Rolling Stone Surveys Ongoing Republican War on Porn

Rolling Stone Surveys Ongoing Republican War on Porn

WASHINGTON — Rolling Stone magazine this week published a report on the ongoing anti-porn crusades in Republican-controlled states.

Penned by Miles Klee and titled “Republicans Are Coming to Take Your Porn (Again),” the report notes that “conservative legislation framed around ‘protecting children’ from adult content could also block critical information about sexual health and gender.”

Klee reports on the Utah legislature’s recent attempt to obstruct online porn via an age verification requirement, and the subsequent decision by Pornhub to block access in the state.

Utah, Klee notes, “is only the latest state to institute a new obstacle to viewing porn online. Louisiana passed a similar law last year. Mississippi and Arkansas have approved their own versions of such legislation, which will take effect in July for both states. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin may soon sign yet another Republican-sponsored bill on age verification — the likes of which have been introduced in more than a dozen more state legislatures this year.”

Klee then mentions that First Amendment and internet freedom advocates have warned that these moral panic-fueled age verification laws, though framed as common-sense measures for protecting children, are in fact “part of a broader effort by the Christian right to ban or censor protected speech.” He also links the measures to other current morality campaigns, such as conservatives’ efforts to outlaw drag shows and purge school libraries, also justified by conservatives as matters of child protection. 

FSC Director of Communications Mike Stabile shared with Klee his opinion that the overall goal of all these campaigns is to shut down free speech on the internet.

“Conservatives have been trying to do this for decades,” Stabile said, noting that “many web-based businesses could be at risk” due to legislators’ focus on moral grandstanding and virtue signaling to crusading lobbies like NCOSE — the religiously inspired anti-porn group formerly known as Morality in Media — at the expense of actionable specifics.

“When the porn companies take states to court to debate the constitutionality of this invasive overreach, they’re not only declaring their right to freely sell adult content — they’re fighting to ensure that Republicans can’t widen the scope of what is considered obscene,” Klee concludes. “It’s as clear and crucial a front as we have in this all-consuming culture war.”

To read “Republicans Are Coming to Take Your Porn (Again),” visit RollingStone.com.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Choice Talent Management Launches Fan Platform 'ChoiceFilmz'

Choice Talent Management CEO Chris Crisco has launched a new fan platform called ChoiceFilmz.

Dredd to Launch Official Site

Dredd has announced his new website OfficialDreddXXX.com, launching April 20.

New Pleasure Product Review Site 'ToyChats' Launches

ToyChats.com, a pleasure product review and discussion site, has officially launched.

AEBN Reveals Jade Venus as Top Trans Star for Q1 of 2025

AEBN has named its top trans stars for the first quarter of 2025, with Jade Venus landing atop the leaderboard.

SexLikeReal Debuts 'AI Passthrough' Feature

SexLikeReal has introduced an AI Passthrough for video editing during VR livestreaming.

Ron Jeremy's Accusers Reach Settlement With Rainbow Bar & Grill

The Rainbow Bar & Grill has reached confidential settlements with a group of women who filed a negligence lawsuit against the Sunset Strip restaurant over alleged sexual assaults committed by Ron Jeremy, according to Rolling Stone.

Cherry Kiss, Jordan Starr Top AEBN for Q1 of 2025

AEBN has announced its top-selling stars for the first quarter of 2025, with Cherry Kiss landing atop the leaderboard for straight theaters and Jordan Starr heading up the gay rankings.

Sportsheets Joins FSC as Gold Member

Sportsheets has joined Free Speech Coalition (FSC) as a Gold-level member.

Age Verification Watch: Two End Runs, Two Failed Bills

Industry stakeholders and free speech advocates have anxiously been awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which could significantly impact state age verification laws around the country. In the meantime, state legislatures continue to weigh and pass AV bills, AV tech providers continue to tout their services, and legal challenges continue to play out in the courts — with some cases on hold pending the SCOTUS ruling in Paxton.

FSC Helps Defeat Colorado AV Bill

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has announced that, with its help, Colorado's recently introduced age verification bill has been defeated.

Show More