Aylo and The Cupcake Girls® Introduce First-of-Its-Kind Trafficking Prevention Safety Video Series for Adult Performers
At The Cupcake Girls, we believe that sex work is work, and with that belief comes a deep commitment to ensuring sex workers’ safety, dignity, and access to resources. Over the years, we’ve seen firsthand how a lack of safety resources can leave adult entertainers vulnerable to harm. From stalking to assault, sex workers have been subjected to unimaginable risks, often without the tools to protect themselves or the support to make informed decisions about their work. Too often, it’s only after tragedy strikes that these workers reach out for help.
This is why we are so excited to announce our partnership with Aylo, an adult entertainment platform, to create Safety Training With the Cupcake Girls, a safety video series aimed at educating performers. This partnership is not just a collaboration between two organizations — it’s a stand for harm reduction.
Why Abolishing Sex Work Is Not the Solution
As we roll out these critical safety resources, we also want to address a misconception that often circulates: the idea that the solution to trafficking and exploitation is the abolition of sex work. The push for abolishing sex work, though well-intentioned, is not only unrealistic but also harmful. It fails to consider the complexities of the adult entertainment industry and, ironically, often makes workers more vulnerable.
Here’s why:
Pushing Workers into Dangerous Spaces: When sex work is criminalized or stigmatized to the point of abolition, workers are forced into hidden, unregulated environments where their safety can’t be monitored. With fewer safe options available, sex workers are pushed underground, unable to access the safety protocols and support they need. This increases the risk of violence, trafficking, and exploitation — exactly what abolitionist efforts aim to prevent. The reality is that abolishing sex work only makes the risks worse.
Undermining Autonomy and Support: Abolitionists often frame sex workers as victims in need of saving, disregarding their autonomy and right to make decisions about their work. This view fails to recognize that many sex workers enter the industry by choice, seeing it as a viable means of income. When we remove support, resources, and harm-reduction measures, we strip away a worker’s ability to protect themselves and advocate for their own safety. By creating safe spaces for these workers to learn about consent, digital security, and safe work practices, we empower them to make informed decisions about their careers.
Increasing Stigma and Isolation: The push for abolition also fuels harmful stigma against sex workers. This stigma creates isolation and makes it difficult for workers to seek help, report violence, or access health services. The more society paints sex work as inherently dangerous or shameful, the less likely workers are to reach out when they need support. We cannot end stigma by erasing the work — we need to reduce it by offering support, resources, and education.
Dismantling Harm Reduction Approaches: At The Cupcake Girls, we work within a harm-reduction framework. We acknowledge the reality that sex work exists, and instead of pushing for its erasure, we focus on providing resources to make it safer. This includes offering training on how to protect digital identities, practice consent, and navigate the challenges of agency representation. Abolitionist efforts undermine harm-reduction strategies, leaving workers vulnerable and without the tools to protect themselves.
The Cupcake Girls’ Commitment to Safety and Empowerment
This is where our partnership with Aylo comes in. By creating Safety Training With the Cupcake Girls, we’re offering an opportunity for education to adult entertainers, providing them with the safety training they’ve been asking for. In our first two episodes, Cherie DeVille and Sofia Rose tackle essential topics like digital security, STI testing, consent practices, and how to vet agencies. This is not just about prevention; it’s about providing the tools that help performers safeguard their lives and careers.
We’re proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative, but we also recognize that this work can only continue with the support of people who believe in the safety and well-being of sex workers, and for protection against force fraud and coercion.
A Call to Action: Stand With Us
If you understand the value of this work, if you recognize that harm-reduction efforts are what truly empower sex workers, we ask for your support. Consider becoming a monthly donor to The Cupcake Girls. Your contribution of just $14 or more a month helps us continue offering these vital resources and expand our reach to provide even more safety training and support for sex workers. Without supporters like you, this work would not be possible. (donation link here)
We know not everyone will agree with our approach, but we stand firm in our belief that abolishing sex work will not solve the problem. Instead, we need to provide workers with the education and tools they need to work safely and thrive. If we are to truly reduce trafficking and exploitation, we must prioritize empowerment, not erasure.
The first two episodes of Safety Training With the Cupcake Girls are available now on our YouTube channel. Watch, learn, and share these critical resources. Together, we can create a safer future for adult performers everywhere.