Input Requested: Sex Worker Rights Issues

[LynetteMarie]

I'm working on a project and I'd appreciate some insight from the vast amount of collective wisdom here.

Aside from the broad concept of decriminalizing sex work, what are your passions surrounding this little world of ours? That is, what are some specific topics that resonate with you as an individual regarding sex worker rights?

[charlestudor2005]

Why should sex workers be any different? Why can't the rights that attach to all other workers also attach to sex workers?

Workers are workers, whether they work with widgets or sex.

[Dasani]

Why the community, LE, or (for that matter) the church...
does not respect sex workers.
Seems they tend to, have a portion, of the worlds, weigh on their shoulders.
Paying the most and getting, the least amount of respect.

[EmilyHemingway]

Excellent question.

I don't think it's possible to fully discuss sex worker's rights without also discussing broader women's issues, such as misogyny, enforced guilt complexes and societal moral enslavement. Like chicken-fried steak and gravy, the two just go together.

If we could lick that problem, or at least take a fair swipe at it, then as Charles says, it'd reduce itself to more of a worker's rights problem.

[EroticGuideCentral]

http://prostitution.procon.org Information about legal issues and statutes by state

http://www.desireealliance.org Civil, Labor, and Human Rights for All Sex Workers

[John Bull]

Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

Why should sex workers be any different? Why can't the rights that attach to all other workers also attach to sex workers?

Workers are workers, whether they work with widgets or sex.

Huzzah Good Sir

Rights are guaranteed to all by our Constitution. Last I looked, it didn't differentiate between any class of people although in the beginning it did specify differences between slaves and freemen.

This latest rage of the PC class to "grant rights" to all manner of special interest groups is a sickening display of pandering for political gain.

Our Declaration of Independence starts out We The People. Not we the homosexuals nor we the african-americans nor we the old folks. We The People includes prostitutes just as well as to the rest of us.

[atlcomedy]

I'm with Charles & John that SW Rights is not the best title. In fact it sounds kind of militant to me which is not the kind of image you want to provoke if you change minds and hearts.

Under the banner of "clarifying misconceptions about SWs" which IMO works much better, I'd suggest as topics:
*Clarifying the image of SWs as street providers with links to to pimps, drugs, coercion, public nuisance, etc. to on the is discreet and operating BCD
*Clarifying misconceptions around unsafe or irresponsible behavior (e.g. use of protection)

[Guest042611]

Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

Why should sex workers be any different? Why can't the rights that attach to all other workers also attach to sex workers?

Workers are workers, whether they work with widgets or sex.

Well, sex workers rights are different. Clearly. Whether they should be or not, things are obviously different for us in that some sex work is illegal and all is deeply stigmatized. We face issues that not every worker does.

[Guest042611]

Originally Posted by atlcomedy

Under the banner of "clarifying misconceptions about SWs" which IMO works much better, I'd suggest as topics:
*Clarifying the image of SWs as street providers with links to to pimps, drugs, coercion, public nuisance, etc. to on the is discreet and operating BCD
*Clarifying misconceptions around unsafe or irresponsible behavior (e.g. use of protection)

I like these.
I'd talk about race and class issues that separate the women who work on the street versus HDH women—who ends up becoming which type of SW?
Also, looking at the different perceptions society has of men versus women in the sex industry. Tyra Banks has had female sex workers on her show a handful of times, and also a male escort once. I find her pretty nasty and judgmental toward everyone in the sex industry, but the way she and her audience members reacted to the man was drastically different. I think it was emblematic of the double standards most of our society has around men and women doing sex work—or even male and female sexuality, more broadly.

[Absinthe1912]

(1) Most people don’t want it happening in their backyards. These concerns can be effectively addressed through business zoning laws.
(2) Decriminalization has not led to the downfall of western civilization in the countries where it has been decriminalized.
(3) A woman (or man) should have the right to use their body and mind as they see fit so long as no harm is done to others.
(4) When alleged negative aspects of prostitution are examined, a clear distinction needs to be made between correlation and causation.
(5) Given the social stigma associated with the work, decriminalization should respect sex workers right to privacy.

[Rudyard K]

Originally Posted by John Bull

This latest rage of the PC class to "grant rights" to all manner of special interest groups is a sickening display of pandering for political gain.

Word!! And our demise.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by EmilyHemingway

I don't think it's possible to fully discuss sex worker's rights without also discussing broader women's issues, such as misogyny, enforced guilt complexes and societal moral enslavement. Like chicken-fried steak and gravy, the two just go together.

.

Do you plan on passing laws that bring the male sex workers pay up to the female sex workers pay?

You do realize that this is one of the few professions where women make more than their male counterparts?

[DFW5Traveler]

I'm all for the decriminalization of the p4p sex world. We are supposed to be a free society and free to make our own choices.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by DFW5Traveler

I'm all for the decriminalization of the p4p sex world. We are supposed to be a free society and free to make our own choices.

I'm with ya on this point my brothers and sisters!

[LynetteMarie]

Originally Posted by atlcomedy

I'm with Charles & John that SW Rights is not the best title. In fact it sounds kind of militant to me which is not the kind of image you want to provoke if you change minds and hearts.

Under the banner of "clarifying misconceptions about SWs" which IMO works much better, I'd suggest as topics:
*Clarifying the image of SWs as street providers with links to to pimps, drugs, coercion, public nuisance, etc. to on the is discreet and operating BCD
*Clarifying misconceptions around unsafe or irresponsible behavior (e.g. use of protection)

I want to clarify that by the term "sex worker" I am referring to erotic labor in exchange for an agreed upon exchange of goods, money or services. The world of sex work includes phone sex, exotic dance, sensual massage, etc...not just prostitution.

Thanks for the suggestion, ATLComedy. I'm all for clarifying misconceptions about sex workers as well and that is a specific area I'm working on in my advocate work: humanizing sex workers to those who hold on to myths and stereotypes, ranging from the "abused, broken" sw to the "uber empowered." (How about just a "regular" woman/man who enjoys her/his job as a sw? When do hear, read or see those stories?)

What I'm wondering here is if any of you are familiar with specific issues/laws pertaining to the sex worker industry that you would like to see changed? For instance, some states can use the fact that a person is/was carrying condoms as "proof" of engaging in criminal activity (prostitution.)

I know some of you are more involved than others when it comes to protecting/promoting the rights of sex workers, so I really appreciate all of the input!