Bizarre Phenomenon: Sex Toys Littering Streets Present Hazard To Portland

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Robby Davis, GolocalPDX Contributor

Portland power and telephone lines have been inundated with phallic sex toys, aka dildos, adult pleasure devices. These orange and flesh colored male members of the anatomy started appearing in late June, during Pedalpoolza, and have expanded throughout the city, including dozens that were thrown as pairs over wires, like sneakers, at last weekend’s Mississippi Street Fair.

Previous press reports claim that this new example of “Keeping Portland Weird” was not considered a danger to power lines, but officials at Portland General Electric (PGE) who maintain the lines say the there may be a significant danger.

“Any time something is coming into contact with a power line, that shouldn’t be there, it is considered unsafe,” said Steve Corson, a spokesman for PGE. “It’s even more unsafe if anything were to come into contact with any electrical work that may be up there.” Corson went on to further explain that tossing dildos up on power lines is not “cute” or “funny” and that it costs PGE money to send someone out there to safely take them down. That is money that the company could be spending on repairing or maintaining those power lines instead. Corson said at this time there are no plans for PGE to remove them.

Rich Tyler, the Public Information Officer for Portland Fire and Rescue, agreed that it’s a bad idea to ever have anything touching a power line that shouldn’t be there. With Portland's most recent heat wave resulting in numerous fires over the summer the last thing Portland Fire Department needs are more hazards to worry about.

On July 14th this particular phallic phenomenon took social media by storm, particularly on Twitter which was jam-packed with dildo photos due to both its comedic, sexually suggestive, and mysterious nature. No one at this time has claimed responsibility for Portland's latest street decor.

Not only are tossing dildos onto power lines a safety hazard, they could also be considered illegal.

Portland's hanging penis expressions on utility wires is like the locks on Paris' Pont des Arts, according Portland attorney Lake Perriguey. The Pont des Arts is a bridge in Paris where lovers can go to hang a padlock that symbolizes their unending love. Unfortunately, the padlocks have been removed because it caused issues regarding the bridge’s overall weight. “There is no fundamental right to express yourself on other people’s property, on the property owned by a utility, or in a manner that creates a fire hazard, no matter how sexy or pedestrian hanging dildos or shoes may be,” said Perriguey. “There is no free speech right.”

Rumors have circulated as to whether the dildos were leftovers from a local company, but it's highly unlikely that they were made here. “They can’t come from here, because there is no manufacturing or wholesale house that would have provided them,” said Rhonda Stensrud, the general manger at Fantasy For Adults Only, an adult entertainment superstore. “There was Empire Labs that did Clone-A-Willy but that was awhile ago. If we could a hold of one then we could find where they came from. My instincts say it’s a Pride prank (referring to the annual June LGBT celebration). I find it very entertaining.”

If it’s not about sex or art could it be a political statement at this time? “If these adult sex toys are being hung on power lines in order to make a statement it hasn’t been very effective,” said Victoria Frey, the executive director of the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art. "It's not very effective if you don't claim it."

There were various rumors that these dildos were put up in order to mark the route for the most recent World Naked Bike Ride, but if that were the case wouldn’t they have been taken down by now? "I have no reason to think the dildos have anything to do with the Naked Bike Ride or with cycling at all,” said Jonathan Maus, the editor and publisher for bikeportland.org. “That being said, sex and feeling good about your body is a big part of Portland's cycling culture — especially in June during Pedalpalooza, which is when these dildos first started appearing."

The reactions that the dildos have received by passersby have been mixed. Some people find the dildos entertaining while other people are highly embarrassed by them. There have also been those who are offended that somebody would even commit this act, especially with children present. “I think that they should be taken down,” stated Jessica Raz, a nanny of 5 young children. “Kids shouldn’t have to see that sort of thing.”

Sharon Russell, who leads the City of Portland Graffiti Abatement Volunteer Program went on the further explain, “If these items continue to be put up I’m sure there will be something done to take them down.”