WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — Phyllisha Anne, Secretary of the International Entertainment Adult Union (IEAU), a group she founded to represent a variety of adult entertainers and which functions as "mother union" of the Adult Performers Actors Guild (APAG), released a letter today "terminating" the Alana Evans-led union.
IEAU and APAG had feuded during the last month over a California bill, AB2389, that would impose state-mandated licenses and certifications to a wide variety of sex workers and adult industry members, including porn performers, cam models, clip artists and strippers.
Phyllisha Anne and Assemblyperson Cristina Garcia — the sponsor of AB2389 — revealed to XBIZ last month that the IEAU secretary drafted the original language of the bill which included a lengthy introduction that has since been edited out by Garcia's office.
Evans had led efforts to kill so-called "Sex Worker License" bill, currently working its way through the legislative process in Sacramento, and this had caused a dispute between APAG and IEAU.
Phyllisha Anne — who also uses her legal name Amanda Gullesserian for IEAU purposes — has objected to the term "sex worker" to describe the people she represents.
Via today's letter, Anne announces "the termination of our Adult Performers Actors Guild, APAG," the filing of the termination with the Department of Labor, and the filing of "a lawsuit under the Supreme Court against Alana Evans, Ruby [no surname] and Kelly Pierce, APAG's former President, VP and Secretary, to recover all of APAG's assets."
XBIZ attempted to contact Phyllisha Anne via the IEAU phone number, but was not able to reach her for comment.
"We have bylaws that protect us," Evans told XBIZ today. "Over the last year, Phyllisha Anne, as self-appointed secretary of IEAU, has violated the constitutional rights of the officers and members of APAG. They have not followed the bylaws, they have not followed the proper course of bylaws to deal with our union, and they are currently under investigation by two different labor management organizations."
"That is what's really going on," Evans added. "In the course of IEAU's existence, Phyllisha Anne has manipulated the board as her own; there is nepotism, with her daughter, who has never appeared at a meeting, sitting as Vice President; and with Phyllisha Anne controlling all communication on behalf of the supposed president, Elisabeth Thomas."
"At this time, nobody has been served," Evans continued. "As far as we have checked, as of today, there are no filings with any court regarding APAG leadership."
This is the full text of the letter sent by IEAU's International Secretary Phyllisha Anne on behalf of the union:
At this moment, the International Entertainment Adult Union would like to announce the termination of our Adult Performers Actors Guild, APAG. The IEAU has official filed and terminated APAG with the DOL, as well as filed lawsuit under the Supreme Court against Alana Evans, Ruby and Kelly Pierce, APAG's former President, VP & Secretary to recover all of APAG's assets totaling over $210,000.
The board of the IEAU can no longer tolerate under any circumstances, the constant online hatefulness and the [bullying]; that is not what we are about or who we are, that is not the professionalism we want to portray; therefore, the board has decided to pull back and regroup.
The Adult Performers Actors Guild is a trademark entity of the International Entertainment Adult Union therefore, the name will stay with the IEAU, all APAG members at this time will be under the main IEAU membership. Once all that has been done officially, we have retrieved back all assets from APAG officers, we will then regroup and figure out together, how to move forward.
Phyllisha Anne, the founder, states: “I put this union together for the [sole] purpose to help people, and create a [safe] place for workers to be able to come to for guidance and help. There has been so much slanderous talk and bullying; that helps no one, and it takes the focus away of what is important. Right now, we need to pull together as an industry and a union is an entity that can help everyone in this time of need. I was hoping they would all see the good in what they were able to do, but that doesn’t seem to be possible, even though it saddens me, it’s time to say goodbye.”
Elisabeth Thomas, International President states: “We thank all the current officers very much for all the work they have put into this union; however, we wished you would of lead us with a more professional stance [sic] than is currently being projected as the union, and we look forward to establishing the APAG chapter at a later date, once we have had time to step back and regroup.
At this current time, APAG is no longer registered with the Department of Labor under the IEAU. As of March 19, 2020 APAG is now officially terminated, until further notice.