The Taboo Sex Show is coming back to Tradex in May.
Organizers cancelled the fifth annual show on Feb. 10, but were back in Abbotsford yesterday (Thursday) to announce the new date, May 11-13.
Sean Libin, vice-president of Canwest Productions, which stages the event, said “circumstances have changed considerably” since the show was cancelled due to a restrictive liquor licence and a push-back from local Christian fundamentalists, specifically former mayoral candidate Gerda Peachey.
Libin said Canwest has since been in close contact with Tradex regarding the liquor licence.
“They’ve shared with us their detailed plan on how they are actively addressing the liquor licence issue. We are confident that they are on the right path towards addressing our concerns.”
Libin would not expand on what that was.
Show organizers wanted Tradex to allow people to roam with drinks throughout the show, rather than herding patrons into a specific area to consume alcohol.
Vali Marling, Tradex’s director of operations, said they have now applied to the province for a change in their licensing.
“We’ve had the same liquor licence for 20 years, but we have not completed an application to change it,” explained Marling.
Tradex is asking for a liquor primary licence, rather than the current food primary, which requires a seating area.
But she doesn’t expect the licence to be altered in time for the sex show.
“It’s a very long process,” she said.
Marling said approval is needed from the local fire department, the liquor inspector, the provincial government and eventually city council.
“We’re at the very beginning stages,” she said.
The second reason given for the Taboo show’s return is a wave of public support.
Libin said more than 100 emails, Twitter and Facebook comments came flooding in after the cancellation.
“The community was speaking out, but this time it wasn’t the small vocal minority that’s been screaming for years that they considered the Taboo show an immoral perversion. This time it was the other side of the community.”
One such resident was Tori Harper, who has lived in Abbotsford for three years.
“I think more people need to speak out. It’s not something to be ashamed of.”
She doesn’t want to have to drive to Vancouver to attend events that could easily take place here. Harper said critics like Peachy should see the show before judging it.
“It’s not dirty, it’s not wrong. Everybody is consenting adults that come to the show.”
Gerda Peachey did not attend the announcement, but was not surprised to hear of the show’s resurrection.
“They never left,” she said.
“I really think it was just too close to the Vancouver event and they probably added up their receipts and decided this wouldn’t fly.”
Peachey said by cancelling the show, organizers have had an “orgy” of free media coverage.
“It’s just nonsense, isn’t it? ‘Oh please come, we will be heart-broken, we won’t know how to live our lives unless you come and do whatever disgusting things you do there,’” she said.