In a statement issued this week, several prominent members of the adult entertainment industry and a representative from the Woodhull Freedom Foundation asserted that new states laws being passed around the country “are targeting queer people and crippling a legal industry.”
“With (the U.S. Supreme Court) hearing Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton soon, the adult industry is facing a digital crisis,” the statement begins. “State-mandated age verification laws are forcing platforms to implement invasive ID systems – and companies to consider geoblocking, offshoring, or closure to survive. These laws aren’t just policy – they’re a major business threat, particularly for LGBTQ+ creators and companies at the intersection of sexuality, health, and tech.”
(One bit of clarification: The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton in mid-January; a decision is expected sometime this summer.)
The statement added that as “some of the most influential voices across adult, tech, and legal spheres can attest to, these laws are devastating to the adult and wellness space.”
“These laws don’t just target porn – they’re pushing out wellness brands too,” said Raven Faber, Founder & CEO of EngErotics. “We’re preparing to geoblock states if we have to, just to protect our users’ privacy.”
Adult performer, content creator and vocal advocate for the industry Cherie DeVille said that age verification mandates have “added huge friction for both fans and creators.”
“LGBTQ+ users get flagged, rejected, and censored more often than anyone,” DeVille said. “Illegal platforms will thrive while regulated creators suffer.”
Bruce Friedman, CEO of Adult Site Broker and host of the Adult Site Broker Talk podcast called the laws “a calculated effort to destroy the adult industry.”
“If you don’t believe me, listen to what Brendan Carr said in that secret interview,” Friedman said. “These laws hurt innovation, hurt tech, and hurt the U.S.”
Mandy Salley, COO of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, noted that in an amicus curiae brief submitted by Woodhull in the Paxton case, the foundation asserted that “HB 1181 in Texas isn’t just bad policy – it’s unconstitutional.”
“We’re asking the Supreme Court to uphold decades of precedent that protect adults’ access to legal sexual content,” Salley added.
The statement concludes with the observation that the crisis facing the adult industry from the new laws “isn’t just an issue for queer-centric sites, as these laws will affect all queer people and all adult businesses operating in the United States.”
Man with bullhorn image by Pressmaster from Pexels
