Commercial sex workers reveal how they told their parents about their careers

Porn stars have revealed how they had that tricky conversation with their parents - about their x-rated careers.

Awkward moments detailed in a new book include a single mum finding their offspring's gay porn blog and an orthodox Jewish couple's daughter being recognised as an adult film star in a street.

The tome, called 'Coming Out Like a Porn Star', features stories of more than 16 X-rated performers coming out to their family, friends, partners, lovers, and community.'

Tales include that of Jesse Jackman, 42, who was forced to come clean after using his mum's computer and realising she had been on his adult blog.

He told the New York Post : “The blog had links to kinky photographs and BDSM video clips where I’m having sex.”

Jesse decided he needed reinforcements and called in his now husband Dirk Caber, a fellow adult performer, to come for a family dinner.

He said: “I was terrified - she is a Jewish single mother who raised me through some tough times.”

When he finally plucked up the courage to broach the subject, it turned out his mum had known for months.

Her only concern was for her boy's safety and said she was "so happy we’re talking about this.”

She believes her son and his husband are at the "forefront of a new revolution where people are a lot more comfortable with their sexuality”.

Meanwhile, when Cinnamon Maxxine didn't hear from her dad and stepmum for a month, she realised something was afoot.

Her stepmother Paula, 50, had become suspicious about Cinnamon's career as a burlesque performer.

Flying into a rage, she told her stepdaughter porn was a “disservice” to feminism.

The porn star argued she was showing “real feminism” by being proud of her body.

Her dad even asked if she had become involved in adult films after being sexually abused.

Cinnamon said: “It was such a cliche - they weren’t ready to handle a proper discussion about what porn is.”

After almost a year without speaking, the trio finally agreed to discuss her career.

Although there is still some tensions, relations are cordial.

“Parents don’t raise their kids to do porn, so I can understand where they are coming from," said Cinnamon.

When a 21-year-old Joanna Angel told her orthodox Jewish parents she was starting a punk porn website, they thought it was "just a phase".

"Will people see you get naked?" her mum asked.

Some distant relatives were furious, but the experience brought Joanna and her parents closer together.

Their reaction was: "Don’t tell us how to raise our daughter.”

Now, 13-years later Joanna is the head of one of the world's largest alternative porn empires and even gets recognised in the street.

Once, an employee of her father's couldn’t stop staring at a work do.

“Are you … ?” he said.

“Yep,” she replied.

The star-struck man went up to his boss and said: “I didn’t realize your daughter was Joanna Angel.”

“My dad just laughed,” Joanna remembers.