SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1552
WHEREAS, the St. Louis Leather and Lace organization is sponsoring a convention known as "Beat Me in St. Louis"; and
WHEREAS, this is an annual event sponsored by the St. Louis Leather and Lace organization, dedicated to the free expression of alternative lifestyles; and
WHEREAS, the convention is held at the Howard Johnson Hotel in St. Louis, April 26-28; and
WHEREAS, the Howard Johnson Hotels hold themselves out to be a "family-oriented" hotel chain and encourage families to use their facilities for family vacations; and
WHEREAS, this event is held in a place in which other hotel guests may be exposed to the activities of the convention; and
WHEREAS, event materials promise "dungeon parties" with "flogging and cutting", suggesting a "tarp or drop cloth" be used for "messy blood scenes and other bodily fluids"; and
WHEREAS, sadomasochist behavior of this kind spreads disease; and
WHEREAS, engaging in deviant sexual behavior and experimentation is widely recognized by experts to lead to more extreme behavior, particularly the victimization of women and children who are not "consenting"; and
WHEREAS, by allowing the "Beat Me in St. Louis" gathering to be held at their hotel, the Howard Johnson hoteliers are contributing to the overall risk to the health and welfare of their other patrons and the public:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Missouri Senate, Ninety-first General Assembly, Second Regular Session, hereby condemn the Howard Johnson Hotel chain and urge no other hotel chain in this state to host events that encourage activities which are dangerous to the public health and welfare; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Department of Health and the State Attorney General shall be called upon to investigate the safety and legality of this event including but not limited to, violations of Missouri health and welfare statute, Section 191.680, RSMo; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Howard Johnson Hotels.