With the current unrest in the US, majority of gay porn stars tweeted their support for the Black Lives Matter human rights movement. And, so did the porn studios.
We stand in solidarity with the Black Community and those on the forefront calling for an end to systemic racism. Please join us in donating anything you can to https://t.co/TwbyhlGDeP. #BLACK_LIVES_MATTER pic.twitter.com/tgcDO0nLqY
— Falcon Studios (@FalconStudiosPR) June 2, 2020
But, the support of some porn studios with the movement did not sit well with Race Cooper & Chris Porter.
1 / Chuck Holmes, the creator of the esthetic of porn studio production, was an outspoken racist. His name graces the LGBT center in SF because his racist white aesthetic is foundational to the gay porn industry. You can’t fix what you won’t acknowledge.
— Race Cooper (@RaceCooper4Real) June 3, 2020
3 / After being fired for my anti-racist actions, I’ve moved on and kept my mouth shut. I’ve seen allies and black actors, blackballed for speaking out against racism in the industry, or pressured to remain silent.
— Race Cooper (@RaceCooper4Real) June 3, 2020
4 / I want all porn studios to examine their own racism, not defend it, not distort is, but reflect on it. After that, they can take action to change. Only then, can they justly say they are working in solidarity with black communities. pic.twitter.com/55DoQUpFuT
— Race Cooper (@RaceCooper4Real) June 3, 2020
I worked at Raging Stallion as an employee and a model just before they merged with Falcon, and I can back up Coop’s statements. Chris Ward, then president of the studio, treated black models as props and filler for movies, and so did other employees like Cruz and DiMarco. https://t.co/xTt94wrWdU
— Chris Porter (@ChrisPorterXXX) June 3, 2020
It’s nice to see the racists in the porn industry FINALLY called out. Now, let’s put pressure on studios who keep their content segregated. No more “noir” sites, give black models the same opportunities you give the white models.
— Chris Porter (@ChrisPorterXXX) June 2, 2020
I would like to challenge all mainstream gay porn studios, who say they stand against racism, to stop hiring and paying racist models like @sergeant_porn. As well, to employ more black and brown people both in front and behind the camera. #TakeAction #BLACK_LIVES_MATTER
— Race Cooper (@RaceCooper4Real) June 1, 2020
Change seems to be starting.
In an op-ed for The Sword, @leoforteXXX of @Naked_Sword @FalconStudiosPR & @Raging_Stallion says the #GayPorn industry needs to reaffirm and empower the lives of people of color https://t.co/wWDXS6UT2C pic.twitter.com/TMQpboB5NV
— TheSword (@theswordcom) June 3, 2020
AVN released a statement on what is ahead for the publication “Effective immediately, AVN will be eliminating all “interracial” and “ethnic” categories from the AVN Awards.“.
A Statement From the AVN CEO @AVNTony https://t.co/s8GP8HrvND pic.twitter.com/xJT734RqWJ
— AVN Media Network (@AVNMediaNetwork) June 3, 2020
UPDATE Tim Valenti’s reply to Race Cooper “I have taken steps to diversify the model pool at Falcon. While we have made strides in the right direction, we obviously have a lot more work to do. I am committed to continually evolving the Falcon brand to include more men of color, specifically black men, in all of our productions… While we can’t change the past, we acknowledge it, and commit to a better future. My team and I are here, listening and we vow to take action and keep marching toward equality in our industry and in the world.“.
Race Cooper calls Falcon/NakedSword’s Black Lives Matter statement “LIES” & CEO Tim Valenti Responds https://t.co/jOJaWgFHab pic.twitter.com/CBcyG2Ce19
— TheSword (@theswordcom) June 4, 2020