FSC Issues Statement on What to Expect From Trump

FSC Issues Statement on What to Expect From Trump

CANOGA PARK, Calif. — Eric Paul Leue, the executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, today issued a statement on the organization’s views on President-elect Donald Trump and his choices for his transition team.

Leue says the following:

The adult industry has never been an easy fit for either the political left or the political right. We were the advance troops of the sexual revolution, and are thus the first to take fire under a backlash — whether it comes from the left or right (and often both). From the early days of the legal industry, we’ve made for strange bedfellows.

Perhaps predictably, those in the industry tend to be as pragmatic as they are political, knowing that our presence in the cultural landscape may be tenuous, and that local district attorneys and regulators can often be as important as POTUS to our survival.

Over the past week, many have asked me what the industry can expect from a Trump presidency. I don’t have that answer, nor do I want to venture into larger discussion of what Trumpism means for the country. But there are reasons for the industry to be concerned … and be vigilant:

In July, the national Republican Party adopted a resolution to its platform calling porn “a public menace” and “a public health crisis … destroying the lives of millions” and linking it to child exploitation and human trafficking. These are not casual phrases, but part of a broader campaign, begun in Utah, marrying religious conservative concerns about sexuality with language put forth by anti-porn feminist Gail Dines.

In August, Trump signed a Presidential Pledge, saying he would make enforcing federal obscenity laws a “top priority” of the administration, and his Attorney General. The pledge states that he does not believe that adult material deserves First Amendment protections.

While many in the industry have argued that Trump — a man whose wife posed for nude photos and who appeared in a softcore film himself — only did it to rally the base during the election, his presidential appointment show otherwise.

  • Domestic policy for the Trump transition team is being led by Ken Blackwell, of the Family Research Council (FRC). The FRC believes that pornography is a “major threat to marriage, family, children and individual happiness.” It believes porn is addictive, causes rape and sexual perversion, and has fought for bans on access to pornography, similar to what exists now for child pornography.
  • Rudy Giuliani, a vice-chair of the transition team, and a likely figure in the administration led the massive crackdown against adult entertainment in New York’s Times Square, nearly eliminating adult retail outlets, movie theaters, and dance clubs from the city.
  • Edwin Meese, the former Attorney General who pushed for and led the Reagan’s crackdown on pornography, is now part of Trump’s transition team.
  • Jeff Sessions, the likely Attorney General in the Trump Administration, blamed the military’s sexual assault problem on the availability of pornography on military bases. While on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sessions sponsored a resolution calling for the vigorous enforcement of federal obscenity laws, citing the Meese Commission as its basis. The resolution passed.

While some may hope that Trump is a secret social moderate who will not pursue obscenity, the above actions point in the exact opposite direction.

Beyond Free Speech, we also face challenges to the Affordable Care Act, which have helped many of our performers secure healthcare, funding cuts to HIV/AIDS and STI prevention services, which could raise the cost of testing, and a rollback of rights for the LGBTQ community. Could producers or cam studios be required to determine immigration status? Unfortunately, we don’t yet know.

What we do know, is that we will do what we have always done, which is to fight against intolerance and shame and censorship and bigotry, and for freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of existence.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 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

LELO Launches 'Masturbitter' Craft Beer to Promote Male Sex Talk

LELO has partnered with Great Beyond Brewing Company to launch Masturbitter, a craft beer, to encourage men to discuss sex.

Skinfluential Management's FansFuel Acquires Fanwire

FansFuel has acquired creator account management tool Fanwire.

Pineapple Support Appoints Kasey Kei as Brand Ambassador

Pineapple Support has appointed veteran performer and content creator Kasey Kei as its latest brand ambassador.

Nebraska AV Bill Moves Forward Despite Privacy, Free Speech Concerns

Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature has given first-round approval to LB 1092, the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Eva Maxim, Katrina Colt Headline 'Cumming to LA' From Cherry Kiss

Eva Maxim and Katrina Colt star with Vince Karter in 2021 XBIZ Europas Female Performer of the Year Cherry Kiss' "Cumming to L.A.," from Evil Angel.

AEBN Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN) is celebrating its 25th year in business this week.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

Xgen Now Shipping ZOLO's 'Stroke Off' Collection

Xgen Products is now shipping the Stroke Off collection of 11 handheld strokers and four masturbators modeled after lifelike body parts.

Nobü Unveils 'Gyrä' Vibrating Grinding Pad

Nobü has introduced the new Gyrä vibrating grinding pad.

Orion Introduces New 3-Motor Vibrator From 'Sweet Smile' Line

Orion Wholesale has debuted the new three-motor RC G- & P-Spot Vibrator from its Sweet Smile line.

Show More