Echoing reminders of Tumblr’s ban on adult content in December 2018, Texas internet users are once again feeling their sexuality erased as PornHub makes a deal with third-term governor Greg Abbott to reopen the website in the state with strictly safe for work content. Starting in March 2024, the website was previously banned in the state, as a result of the threat of heavy fines during a lawsuit by the Texas attorney general over non-compliance with a recently enacted age verification statute. The statute has been appealed to the Supreme Court, expected to give a final decision on the case in late June.

Supporters of the move included evangelical churches, and online groups such as the anti-sexual celibate group known as the “Volcel Police”. A spokeperson for Texas attorney general Paxton referred us to the attorney’s previous Tweet reading: “In Texas, companies cannot get away with showing porn.” Reached for comment, the Volcel Police reportedly thanked the attorney general for support of their mission.

Far-left Internet users reached out to condemn the Volcel Police with the anti-police slogan “ACAB”, popularized during the George Floyd protests. The move was also contentious in the LGBTQIA+ community, including among sex-repulsed asexuals, some of which watched videos on the site for the first time, even while holding sex-positive views wishing that others should be able to safely express their sexualities on the Internet. At press time, users reportedly wondered if the safe-for-work videos were an April Fools’ joke.