Adult Performer Advocacy Committee

Last updated
Adult Performer Advocacy Committee
AbbreviationAPAC
FormationFebruary 2014;10 years ago (2014-02)
Founders
Membership (2016)
600
Website apacommittee.org

Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC) is an American organized labor group for pornographic actors. Launched in 2014, shortly after the closure of the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation (AIM), the organization released a video called Porn 101 containing advice for new and established pornographic performers. APAC operates a mentor scheme and maintains resources for people starting pornographic acting, as well as hosting panels, releasing statements and lobbying.

Contents

A founding member of the group, James Deen, resigned from his roles in 2015 after a series of sexual assault and rape allegations against him, involving actions both in his personal relationships and on-screen performing. The 2018 chair, Ginger Banks, resigned after her initial response to a scene in which her co-star raised concerns about the behaviour of John Stagliano caused backlash and harassment. Other performers with major roles in the organization have included Stoya, Nina Hartley, Chanel Preston and Tasha Reign.

History

Anikka Albrite 2015.jpg
Mick Blue 2015.jpg
James Deen 2010.jpg
Stoya at Exxxotica 2013 bas01.jpg
Pornographic actors involved in the founding of APAC, clockwise from top: Anikka Albrite, Mick Blue, Stoya, James Deen

The group was initially formed by the pornographic actors Anikka Albrite, Mick Blue, James Deen and Stoya. [1] It was launched in February 2014 to represent the interests of pornographic actors, including their workers' rights, health and safety, and community organization. [2] Nina Hartley said that similar organizations to APAC had failed "due to lack of organization or outright strangulation by ... producers", and that APAC arose from the new forms of communication allowed by social media, both within the industry and in communicating with the public. [3]

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Porn 101
Educational video by APAC, 2014

One of the group's first activities was the production of a Porn 101 advice video for aspiring and current pornographic performers. [1] It shares its name with a previous video on the same subject, produced by Sharon Mitchell around the formation of the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation (AIM) in 1998 after an HIV outbreak in American pornography; AIM closed in 2011. [4] [1] Jessica Drake, Nina Hartley and Kimberly Kane, who had independently considered a sequel video to Porn 101, were involved in the script. The video featured a large number of actors, many of whom joined APAC. Mark Kernes of AVN recommended it as "a must-see for anyone thinking of entering the adult industry—and for many who are already in it". [1] David M. Kopp, in Famous and (Infamous) Workplace and Community Training (2017), praised the video as "a well-done, first-rate piece of asynchronous training". [5]

After the 2014 Board of Directors election, Deen began serving as chair, with Chanel Preston as president, Conner Habib as vice president, Veruca James as treasurer and Ela Darling as secretary. [6] In 2015, Deen was accused of sexual assault and rape by numerous women, including abuse in personal relationships and on pornographic sets. After the allegations were made public, first by Stoya, Deen stood down from his roles in APAC, who released a statement saying "we stand with performers and other sex workers who are victims of any sort of sexual assault". However, Preston—the president, who also assumed Deen's role as chairperson—was in a relationship with Deen. Aurora Snow, writing in The Daily Beast , commented: "It may prove difficult for women ... to turn to an organization now headed by Deen's current partner, but Preston is not to blame for this. In an industry this small many—if not most—performers drift in and out of relationships with one another ... Nonetheless, women who have felt victimized by Deen may feel like they have nowhere to turn but to the public". [7]

In early 2018, chairperson Tasha Reign told The Washington Post that she aimed for all pornographic workers to receive training, including directors and producers, and that the Me Too movement made her "more empowered" in speaking freely. [8] She advocated regulation and resources relating to health—including mental health—consent and harassment. Reign personally supported a raise in the minimum age of a pornographic performer in the United States from 18 to 21. [9] [10]

Ginger Banks resigned as chair of APAC in 2018. Ginger Banks 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg
Ginger Banks resigned as chair of APAC in 2018.

Later in 2018, the newly-elected chairperson Ginger Banks filmed an Evil Angel scene with Jenny Blighe. Both Banks and Blighe were webcam models and this was their first pornographic scene, a girl-girl scene directed by John Stagliano. According to Banks and Blighe, Stagliano touched them without their consent during the filming. After Blighe made her experience public, Banks began experiencing online harassment due to her initial response. Prior to a vote over whether to remove Banks as chair, she made a video including details of her experience and Blighe's boyfriend. After the video, Blighe called for Banks's removal, and she voluntarily stood down. [11] [12] [13] Banks later filed a report of sexual battery and apologized to Blighe both privately and publicly, saying in 2020, "I should be held accountable for my part in the gaslighting and denying her reality". [14] [15]

Membership and activities

Membership to APAC is open only to pornographic performers. [16] In 2016, there were around 600 members. [17] APAC hosts panels on sex work, maintains directories of resources for performers, and releases statements on behalf of its members on issues that arise within the industry. [18] [19] [20] Its stamps of approval highlight experts in health, law and other areas who do not discriminate against sex workers. [21] A mentor program is targeted at people entering the industry, in addition to other guidance available to newcomers. [4] A 2021 resource produced collaboratively with the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) outlines options for conflict resolution and responding to negative incidents on pornographic sets. [22] The organization is active on Twitter. [16] It has lobbied against legislation such as Proposition 60, a California ballot proposition in 2016 that would have required condom use in pornography. [23]

The organization has been criticized as lacking diversity. A planned photo shoot and content collaboration organized by APAC featured no female or non-white photographers. Reyes said in 2020: "We got called out for it, we admitted our mistake, and we took steps to address it". [24] In Pornography and Public Health (2021), Emily F. Rothman wrote that the organization has been criticized for a lack of senior figures involved in gay pornography production. [4] Additionally, Rob Zicari stated in 2014 that "APAC is a front for Free Speech Coalition, agents and producers", rather than pornographic actors. Zicari founded the United Adult Workers of America in 2013 as an alternative to the FSC, but it had dissolved within a year. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocco Siffredi</span> Italian pornographic actor (born 1964)

Rocco Siffredi is an Italian pornographic actor, director and producer. Known as the "Italian Stallion", Siffredi has starred in more than 1,300 pornographic films since 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Stagliano</span> American pornographic actor and director (born 1951)

John Stagliano, also known as Buttman, is an American entrepreneur, former pornographic film actor, producer and director who founded and owns the Evil Angel pornographic film studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seymore Butts</span> American pornographic filmmaker (born 1964)

Adam Glasser, known professionally as Seymore Butts, is an American pornographic film director, producer, and occasional performer who has produced hundreds of films in the gonzo genre of pornography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Speech Coalition</span> U.S. trade association for the adult entertainment industry

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) is a non-profit trade association of the pornography and adult entertainment industry in the United States. Founded in 1991, it opposes the passage and enforcement of obscenity laws and many censorship laws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanna Angel</span> American pornographic actress (born 1980)

Joanna Mostov, professionally known as Joanna Angel, is an American pornographic film actress, director, and writer of adult films. She founded the website BurningAngel.com in April 2002 with her roommate Mitch Fontaine, and has been credited with helping the growth of the alt porn genre. Launched as a response to websites such as SuicideGirls, the website featured alternative performers acting in exclusively hardcore scenes with a stronger focus on a punk aesthetic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manuel Ferrara</span> French adult entertainer and director

Manuel Jeannin, known professionally as Manuel Ferrara, is a French-American adult entertainer and director. One of the leading actors in the porn industry, Ferrara has won over 64 adult industry awards including six AVN Awards as Male Performer of the Year—the record for the accolade, and was inducted into the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame.

Elegant Angel Productions is a pornographic film studio located in Canoga Park, California and owned by Patrick Collins. The company is considered one of the early pioneers of gonzo pornography, and its films have won numerous awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimberly Kane</span> American pornographic actress (born 1983)

Kimberly Kane is an American pornographic actress.

Evil Angel is an American production company and distributor of pornographic films, founded and owned by John Stagliano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pornographic film actor</span> Person who performs in pornography

A pornographic film actor or actress, pornographic performer, adult entertainer, or porn star is a person who performs sex acts on video that is usually characterized as a pornographic movie. Such videos tend to be made in a number of distinct pornographic subgenres and attempt to present a sexual fantasy; the actors selected for a particular role are primarily selected on their ability to create or fit that fantasy. Pornographic videos are characterized as either softcore, which does not contain depictions of sexual penetration or extreme fetishism, and hardcore, which can contain depictions of penetration or extreme fetishism, or both. The genres and sexual intensity of videos is mainly determined by demand. Depending on the genre of the film, the on-screen appearance, age, and physical features of the actors and their ability to create the sexual mood of the video is of critical importance. Most actors specialize in certain genres, such as straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, bondage, strap-on, anal, double penetration, semen swallowing, teenage, orgy, age roleplay, fauxcest, interracial or MILFs and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Deen</span> American pornographic actor

Bryan Matthew Sevilla, known professionally by the stage name James Deen, is an American pornographic actor and director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stoya</span> American pornographic actress and writer

Stoya is an American pornographic actress, actress, model, and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angela White</span> Australian pornographic actress

Angela Gabrielle White is an Australian pornographic film actress and director. She has been inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame and the XRCO Hall of Fame, and in 2020 became AVN's first three-time Female Performer of the Year winner.

CAM4.com, is a live streaming website featuring live performances by primarily amateur performers. Streams on CAM4 often feature nudity and sexual activity. In 2020, Wired reported that CAM4's production server did not have a password set in their ElasticSearch instance, a common security mistake, which may have exposed user information.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chanel Preston</span> American pornographic actress

Chanel Preston is an American pornographic actress. She was the Penthouse magazine Penthouse Pet for March 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorelei Lee (actress)</span> American pornographic actor and writer (born 1981)

Lorelei Lee is an American pornographic actor and writer. Lee is non-binary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dana Vespoli</span> American pornographic actress and director

Dana Vespoli is an American pornographic actress and film director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Sins</span> American pornographic actor (born 1978)

Steven Wolfe, better known as Johnny Sins, is an American pornographic actor, director, and YouTuber. He is consistently among the most popular male talent pornography searches and is known for his shaved head, muscular physique, and blue eyes. His accolades include three AVN Awards for Male Performer of the Year He has been the subject of memes, which center on the large variety of occupations his pornographic characters have worked.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ginger Banks</span> American pornographic actress

Ginger Banks is an American webcam model, pornographic actress and sex worker advocate.

Pineapple Support is a nonprofit organization that provides free and low-cost mental health therapy to pornographic film actors, producers and others who work in the adult film industry. It launched in April 2018 by adult performer Leya Tanit in response to a series of deaths in the adult industry in late 2017 and early 2018 resulting from mental illness or addiction, including that of August Ames. In its first two years, Pineapple Support provided over a thousand members of the adult film industry with mental health support and resources, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling and emotional support.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kernes, Mark (January 23, 2014). "New Performer Advocacy Group Releases Educational 'Porn 101'". AVN . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Adult Performer Advocacy Committee Releases Launch Statement". AVN . February 4, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Gall, G. (2016). Sex Worker Unionization. Springer. p. 52. ISBN   9781137320148.
  4. 1 2 3 Rothman, Emily F. (2021). Pornography and Public Health. Oxford University Press. p. 204. ISBN   9780190075477.
  5. ↑ Kopp, David M. (2017). Famous and (Infamous) Workplace and Community Training. Springer. p. 1. ISBN   9781137597533.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Bob (August 4, 2014). "APAC Announces Board of Directors Election Results". Xbiz . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  7. ↑ Snow, Aurora (June 26, 2017). "James Deen's Current Girlfriend Chanel Preston, Head of Porn's Advocacy Committee, Speaks". The Daily Beast . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ Romero, Dennis (February 16, 2018). "'We lost five women': Porn industry reckons with assault allegations and a string of deaths". The Washington Post . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  9. ↑ Severin, Kaitlyn (May 25, 2018). "Mental Illness Is Killing Porn Stars and the Industry Is Taking Action". Vice . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  10. ↑ Fabbri, Thomas (March 26, 2018). "Porn stars call for respect after spate of deaths". BBC News . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  11. ↑ Randall, Holly (interviewer), Banks, Ginger (interviewee) (July 24, 2019). 103: Ginger Banks: From Camgirl to Pornstar (Podcast). Event occurs at 36:00–41:00. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  12. ↑ Roland, John (August 27, 2018). "Ginger Banks Resigns as APAC Chair". AVN . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  13. ↑ Pardon, Rhett (August 27, 2018). "Ginger Banks Resigns as APAC Chairperson". Xbiz . Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  14. ↑ Turner, Gustavo (June 12, 2020). "Evil Angel's 'Cam Girls' Controversy Reignites; Ginger Banks Files Police Report". Xbiz . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  15. ↑ Miller, Dan (June 24, 2020). "Ginger Banks Accuses Stagliano of Sexual Assault in Police Report". AVN . Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Paasonen, Susanna; Jarrett, Kylie; Light, Ben (2019). NSFW: Sex, Humor, and Risk in Social Media. MIT Press. p. 61. ISBN   9780262043052.
  17. ↑ Becker, Rachel (November 7, 2016). "One man wants to turn every porn watcher in California into a condom vigilante". The Verge . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  18. ↑ "APAC to Hold Newbie Orientation Panel in April". AVN . March 23, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  19. ↑ Warren, Peter (July 25, 2014). "APAC Updates Website With Performer Resource Info". AVN . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  20. ↑ Warren, Peter (August 29, 2014). "APAC Releases Statement for Performers on Moratorium". AVN . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  21. ↑ Mooney, Taylor (December 6, 2019). "Adult film performers say the state of mental health in the industry needs more attention". CBS News . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  22. ↑ Adams, JC (September 28, 2021). "FSC, APAC Announce 'FSC Resolve,' Conflict Resolution Resource". Xbiz . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  23. ↑ Pardon, Rhett (May 7, 2018). "APAC Asks, Have You Registered to Vote?". Xbiz . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  24. ↑ Ponante, Gram (February 27, 2020). "Riley Reyes Talks Peacemaking at SexPosCon". AVN . Retrieved October 16, 2021.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.