UW System Prosecuted Joe Gow With False Anti-Porn Talking Points

LOS ANGELES/MADISON, Wis.—Recently dismissed former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-La Crosse) chancellor and communications professor Dr. Joseph Gow was administratively prosecuted by the UW System with the assistance of evidence that intimates debunked claims that legal pornography is linked to sex trafficking. This was revealed in a documents released to AVN through an open records request dating back to May. Upon review of the evidentiary exhibits, the attorneys who represented the university system during the disciplinary hearing administered by UW-La Crosse faculty members over the summer relied on an exhibit titled "Articles re: Pornography and Human Trafficking." It is classified as "UWL Exhibit 109," per an exhibit table of contents attached to the open records release. The two articles included in the exhibit are a research article published in 2019 by the peer-reviewed Journal of Counselor Practice and a blog post shared by Fight the New Drug (FTND). FTND is a notorious anti-porn pressure group founded by members of the LDS Church and aligned with groups like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. "We’re not claiming all porn is nonconsensual," reads the FTND blog post. "Some is and some isn’t, and when you watch it there’s no way to know which is which." This is a misleading viewpoint touted by FTND because legal pornography is widely produced by people worldwide who participate willingly and consensually. Both articles also tout arguments that conflate legal activity with illegal activity. This is a tactic often used by anti-trafficking and anti-pornography groups tied to the religious right wing. In much of the university's case against Gow, it accused him of potentially illegal activity as it relates to his adult content creation with his spouse, Dr. Carmen Wilson. Gow and Wilson also co-authored books under pseudonyms, which were entered into evidence and mentioned in an investigative report, discussing the ethical non-monogamous relationship the two have. They also feature the recollection of being present on porn sets, engaging with other sex workers, and more. However, there was never any evidence presented by the university system that Gow or Wilson engaged in illegal activity at any point during their adult content careers. This suggests a bias by the university system that believes that pornography is somehow conflated with crimes related to sex and human trafficking. According to the Woodhull Freedom Foundation's "Fact Checked" program, there is no reliable evidence that directly links pornography to sex trafficking criminal enterprises. "Incidences of sex trafficking linked to the legal adult industry are incredibly rare," wrote Woodhull Fact Checked contributors Melodie Garcia, the co-director of New Moon Network, and Dr. Allison Grossman, PhD, a human sexuality therapist and academic researcher. "Millions of people currently perform or create content in the adult industry."  "As we saw during my hearing in June, the 'evidence' presented by the UW System is flimsy and exaggerated—junk emails and bogus 'research,'" Gow told AVN in an email Wednesday. "They continue to be unable to show I did anything illegal or wrong."   Other documents released by the university system are currently being reviewed by AVN. In addition, via a separate open records request, AVN requested documents and records highlighting the internal communications of senior university system officials and the Board of Regents of the Universities of Wisconsin.   Recent releases also show the funds the UW System expended during the investigation of Gow, after he was removed from his post as chancellor in December 2023.    First published by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the non-profit legal aid foundation representing Gow, expense documents feature invoices paid out by the UW System totaling $133,365.75 to the law firm Husch Blackwell. This was for "professional services rendered and costs" related to the investigation. AVN has reported on the case of Dr. Gow and Dr. Wilson extensively  since December 2023. Gow and Wilson have appeared in self-produced adult clips alongside top-rated adult talent such as Lauren Phillips, Sofie Marie and Nina Hartley. The couple also carved out a niche as vegan cooking influencers under the banner of "Sexy Happy Couple."