The latest in the fight for adult industry rights
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Dear Supporters,
October was another busy month for us at FSC – I attended a banking risk management conference ( [link removed] ) , we had hearings in two of our court cases ( [link removed] ) , our own Lotus Lain represented FSC at the United Nations ( [link removed] ) , and nominations opened for the 2024-25 board election ( [link removed] ).
As I’ve been reflecting on FSC’s progress this year, it’s never far from my mind that everything we accomplish is directly enabled by our members. Whether it’s engaging Congress on banking discrimination, defending our First Amendment rights in federal court, or the exciting new initiatives we’ll be unveiling in January, we couldn’t do it without our members.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to those of you who support our industry by supporting FSC. Not yet a member? Now’s the time to join us ( [link removed] ) and do your part to defend your rights!
Warmly,
*Alison Boden*
*Executive Director, Free Speech Coalition*
The Latest at FSC
Lotus Lain: My Fight For Decrim At The UN
Lotus Lain, FSC's Industry Relations Advocate and founding member of Decrim Sex Work CA, shared her experience advocating for sex workers' rights at the United Nations in Geneva. Representing both organizations, Lotus testified to the UN Human Rights Committee, urging pressure on the US State Department for improved policies addressing sex trafficking and discrimination against sex workers. During the ICCPR Consultation, she observed the challenges of limited time for speakers and a lack of solidarity within the ACLU Civil Society Task Force Group. Despite obstacles, Lotus engaged in crucial face-to-face discussions, emphasizing the intersection of sex workers' issues with broader human rights concerns and building alliances with supportive allies from various groups. Read Lotus's blog post here ( [link removed] ).
Los Angeles Press Club Announces National A&E Journalism Award Finalists
Congrats to FSC Board Director Emeritus, and long-time industry journalist, Mark Kernes, who was named a finalist for the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards , for his non-fiction book Preachers vs Porn: Exposing Christianity's War on Sexxx !
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FSC In the News
*"STOP DISCOUNTING US": Lotus Lain On The Fight To Decriminalize Sex Work*
"Sex workers and sex trafficking victims, we're always thought of last. We're really not ever even thought of. The fact that we were just barely brought to the table and placed at the bare end of the table was just so symbolic, and then getting cut off even more so." Read more on Tag24. ( [link removed] )
*Proposed Porn Age Verification Bill In Ohio Raises Serious Civil Liberties Concerns*
“The Free Speech Coalition, an adult entertainment industry advocacy organization, filed three federal lawsuits in Utah, Louisiana, and Texas. Federal district judges in Utah ( [link removed] ) and Louisiana dismissed the lawsuits on technical grounds. But the lawsuit in Texas has garnered national attention.” Read more on Scene ( [link removed] ).
*Alabama Lawmaker Proposes Bill To Require Age Verification For Porn Sites*
Mike Stabile: “It [Alabama age verification bill] punishes legal and compliant sites and encourages the growth of illegal sites.” Watch the full video on WSFA12 News. ( [link removed] )
Florida Residents! Tell your Senators to Oppose SB 472! ( [link removed] )
Other Industry News
Blue Checks Aren't Protecting Sex Workers From X's Porn Crackdown
Mistress Rouge, a professional dominatrix, expressed disappointment with X Premium's (formerly Twitter Blue) paid subscription verification. Despite the $7.99 monthly fee promising enhanced engagement and prioritized rankings for verified users, X's recent crackdown on explicit content, under Elon Musk's leadership, has negatively impacted sex workers. The measures include flagging NSFW posts as "sensitive material," restricting flagged accounts' reach, and excluding them from search results and timelines. Sex workers, who initially adopted Twitter Blue for improved engagement, are now considering canceling their subscriptions due to X's punitive actions against adult content. Read more on Tech Crunch. ( [link removed] )
It's Not Just Mike Johnson: P*rn-Tracking Software Is Actually Pretty Common On The Religious Right
House Speaker Mike Johnson and his son use accountability software, such as Covenant Eyes, to monitor each other's online activity, specifically regarding pornography. This practice is not uncommon in religious circles, with various apps designed for this purpose. The software, used by more than 50,000 people in 2022, notifies "accountability partners" if the other accesses content interpreted as pornography. While some express concerns about the invasive nature of such technology, it is part of a multimillion-dollar ecosystem in the accountability software industry, commonly promoted in evangelical congregations. Read more on Yahoo News. ( [link removed] )
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