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XHamster Puts The Screws To North Carolina: Giant Adult Film Site Shuts Off Access To All N.C. Residents In Reaction To Anti-LGBT Law

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 11:39 PST, Apr 11, 2016

XHamster is making a strong move against North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law, with the adult film site announcing on Monday that it would be blocking access to all North Carolina residents in reaction to the law.

The controversial law, officially known as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, directs all public schools and government agencies to declare that bathrooms and changing facilities be designated for use only by people based on the “biological sex” stated on their birth certificate. As ABC News noted, critics say the law discriminates against gay and transgender residents who use bathrooms based on their gender identity.

The law also overrides all local ordinances, preventing them from creating their own laws regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The law has led to a blowback from a number of groups and businesses, including PayPal which announced it was canceling a planned expansion in North Carolina. Bruce Springsteen also canceled a sold-out concert in Greensboro.

“Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry… is one of them,” Springsteen wrote on Facebook. “It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.”

Now the adult film site XHamster has joined the list of those opposing the law. A spokesperson for the popular adult film site said it will be shutting off access to all viewers with IP addresses in North Carolina.

“We are appalled by the recent events that have transpired in North Carolina. We have spent the last 50 years fighting for equality for everyone and these laws are discriminatory which XHamster.com does not tolerate,” a spokesperson said in a statement to Perez Hilton. “As of today, access to XHamster.com is blacked out in the state of North Carolina until further notice. Judging by the stats of what you North Carolinians watch, we feel this punishment is a severe one. We will not standby and pump revenue into a system that promotes this type of garbage. We respect all sexualities and embrace them.”

The wave of opposition to North Carolina’s LGBT law has also brought some fake stories as well. Over the weekend, a news story purportedly from ABC News claimed that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued an ultimatum to the state to repeal the law in the next month or risk losing the 2017 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte. But as the Washington Post noted, the story was fabricated and Silver made no such ultimatum.

The story was picked up by a number of major media outlets, and Cleveland even combined it with an Associated Press report on opposition to the law.

Officially, the NBA has not said what effect the law will have on the All-Star Game, but did say the league was “deeply concerned” about the law.

“The NBA is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events,” the league said in its only official statement on the matter. “We are deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principles of equality and mutual respect, and do not yet know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte.”

It is not clear how long the XHamster blackout will continue for North Carolina residents, but it appears that it has already had an impact. Many residents took to Twitter to note the blackout, with many commending the site for taking action.

[AP Photo/Emery P. Dalesio]

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