Lisa Marie Abato, known by the stage name Holly Ryder,[1][2] is an American anti-pornography activist and former pornographic film star.

Holly Ryder
Born
Lisa Marie Abato[1][2]

1966 or 1967 (age 57–58)
NationalityAmerican
Occupations

Career

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Abato worked in the adult film industry for over two years, performing in 200 films.[2][3] During the early 1990s period of the AIDS endemic, Abato moved away from traditional pornography and into specialized films, which did not require intercourse, including BDSM films.[2] Abato participated in the Adult Video Boxing Championships in October 1992, fighting Laurie Pike.[4] In December 1992, she retired from the adult film industry.[2][3]

After retiring, Abato founded the Holly Ryder Foundation, an organization that funds research around runaways. In 1993, the organization donated $250,000 to the University of California, Los Angeles to research runaways in the sex industry.[2] Abato also became an anti-pornography activist, defining the industry as a crime that is linked to drug trafficking and money laundering.[5] She created a political action committee, the Holly Ryder Commission with the goal of ending the pornography industry in California.[3]

She began collecting signatures for a ballot measure banning the sale of pornography in California and changing the definition of pornographic films to forms of prostitution, which she wanted to appear on the ballot for the November 1994 elections. Her efforts have been opposed by pro-free speech advocates.[3] She funded her efforts with an inheritance from her grandmother.[2]

Personal life

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As of 1993, Abato was studying to be a stockbroker.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Shibuya Brown, Scott (August 19, 1993). "Ex-Pornography Star Takes Up Battle to Aid Runaway Teens". Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Moody, Lori (September 21, 1993). "Ex-adult Entertainment Star Starts Project For Runaways". Chicago Tribune; Los Angeles Daily News. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e Raine, George (November 2, 1993). "Former sex star seeks to outlaw porn productions". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved January 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Cohen, Belisa (October 29, 1992). "LaDeeda". LA Weekly. Retrieved January 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Ex-porn star leads anti-porn initiative". United Press International. December 27, 1993. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
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