The latest in the fight for adult industry rights

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The Latest at FSC

FSC Sets Key Dates, Qualifiers for November Board of Directors Election

The 2023 Free Speech Coalition Board of Directors election is set to kick off on October 30, 2023. To participate as either a voter or nominee, individuals must be FSC members as of September 29, 2023. Directors will serve a two-year term and are responsible for overseeing and growing the organization, involving attending board meetings, fundraising, and acting as FSC ambassadors. Key dates include September 29 as the membership deadline, October 30 for nominations, and November 28 to December 5 for the election, with results announced in the following week. For more information, view our blog post here ( [link removed] ).

Legislative Update

There has been a resurgence of age verification bills proposed by a right-wing group. Delaware and Michigan have introduced similar laws to Louisiana's AVS laws from the previous year, with a noteworthy difference in Delaware, where the Attorney General can enforce the requirement. In North Carolina, Republican state senators added this requirement to an unrelated bill, which has passed both chambers and awaits Governor Roy Cooper's signature. FSC is urging Governor Cooper to veto this amended bill, and if it passes, it will take effect on January 1, 2024. For more information, view our full legislative update here ( [link removed] ).

FSC's Lotus Lain, April Flores Lead Consent Workshop at National Sexual Assault Conference

FSC Industry Relations Advocate Lotus Lain and acclaimed adult performer April Flores are challenging misconceptions about sex work and consent. They led a groundbreaking workshop, titled "Concepts of Consent from Intimacy Coordination and Sex Work," at the 2023 National Sexual Assault Conference in August. Lain and Flores, who are certified intimacy coordinators, shared insights and strategies developed by sex workers with a diverse audience, including sexual assault investigators, youth sex educators, trafficking survivor intake counselors, and harm reductionists. Their aim is to contribute their unique perspective to the conversation on consent, which is often overlooked. Last year, they conducted a similar workshop for Valor, California's state sexual assault coalition. Read more here ( [link removed] ).

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FSC In the News

ACLU Blasts Texas Online Age-Check Law in Fifth Circuit Brief

Civil liberties groups have submitted an amicus brief in FSC's case against Texas’s age verification law. The ACLU's brief contends that this law is unconstitutional and raises concerns about privacy and free speech. The organization argues that the law imposes burdensome requirements on website operators and infringes on individuals' rights. Read the full brief here ( [link removed] ) and learn more on Bloomberg Law ( [link removed] ).

Can Cryptocurrency Still Deliver On Financial Inclusion?

Digital currencies were initially seen as a potential solution to banking the unbanked and providing financial access to underserved populations. However, challenges such as regulatory hurdles, technological barriers, and the volatility of cryptocurrency values have hindered its progress in this regard. "The urgency of this mission becomes evident when we consider that nearly 2 out of 3 individuals working in the adult industry have lost a bank account or other financial tool. Astonishingly, almost 40% have had their accounts shuttered in the past year". Read more on Forbes. ( [link removed] )

How Anti-Sex Work Legislation Is About To Get Worse

While FOSTA-SESTA and AVS bills have intended to combat online sex trafficking, they have instead led to unintended consequences, including pushing sex work further into the shadows and increasing the risks for sex workers. The Nation sheds light on the experiences of sex workers and advocates who argue that these laws have failed to achieve their intended goals and have harmed marginalized communities. "The ongoing struggle to 'childproof' the Internet opens the door to what legal scholars call 'carceral creep,' meaning that more kinds of online speech are liable to become gradually criminalized over time." Read more on The Nation. ( [link removed] )

Other Industry News

Women Accuse Tim Ballard Of 'Spiritual Manipulation, Grooming, and Sexual Misconduct'

Allegations have been made against Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), a non-profit organization focused on combating child sex trafficking. Multiple women have accused Ballard of engaging in spiritual manipulation, grooming, and sexual misconduct. “Our involvement with Operation Underground Railroad was rooted in our commitment to fighting human trafficking. But while engaging in that noble cause, we were subjected to sexual harassment, spiritual manipulation, grooming, and sexual misconduct.” Read more on Vice. ( [link removed] )

French Government Report Urges Criminalization of Adult Industry

A recent report from the French government has recommended the criminalization of the adult industry in France. The report suggests that the government should take steps to make adult content production, distribution, and possession illegal in the country. It also calls for stricter enforcement against websites that host adult content. This proposal has raised concerns among adult industry professionals and advocates, who argue that it could have far-reaching implications for freedom of expression and individual rights in France. Read more on XBIZ. ( [link removed] )

Rumble: Russell Brand's Free Speech Platform May Be Forced Offline

The Times discuss comedian Russell Brand's concerns about the new web safety laws in the UK. Brand is critical of the proposed legislation, arguing that it could stifle freedom of expression and lead to online censorship. He suggests that the laws may disproportionately impact marginalized voices and hinder open dialogue. Read more here. ( [link removed] )

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