Why did the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) ban an innovative new sex toy for women that its creators say provides for a hands-free "blended orgasm" when it last year allowed a female robot obviously designed for male sexual gratification to be displayed?
Sounds really sexist to me, but apparently, that's what's happened at the Consumer Electronics Association, which even gave an innovation award to Lora DiCarlo for its product, Osé, but then rescinded the award saying they made a mistake. Then, the Lora DiCarlo company was informed it couldn't even exhibit at CES.
In taking back the award for the Osé personal massager, the organization retroactively classified it as "immoral, obscene, indecent, (or) profane."
According to a CES spokeswoman, "The product does not fit into any of our existing product categories and should not have been accepted for the Innovation Awards Program. CTA has communicated this position to Lora DiCarlo. We have apologized to the company for our mistake."
I want to know who is running CEA and the CES. Either they are a bunch of little old church ladies or they're clones of Mitch McConnell and his pinch-faced pals in Congress.
Not taking this ruling lying down, Lora DiCarlo is appealing the CTA's decision and has launched a PR blitz blasting CES for its double standard that allowed last year's electronic female sex robot and permits a virtual reality porn company to exhibit.
The company's founder and CEO, Lora Haddock, wrote an open letter blasting the CEA for its double standard, which she says clearly discriminates against women.
Here's how she describes the product:
"You see, we’re doing something that has never been done before–we’re making the world’s first hands-free device for the holy grail of orgasms–the blended orgasm. Our almost entirely female team of engineers is developing new micro-robotic technology that mimics all of the sensations of a human mouth, tongue, and fingers, for an experience that feels just like a real partner."
Haddock adds:
"There is an obvious double-standard when it comes to sexuality and sexual health. While there are sex and sexual health products at CES, it seems that CES/CTA administration applies the rules differently for companies and products based on the gender of their customers. Men’s sexuality is allowed to be explicit with a literal sex robot in the shape of an unrealistically proportioned woman and VR porn in point of pride along the aisle. Female sexuality, on the other hand, is heavily muted if not outrighted banned. You cannot pretend to be unbiased if you allow a sex robot for men but not a vagina-focused robotic massager for blended orgasm."
If I had a chance to judge, I'd rule in Lora DiCarlo's favor. After all, what's good for the gander should be good for the goose. By the way, according to the company's website, the Osé will come out this fall.