FSC Tightens Belt With Layoffs

CANOGA PARK, Calif. — Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Diane Duke said today that due to budget constraints the organization will lay off two of its members at the end of this month.

Leaving FSC will be Kat Sunlove, Director of Legislative Affairs, and Layne Winklebleck, Legislative Affairs Associate. To cut costs, FSC plans to outsource its California lobbying activities, while continuing its federal lobbying efforts through The Raben Group of Washington, D.C.

“Lobbying is a priority for FSC, but the overhead and expense of staffing a separate lobbying office is too great,” Duke said. “With the added expense that comes from FSC’s 18 USC 2257 as well as the FSC vs. Utah litigation, we must scrutinize every dollar.”

Sunlove entered the adult industry more than 25 years ago as a journalist and wrote a sexual advice column, “The Kat Box.” For the last decade, she was an effective lobbyist for the adult entertainment trade group, and filled the FSC executive director position on an interim basis while the group searched for a full-time executive.

Winklebleck also has extensive experience in adult entertainment as editor of the weekly Free Speech X-Press newsletter and several issues of Free Speaker Magazine.

“Two of the institutions established by Kat and Layne, the Free Speech X-Press and our annual Celebrate Free Speech Lobbying Days in Sacramento, have had as much impact on both the organization and the individual members as any activity undertaken by the coalition,” FSC Board Chairman Jeffrey Douglas said. “We are eternally grateful for their contributions.”

Copyright © 2026 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 Court Orders Adult Site Domain Locked for AV Violations

A district court in Texas has issued a writ requiring domain registry Verisign to “lock” an adult website’s domain over noncompliance with the state’s age verification law.

Adult Web Hosting Service 'QloudHost' Launches

QloudHost, a new web hosting service for adult websites, has launched.

Peter Hooke Launches New Paysite

Peter Hooke has launched an official website through PAYSITE.

Pineapple Support Names Ny Ny Lew as Brand Ambassador

Pineapple Support has named Ny Ny Lew as its newest brand ambassador.

Federal AV Proposal Passes House, Faces Senate Opposition

The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, which includes provisions to make age verification by adult websites federal law, but the bill still faces tough going in the Senate.

Devin Drills Launches New Paysite

Creator Devin Drills has launched an official website through PAYSITE.

AV Bulletin: Midyear Roundup

Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, more state age verification laws have been enacted around the United States, as well as proposed at the federal level and in other countries. Meanwhile, lawsuits resulting from AV laws have begun to play out in the courts. This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Judge Dismisses Last NCOSE-Backed Suit Over Kansas AV Law

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit alleging that adult site SuperPorn violated Kansas’ age verification law, citing lack of jurisdiction after similarly dismissing two related cases earlier this year.

ASACP Updates 'Restricted to Adults' Labeling Resource Page

The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) has updated its Restricted to Adults (RTA) labeling resource page.

Federal AV Proposal Scores Minor Win in House but Remains in Doubt

A newly announced bipartisan agreement in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce may soon bring a proposed federal age verification law before the full House, but the measure continues to face an uphill battle.

Show More