Florida Seeking to Redefine Sex Censorship Language

Florida Seeking to Redefine Sex Censorship Language

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Republican-run state government of Florida is stepping up efforts to redefine legal and policy terminology in a campaign to censor free speech concerning sexuality.

The latest incident involves Florida’s Department of Management Services, which has issued a document limiting protests in the Florida Capitol, in the name of “protecting the children.”

The revised statement now reads, “Because the Capitol Complex is often a destination for children learning about their State government, visual displays, sounds, and other actions that are harmful to minors … or which include gratuitous violence or gore are not permitted in any portion of the Capitol Complex that is not a traditional public forum.”

“The phrase ‘harmful to minors’ now stands in place of the previous wording ‘materials that arouses prurient interests,’ which was criticized by activists for being vague,” the Florida Phoenix reported yesterday.

The language “harmful to minors,” the report continued, “refers to Florida Statutes that outline definitions of topics such as ‘sexually oriented materials’ and ‘nudity,’ among other terms. The previous rule prohibited visual displays, sounds, and other actions ‘that are indecent,’ but that phrasing has been struck out in the new rule.”

Although the new phrasing may have been instituted in response to a recent protest during which high school students reportedly marched through the Capitol shouting “Fuck DeSantis,” equating all sexual expression with “gratuitous violence and gore” is consistent with current conservative attempts to shift the language of censorship from vague, old-fashioned terms like “prurient” and towards dubious claims of harmfulness to children.

In October, for example, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft proposed a ban on funding for library books “that appeal to the prurient interest of any minor.”

The term “prurient” bears a very specific legal meaning, which Ashcroft's ban would redefine. Appeal to prurient interest is central to the Miller test, developed in the 1973 case Miller v. California, which is used by courts all the way up to the United States Supreme Court for determining whether speech or expression can be labeled “obscene” and therefore not protected under the First Amendment.

Utah Rep. Ken Ivory (R-West Jordan) has gone even further, recently dismissing the Miller test, which has been the nation's legal standard for a half century, as merely the opinion of a few Supreme Court justices at the time, and demanding a total reversal of the last 50 years of legal and judicial practice. 

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

2026 XBIZ Exec Awards Nominees for Online Industry Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the nominees for the online industry edition of the 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards, set to be presented as part of the annual XBIZ Honors ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 14 in conjunction with the XBIZ 2026 digital media conference.

AEBN Publishes Report on POV Trends

AEBN has published a report on POV and gonzo categories from its straight and gay theaters.

Joybear Pictures to Launch 'I Really Love' Studio Imprint

Joybear Pictures has announced that its new studio imprint, I Really Love, will launch in January.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Life Transitions' Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group on navigating transitional and liminal spaces.

CamSoda Launches 'Trick or Tease' AI Companions

CamSoda has launched its Halloween-themed Trick or Tease AI companions.

Russian Lawmakers Call for Age Verification

Two Russian lawmakers have called on the country’s government to implement age verification for adult content.

British Documentary Spotlights XBIZ Amsterdam With Candid Conversations

British creator and host Josh Pieters traveled to XBIZ Amsterdam to film a documentary about the annual European adult industry conference.

XBIZ 2026 to Debut 'New Talent Go-See' Special Event

XBIZ 2026, North America’s premier adult industry conference, will debut a special event designed to help new talent jump-start their careers: the New Talent Go-See.

Penthouse Announces Digital Archive Launch

Penthouse Magazine has announced that it will launch a comprehensive digital archive in 2026.

Dreamcam Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

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

Show More