Ken Sahn, president of Holiday Products, has called for increased political engagement from the pleasure products and sexual wellness industry, citing historical government crackdowns and current political threats. Sahn emphasizes that active participation in the democratic process, from local to federal elections, is crucial for safeguarding the industry's future.

Historical Precedent and Current Threats

Sahn's call to action stems from his early career experiences in the adult industry, which began in 1990 when he became vice president of Nalpac, a Michigan-based distributor. Nalpac was a significant "smoke company," selling items such as rolling papers, pipes, roach clips, and bongs. Other leaders in this sector included distributors like Eldorado and manufacturers like Pipedream.

Sahn's familiarity with the smoke industry predates his time at Nalpac; he manufactured pipes and clips for a competitor during the 1970s and 1980s to finance his college education. This period was described as "extremely lucrative." However, the late 1980s saw a conservative political movement sweep the country, leading to state and federal authorities targeting distributors and manufacturers for selling "drug paraphernalia." Nalpac, for instance, had over $500,000 of its stock seized and subsequently destroyed by federal authorities. The original owner of Nalpac was indicted and convicted on federal charges, leaving Nalpac and other companies in a precarious state. Sahn characterized this as his "first introduction to how our government could arbitrarily wreak havoc on an entire industry, its owners and employees, all because of a distorted sense of morality," describing it as "a very dark time."

Sahn draws parallels between this historical crackdown and potential future threats to the pleasure products and sexual wellness industry. He notes that the industry is currently "thriving and growing," characterized by "incredible people and creative entrepreneurs" who provide "tremendous service, choices and empowerment" to customers. He highlights the industry's evolution into a "highly sophisticated" sector that prioritizes "healthy ingredients, quality materials and wellness." Despite this growth and mainstream trajectory, Sahn warns that the industry "could also be next in the government’s crosshairs." He points to existing "arbitrary and unfair rules and restrictions" faced by retailers in certain municipalities and areas. With a "heavily right-leaning Supreme Court" and politicians "stripping women of their rights and making voting harder for minorities and the poor," Sahn suggests it is not difficult to imagine a scenario where the industry faces tighter regulation or even prohibition, dismissing such concerns as "bluster and hyperbole."

The Power of Collective Voice and Voting

Sahn argues that the industry cannot rely on courts, legislatures, or other institutions for protection. He cites the undermining of women's rights regarding abortion, reproductive rights, and healthcare choices, despite "tremendous majority support" in the country, as an example of how a "minority viewpoint and minority control" can impact widely supported rights. He asserts that the same could happen to the pleasure products industry.

To counter these potential threats, Sahn advocates for active participation in the democratic process. He urges individuals to "vote!" not only for president but also for Congress, state legislators, secretaries of state, and other local positions. He stresses the importance of understanding representatives' stances and voting them out if they do not align with one's views, while working to elect like-minded individuals to positions of power.

Beyond voting, Sahn encourages broader engagement. He suggests informing friends and family, becoming active in the political process, and donating money or time if possible. He also recommends engaging in grassroots advocacy efforts and educating the public about protecting the pleasure and sexual wellness industry, as well as consumer and citizen rights. Sahn specifically mentions supporting groups that protect these rights, such as the Free Speech Coalition.

Sahn concludes that by "leveraging our collective voice," the industry can work to safeguard itself from "potential threats posed by moralistic conservative political agendas and the culture war." He states that "democracy thrives when every voice is heard and every vote is counted," and that securing the industry's future requires active participation in the democratic process, as "Our industry, and American democracy itself, could stand hang in the balance."

Pleasure Activism and Social Justice

The concept of "Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good" by adrienne maree brown offers a framework that reimagines social justice through joy and healing. Brown's work challenges "burnout culture" and suggests that self-care can fuel revolution, proposing that pleasure is not selfish but a powerful tool for sustainable change. The book, published by AK Press in 2019, is a collection of essays, interviews, and conversations curated by brown.

Brown argues that reclaiming the right to experience pleasure can lead to personal healing and collective liberation. She asserts that if marginalized communities embrace joy as resistance, they can challenge systems designed to deny them satisfaction and wholeness. "Pleasure Activism" explores how understanding and reclaiming pleasure can empower individuals to be more authentic and strengthen their capacity to collaborate in building a more just and joyful world. The book draws on the black feminist tradition and includes insights from thinkers such as Audre Lorde, Joan Morgan, Cara Page, Sonya Renee Taylor, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs, covering topics from sex work to climate change, and race and gender to sex and drugs.

Key themes in brown's work include centering marginalized joy to dismantle systemic oppression, reclaiming erotic power as political practice, and prioritizing small, adaptive actions. It also touches on radical drug use to challenge prohibitionist policies, using Afrofuturist fiction for liberation-focused worldbuilding, and modeling anti-oppressive relationships through consensual intimacy practices. Harm reduction philosophy is presented as a replacement for punishment with compassion, and nude selfies are seen as resistance tools against body-shaming capitalism and white supremacy. Brown emphasizes that pleasure activism requires daily embodied practices, not just intellectual analysis, and that collective grieving can create space for transformative joy.

Key Facts

  • Ken Sahn is the president of Holiday Products.
  • Sahn began his adult industry career in 1990 as vice president of Nalpac, a Michigan-based distributor.
  • Nalpac, Eldorado, and Pipedream were leaders in the "smoke company" sector.
  • In the late 1980s, Nalpac had over $500,000 of stock seized by federal authorities, and its original owner was convicted on federal charges.
  • "Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good" was written and gathered by adrienne maree brown and published by AK Press in 2019.
  • The book explores how pleasure can be a catalyst for personal healing and collective liberation in social justice work.