Maryland Cancels Porn Film Screening

The University of Maryland put the kibosh on a porn film screening this weekend after state legislators threatened to pull tens of millions in funding if the film was shown, reports the Diamondback, the student newspaper. The film, titled Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge is billed as the most expensive porn film ever made and is a take-off on the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.

State senators quickly drafted an amendment to the state budget that would have denied funding to any Maryland college or university that offered hardcore pornography for public viewing. "I don't believe in censorship, but at the same time, I don't think that film was appropriate in a state building on a state campus," Senate President Mike Miller said. "Yes, the amendment was overkill, but at the same time, it would have passed because it forced legislators to either vote for hardcore pornography or university funding."

The film, which was not going to cost the university any money to screen, was to be presented along with a talk from Planned Parenthood on safe sex practices. A number of other universities, including UCLA, Northwestern, and Carnegie Mellon, have shown the same film. It was often accompanied by some sort of educational presentation, like a panel discussing the role of the adult entertainment industry.

Critics of the decision were particularly dismayed by the state intervention in matter. "The proposed amendment was a direct affront to freedom of speech," said state Sen. Jamie Raskin, who opposed the amendment. "The Supreme Court has been clear that student groups enjoy First Amendment rights. It's not the movie I would have chosen for myself or my kids, but that's the beauty of the First Amendment: People who want to see it can go, and those who don't want to don't have to."