Sex Worker Rights Groups Condemn Backpage Verdict

Sex Worker Rights Groups Condemn Backpage Verdict

SAN FRANCISCO — Two prominent sex worker rights advocacy groups, the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) and the Rhode Island chapter of Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE RI), have issued a statement lambasting the verdict in the federal Backpage.com trial and calling for full decriminalization of sex work.

“After six years and two trials, Michael Lacey, a founder of Backpage.com, was convicted on a single count of money laundering and acquitted on another,” the statement read. “An Arizona jury deadlocked on 84 other counts against him in a case that alleged he participated in a scheme to sell sex ads.”

ESPLERP’s Maxine Doogan called the prosecution of Backpage “a textbook example of a false narrative.”

Doogan questioned the government’s claims that Backpage’s adult sections encouraged human and/or sex trafficking.

“It’s all a sham,” Doogan added. “The owners of Backpage are not charged with trafficking. They are charged with profiting from prostitution. There isn’t a federal law against prostitution, but they have invented a way to go after the money, using obscure provisions of the Travel Act to apply state-level criminal violations — from Arizona — that cross state lines.”

The groups’ statement alleges that the Department of Justice was “under immense political pressure and determined to get Backpage.”

The sex worker advocates also criticized the judge’s ruling barring the defense from telling the jury about Section 230 protections, a decision based on the fact that Section 230 applies only to state, not federal crimes.

“This is part of a widespread anti-sex-work crackdown,” said Bella Robinson of COYOTE RI. “In this case, there is prosecutorial misconduct, two trials, multiple defendants, and sadly persecuting one of those defendants into despair and suicide.”

ESPLERP’s Claire Alwyne opined that the case against Backpage.com “rests entirely on the criminalization of sex work.”

“If sex work were decriminalized, as it is in multiple countries — like New Zealand — there would be no case: just adults engaging in consensual commercial sex,” Alwyne said. “That would allow sex workers who face harassment, assault, theft, trafficking or other crimes to get the same justice as any other worker. It would also stop law enforcement arresting consensual sex workers and our clients.”

The groups ended their statement with the battle cry, “Sex workers demand decriminalization!”

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

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 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.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Show More