WASHINGTON — FSC staff this week met with key House and Senate offices in a series of meetings discussing banking discrimination against the adult industry.
Industry representatives in the delegation included FSC Executive Director Alison Boden, FSC Board Chair Jeffrey Douglas, FSC Director of Public Affairs Mike Stabile, content creator Allie Eve Knox and Spankchain founder Ameen Soleimani.
“We spoke openly about the discrimination our members face, as well as the higher rates attached to adult transactions,” Mike Stabile explained. “Members of both parties regarded our situation seriously, and nearly everyone committed to help find a solution. This spring, after the new Congress is sworn in, we are looking toward more meetings and bringing more of you to Washington.”
Stabile added, “To say that this is historic is a bit of an understatement. We are now engaged in a process that could create stable banking for the adult industry and its workers, and hopefully end the predatory fees charged by credit cards and financial services.”
In the coming weeks, the FSC will be working to better document issues faced by its members, in order to provide both stories and clear data on the scope of the issue to legislators — a step Stabile sees as crucial to the success of the project.
“We were only able to make this trip thanks to last minute donations, pro bono work and creativity,” Stabile said. “We’ve shown it can be done, but we will need much more than that if we’re going to push what we’ve started to the finish line.”
FSC is encouraging all stakeholders to join the FSC Summit on the last day of the XBIZ LA conference on Jan. 12, 2023 in Los Angeles. The group is hosting a special banking discrimination panel and strategy session, where FSC representatives will be able more fully to discuss the DC trip and what lies ahead.
Those who are not currently FSC members are encouraged to join now. Those who are already members are encouraged to give to the FSC Action Fund.
