Senator Josh Hawley Blames 'The Left,' Feminism for Rise in Porn Viewership

Senator Josh Hawley Blames 'The Left,' Feminism for Rise in Porn Viewership

ORLANDO, Fla. — Senator Josh Hawley told a Florida audience gathered at a conservative conference this weekend that a supposed attack on traditional masculinity from “the Left” and feminism has resulted in “more and more men” consuming porn.

The Missouri Republican was addressing the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando, Florida.

“Can we be surprised that after years of being told that they are the problem, that their manhood is the problem,” Hawley harangued, “more and more men are withdrawing into the enclave of idleness and pornography and video games?”

“No one should,” the 41-year-old senator admonished, according to a report by The Guardian.

“While the Left may celebrate this decline of men, I, for one, cannot join them,” added the proudly religious conservative, who has argued that “separation of church and state” means that the state may not prevent churches from acting in politics.

As The Guardian pointed out, Hawley “did not cite sources for his belief that men were watching pornography more frequently.”

Hawley’s tirade included several statements about a supposed plot by “the Left” to “give us a world beyond men.”

“The Left want to define traditional masculinity as toxic,” Hawley complained. “They want to define the traditional masculine virtues — things like courage, and independence and assertiveness — as a danger to society.”

His speech was republished today by right-wing news and commentary site The Federalist.

For much of 2021, Hawley has kept a relatively low profile in the wake of his controversial actions during the January 6 insurrection. Prior to that, however, he had established himself as one of the GOP's most vocal anti-porn crusaders. 

As XBIZ reported, during his brief stint as Missouri attorney general in 2017, Hawley even blamed the sexual revolution of the 1960s and ’70s for “human trafficking.”

“We have a human trafficking crisis in our state and in this city and in our country because people are willing to purchase women, young women, and treat them like commodities,” Hawley told a right-wing Kansas City evangelical group in 2017. “There is a market for it. Why is there? Because our culture has completely lost its way. The sexual revolution has led to exploitation of women on a scale that we would never have imagined, never have imagined.”

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 News

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

Show More