In Memoriam Reed Lee

With great sadness, the Free Speech Coalition announces the loss of our brother and friend, Reed Lee, on December 26, 2023. Reed served on FSC’s Board of Directors for over twenty years after first becoming acquainted with the organization at the 1998 World Pornography Conference.

Reed was exceedingly dedicated to the Free Speech Coalition, gladly devoting his limited time and boundless analytical ability to defending the adult industry’s rights and freedoms from government obstruction and censorship. His fierce intellect, astounding command of the law, and deep passion for the First Amendment made him a natural choice to chair both the FSC Legal and Legislative Committees. In those roles, he not only led the drafting of policy papers, pleadings and analyses, but also managed numerous FSC statutory challenges, including its current battle against unconstitutional age verification mandates.

Those who served with him on the FSC Board knew Reed as a deep and critical thinker who loved a spirited debate. He admired the great civil rights icon Bayard Rustin and committed his life and actions to fighting for labor rights, the democratic process, and free expression. He was a person of immense integrity who lived his life in concordance with his principles in every possible way.

For those and many other reasons, the staff and Board of the Free Speech Coalition are heartbroken and mourn his passing with profound sorrow.