Pornography in the Americas

Pornography in the Americas consists of pornography made and viewed in North, Central and South American and Caribbean countries and territories. Although the culture of Latin America has traditionally been strongly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, which tends to be socially conservative, pornography is now typically legal in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico. The viewing of pornography in the region has been popularized by the Internet and DVDs.

Pornography between consenting adults is legal in many American countries including Colombia[1] and Uruguay.[2]

Bahamas

The Bahamian penal code prohibits the production and distribution of obscene publications.[3] Many types of pornography are prohibited in the Bahamas, however law enforcement is relaxed and does not usually enforce the prohibition.[4] Pornography is available on Bahamian cable television[5] and in 2014 ZNS-TV broadcast a report on the establishment of a local pornography industry in the Bahamas.[6]

Brazil

In Brazil, pornographic film actors must be 18 or older. Pornography which does not involve bestiality is legal when sold in public places. Depiction of sex with animals is legal.[7] However, magazine and DVD covers that depict genitalia must not be visible from public view, and pornography can only be sold to people 18 or older.

Canada

The laws of Canada permit the sale of hardcore pornography to anyone over the age of eighteen. While persons below that age may have pornography in their possession, its sale to them is prohibited.

Most hardcore pornography is sold in adult stores or on adult websites.

Chile

Chile's pornography industry began in the 1950s and grew significantly until the 1973 Chilean coup d'état. Under the subsequent military dictatorship of Chile the industry was suppressed. Following the Chilean transition to democracy and the development of the Internet, the pornography industry in the country has begun to expand again.[8]

Colombia

Colombia has become a big hub for live web cam streams and has seen a rise in camgirls as a result of the increase in access to the internet.[9] Almost 98% of "latin" models come from Colombia while only 2% come from Mexico and Brazil.

Cuba

Pornography is illegal in Cuba, however the laws were relaxed in the 2010s.[10]

United States

In the United States, pornography is not unlawful at the federal level, but is subject to the Miller test, which was developed in the 1973 case Miller v. California.[11] The Miller test was an effort to differentiate between pornography and 'obscenity.' It has three parts:

  • Whether "the average person, applying contemporary community standards", would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest,
  • Whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable state law,
  • Whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.[12] The work is considered obscene only if all three conditions are satisfied. Local areas are permitted to develop their own laws on the issue, as long as they do not conflict with federal law.

Pornography is a large industry that involves major entertainment companies, which offer pornography films through cable channels and in-room movies in hotels. Pornography distribution changed radically during the 1980s, with VHS and cable television largely displacing X-rated theaters. VHS distribution, in turn, has been replaced by DVD and Internet distribution for niche markets. Pornography generates billions of dollars in sales in the United States alone. An estimated 211 new pornographic films are made every week in the United States.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ (in Spanish) La revolución del porno decente
  2. ↑ (in Spanish) Policía crea unidad de ciberpatrullaje
  3. ↑ "Penal Code" (PDF). Bahamas Government. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  4. ↑ Durham, Sarah (2015). Opposing Pornography: A look at the Anti-Pornography Movement. Lulu.com. p. 61. ISBN 9781329607644.
  5. ↑ "Call For Ban On Porn". Bahamas Local. 6 January 2012.
  6. ↑ Ava Turnquest (25 April 2014). "Christian President Speaks Out Over Porn Industry". The Tribune.
  7. ↑ Revista Galileu - notÍCIAS - Alguém já foi preso por zoofilia no Brasil?
  8. ↑ "La industria de la pornografía". Cultura Colectiva. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ "EPorn's new capitals: Romania and Colombia?". CNBC. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  10. ↑ Frank Simon (7 July 2016). "Pornography in Cuba, Enemy of the State". Havana Times. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Text of the decision and dissents, from findlaw.com
  12. ↑ This is also known as the (S)LAPS test—[Serious] Literary, Artistic, Political, Scientific.
  13. ↑ With pot and porn outstripping corn, America's black economy is flying high, The Guardian
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