FSC Issues Open Letter to Adult Industry on Election Results

LOS ANGELES—Alison Boden, the executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, just published an open letter to the adult entertainment industry addressing the election of Donald Trump to the White House. The letter follows: Dear Industry Members, Donald J. Trump has been re-elected President of the United States. Whether you’re a MAGA diehard or part of the majority in our industry who did not support Trump, a new administration means new challenges and no matter who won this election, there would have been work to do.  Kamala Harris co-sponsored SESTA and the Democratic party removed a commitment to "protect the lives of sex workers" from its platform during her candidacy. Donald Trump’s political allies take the official position that “[p]ornography should be outlawed,” that “[t]he people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned,” and admit that age verification laws are a first step toward banning porn entirely. Regardless of how you feel about the election outcome, it was just as true yesterday as it is today that you are part of a stigmatized and maligned industry that has always had to fight for its very existence. Until roughly 50 years ago, adult entertainment was largely illegal and arrests were commonplace. Through the 1980s, under Reagan and Bush, scores of adult producers and distributors were prosecuted, imprisoned or driven out of business using laws that still remain on the books.  It was only in 2008 that laws criminalizing “obscene devices” were even ruled unconstitutional in Texas and 2010 when John Stagliano was acquitted of obscenity charges filed by the George W. Bush administration and taken to trial by Obama’s Justice Department. But don’t forget–“obscene devices” are still illegal in Alabama and Max Hardcore was sent to prison for obscenity just 15 years ago. Hard-fought gains are never permanent. Sex remains an uncomfortable and divisive issue in the United States. Our industry is not a monolith, politically or otherwise, but to most outsiders, we are the same. And we are a target.  Free Speech Coalition’s mission is to protect the rights and freedoms of the adult industry. That’s true no matter which side of the aisle our members–or the attacks–come from. We all have a fundamental interest in ensuring that our livelihoods are protected and there truly is power in our numbers.  It’s an honor to lead this organization and dedicate every day not just to defending what we have, but to creating opportunities for even greater prosperity. If those aspirations resonate with you, we have a lot of work to do and I’d love your help. Sincerely, Alison BodenExecutive DirectorFree Speech Coalition The letter can be seen here.