As you may know Rentboy.com was shut down in August after its offices were raided by Homeland Security. Documents found support claims that the site operated as an illegal prostitution service that matched johns with escorts. CEO Jeffrey Hurant as well as a half dozen employees were taken into custody for violating federal law by enabling prostitution. The raid and arrests infuriated many gay advocates, some citing the criminal complaint as focusing on gay sex as deviancy. From Homeland Security employee Susan Ruiz's complaint:
I have learned that a sling, also known as a ‘sex sling,’ is a device that allows two people to have sex while one is suspended.
And
The term ‘twink’ is a slang term for a young, gay man with an effeminate manner, thin build, and no body or facial hair.
Thanks for that Susan. The shuttering of Rentboy.com also happened around that same time that Amnesty International moved to decriminalize the sex trade worldwide. You can read about that on their website, and there's also a great interview about it with one of Amnesty's policy advisers.
But, don't get too sad just yet! Help is now on the way for former CEO Hurant and his employees in the form of a dirty art auction. The best kind. If you want to help out Rentboy you can contribute to the Rentboy Legal Defense Fund set up by Hurant's father. And my parents won't even pick up the kind of cereal I like before I head home for Christmas! If you want to make all of your gay friends jealous with your big gay artwork you can also bid on Rentboy advertising pieces up for auction. Check them out in NYC on December 23rd from 12 - 7PM at the Rentboy Office: 6 W. 14 Street, Suite 4W. If you're not in NY then you can also visit their ebay store. $lut Market? I need this so badly!
Via: Popular Publicity