Our 44th president is known for being a family man, a proponent of racial and gender equality, and now, perhaps an admirer of adult entertainers. According to a recent Fast Company article, President Obama follows porn stars on Twitter, and if only for a moment, America seems just a touch more sex positive.
True, the POTUS account is run by the Organizing For Action staff, and there are a whole lot of ways accounts get followed back without any explicit effort. However it happened, though, it's nice to imagine the commander-in-chief paying mind to a section of the population who are often treated as revered yet reviled citizens. Despite the millions who pay to enjoy the output of these actors, many porn stars face severe discrimination when they try to do everyday things like have a bank account or change jobs. Supporting sex workers is one of the last taboos — for feminists, too — and so this news of Obama's Twitter feels symbolic, even if it turns out to be an accident.
So which porn professionals does the president's account see fit to follow? Here's a brief introduction to the women now known as Obama's Angels. Because who else is going to save the world but a not-so-secret squad of swashbuckling sex workers who organize via Twitter? But first, check out our video on sex positions for small penises:
1. Joanna Angel
This "punk porno princess" reigns over the Burning Angel empire, a haven for alternative porn. Winner of over a dozen awards for her creative couplings and directorial work, Angel cuts a colorful figure with her heavily tattooed bod and fuchsia-hued hair. She also makes her own kind of "feminist porn," as she explained in an interview with Slutever. "I don’t make porn that I don’t want to watch, and I don’t like it when women look like they aren’t enjoying themselves," she said. "That’s my own personal way of making feminist porn."
2. Nikki Benz
Nikki Benz is a Canadian-bred former Penthouse Pet of the Year, porn star, Fleshlight model and AVN Hall of Famer. She also has a penchant for politics. In 2014, Benz endeavored to run for mayor of Toronto, offering such perks as making National Masturbation Day a citywide holiday, supporting the gay community, and donating half her salary to a charity of her constituent's choice.
3. Asa Akira
Asa Akira is a successful porn actress, author of two memoirs, Insatiable and Dirty Thirty and multiple AVN Award winner. She also happens to identify as a proud feminist. Akira explained to Playboy in 2014: "Men and women should be equal, in every aspect. Period, Whether we’re having sex with hundreds of people for money or completely abstinent. And as for me, for now, I will just have to be content with calling that 'feminism.'"
4. Ashley Steel
Less high profile in comparison with Obama's other adult Twitter faves, Ashley Steel is a model, porn star, and doggy mama, according to her Twitter profile. She is also a Buddhist, and has posted some pretty enlightening videos by the Buddhist nun Pema Chodron. A wise addition to your Angels, Mr. President.
Images: Getty Images (3); Ashley.Steel/Instagram
