Washington, United States
"Hands off my porn," proclaims the latest election campaign in the United States, urging voters to refrain from voting for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
While Trump infamously made headlines for his connection to Stormy Daniels, a porn star, the American adult industry believes that if re-elected, he would be the reason for the industry's shutdown. To save their livelihoods, they've launched the #HandsOffMyPorn campaign, spending $200,000 so far on ads.
#HandsOffMyPorn campaign
Thanks to this campaign, people watching porn in America are now seeing ads asking them to vote on Nov 5, to "keep doing this".
Appearing before the pornographic content, porn stars tell the viewer: "Hey, I know you're busy. I know you're doing something. Hold on. If you want to keep doing this, you really need to vote on November 5... Enjoy!"
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The campaign, as per AFP, is mainly targeted at men, a demographic in which Trump enjoys a strong lead, all thanks to his machismo-drenched pitch.
According to the Institute for Family Studies, men are four times more likely than women to watch porn. These "public service announcements" are being played for viewers in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia.
Does Trump want to kill the porn industry?
Donald Trump, himself, has no hate for the adult entertainment industry and has not made any statements about shutting it down.
However, Project 2025, the notorious Republican blueprint for reshaping the US federal government explicitly, in its foreword states: "Pornography should be outlawed. The people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned."
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While Trump has tried to distance himself from the hard-right Republican manifesto, dozens of his allies and dozens of his former administration members co-wrote the exhaustive 900-page document.
Holly Randall, 26-year-old former pornstar, now adult content producer, said: "I've seen these attacks come and go.... Project 2025, is the most explicit iteration of wanting to completely outlaw porn."
The industry veteran warned that a ban on the porn industry could be a "lightning rod" for wider issues such as trans rights, same-sex marriage and even reproductive rights.
"It's always the easiest thing to attack, because it represents people's uncertainty and fear about the changing morals of sexuality and of gender fluidity," she remarked.
Randall acknowledged that Trump "doesn't actually care whether or not it's outlawed," but said, "It's the people around him, like (Trump running mate) J.D. Vance, these ultra-right-wing conservatives, who want to ban porn."
Another porn star Siouxsie Q, while talking to AFP, expressed worry about being arrested. "Absolutely, I am worried about imprisonment," she said.
Is Kamala Harris behind the #HandsOffMyPorn campaign?
No. Siouxsie told AFP that the Democratic Party nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, was not in any way affiliated with the #HandsOffMyPorn campaign. However, the porn star cheekily added, "Hopefully, secretly, she likes what we're doing."
(With inputs from agencies)