The adult entertainment industry in the United Stats and Europe has long faced challenges from conservative religious groups, and particularly Christians seeking to restrict or even eliminate adult speech. In the face of such opposition, it may be time for the industry to consider forging more alliances with organizations that share a commitment to defending individual freedoms.

One such organization is the Satanic Temple, which I originally learned about from my beautiful fiancée, Freya Wyld. I loved what I learned about the Satanic Temple so much that I wanted to share a little about its history, activities, and how it differs from other “Satanic” organizations. The tenets of the Satanic Temple are so well aligned with our industry’s culture that I believe anyone who works in the adult entertainment industry should consider offering support through memberships and donations, particularly in light of the Temple’s efforts to uphold reproductive rights and challenge religious conservatives.

What is the Satanic Temple?

The Satanic Temple (TST) is a non-theistic religious and activist organization that utilizes Satanic imagery and symbolism to promote secularism and individual liberties. Founded in 2013 by Lucien Greaves and Malcolm Jarry, the organization quickly gained attention for its provocative and theatrical approach to social and political issues. Unlike traditional religious organizations, TST does not worship a supernatural Satan but instead uses the literary figure of Satan as a symbol of rebellion against arbitrary authority and a champion of enlightenment values. Outstanding. Want to see them in action? Give the documentary “Hail Satan!” a watch.

History and Formation

The Satanic Temple was established as a response to the omnipresent influence of religious dogma in American public life, and who amongst us can deny the prudes have been on the rise recently. Greaves and Jarry sought to create an organization that could effectively challenge the encroachment of religion into government affairs, advocating for the separation of church and state. The Temple’s early activities included staging public events and stunts that drew significant media coverage, helping to establish its reputation as a bold and unapologetic defender of secular values.

Activities, Benefits and Campaigns

The Satanic Temple offers important services and engages in a variety of activities aimed at promoting its core principles of empathy, reason, and personal sovereignty. Some of its most notable campaigns include:

1. Reproductive Rights Advocacy: This is a BIG one, given recent legal/political developments on this topic and the current makeup of the Supreme Court of the United States. TST is a staunch supporter of reproductive rights, viewing bodily autonomy as a fundamental human right. The organization has launched several legal challenges to restrictive abortion laws, arguing that such laws violate the religious freedoms of its members, who hold bodily autonomy as a sacred tenet.
2. Religious Equality Initiatives: The Temple actively works to ensure that religious privilege is not used to infringe upon individual rights. This includes efforts to place Satanic monuments alongside Christian symbols on public property, highlighting the need for equal representation and challenging the preferential treatment often given to Christian symbols.
3. After School Satan Clubs: In response to the proliferation of Christian after-school programs in public schools, TST established After School Satan Clubs to provide an alternative that emphasizes critical thinking, science, and secular values. Again, outstanding.
4. Grey Faction: This campaign seeks to expose and combat pseudoscience and harmful practices within the mental health field, particularly those associated with the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and 1990s. While I don’t believe TST has specifically targeted the pseudoscience of the “porn addition” hoax, it certainly would fit into this area of activism.
5. TST Health: The Temple strives to ensure access to legally exempt religious reproductive care in U.S. states where this category of healthcare is restricted. TST Health has established a telemedicine clinic in New Mexico, offering free services and affordable abortion medication. The clinic provides continuous guidance and has medical staff available 24/7 for patient support.
6. Sober Faction: The Satanic Temple’s Sober Faction offers a free peer-support recovery program featuring a variety of virtual and in-person meetings. Their structured recovery process is grounded in scientific principles rather than religious dogma or superstition. In addition to daily meetings, Sober Faction distributes free Chips to members who achieve significant sobriety milestones, symbolizing their substantial efforts. Attendees of in-person meetings receive Rituals Workbooks to aid their recovery journey, as well as first aid kits and Narcan kits for emergency situations.

Differentiating from Other “Satanic” Organizations

TST is probably not what you think it is, and that fact can be made clear by distinguishing the Satanic Temple from other organizations that might also use Satanic imagery. Unlike the Church of Satan, founded by Anton LaVey in 1966, which focuses on individualism and hedonism, TST is primarily a political and social activist group. The Church of Satan is atheistic and does not engage in the same kind of public activism that characterizes TST. Additionally, TST’s use of Satanic symbolism is largely metaphorical, intended to provoke thought and challenge the status quo rather than promote any form of literal devil worship.

Why the Adult Entertainment Industry Should Support the Satanic Temple

The adult entertainment industry often finds itself at odds with conservative religious groups that seek to impose their moral values on others. In this context, the Satanic Temple emerges as a potential ally due to its commitment to defending personal freedoms and challenging religiously motivated legislation. Here are several reasons why the industry should consider supporting TST:

1. Shared Commitment to Bodily Autonomy: The Satanic Temple’s advocacy for reproductive rights aligns closely with the adult entertainment industry’s emphasis on personal autonomy and the right to make decisions about one’s own body. By supporting TST, the industry can help bolster efforts to protect these fundamental rights.
2. Challenging Religious Hypocrisy: TST is known for its ability to use religious conservatives’ own arguments about freedom of religion against them. This tactic can be particularly effective in highlighting the hypocrisy and double standards often present in the arguments against the adult entertainment industry. For example, TST’s insistence on equal representation for all religions on public grounds can expose the preferential treatment often given to Christian symbols and values.
3. Promoting Secularism: Both the adult entertainment industry and TST benefit from a secular society where laws and policies are not based on religious doctrine. By supporting TST, the industry can help promote a legal and cultural environment that respects individual freedoms and keeps religious influence out of public policy.
4. Public Advocacy and Legal Challenges: The Satanic Temple has a proven track record of effective public advocacy and legal action. The industry’s support can help TST continue its work in challenging laws and policies that infringe upon personal freedoms, including those that impact the adult entertainment sector.

How to Support the Satanic Temple

Supporting the Satanic Temple can take various forms, from memberships to donations and public endorsements. Here are some steps interested individuals (and businesses) can take:

#1 | Memberships: Individuals and businesses within the industry can join TST as members, showing solidarity with its mission and principles. Memberships help sustain the organization and expand its base of support. Membership is free, however you can optionally choose to order a physical membership card for a small fee.

#2 | Donations: This will obviously have the most direct impact, as every organization needs funds to operate. Financial contributions are crucial for funding TST’s legal battles, public campaigns, and educational initiatives. Donations from the industry can significantly enhance the Temple’s ability to challenge restrictive laws and promote secular values.

#3 | Public Endorsements: Our industry has the ears of millions of people around the world. Publicly endorsing TST and its initiatives can help raise awareness and garner additional support. Industry leaders and influencers can use their platforms to highlight the importance of TST’s work and encourage others to get involved.

The Satanic Temple represents a unique and powerful ally for the adult entertainment industry in its ongoing struggle against religiously motivated censorship and restrictions. By supporting TST, the industry can help advance a shared commitment to personal autonomy, secularism, and equal representation. Through memberships, donations, and public endorsements, the adult entertainment industry can play a crucial role in sustaining and expanding the impact of the Satanic Temple’s vital work.

In a landscape where individual freedoms are increasingly under threat, forging alliances with like-minded organizations is more important than ever.