Casualties of the Porn Industry

“The Actress, the Producer and Their Porn Revolution” (by Ralph Frammolino and P.J. Huffstutter, Jan. 6) tells a tale that is more revolting than revolutionary--and not because of sex and nudity. Ginger Lynn Allen may or may not be the mother of Steve Hirsch’s child, but she certainly was his friend and lover, plus an instrumental partner in helping him create a financial empire that will keep him in luxury for the rest of his life. Yet this magnanimous character apparently doesn’t think for a second to come to her aid as she approaches 40, seriously ill, stripping for salivating yahoos to support herself and her young son. How does this louse sleep at night?

William Carey

Sherman Oaks

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I wonder how many times the article could have been written by just changing a few names. How many women have been stripped of any semblance of true life by flesh slave traders like Hirsch? Allen nobly accepts responsibility for her demise, as well she should. But shame on our country for allowing pornography to be legal. Free speech? More like freedom to enslave, brutalize and leave women as ravished carcasses. We have now gone so far in our society as to admire the marketing and business genius of purveyors of obscenity such as Hirsch, Larry Flynt and Hugh Hefner. Allen says that our country is sex saturated. I fear to think what these sex moguls will push for next to satisfy the insatiable lust. God help us.

Dan Allen

Bell

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This is just another sad story to add to the legacy of the porn industry. Unfortunately, men like Hirsch make all the money and female porn actresses like Allen end up with nothing. A lot of the actors and actresses come from abusive homes and have incredibly low self-esteem. They end up killing themselves with alcohol, drugs or their weapon of choice. They contract STDs or more life-threatening diseases such as cancer or AIDS. Hirsch ended up on top by being a cunning, ruthless businessman in a multibillion-dollar industry. Allen ended up being a casualty of that industry.

Julie Kasperson

Tujunga

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Actors and actresses often ask what their motivation is for a scene. For most in the porn industry, the motivation is abuse. The next time any of us enjoys the performance of one of these stars, let’s ask ourselves, “Is her motivation the result of her father raping her when she was 6 years old? Is her motivation the result of witnessing a loved one’s torture and abuse at the hands of a relative?” Certainly not every actor in this industry has such a horrible background, but far too many do. How does Hirsch feel knowing that his success is largely determined by the ongoing sexual and mental abuse of his actors?

Douglas L. Hall

Los Angeles

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Below the cover photos appears the line “The Fortune He Made and the Price She Paid.” It is disappointing that it leans on the overworked theme of “woman as victim” to entice the reader because the article itself indicates otherwise. As the title of Allen’s autobiography asserts: “I Did It. I Liked It. So What?”

Ronald Adamson

Santa Barbara