Representatives also will attempt to address the ICANN Board during Thursday’s public comment period, the FSC said in a release Monday.
For the past seven years, the FSC has fought hard against .XXX, arguing that, if approved, .XXX domains will cost online adult operators millions annually in unnecessary fees, make adult websites easier to block by governments and could fragment the Internet.
"Though a majority of the adult industry’s largest companies have sent letters to ICANN expressing their opposition to the .XXX sTLD, efforts to quash the proposed sponsored top-level domain have not persuaded the ICANN board to reject ICM’s proposal," the FSC said. "The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) that consults with ICANN also has expressed its disapproval of .XXX."
On Thursday, the proposed .XXX sTLD is scheduled to be discussed by ICANN members and an abbreviated public commentary period will be held 4-6 p.m.
The FSC is encouraging industry members to participate in the Thursday protest rally, which will take place on the sidewalk outside the Westin-St. Francis Hotel from 12:30-2 p.m.
Immediately following the rally, the FSC will hold a press conference with Evil Angel founder John Stagliano, Pink Visual President Allison Vivas, Kink.com founder Peter Acworth, industry attorney Paul Cambria, YNOT President Connor Young, Wasteland.com founder Collin Rowntree, FSC Board Chair Jeffrey Douglas and FSC Executive Director Diane Duke.
The press conference will take place at 2 p.m., at the Chancellor Hotel, located at 433 Powell St, one-half block from the Westin-St. Francis Hotel.
Those who wish to participate in the rally should contact FSC at (818) 348-9373, or joanne@freespeechcoalition.com. Instructions and directions will be provided.
Industry members who would like to express their opposition but cannot attend the rally in San Francisco can participate in a “We Don’t Want .XXX” Twitter campaign that FSC will stage throughout Wednesday and Thursday, March 16-17. Follow @FSCArmy.