At The Conference keynote in the Diamond Ballroom, HUSTLER founder and publisher Larry Flynt discussed the 25th anniversary of the Hustler Magazine v. Falwell 1988 Supreme Court case, the state of free speech today, and his pioneering work establishing an iconic sex industry brand.

“We’ve had it for so long, free speech has dropped in value.” Flynt told the packed room and his onstage interviewer Cindy Gallop, founder and CEO of IfWeRanTheWorld. “Ask yourself this question: could you stand behind a person who would say every vile thing you’ve spent your whole life opposing, and defend his right to free speech?”

Flynt maintained in a society that takes free speech for granted yet often prohibits sexual content while condoning violence, it is more important than ever to defend that hypothetical contrary individual. “We live in a society today in which we must tolerate things in order to be free,” he said. “I tolerate Fox News.”

Flynt said the HUSTLER name originated as an embodiment of the spirit of an aggressive kind of man. Later he learned the term could also be applied to a male prostitute. “It conjures up different things in different people’s minds. It’s the greatest brand we could have,” Flynt said. The Hustler brand has graced its landmark pornographic magazine, a casino, and a chain of stores selling adult-oriented videos, sex toys and other items.

“Pornography to me is the purest form of art there is,” Flynt said, “and it has been since cavemen were making erotic etches on the walls of their caves.”

Throughout the interview, Gallop found ways to remind the crowd that Flynt’s unwavering defense of the First Amendment paved the way for much of the work they do today.

“You fought a battle to protect freedom of speech,” Gallop told Flynt. “If you hadn’t, the media landscape would look very different today. Many of us would not be able to do the things we do.”

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