PHOENIX – In a discussion which reflected the intensity and depth of engagement of the movement for which it was named, the #MeToo panel at the Phoenix Forum was a spirited conversation which touched on issues ranging from legal concerns to public perception of the adult industry.
Moderated by Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals, the panelists included attorney Karen Tynan, adult performer/producer Lisa Ann, GG Terra of CAM4, Liz R of Streamate, Princess Camryn of iWantEmpire and Jaime Rodriguez of Flirt4Free.
Tynan led off by saying she thought the adult industry was “in a storm” in some ways with respect to the #MeToo movement, because from an outside perspective, the industry’s tendency to be “playful with workplace dynamics” can leave an impression that there’s promotion of sexual harassment taking place, rather than a playing out of common fantasies.
Liz R. pointed out a distinction between the video and camming spaces, noting that cam models “have control of their environment,” in the sense that if a customer is harassing or mistreating a cam model, the model can block that person – an option afforded by the remote nature of camming, and the physical separation of performer from client.
Rodriguez observed that when it comes to the he said/she said aspect of harassment complaints, in the context of camming “we have to go with the model,” even in situations when it’s not possible to verify the facts of the situation or the validity of the complaint. This, too, is a fact in part determined by the cam environment, because for reasons practical, ethical and managerial, the cam site operator must ‘side’ with performers over the customer.
Camryn emphasized the importance of the industry focusing on the “how the rest of the world views the industry.
“We need to be careful about how we present ourselves,” Camryn said, noting that outside the industry, the “people expect bad things to happen” within the industry, especially with respect to sexual harassment and misconduct.
Throughout the session, Lisa Ann staunchly advocated for personal accountability and performer self-determination. She bemoaned what she sees as a lack of education about their profession typified in the current generation of young performers and newcomers.
“Why aren’t you doing your research on companies before deciding who to work and shoot with?” she asked rhetorically, noting that when she was 20 years old and a newcomer herself, she “knew I’d never work with Max Hardcore” – a statement which drew a knowing collective chuckle from the industry veterans in attendance.
Echoing Lisa Ann’s point, GG Terra noted that when it comes to cam performers “we’re our own business, so it is our responsibility” to be informed and to define their own limits as to what acts they perform and what sort of interaction they will tolerate and respond to from customers.”
While she concurred with Terra’s point, Liz R noted that while U.S.-based cam performers often are autonomous, this is not universally true, particularly within the realm of foreign cam performers.
“Cams outside the U.S. is a very different ballgame,” she observed. “Models often aren’t their own boss,” so there’s often substantial pressure on them to perform in ways with which they’re uncomfortable, or abysmal work conditions.
While the entire panel appeared to agree with Lisa Ann’s call for self-determination and personal responsibility on the part of performers, Tynan noted that there has to be an onus on producers and directors to hold up their end of the bargain when it comes to sticking by agreements made prior to shoots.
“Sometimes a performer is booked to do ‘X’ – but then they show up at the shoot, and they’re expected to do X, Y and Z,” Tynan said. It was a point met with an immediate response from Ginger Banks, who was in the audience.
“That’s unethical!” Banks declared of such a move on the part of a producer.
Banks’ assertion was met with nods from the panel and the audience alike – an audience filled with producers and performers who seemed to be on the same page when it comes to the industry’s collective responsibility to assure performers’ preferences, boundaries, decisions and agreements must be acknowledged, respected, and – above all else – consistently and uniformly honored.
There was much more to this panel than a single article can convey, a fact which is tribute to the intelligence, integrity and personal character on display from the panelists. Here’s hoping we see many more discussions like it. It’s a conversation which isn’t just timely or relevant; it’s essential to the credibility and very survival of the adult industry, as well.
