One activist is leveraging his platform on Gay Twitter™️ for an important cause: exposing racism among gay porn actors.

The user in question, Daniel (@trblingtimes), created a Twitter thread calling out certain performers this Monday, June 1, after Billy Santoro, a popular gay adult film star, said people should shoot Black demonstrators protesting systemic racism and police brutality.

“In truth, I wanted a break from the constant barrage of traumatizing news because it was really starting to affect my mental health,” Daniel tells NewNowNext. “But Santoro had just been exposed, and I was really shocked more people weren’t aware of how rampant racism runs in the porn industry. I know people that spend crazy amounts of money on porn via OnlyFans, studio websites, [and] cam workers, so I just felt like it was important for everyone to know exactly who they’re spending their money on.”

Daniel’s thread quickly picked up steam, amassing more than 6,700 retweets and 12,000 likes since Monday night.

The outpouring of attention surprised Daniel, who has continued adding to the thread with screenshots of racist actions from porn actors submitted by his 13,500 followers. (He’s still accepting suggestions via Twitter or Instagram DMs, too!) Included in the round-up are gay porn actors who voted for Trump, used the N-word even though they aren’t Black, or simply didn’t want to denounce racism because they run “a porn account,” not an activist account.

“A platform, regardless of its intended purpose, comes with responsibility,” Daniel argues. “We live in a time where absolutely everyone needs to come together for what’s right. To not even speak on political issues for fear of ruining your platform is irresponsible to you and your brand.”

Daniel says he’s received messages or apologies from “many” of the adult film professionals included in the thread. Some have outright blocked him.

Ultimately, he hopes his Twitter thread—and the larger Black Lives Matter movement across the country, spurred on by the deaths of Black men like George Floyd and Tony McDade at the hands of police—create accountability for public figures who act in a racist way.

“I want those whose problematic tendencies are called out to open their eyes, unlearn that behavior, and apologize not with words, but with real action,” Daniel says. “I’ve seen it happen so many times where someone with a large platform is called out, issues a Notes app apology, and moves on, which, for me, simply isn’t acceptable in 2020. I want more than just an ’I’m sorry’; the people deserve more.”

He adds that, for actors who refuse to acknowledge their racist actions or words, “financial ruin” after being named and shamed might get them to change their ways: “The only way to incite real change within rich people like that, I feel, is to hit them in their pockets.”

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