsewhere at very reasonable prices. I have NEVER known them NOT to represent a creator to the satisfaction of all involved WHEN THERE WAS A LEGITIMATE CASE.



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