It’s an election year, and while the news is buzzing with debates about the economy and foreign policy, a different kind of battle is heating up behind the scenes—one that could change what you watch in your private time. In his latest editor’s note for the June 2024 issue of StorErotica Magazine, Stephen Yagielowicz throws down the gauntlet, arguing that the adult industry is no longer just a passive target for politicians but a community gearing up for a fight.
The Bogeyman in the Room
For decades, adult entertainment has been the go-to “bogeyman” for politicians looking to score easy points with their base. It’s a familiar playbook: stir up moral panic, promise a crackdown on “smut,” and rally voters. But Yagielowicz asks a crucial question about this age-old strategy in his fiery piece titled “Sexual Politics.”
“We are the bogeyman,” he writes. “And what do you do when you’re the bogeyman? Do you just wait for the inevitable torch-and-pitchfork-wielding villagers to show up at your castle door? Do you run and hide? Do you try to reason with them?”
His answer is a firm “none of the above.” Instead of waiting for the attack, he argues it’s time for the industry to go on the offensive, asserting its right to exist openly and without shame.
Why This Year Feels Different
So, why the urgent call to arms now? The stakes are higher than ever. Yagielowicz points directly to the current political climate and proposals like “Project 2025,” a comprehensive conservative plan that includes a promise to wield federal power to prosecute and eradicate pornography. Industry watchdogs like the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) have labeled the plan a direct threat to the entire legal adult entertainment industry in the United States.
This isn’t just about big studios anymore. In an era dominated by the creator economy, such a crackdown would directly impact the livelihoods of thousands of independent performers, models, and directors who have built their own businesses on platforms like OnlyFans. The threat is personal, and it’s aimed squarely at the heart of a booming, creator-driven market.
A Battle on Multiple Fronts
Yagielowicz emphasizes that this isn’t an isolated fight. The same political forces targeting adult entertainment are often the ones challenging LGBTQ+ rights, bodily autonomy, and reproductive freedom. He argues that these battles are all interconnected, stemming from the same desire to control personal expression and private lives.
It’s a sentiment echoed across the industry, where organizations like the FSC are mobilizing members to become politically active. The message is clear: an attack on one form of free expression is an attack on all of them. The industry is being pushed to see itself not as a fringe outlier but as a key player in a much larger culture war over fundamental freedoms.
The Final Word: Unity and Defiance
As the political noise gets louder, Yagielowicz’s editorial serves as a powerful rallying cry. He insists that hiding in the shadows or hoping the storm will pass is no longer a viable option. The future, he suggests, depends on the industry and its supporters making their voices heard—loudly, clearly, and without apology.
“The adult industry needs to be loud and proud and unified in our support for our industry and our absolute right to exist and to do business without government interference.”
In a year of critical choices, the message from inside the industry is simple: it’s time to stop being the bogeyman and start being a force to be reckoned with.
* Photo from storerotica.com
