This past week, the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) was able to secure meetings with key House and Senate offices to begin discussions about banking fairness for the adult industry. They spoke openly about the discrimination members face, as well as the higher rates attached to adult transactions.
Industry representatives on the trip included FSC Executive Director Alison Boden, FSC Board Chair Jeffrey Douglas, FSC Director of Public Affairs Mike Stabile, creator Allie Eve Knox and Spankchain founder Ameen Soleimani.
During the talks, members of both parties regarded the adult industry’s situation seriously, and nearly everyone committed to help find a solution. FSC stated “To say that this is historic is a bit of an understatement.”
The FSC is 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, they’ll be working to better document the issues faced by members, to provide both stories and clear data to the legislators on the scope of the issue. This is crucial to the success of this project.
FSC encourages everyone to join them and become a member. If you’re already a member, they ask that you consider giving to their FSC Action Fund. FSC wanted to make clear that they were only able to make the trip thanks to last minute donations, pro bono work, and creativity sharing that “we’ve shown it can be done, but we will need much more help than that if we’re going to push what we’ve started to the finish line.”
This spring, after the new Congress is sworn in, they are looking toward more meetings, and bringing more supporters to Washington.
To learn more about the Free Speech Coalition go to their website at freespeechcoaltion.com and follow them on their Twitter @FSCArmy.
