By Sophie Perry

Copyright thepinknews

A group of Michigan Republicans have tabled a bill which seeks to totally outlaw porn in the state as well as content which depicts “a disconnection between biology and gender” – basically anything related to trans folks and drag performers.

House Bill 4938, named the ‘Anticorruption of Public Morals Act’, was introduced by hardline GOP representative Josh Schriver and is a piece of legislation which would “prohibit the distribution of certain material on the internet that corrupts the public morals”.

Material targeted by the bill is split in two parts: pornographic content and content that references anything vaguely non-conforming to a strict male/female gender binary.

Firstly, the porn content sought to be banned includes anything which is a “depiction, description, or simulation, whether real, animated, digitally generated, written, or auditory, of sexual acts” including vaginal or anal intercourse, masturbation, BDSM, and “erotic autonomous sensory meridian response content, moaning, or sensual voice content”.

Secondly, the legislation seeks to outlaw any “depiction, description, or simulation, whether real, animated, digitally generated, written, or auditory, that includes a disconnection between biology and gender”, which the bill’s text states refers to “an individual of 1 biological sex imitating, depicting, or representing himself or herself to be of the other biological sex by means of a combination of attire, cosmetology, or prosthetics, or as having a reproductive nature contrary to the individual’s biological sex”.

The bill, however, states there is an exception to this ban when the material is “used for scientific and medical research or instruction” or “peer-reviewed academic content”.

It goes on to state a “commercial entity, public institution, private actor, or internet platform shall not knowingly distribute or make available prohibited material via the internet to any individual in this state”, where a violation occurs – such as someone sharing an explicit picture of a trans person – it would be punishable by a prison sentence of up to 20 years and/or a fine of up to $100,000.

Should there be more than 100 pieces of prohibited material involved – such as sharing 100 pictures of trans people – the punishment would go up to a maximum 25 years prison sentence and/or a fine of $125,000.

Yesterday, I introduced the “Anti-Corruption of Public Morals Act” + adding porn distributors to the sex offender registry.Don’t make it, don’t share it, don’t view it.These measures defend children, safeguard our communities, and put families first. pic.twitter.com/xFBXspQZxq— Rep. Josh Schriver (@JoshuaSchriver) September 12, 2025

Sharing information about the content on his official X account, Schriver – who represents the 66th district in the Michigan house of representatives – wrote: “Don’t make it, don’t share it, don’t view it. These measures defend children, safeguard our communities, and put families first.”

Schriver has previous wrote on social media that “using/dealing porn” is the same as “using/dealing heroin” and said sexual content “harms all who come in contact with it”.

During a House Communications and Technology Committee hearing, when questioned how his bill would function, Schriver – as quoted by The Detroit News – said: “In the same way child porn is rightfully illegal, all porn shall be so.”

This is not the first time Schriver has attacked LGBTQ+ people in his state, and the wider US.

Back in December 2024, Schriver took to social media to call for same-sex marriage to be outlawed.

“Make gay marriage illegal again,” he wrote at the time. “This is not remotely controversial, nor extreme.”

Speaking to The Detroit News about his views, Schriver cited Bible passages to defend his position.

“Jesus defines marriage as between a man and a woman,” the lawmaker said, noting that the Supreme Court – which now has a 6-3 conservative majority – had “the power to overturn a past ruling”.

Following this, in February, Schriver alongside 13 Republican co-sponsors said they intended to push a resolution urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.

Schriver said equal marriage is “at odds with the sanctity of marriage, the Michigan Constitution, and principles upon which the country was established”.

“The new resolution urges the preservation of the sanctity of marriage and constitutional protections that ensure freedom of conscience for all Michigan residents,” he added.