American conservatives want to ban porn. They claim it endangers children
The bill seeks to redefine the term "obscenity" under the Communications Act of 1934. The term would now refer to any content that "arouses a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion," "depicts or describes real or simulated sexual acts for the purpose of arousal or sexual gratification," and "as a whole lacks significant literary, artistic, political, or scientific value."
In addition, the bill amends the key "intent" clause so that it would also penalize sharing such content without intent to harm - for example, hobbyists or independent models.
"Vague and unenforceable definitions have allowed extreme pornography to spread en masse and reach children," Senator Lee said when introducing the bill. "This bill adapts the legal framework of the Internet to remove such content and prosecute its disseminators."
An attack on sexual freedom?
Although Lee has pushed similar efforts in 2022 and 2024 - so far without success - the current political climate suggests he might have a better chance this time around. Publicist Sam Cole of the 404 Media website warns that the US is in a "more hostile climate toward sexual self-expression, free speech, and pornography" than ever before.
Moreover, the proposal fits into the broader framework of the conservative Project 2025, which was put together by the right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation. This strategy outlines the first steps that President-elect Donald Trump should take once in office - including a complete ban on pornography.
The impact on the queer community and sex work
The proposed legislation raises strong concerns among sex workers, especially those who create content on platforms like OnlyFans. Many of them are members of the LGBTQ+ community and rely on this income as their main source of livelihood.
"It's a real problem," Alana Evans, president of the Adult Performance Artists Guild union, told the X network. "They're coming after us right now." Critics also point to the vagueness of the definition of "obscenity," which could lead to bans even in fields such as erotic literature, pole dancing and lingerie modeling.
The crackdown would also affect so-called softcore creators who publish content that is not necessarily explicit but falls within the broad spectrum of erotica. Recall that platforms such as PornHub are already unavailable in several US states due to stricter age verification requirements.
Freedom versus morality
The debate over pornography in the US is not new, but current legislative efforts by Republicans raise issues crucial to the future of digital freedom and bodily autonomy rights. For the queer community, which in the past has often freed itself from social stigmas through erotic content, the proposal may mean further limiting the space for self-expression.
Although the proposal has not yet been passed, its very introduction indicates the direction in which some US politics intends to move. The question is what support it will gain and what impact it may have on millions of people across the country - not just on audiences, but especially on creators.
