(h/t to Belledame for bringing this to my attention)
Everyone, meet Kyle Payne.
In his own words:
“Kyle is a social justice educator, writer, and activist. Much of his work is concerned with putting a stop to violence against women. For years Kyle has served as an advocate for survivors of sexual violence and other forms of abuse, in addition to promoting what he calls “a more just and life-affirming culture of sexuality” through activism and education. As a researcher, Kyle has studied the feminist anti-pornography movement and is particularly interested in men’s roles in confronting pornography and the rape culture. In addition to his pro-feminist work, he is involved with anti-racist, free speech, peace, and anti-globalization movements.”
You can also see Kyle’s educational merits, Honors and Awards, and his seemingly laudable activities.
If you take some time to read some of Kyle’s work, you will see he is very anti-pornography, has dedicated himself in many ways to educating men about the affects porn has upon them and fighting rape culture and stereotypes of masculinity, much like Robert Jensen. Kyle’s writing is moving, he’s been included in the Carnival Against Pornography and Prostitution, he links and praises many other anti-porn bloggers, and even, much like his Stop Porn Culture role models, does presentations on the harmful nature of pornography, which are, of course, non-2257 compliant and do not consider the feelings of the people in the images used.
Kyle, it would seem, is a good ally to feminists, to the anti-porn movement, and a strong voice out there speaking to men about how they must change for the betterment of not only women, but themselves.
But what about what you don’t know about Kyle Payne? Well, here is what people do not know about their understanding, groundbreaking male ally Kyle.
Kyle Payne was arrested for breaking into the room of and assaulting an unconcious female student at his University while he was a resident advisor. He plead guilty to felony attempted burglary in the second degree and two counts of invasion of privacy. Kyle Payne, feminist ally and enemy of pornography, agrees that "with an intent to arouse my sexual desire, I photographed and filmed Jane Doe and her breast without her consent."
Also, according to a thread at EleanorsTrousers, who was all over this story from the get-go, Kyle Payne was asked to leave BV University for having child pornography on his computer.
So, yes, meet Kyle Payne, a man who is staunchly against pornography, a man who is dedicated to men rethinking their views on sexuality, privilege, rape culture, and masculinity, a man who spent time as a Rape Crisis Advocate. A man who assaulted and photographed a unconscious young woman under his authority as a university resident advisor, for his own sexual gratification and without her consent. A man who had child pornography on his hard drive, a man who’s blog, The Road Less Traveled, is filled with angst and turmoil and emotion, condemnation for the exact sort of behavior he himself has engaged in.
That is the real Kyle Payne. Hypocrite of the worst kind.
And sure, you can go ahead and question my motives all you like, after all, according to many-a-anti-porn advocate, women in the sex industry speaking of their own experiences, unless they are the right experiences, cannot be trusted. We have sketchy motives and vested interests and what not, however, Kyle Payne’s actions speak for themselves. I’d have reason without those actions to dislike him, reasons such as assumption, denial of agency, illegal use of images, disregard of performers feelings, shock tactic language, and serious overgeneralization, the same reasons I dislike those who Kyle supposedly looks up to and takes as leaders: Dines, Jensen, Russell, so on. However, Kyle Payne’s own actions and deeds? Considering those, I do not see how any anti-porn advocate, “real” feminist, person concerned with feminist issues, or mere human, could take this man and make him or call him an ally of any sort.
Kyle Payne is no ally. He is a predator, abuser, and hypocrite. He is a man who talks about the evils of porn, listens to the stories of rape and assault victims, and vaunts his good deeds and ally status all the while being everything he is supposedly fighting against, everything women…be they rad fems or porn performers…fear.
Kyle Payne is not an ally. He’s an abuser. And he should be exposed as such.
More from Belledame
Tonight on Cult of Gracie radio: Jennifer Cody Epstein, author of The Painter from Shanghai, a novel based upon the life of prostitute turned Post-Impressionist painter, Pan Yuliang.
