2017 Annual Review

  • Dear Members of the Free Speech Coalition,

    Over the past year, we have worked hard to transition the organization from a defensive position to an offensive one — a true trade organization that not only defends the rights of its members, but helps them thrive as businesses.

    This has not always been easy. While our victories in 2016 were significant, in 2017, we faced the reemergence of Measure B in LA, the repeal of net neutrality, censor- ship and numerous state and local bills which declare our industry a public health crisis. Still, we persisted.

    This year, in 2018, we face age-verification legislation in the UK which will have a significant effect on all adult businesses, no matter where they operate. We have new privacy regulations in the EU that have major implications, not to mention liabilities, for those with visitors from the European Union. And we face legislation in the US that poses as anti-trafficking efforts, including SESTA and FOSTA, but which actually present potential criminal liabilities for legal adult businesses.

    But I am hopeful. Over the past year, I’ve seen an increasingly aware membership base, and an increasingly cohesive community. While we have faced adversity and even tragedy this year, I’ve seen the industry come together to discuss hard issues, from mental health to media representation, in informed ways that made me proud.

    Thanks to the support of our members, we’ve been able to grow the organization as well. This year, we brought aboard our first ever Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Ian O’Brien, to help analyze data and address burdensome regulations faced by pleasure products. In December, we brought on a Social Work and Health System Specialist, Scarlett Sin, to build out resources for adult industry workers.

    The challenges we face are great, but we have been a part of the conversation and the process like never before. Our members have a voice in the regulations that affect them, and in the media that writes about them. We have expanded our resources for members, and will continue to do so in the coming year.

    Our goal for the coming year is to be involved in all the discussions — regulatory, legislative, financial and corporate — that affect our members. There is still ignorance and bias, there is still discrimination and censorship, but by having a voice we can not only shape policy, we can have the work our industry does acknowledged and celebrated, and we can prosper. #UnitedWeStand

    Best,
    Eric Paul Leue

  • 2257 Regulation Nears Total Defeat
    Eight years after we first filed suit, regulations that once threatened to shut down adult businesses are on the verge of being declared entirely unconstitutional thanks to dogged work by our legal team. While a circuit court judge's final decision remains, the regulations most burdensome record-keeping requirements have already been struck down.

    Cal/OSHA Victory
    After years of fighting for a place at the table, FSC and performer advocates were able to get the agency change how workplace safety regulations apply to the adult industry, understanding that barrier protection is not the only option, and that employee relationships do not always apply.

    Resource Programs Launched
    We kicked off 2017 by connecting members with leaders from Google, the Center from Democracy and Technology, and Mozilla and in doing so helped bring our members into a secure, new world of HTTPS. We then relaunched our site with a host of new resources for members, including health insurance navigators, professional contact directories, templated forms and contracts, research and security advice.

    Hot Girls Wanted
    When documentary producer Rashida Jones' Netflix series exposed the real names of adult performers, along with other ethical lapses, FSC took to the airwaves. We not only helped raise awareness through interviews, press releases, PSAs, we worked directly with adult performer community to help educate them about their rights.

    Measure B
    When the permitting structure for Measure B were announced, we were there meeting with legislators, talking to press, working with public health officials to minimize the impact of the regulations on adult businesses. While fees imposed by the ballot measure remain, we were able to help our members understand the new law, and to help to them avoid liability.

    Organizational Growth
    Thanks to growth in membership, we've were able to bring aboard new team members: our first Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Ian O'Brien, and a Social Work and Health Systems Specialist, Scarlett Sin. These hires have allowed us to not only respond to regulations that affect us, and work to healthier industry, but help us counter some of the more damaging anti-science claims being put forth in media.

  • Resources for Adult Business Growth
    For too long, our industry has run without the adequate resources for growth. In 2018, FSC will become a hub of information that will help adult businesses to thrive in a changing market. We will help our members navigate complex regulations; provide resources and professional help, from legal referrals to media strategy; and help connect members who can provide mutually beneficial relationships.

    Improve Health and Safety for Workers

    In 2018 FSC is working to launch and expand industry-focused programs, including PASS; the Performer Subsidy Fund; new mental health resources; our industry newcomer, INSPIRE; and a scholarship, internship, and apprenticeship programs. We believe FSC can be a catalyst for positive change in the life of our workers.

    Fight Corporate Censorship
    Adult businesses are being systematically excluded from the marketplace, and it's time for us to fight back. FSC has worked hard to connect our members with banks, legal representation and press to help demand their rights. We continue to fight for meetings in-suites, advocate for adult businesses, and raise awareness of issues every day.

    Protect Access to the Online Market
    We are seeing a widespread limiting of the adult industry's access to the online marketplace. Whether it's the repeal of net neutrality, the false porn 'public health crisis' legislation, unconstitutional mandatory filter proposals, dangerous changes to Communications Decency Act under SESTA/FOSTA, or international regulation like the Digital Economy Act in the UK and the GDPR in the EU, FSC is speaking out in the press, lobbying our representatives, marshaling our lawyers, and working with advocates to fight regulatory censorship.

    Advocate for Sexual Health
    From pleasure products to sex educators, it's important that the FSC fight anti-sex rhetoric, whether it emanates from Washington or Hollywood. Over the past year, we've become an important voice in matters regarding sexual health, our performers, and the adult industries. Thanks to growth in 2017, we've been able to add our first ever Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, allowing us to finally respond to bad studies, and help raise awareness of good ones.