Peep Show Issue Begets Anti-Porn Group

Recent city efforts to regulate peep shows in Garden Grove have given rise to a new force in the struggle between the city and the operators of adult movie arcades--a citizens group seeking to cleanse the community of pornography.

The Garden Grove Citizens Against Pornography made its public debut this week during a City Council debate over granting special business permits to a number of peep shows on Garden Grove Boulevard. The council denied four permits, granted one and granted two on the condition that the businesses comply with city regulations regarding fire walls and other safety features.

Although the adult bookstores that were denied peep show permits can still get them if they comply with the regulations within 90 days, anti-pornography forces were pleased.

“We see this as sort of a victory,” said Robert J. Wilson II, an elder of Crossroads Church in Westminster and a Garden Grove resident. Wilson, 35, described his group as “against pornography, whether it be peep shows or adult bookstores” and said he was encouraged by the city’s attempts to more closely control businesses that deal in pornographic literature and movies.

Wilson said most of the members of his newly formed organization live in Garden Grove and are members of his church.

Together with Kenneth J. Blain, a bank officer, Wilson brought a dozen supporters to Tuesday night’s meeting to speak against the granting of any peep show permits.

Wilson and Blain, 41, said that they will be guided by the wishes of group members on tactics, which might include picketing adult businesses or boycotting property owners who rent space to those businesses.

The group hopes to drive out of town the seven peep shows and bookstores in Garden Grove, all of which are on Garden Grove Boulevard.

“If the council approves any or all of these permits,” said Wilson, “sexual disease and crime will rise in the city.” He promised that “these people will not confront my children or my neighbors and force their perversions on their lives.” His remarks were punctuated by “amens” from his supporters in the audience.

“It’s important that people understand that we are not a lynch mob out to pull Playboy from the shelves,” said Blain. While expressing concern about X-rated movies for rent in neighborhood video stores, he said that he and the group “understand the difference between what’s legal and what’s illegal.”

Wilson and Blain claim that some materials sold or available in adult bookstores could legally be judged obscene. They also suggested that the city’s ordinances restricting the adult businesses be strengthened.

The current city ordinance regulating peep shows requires that the walls separating video viewing booths be fire retardant and that the booths have no doors. The ordinance also sets strict guidelines on how large the peep show areas can be, in order to provide adequate aisle space to escape in the event of fire.

Some peep show operators have complained that bringing their businesses up to code would cost thousands of dollars.

Garden Grove has fought for years to curb its X-rated firms but has usually lost the battle in the courts. Roger Diamond, attorney for four of the businesses denied permits Tuesday, has vowed to wage an expensive legal battle to keep the peep shows open.

Others, however, applaud the city action and welcome the new role of the anti-pornography group.

“I think it’s great churches are taking an active role in community affairs,” said Garden Grove Police Chief John Robertson. “I think that the churches have a strong idea of what’s right and what’s wrong.

“Churches should be more involved in all areas of the community, not just this.”

Robertson, who was appointed police chief in September, 1988, said the adult businesses breed crime and cited statistics reflecting higher crime rates in areas around adult bookstores.

“Banks breed crime,” Diamond responded. “Politicians breed crime. The only way to get rid of crime is to get rid of people.”

“They’re welcome to protest all they want,” said one peep show operator who asked not to be named. “But only as long as they don’t trespass on my property.”