Adult Retailers Are on the Frontline of Fighting for Free Expression and Privacy!

Adult retailers confront a number of challenges in their ability to provide products to their customers. Many local municipalities have zoning laws that make it difficult for adult businesses to find a location to set up shop. Once their stores are open, adult retailers have to contend with restrictions on the ratio of adult products sold, the type of products sold and much more. Believe it or not, it is still illegal to sell products designed to “stimulate genitalia” in some Southern states. And it is not just various governments that threaten adult retailers, some adult businesses get dropped by their bank or insurance company when the institution finds out that the retailer sells adult products.

Sometimes it seems like the cards are stacked against adult retailers. FSC wants retailers to know that they don’t have to go it alone. The Free Speech Coalition is here to help … We’ve got your back.

Sometimes it seems like the cards are stacked against adult retailers. FSC wants retailers to know that they don’t have to go it alone.

Below are some of the ways FSC provides support for adult retailers:

Attorney Referral — All adult retailers should have an attorney that specializes in adult industry related law to help business owners understand the legal issues involved with owning and running an adult business. Adult companies must be familiar with local and state laws as well as federal laws, like 2257, that may apply to their business. FSC can help adult businesses find an experienced attorney near them who can explain the aforementioned risks. Moreover, it is prudent to have an attorney familiar with your business to navigate legal issues as they arise. FSC members can call (818) 348-9373 to get a referral or email joanne@freespeechcoaltion.com.

Insurance — FSC works with a number of insurance brokers to not only to write insurance with adult-friendly agencies, but also to get the best deal available for adult businesses. We are currently trying to negotiate group health insurance rates for FSC members that will enable small businesses to get health insurance at a big group or association price.

Advocacy Support Materials — Typically, retailers contend with local opposition arguments about so called “secondary effects.” Anti-adult industry zealots reinforce negative myths by arguing that adult businesses increase crime rates and lower property values in the areas near adult retail stores. Often these myths lead to restrictive regulations that can put an adult retailer out of business. FSC has created an Adult Retailer Advocacy Support packet to assist adult retailers in advocating in their local communities.

You Are Not Alone — While each community has its own set of opportunities and challenges, the barriers that adult retailers face often are similar. FSC will work with member retailers facing restrictions in their own communities to network them with other retailers who have faced similar issues. We understand the value of learning from the experience, success and failures of others. FSC wants our member retailers to know, when you face a local challenge, you are not alone.

Free Consumer Members for your Customers — FSC member retailers can offer an FSC consumer membership to their customers at no cost (a $25 value). Customers will get a weekly newsletter with updates about the adult entertainment community as well as notices should the threat of local restrictions surface.

For more information about FSC membership and retail support contact joanne@freespeechcoalition.com

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 Articles

opinion

WIA Profile: Lainie Speiser

With her fiery red hair, thick-framed glasses and a laugh that practically hugs you, Lainie Speiser is impossible to miss. Having repped some of adult’s biggest stars during her 30-plus years in the business, the veteran publicist is also a treasure trove of tales dating back to the days when print was king and social media not even a glimmer in the industry’s eye.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Kraig McGee Blends Family Biz Experience, Creative Background at TAF Distributing

Walk into any Adam & Eve store in the Mountain West region of the U.S. and you’ve likely stumbled into a TAF Distributing outfit. Owned by industry veteran Kraig McGee Jr. and staffed by his closest family members, McGee’s 35 TAF-operated stores span 13 states, from woodsy Idaho to scenic Utah and well beyond.

Colleen Godwin ·
opinion

Fighting Back Against AI-Fueled Fake Takedown Notices

The digital landscape is increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence, and while AI offers immense potential, it’s also being weaponized. One disturbing trend that directly impacts adult businesses is AI-powered “DMCA takedown services” generating a flood of fraudulent Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notices.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How Pleasure Brands Can Ethically Market to LGBTQ+ Communities

Every June, the rainbow floodgates open. Suddenly, pleasure products are “Pride-themed,” companies change their logos and brands rush to show just how inclusive they are — at least for 30 days. But as a queer, nonbinary marketing strategist who works with adult brands year-round, I’m here to say: Rainbow dildos alone are not progress. They’re often just noise.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

Building Seamless Checkout Flows for High-Risk Merchants

For high-risk merchants such as adult businesses, crypto payments are no longer just a backup plan — they’re fast becoming a first choice. More and more businesses are embracing Bitcoin and other digital currencies for consumer transactions.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

A Retailer's Road Map for First-Timers' Anal August

Anal August offers a prime opportunity for brands and stores to capture new customers and drive growth in a category that’s gaining mainstream momentum. As consumer interest in anal play continues to rise, now is the time to meet first-time buyers where they are, with approachable products, trusted education and a clear path to pleasure.

Matthew Spindler ·
opinion

What the New SCOTUS Ruling Means for AV Laws and Free Speech

On June 27, 2025, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, upholding Texas’ age verification law in the face of a constitutional challenge and setting a new precedent that bolsters similar laws around the country.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

Optimizing Your Leadership Through Wellness Practices

For many of us, 2025 has proved intensely stressful — and we’re still only halfway through the year. In times like these, it may seem counterintuitive or even irresponsible to talk about seeking pleasure. Yet pleasure, presence, joy and connection can help you return to a mental and physical state that allows you to face and handle stressors.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

What You Need to Know Before Relocating Your Adult Business Abroad

Over the last several months, a noticeable trend has emerged: several of our U.S.-based merchants have decided to “pick up shop” and relocate to European countries. On the surface, this sounds idyllic. I imagine some of my favorite clients sipping coffee or wine at sidewalk cafés, embracing a slower pace of life.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Chastity Play Is Trending: Why It Should Be in Your Marketing Strategy

From chastity fetishes to power play, erotic control — once considered an esoteric niche within the world of BDSM — is now entering the mainstream. Google searches for “chastity cages,” “chastity fetish” and “orgasm denial” have exploded over the past year, with interest especially high for beginner-friendly models.

Naima Karp ·
Show More