Al Goldstein Interview

“Courage is unique, rare and applauded, but we must realize that most of the so-called intellectual press is as gutless with respect to the issue of pornography as it is with any other dissent.”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“When I was twelve, I found my father's collection of pornography. I remember running into the bathroom and jerking off. I was all right. In fact, I was happy to know my father actually looked at pictures of naked women.”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“The main thing that keeps me going is rage. Rage and anger. I am competitive. I do not want to be defeated. I do not want to lose. I do not want to be emasculated. It's me against them. It's high noon every day of my life, and I think I’ve been shot in the balls a few times, but I’m still able to dr…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“I am also a father now, and I would like my son to live in a saner world than I do. I don’t want my son to have to go through my drawers to find my pornography, as I found my father's. I would like my son to be able to masturbate without feeling guilty, wondering if his mind is going to turn to oatm…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“Almost anyone who tries to bring about change has to be a little unbalanced. If you’re balanced, you’re not going to fight. Yes, within me I’m sure there are certain self-destructive components. The average politician has such components too. To be a true believer, to be a zealot, you have to be a l…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“People all across the country fuck in the same way, with the same instrumentation. I’ve eaten pussy in the Midwest and fucked my brains out throughout most of this country. Sex is a universal, a common theme. I don’t think there are many geographical differences.”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“All we hear from the censors is ‘What about the children?’ It’s a very emotional issue, but you can’t let the rights of children negate the rights of adults.”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“Society will always punish the people who say the things that society wants to suppress. Going to jail is not something I relish, but I feel I can do the time, and I refuse to be so intimidated by prison that it will change my course of action.”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“The Supreme Court is a political instrument composed of malleable political creatures. It's not some august body of intellectuals and cerebral types who are going to maximize fidelity to the Constitution. Today's Court is frightening in its stupidity. Four of the nine justices (Warren Burger, Willia…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“If I went for the dollar, I would really be a super-rich person who played it safe. The way to make the most money in this country is to deal with sex without touching on politics. Mafia people I knew in the early years of SCREW's existence said, ‘Quit attacking the Pope. Quit attacking the politici…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“I'm afraid religion’s going to be with us for a long, long time. My objection to religion is that instead of being used constructively, it’s been used as an instrument of destruction. If religion really preached the holiness of the body and its use sexually, I would applaud religion, even though I’m…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“The Constitution is a flawed document written by a wealthy minority. During America's early period, a man couldn't vote if he didn't own any land. Mankind is imperfect. Majority rule doesn’t work; it has never worked. The average person is too busy watching Police Woman and Charlie's Angels on TV to…”

— Larry Flynt, filthy.media

“We only have to look at the era in Greece 400 years before Christ. The city of Sparta was a military fortress where everything revolved around war and violence. As a matter of fact, it was all right to steal as long as one didn't get caught. Nothing of much value came from that city, unlike Athens o…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“Pornography is far less dangerous than romanticism. Both are fantasies; both have weak premises. But romanticism is why three out of four marriages wind up in divorce court—sexual unhappiness being one cause. Pornography tries to depict some reality, however. Naturally, it too can be misused, but I…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“Eating pussy is much more intimate, much more private. With fucking you really don’t get the taste, the smell of the woman, unless she's been racing horses around the track. I think it’s pretty shocking that the Supreme Court said that eating pussy is an act against nature (Doe v. Commonwealth's Att…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“I judge religions on the basis of what they do, and I'm afraid to say that the insidious power of religion has been with us for thousands of years. I do not respect irrationality, stupidity, or superstition, and much of religion is rooted in these.”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“I want Jane Fonda to sit on my head as we discuss New Left politics. I want her desperately. If she reads this, I hope she'll satisfy me.”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“I do very poorly with new women because fat is currently out. I’m sure Orson Welles doesn't get laid that much either. One of the few areas of displeasure and pain to me is being a fatty. Fat people are sexually isolated in our society and are subjected to tremendous rejection.”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“I see a nice-looking woman wearing a bikini on a beach, but I don’t want to tie her up and hang her from a meat hook. I want to fuck her and have her fuck me, because sex is a very constructive, exciting part of life. I think I’m open in terms of my own sexuality, and yet I’m also amazed at how prud…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media

“I actually think SCREW is less vulnerable simply because we exploit men and women equally. But I also feel that the feminist movement is full of shit. It is supposed to be this classless group of women, but in reality it's elitist. It's supposed to be protecting secretaries and barhops, but there ar…”

— Al Goldstein, filthy.media