LOS ANGELES — Slixa, which offers an online directory for adult entertainment services, is launching an essay contest that is intended to shine a spotlight on sex workers’ personal experiences eight months after FOSTA was signed by President Trump and became federal law.
The contest will shell out $10,000 to authors of the three top essays.
The winning essay will be announced Monday, Feb. 4, and published on Slixa.com with the author’s credit, as well as a cash prize of $2,500, as well as $2,500 to donate to the service provider advocacy organization of the author’s choice.
The first runner-up will receive $1,500, with a $1,500 donation, while the second runner-up will earn a cash prize of $1,000, with a $1,000 donation to the essayist’s chosen charitable organization.
“With this essay contest, our goal is to learn more about the legal and political residual effects of FOSTA-SESTA on businesses at large and for providers personally,” said Slixa’s spokesperson, Lee Jennings, “while also supporting and helping improve the collective lives of a community that is increasingly and alarmingly under fire.
“We chose to hold the contest in December, as we would also like to take the opportunity to draw attention to the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers that falls on Dec. 17, as well as the advocacy andcharity groups that support the community.
The contest, opens Friday, Dec. 14, to Monday, Jan. 14, and is open to active or previous industry service providers who can write a comprehensive, well-researched, in-depth essay between 1,500-2,200 words analyzing the impact of FOSTA. The essay must be unpublished and written in English. One submission allowed per person.
Check out more information about the contest and submission details here.