Putting the ‘O’ in Voting

The vote of a lifetime is around the corner, and as adult creators are here to tell you, voting can be sexy.

“Look who just voted!”

A young couple (played by Marina Maree and Scotty P) look at each other with instant arousal.

“Well I voted last week…”

The chemistry starts to sizzle.

Marina crawls forward seductively on the bed, wearing a ‘Latinas for Black Lives’ t-shirt. “You’re gonna phone bank with me too, right?” she says as she caresses Scotty’s cock.

“Yes of course,” he sighs as she strokes him, getting harder…

Putting the ‘O’in Voting, a film by Favianna Rodriguez, Lotus Lain and Gordon B, reminds us that voting is sexy. Political engagement is sexy. And for a young couple like Marina and Scott–a Latina woman and a Black man in the United States today–it’s crucial. In this joyful, yet urgent, film, they come together as BIPOC activists to celebrate each other’s sexiness and passion.

One of the most striking things about this film as how hopeful it is in the face of the societal issues the actors face. As they get down to business under posters with the taglines ‘Migration is Beautiful’ and ‘Tu Lucha Es Mi Lucha / Your Struggle Is My Struggle’ (painted by Exec Producer and artist Favianna Rodriguez), the camera takes in the beauty of both of their bodies on their (suggestively blue) bed. A soothing romantic pop track by Las Cafetaras accompanies them as they remove each other’s clothes and succumb to passionate, yet playful, desires. As things get hotter and heavier, the music swells to uplifting disco, with lyrics like ‘a change is coming, can you feel it?”

Every piece of the film, from the casting to the clothing to the décor, was carefully thought out to convey a message of hope and change. The cast and crew themselves are activists, many of whom had never worked in porn before. Rodriguez herself is an artist who focuses on sexual freedom, and wanted to create an adult film that explored the intersection between porn, social justice, and art.

“Liberation starts with our bodies, and so I want to create films that are about how sexual pleasure and coming really help us show up in a powerful way, to claim our rights,” she says.

This could so easily be a different film – one that focused on the fear and frustration marginalized groups feel. Instead, this is a sweet and sexy call to action – reminding viewers of the beautiful individuality of the people that voting (in let’s face it, a certain way) will hopefully protect. The US is wonderfully diverse and is the better for it. Films like these show us what could so easily be lost if we don’t push for change.

Rodriguez is excited by the positive reception and reach the film has had among not just porn fans, but activist and BIPOC communities as well. She looks forward to making more films that “reflect the values of where we want to be going… to explore self pleasure, accessible sex culture, fucking as a source of personal power, even the transition to green energy.” Political engagement and personal empowerment can and should be cool and sexy.

For BIPOC people and allies, there is a lot of work to come. Creating social justice art that speak to people’s full identities as activists, as people of color, and as full sexual beings, can go a long way to help create change. And as the voting date grows closer, we all need to think about what we can do to help ourselves and those around us. So, time to be sexy, get out, and vote.

Putting the ‘O’ in Voting is available on PornHub, XHamster and PinkLabel.TV