An Open Letter to Parliament in re: Bill c-36
Well,
that was horrifying.
As we finally conclude four days of hearings, I can safely say the the evangelicals will give the Conservatives votes when they pass this bill. It is a horrifying proposition in many ways and denies the human rights of sex workers, because sex work IS work.
It doesn't matter what anyone's moral stance on prostitution is. You can say you don't believe in it, but that doesn't mean it isn't a trade that hasn't been operated successfully for centuries. High-mindedly (and slightly out of character for the Harper minions), Minister Peter MacKay says the "end goal" is to "abolish prostitution." Joy Smith has a similarly see-through agenda. Her affiliation with the "rescue industry" has become all too apparent, even to one as clueless as I.
To Madames Boivin and Peclet, and Messieurs Casey and Jacob, please: You are now our only hope. I have seen you ask pertinent, worthwhile questions even if there were no answers worth listening to. I do not deny that I am writing this letter from a place of privilege - I grew up in a loving household, did well in school, have two degrees and I am not a street-involved sex worker. However, I fail, much like yourselves, to see what laws the new bill would put in place that the were not in the criminal code before.
Criminalizing prostitution is not the answer. The Conservatives will, of course, answer glibly that there are exceptions, but it will still criminalize those most vulnerable Canadians which it purports to protect. This bill is a flawed bill and should not pass into law because it will make our working conditions even more dangerous.
I am shocked and horrified by what has happened to individuals who have been trafficked or who have other sad stories. I cannot fathom their suffering and I do not discount their bravery. However, laws are on the books for human trafficking, underage prostitution, and coercion. No one should be doing this if they don't want to, and those that force individuals into prostitution when it is a life they do not want should have the full force of the law exerted upon them.
Nevertheless, I stand for current and former sex workers who are demanding simple human rights. Bob Dechert and Joy Smith have succeeded admirably at wasting their time, and sex workers have been having a hoot online captioning pictures of them (see above for a great one)!
We have also been bullied online, particulary by Bridget Perrier, Katie Thibeault, and Megan Walker, who have been using extraordinarily insensitive language and judging us without even hearing our stories. We do not have the time to waste to explain, especially to Ms. Perrier, who will only ever associate sex work with bad memories, what the othering, bullying and stigma does to us. Time is money, and we have calls to get on with, but this normalizes violence against sex workers and explains that it's ok to call her a slut - she's a streetwalker.
The sexwork community has had to keep our sense of humour. Otherwise, we'd drown in the other-ing and the denial of us as legitimate human beings. Wouldn't that be a shame?
Sincerely and with hope,
Olivia
