ESPLER Project’s Doogan to Speak Today to Legislators

ESPLER Project’s Doogan to Speak Today to Legislators

SACRAMENTO — Maxine Doogan, president of Erotic Services Providers Providers Legal Education and Research Project, or ESPLER Project, today will present at the California State Assembly’s Committee on Public Safety an informational hearing on human trafficking.

The hearing, to start at 9:30 a.m. (PDT) today at the State Capitol Building, will be streamed (audio) here.

Doogan and Jerold Mosley, formerly of the state attorney general’s office, were invited to speak to the legislators.

ESPLER this year has challenged the constitutionality of California’s anti-prostitution laws.

Doogan said she will be making the point that sex work is not the same as sex trafficking. Sex work is when an adult consents to make their living from erotic labor — whether as a stripper, an erotic dancer, a massage provider or a prostitute, she said.

California trafficking legislation, such as Proposition 35, “absurdly conflates sex work and sex trafficking, and criminalizes sex workers as trafficked victims,” she said.

“California trafficking definitions treat sex workers as if they need to be locked up and pathologized,” Doogan said. “These faulty definitions also relies on a broad definition of pimping and pandering which turns our friends, roommates, landlords, domestic partners, and support staff into sex traffickers and sex offenders. It criminalizes consensual sex workers and so far has done very little to apprehend real sex traffickers.

“The ‘war on sex trafficking’ is the new ‘war on drugs. And the results are disastrous for poor women, women of color and trans women.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Texas Resumes AV Lawsuit Against Aylo Following SCOTUS Decision

A district court judge in Texas has unfrozen the state’s $1.6 million lawsuit against Aylo for allegedly failing to comply with age verification requirements, Bloomberg Law is reporting.

Nadia Jay Stars in Latest From Brazzers

Nadia Jay stars with Mick Blue in the latest release from Brazzers, titled "Fucking the Bath Voyeur."

Tommy Gunn Reflects on His Legendary Past as He Looks to the Future

Tommy Gunn is wearing an eyepatch. It’s not an homage to the classic "Pirates" porn parody franchise, in which Gunn takes on the Johnny Depp role. The eyepatch is a temporary measure to help him deal with a nerve palsy that came out of nowhere several years ago and affects his vision from time to time. Gunn needs his vision. As one of the adult industry’s longest-serving male stars, he still has plenty to look forward to.

Rocco Siffredi Directs New Rebel Rhyder Showcase

Evil Angel has released Rocco Siffredi’s Rebel Rhyder showcase title, "Rebel Meets Rebel."

JuicyAds Wins Trademark Infringement Case Against Fraudulent Domain

JuicyAds has won its World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) case against a website using a similar domain to impersonate the company's site and defraud customers.

Shalina Devine Toplines 'Thr3e #7' From Dorcel

Shalina Devine headlines the latest release from Dorcel, titled "Thr3e #7."

Chloe Amour Headlines 'Unfaithful Betrayal 3' From Bellesa Films

Chloe Amour toplines the third volume of “Unfaithful Betrayal” from Bellesa Films.

Anissa Kate, Jordan Starr Top AEBN for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top-selling stars for the second quarter of 2025, with Anissa Kate landing atop the leaderboard for straight theaters and Jordan Starr heading up the gay rankings.

Misty Addams Makes Her WIFEY Debut

Misty Addams stars with husband Island Boy Brandon and 2024 XMA Europas Male Performer of the Year Christian Clay in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint WIFEY.

AEBN Reveals Eva Maxim as Top Trans Star for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top trans stars list for the second quarter of 2025, with Eva Maxim landing atop the leaderboard.

Show More