Playing the System, Writing the Law: No Shame in Voluntary Sex Work
Hi guys. No, I have no idea who the girl in the picture is, but she's sure got nice legs:)
Today I will be blogging about a subject which is very dear to my heart and the hearts of my fellow SPs. It has to do with what Canada will do in regards to the prostitution laws.
There have been many many Twitter feeds and articles pouring in from all sides, and as I understand it there are three options:
1. Prohibition. This means banning prostitution and making it a crime to both sell and buy sex. Jail. We're done.
2. The Swedish model, where sex workers are seen as victims of hapless circumstance, and are put into programs to help them re-integrate into society. Instead, clients are charged.
3. Legalization/regulation, which has been adopted by countries such as Germany, New Zealand, Australia, CANADA and the Netherlands and seems to be working pretty damn well.
There could be an argument made about what would happen if we banned sex for money. It would be like banning alcohol. People would just risk jail time. Clients would still come, but there would probably be a drop in revenue across the board because of fear. The same would happen as a result of the Swedish model being implemented, except the sex worker wouldn't go to jail, the client would.
This really leaves us no other option but legalization and regulation.I know it is a tough pill to swallow for many, but particularly those so-called radical feminists who want to save the world and protect the weak just like men want to save and protect women.We are all on an equal level here, and yes, trafficking is bad. Coercion is awful. Exploitation by a third party - true exploitation - child sex slaves or other things, that is awful. But we CANNOT afford to conflate sex trafficking with sex work. That does not make sense.
Sex trafficking is a terrible thing and can be dealt with separately. If you have laws for kidnapping, I guarantee you have laws for trafficking. Use the laws you write.
What I worry the current government will overlook is that there are men, women, LBTQ individuals, etc who get into this business with agency and of their own free will and love it. I love to please. I love to be pleased. What does not please me is this opinion that comes from your average Joe, who has never done sex work, who had to answer questions about something they knew nothing about. Basically, the average Canadian had to answer questions like "Is it a crime to buy sex?" and answer "Yes" so that they could sleep at night.
I got into this business because I was going door to door in the freezing cold selling charity getting paid SLAVE WAGES. I guarantee you the client today to a) introduced me to new types of pleasure and b) paid me for my time and made me feel like purring was not at all violent, or unethical, or any of that. He was a trustworthy, loving partner and I enjoyed my time with him. I have a possible booking Thursday. My colleague recommended me. This guy will be a decent guy as well. In fact, the only violent client I have ever had - the one - was not downtown at all, but in North York. I now no longer work there.
The point is, making sure that people are safe and not in a culture of rape or victimhood IS important. But to policymakers, MPs, MPPs, and the feds: Escorting with human agency is a business. It is the oldest hustle around. If you choose to criminalize my clients, who are perfectly sweet, super-nice guys,you will have a direct impact on an industry which thrives currently, and which many got into to cater to their performative side, or just because they like being paid to derive pleasure and to please.
I understand that this (celebration of trans/male/female/ sexuality) does not jive with the current government's ideological agenda, or its policies, because that's how they number their priorities. However, in places such as New Zealand and Australia, working girls/guys/trans had more confidence in laws that were in place to treat their safety, whereas a law enforcement environment would deter the same working individuals from placing trust in authority. Prostitution will not go away. Clients will not go away. It has been seen in Sweden.Don't let it happen here.
Legalizing and regulating prostitution is the way to go. It is how we have operated for the past year. I think it should stay that way. TREAT SEX WORK LIKE ANY OTHER TRADE. WE WORK JUST AS HARD.
