Ginger Banks Sends Video Message To Bernie Sanders on FOSTA/SESTA

LOS ANGELES—Cam star and sex worker advocate Ginger Banks has made a heartfelt video message for Senator Bernie Sanders called “Message to Bernie Sanders from Sex Workers,” taking him to task for the FOSTA/SESTA bills that he voted in favor of.

Both bills—the House version known as FOSTA, which stands for Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, and its Senate companion, Stop Enabling Sex-Trafficking Act (SESTA)—were met with bipartisan support in Congress. On February 27, the House passed FOSTA with a final vote of 388-25. The Senate followed by passing SESTA by an overwhelming 97-2 margin. Most recently, Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders has been widely criticized after he voted in favor of the measure.

Last week, the proud 27-year-old Banks put out the word on Twitter for sex workers to contribute to the video message, and dozens responded. Banks, who not only was a vocal Sanders supporter but also actively canvassed for him during the election, was surprised and disappointed by the Vermont senator’s support of the bill.

"My legal name is not Ginger Banks," she tells Sanders as the video begins. "I chose this name because when I started camming in college, I didn't plan on doing it forever. I needed to hide my real identity because when I finished my degree, the odds of someone trying to ruin my professional life post-sex-work was extremely high.

"Sex work is an umbrella term including any type of labor where the explicit goal is to produce a sexual or erotic response in the client," she continues. "This includes prostitution, but it also includes a bunch of other things like erotic dancing, pro domme/pro sub work, webcam work, sensual massage, adult film, phone sex, being a sugar baby and more... The stigma surrounding the sex work industry creates a dangerous environment for those who choose to do exactly what sex work is: work... SESTA and FOSTA claim to target human trafficking but actually create penalties for websites that are overwhelmingly used by consensual adult sex workers to screen their clients. Taking these away will force sex workers back into more dangerous forms of work. Statistics show that having access to these platforms decreases violence towards sex workers."

Banks' own statement is followed by those of more than a dozen sex workers from many walks of life, each telling (and often showing) him what they all are in addition to being sex workers—and it's likely the senator will never have seen anything like it in his long life.

“I hope this video can help Bernie Sanders, and anyone else who watches it, see that sex workers are just people trying to provide for themselves and their families,” said Ginger.

Those interested may view the video on YouTube here. Banks is encouraging friends, fans, sex workers, supporters and the adult entertainment community to tweet it, tagging Senator Sanders, here.

Fans may follow Ginger Banks on Twitter, on Instagram, on FanCentro and on Snapchat at Banksy.69. They may follow Ginger’s sexy adventures here and on OnlyFans.