The first international men’s conference has been labelled controversial as feminist extremists move to inflict maximum damage and disruption.

Threats against the Detroit hotel complex hosting the conference brought a prompt demand from the venue owners, for organisers, A Voice For Men (AVFM), to engage off duty police officers for security, adding considerable cost to the event – see our recent post Men’s Conference brings out the feminasties.

Detroit media have been following developments, with local independent news site Motorcity Muckraker reporting:

The inaugural conference at the DoubleTree has been canceled for unknown reasons, and organizers of the first International Conference on Men’s Issues haven’t said yet whether it will be moved to another hotel and conference center.

The blog has photos of a recent protest outside the proposed venue with protesters calling for a cancellation of the conference – details have emerged of a 3000 signature petition in support of the call for cancellation.

The blog is open for discussion.

In an update from The Detroit News:

A controversial conference on men’s rights that was to be held at a downtown Detroit hotel has been moved to a nearby VFW hall.

The Hilton Doubletree Guest Suites Fort Shelby on West Lafayette was to host the A Voice for Men’s International Conference on Men’s Issues on June 27-28. But instead, the conference will move to the VFW Post 1146 Walter F Bruce at 28404 Jefferson Ave.

In a response from AVFM Paul Elam had this to say:

The disingenuous and quite insane backlash against the International Conference on Men’s Issues has produced some interesting results. First, the onslaught of yellow journalism from places like Daily Kos and the Huffington Post has been unprecedented, even for those two myth-factories.

The other thing it has produced is a hell of a lot more interest in the conference, and more ticket sales. So much so, as a matter of fact, that we have opted to move to a venue that will seat more people and provide more security than was available previously.

There has certainly been a rapid development in the conflict surrounding the conference. Our best wishes to AVFM, as the conference looks to be an even bigger event at the new venue, although we understand there are question marks over some of the original presenters who have concerns for their personal safety.