By Gary Berton
Our Association was founded in 1884, and the founders were from various organizations, all of which were opposed to the Comstock Act. The Comstock Act was created to combat “obscenity”, dodging the idea that the Comstock Act was in itself obscene to democracy. It is now a weapon again against women, common sense, and decency, and in support of feudalist ideology. This law is still on the books. It was a religious-based law denying the ability to talk about and mail material related to contraception, or anything related to it.
The Board of TPNHA was formed to unite these groups into one place to coordinate their activity, with Thomas Paine as the symbol for these progressive causes, including women’s rights, especially women’s health rights and access to health information.
The Comstock Act of 1773 is in the news today! being used to suppress all support for women’s abortion rights. See how far we have progressed!
The editor of the Truth Seeker, D.M. Bennett was jailed based on this Act. Members of the Board of TPNHA were threatened for opposing the Act, and so they founded the groups that eventually led to forming the American Civil Liberties Union, groups like the National Defense Association. Thaddeus Wakeman, the main organizer of our Association and the first President, ran for governor of New York on a platform opposing the Comstock Act. Far ahead of his time, he lost.
For complete coverage of the history of TPNHA see here.