By Daniel Herbster
I recently corresponded with Bryan Wickens, president of Reclaim Our Culture Kentuckiana (ROCK), and asked him about the work he does fighting sexually oriented businesses and protecting families. Visit reclaimourculture.org for more information. Below is my interview with Bryan.
DH: Bryan, thanks for taking the time to tell our readers about your work in the culture war fighting against pornography and for families in Kentuckiana. First of all, for our readers who may not be familiar with the term, what is Kentuckiana, and how much area does it contain? Is it basically the greater Louisville area?
BW: Thanks, Daniel. Kentuckiana usually means central Kentucky up to central Indiana and that is definitely where ROCK’s focus began. During the past couple of years, however, as we have expanded our reach and been invited to join in on national initiatives and projects, we are recognized now as ROCK and have interests in projects across the country. Since our staff lives in the Kentuckiana region, we will of course always have the communities that ROCK was born out of at the heart of anything we do. But it is imperative to us that we not confine our work to one geographic circle in that the issues we face today are certainly not confined to one geographic circle.
DH: How did ROCK get started, and how long has it been operating?
BW: ROCK was created in March 2004 in response to a series of articles reporting on the unrestrained growth of sex business in the Kentuckiana area and their related negative effects on the community. As a result, a group of citizens, concerned about the state of affairs of our culture came together to form ROCK. This group simply said “enough is enough” and decided to do something, to get off the sidelines – to change Kentuckiana for the better.
I was asked to sit on the board of ROCK in 2004 which, at the time, was an all volunteer organization comprised of some incredible individuals. In 2005, ROCK was growing and decided to hire its first full time President. At the time, I was a partner in one of the largest law firms in our region and was feeling a call in my life to use my skills and abilities to stand up against the attacks on our values, our beliefs and our families. But leaving my law firm to become the first President of a non-profit was not really in my plans. But as so often happens, God had a different plan! To the surprise of many, I left my law practice to become President of ROCK in September, 2005. And every person at ROCK has a similar story. It is amazing how that faithfulness has been rewarded and the blessings ROCK has experienced in a short period of time.
DH: How bad was the situation in Kentuckiana when ROCK was first started, and what kind of progress have you seen since that time? What are some of your proudest accomplishments as an organization?
BW: What many do not know is that the area in which ROCK is located – Kentuckiana – was considered to be in the top 5 worst places in the country when it comes to the number and clusters of sex businesses. I have heard this repeated when speaking nationally and not something we were proud of, which is why ROCK started. In a survey conducted in 2004, it was revealed that there were over 200 sex businesses in the Kentuckiana area. We just recently conducted another survey and that number now stands at 67! That is still 67 too many, but we are thrilled by this progress in a relatively short period of time. And we are just getting started. ROCK was involved in the passage of a very strong zoning ordinance regulating sex business in the greater Louisville, Kentucky area in 2004 and the court challenges are just about over. Once we have that important tool at our disposal, the impact will be tremendous.
I am constantly amazed at how quickly ROCK has grown, not only locally, but regionally and nationally as well. We have been on the front lines of closing down sex businesses, getting zoning ordinances passes in numerous counties and working alongside public officials, political, business and faith leaders to raise awareness about the harms of the sex industry and taking actions that will result in lasting impact for generations to come.
DH: How could our readers help the work you do? How can they find out more information about ROCK?
BW: Become informed on the issues, including the many ways in which pornography and the sex industry hurts all of us. Pornography does not stay private and it negatively impacts all segments of our society. But we must have the knowledge and information to respond to those that do not yet understand its devastating impact. You can do that by visiting the ROCK website and signing up to receive our free weekly e-newsletter or by calling our office for more information. As we grow, there are many places for individuals to plug in and help us. Share information about ROCK with others. And we are engaged in a mighty battle against a sex industry that has deep pockets. We know we can take areas back, stand up and be victorious. But every dollar matters in this battle and if anyone is so inclined, we welcome any financial support, which we see as an investment in the future for our children, families and communities. We have made this possible on our ROCK website as well. Our website is http://www.reclaimourculture.org/ and our phone number is 502-297-9892.
And we always ask others to please keep ROCK and all those involved with ROCK in your prayers as this is a very serious battle and we must be covered in prayer in order to succeed.
DH: How can our readers follow the example of ROCK and fight pornography and cultural degradation in their communities?
BW: Someone recently commented to me that ROCK’s vision and mission is like a stone that has been thrown into the water having a ripple effect far greater than anyone could have imagined. I encourage people to consider what vision they have for building stronger communities and families, then act on it by partnering with us through volunteering or financial support and standing in their own community. We stand ready to help others do just that and become a stone wherever they may live. We here stories of people everyday that went to the site, received our email and decided to get off the sideline and make a difference. They began to notice the inappropriate material for sell at the convenience store or bookstore, or saw an inappropriate program, or wanted a sex business out of their community or became concerned about the materials on the internet and using our resource information reached out and, in a loving and respectful manner, took a stand and asked for materials to be removed or action to be taken and time after time – it happened! Someone just had to take a stand in a respectful but informed manner. So many times we lose simply because we don’t show up. We have to show. And every single person can make a difference and in doing so raise the level of decency and change their community.
I am always emphasizing the way ROCK conducts itself. That is very important to me. Our approach at ROCK is professional, respectful and courteous, but also educated and firm. We expect people to do what is right and give them an opportunity to do what is right before taking a more public stand. If we can help make change happen – and we have – by working behind the scenes and allowing others to look like heroes, that is perfectly ok. It is the end game that matters, not attention. We believe this approach has opened doors to us with individuals, leaders and organizations that otherwise would not work with groups like ours. And this is helping us make real and lasting change happen. I am so proud of that.
DH: What are some issues that ROCK is currently working on? Do you have any major goals for the future?
BW: We have just launched Phase III of our regional pornography campaign. This has involved legal and strategic efforts to apply pressure to the sex industry, which are ongoing. It has also included a public education initiative to highlight the many harms caused to our businesses, our communities, families and individuals at the hands of the sex industry. Our most recent billboard has gone up, which focuses on the harm of pornography to our most precious citizens, our little children. This current campaign has allowed us to lock arms with all segments of the region – business, political, civic and faith – to take a stand against pornography in all of its forms and the sex industry as a whole. We believe this type of campaign can be duplicated anywhere in the United States and that is our long range goal – to be able to demonstrate the success and then help other communities do the same.
We are currently assisting on several regional and national initiatives to strengthen laws related to pornography and obscenity.
We also find ourselves in the middle of an initiative to bring an “In God We Trust” specialty license plate to the citizens of Kentucky. You see, citizens across Kentucky reached out to us about having such a plate since neighboring Indiana already has such a plate. If we are successful in our efforts to obtain this plate, the funds raised can be used in a mighty way in our efforts to address the harms of pornography and the sex industry and reach out to help those exploited by the sex industry, including women and children. And we will be able to do the type of long term, sustained campaign that we know will forever change lives and communities – not only in Kentucky but across this country.
DH: Looking over your website it looks like ROCK is involved in ministering to individual needs as well as shaping public policy. How has this approach been effective for ROCK and would you encourage this approach to other organizations?
BW: Public policy is a very important component in our effort to build stronger communites and families across our region and the entire country. But I believe ROCK has a unique approach in that, in my opinion, we cannot only focus on the pen and paper aspect or public policy. I firmly believe that we have to also be on the ground using our abilities, including our unique legal abilities, to change lives and communities. We also must reach out to the individuals and communities affected by the very policies we work to address. We try to implement a multi-prong approach – change and/or enforce criminal laws; change and/or enforce zoning and civil laws; and educate, raise awareness about the harms of pornography/sex industry and help those that are hurting. I firmly believe that we must never become an organization that is only concerned with legislation or laws. We must do all of those things outlined above.
Also, we must not become an organization that is perceived as only being “against” things. We must also be “for” things. We are for stronger families and communities, for higher standards of decency and while we are using one hand to impact public policy, get current laws enforced, eliminate elements of the sex industry in our communities, etc., we want to also be reaching out with the other hand to help those hurt by pornography or caught up in the sex industry. That is very important to us. Communities, states and the nation as a whole are all made up of individuals – real people. We never forget that at ROCK. Real men, women and children are hurting and have been devastated by the harms visited upon them by the sex industry and pornography. They need hope and help and we are privileged to play a role in providing both.
DH: How would you respond to conservative friends with libertarian sympathies who would claim that the government should have little or no role in regulating or legislating on moral issues like pornography, family, and marriage?
BW: I want to make something very clear – I am probably one of the biggest defenders you will find of the First Amendment and lessening government intrusion into our affairs. But the question you pose is something I hear all the time. Unfortunately, there are many – not knowing how to respond – that simply shake their head in agreement. But the truth is we legislate and regulate morality all the time. In this country, it is illegal to kill. Thou shall not kill is a moral issue. In this country, it is illegal to steal someone else’s property. Thou shall not steal is a moral issue. I don’t think anyone would suggest we shouldn’t have laws that prohibit killing and stealing. The reality is there are times when the collective body has to take a corporate stand to ensure that harms are not visited upon other individuals in the name of another’s perceived rights. As we educate and help others understand the devastation visited upon young little children, women, families and communities at the hands of the sex industry – harms I witness and hear about all the time – there can be no doubt that we as a society have an obligation to stand in the gap and protect our citizens and communities from such harms. And that is exactly what we are blessed to humbly do every single day.
DH: Bryan, thanks so much for your time. Keep up the great work!