QUESTION: Just like John Ashcroft in the USA wants to uphold COPA (Child Online Protection Act) arguing that all minors and children automatically get exposed to pornography on the Internet. Do you feel that there is at least a healthy discussion going on of all these Internet-related issues?

ANSWER: No, people are actually not discussing it much. Sex-related issues and controversies carry the weight of a huge stigma that makes it difficult for people to speak up. That's why obscenity sweeps can be waged by the most despicable politicians, because most people would not dare stand up for the stigmatized people and businesses. The moral halo on the heads of the religious women's groups in this case has already helped them get a lot of laws passed that infringe on people' s freedom. The censorship and parent organizations, on the other hand, are actually the same bunch of people who have been very eager to control print material, in particular romance novels and comic books. When the news broke around my case, you can just feel the atmosphere around you freezing up, as if you have suddenly become a disease-carrier. And I think that's part of the goal of the religious women's groups. They have a common interest in keeping sex-relation information out of this world, but I have been the most outspoken critic of their obscurantism and sex-negativism. So they wanted to damage my credibility and social influence and the hyperlink is also just a triggering point. It is most heart-warming that at these difficult times, it is the sexually marginal groups, the gays and lesbians and sex workers and HIV,groups and many other nameless individuals, that have stood up to support me.

QUESTION: Are your colleagues and the president of National Central University reacting to international pressure, e.g. the petition that has been going around at www.gsrat.org?

ANSWER: International response has been overwhelming and I am deeply grateful for the support that has come from academics and activists alike. I don't know how much impact it would have on the university, but having such support has helped affirm the importance of this issue and hopefully it will do some good for the case too. Fortunately, my own academic record is immaculate, as I am one of the best teachers around and I have one of the longest lists of researches and grants. I am elected to numerous committees on different levels of the university structure as I am quite active and responsible in university affairs. Ironically, even someone as academically accomplished as I am could still suffer such defamation; it only goes to show how tremendous the power of sexual stigma is! This case will be a test of how people see this situation. If people feel strongly enough about it, they will come forth and fight for this case because it concerns them as much as it concerns me. I am more interested in seeing how people are changed by this fight. I would like to see more people, esp. internet users, rise to the task and defend their freedom.