THANK YOU for publishing this I very much appreciate it for a number of reasons. Your writing inspired the following thought process and I hope everyone will be lenient on me for its length.

You hit the nail squarely on the head here regarding where societal priorities should be, I couldn’t agree more:
“If we had legislation and social programs attacking poverty, drug criminalization, mental health issues, violence against women and other “push” factors as aggressively as prohibitionists currently hope to attack the sale and purchase of sex, then there wouldn’t be much of a sex industry to worry about.”

I wish!! Boy do I wish. In my perfect world too, one I often dream of.

I do believe there is a healthy platform for sexual services as a therapeutic modality however. If humans (in particular the wealthy elitists driving everything) prioritized attacking poverty etc., if human culture prioritized self actualization awareness and empowerment through consciousness (spirit)- over consumerism and capitalism (material), I see a place for therapeutic sexual services that could serve to enhance such priorities, of course requiring people who really do want to provide the services. I am one of those people and I know I’m not alone.

It’s tricky at times to present this (sex work in a positive framework as therapeutic modality, or as labor rights based platform which is required thanks to the way the establishment and infrastructure of law has been set up) up against or alongside rather- (it’s hard to tell the difference sometimes) everything and everyone at stake.

You don’t want to minimize or be insensitive to people in a different process with different experiences- but at the same time we need to push ideas forward in the hopes of changing laws and establishing a protection of our human rights (a HUGE uphill undertaking as it stands) within the establishment (which isn’t going away from what I can tell no matter how long I stand here with my fist clenched).

I read and hear loud and clear Carol Leigh’s comment about “supporting communications as we move towards intersectional understanding” but I’m curious how this is actually being implemented if at all.

I can say from experience in the last four- almost five years I’ve been involved actively in the sex worker rights movement that there’s been quite a bit of unnecessary nastiness, exclusion and at times a ‘competitiveness’ rather than a wholehearted push for solidarity. If you don’t completely agree with someone’s chosen declarations (through Facebook or twitter or up close and personal) a wall is put up and the wagons circle (advocates pushing against advocates who ultimately want the same things they just might not agree on how to get there). I would love to see a more cohesive galvanization throughout the movement. Goddess knows there are many of us all over the planet. We could have huge lobbying power even without money if we had that level of cohesiveness.

When I see a sex worker on twitter, I follow. Even if I don’t agree with every point they make- even if I vehemently disagree with some of their views. We should be able to agree on the primary point of establishing HARM REDUCTION as immediately as possible. One would hope that logic and reason can lead the way regarding how this is achieved under the circumstances. I want to do everything in my power to support the algorithm of the movement (ALL OF US) because it plays a huge part in our work. Without the millions which abolitionists have- we’ve got to be the resourceful people WE ARE and be smart not working against ourselves out of what often appears to be pettiness.

I grew up poor and in a very violent abusive household. I didn’t enter the sex industry until I was 36 years old. After experiencing numerous traumatic events and having no support system I began to self medicate leading to severe addiction. I believed my life was over and I was waiting to die. I entered the industry street level, was a junkie, and homeless, I was close to death. It is a miracle I am alive today as I don’t doubt many can relate to.

From age 21 through until the traumatic experiences that pushed me into hitting bottom, I had worked in holistic medicine as an apprenticed licensed massage therapist- the non erotic type. Before the AMTA (American massage therapy Association) monopolized and effectively industrialized the massage industry you could enter that vocation for less than $300 and offer a worthwhile service. I think it’s interesting to note that ironically I was marginalized as a prostitute constantly for many years as a massage therapist before entering the adult industry.

It was my many years in holistic medicine and massage therapy that allowed me a framework to build upon, but once I decided I was not going to die- I was going to fight for my life- as I established my recovery from addiction I knew I would have to find a healthy platform for sex work- or not do it anymore for the sake of my well being and recovery.

I can honestly say, that sex work has played a big part in my healing process. Many times however, I wonder how I would have fared had I been arrested which fortunately didn’t happen especially at crucial points in my process where such a circumstance would have crippled me. I was marginalized severely along my recovery path no less- by treatment providers and doctors of course. When I hit bottom I kept waiting for someone to love me enough to come save me. No one was coming. Somehow (I don’t even know how) I realized that the only one going to save me was ME; I was going to have be the one to love me enough to save me. And despite the best efforts of marginalizing treatment providers to keep me in treatment ($$$) rather than recovery- I made it out alive and into recovery. I also established a healthy platform from which to do sex work. Admittedly many things changed- as in establishing a variety of hard boundaries that I have refused to compromise no matter what my circumstances are. These boundaries are crucial.

It’s never been easy. It’s been an uphill battle from day fucking one.

I too have feelings and opinions about sex work, the industry, etc., that I know will (and have) garnered flack and rolling eyes from within the sex worker movement. Some of them could easily be co-opted by abolitionists I’m certain. Those wretched souls are going to do what they’re going to do, aren’t they?

None of us should allow ANYONE to stop us from sharing our experiences and perspectives. There ARE many negatives and to deny they exist in the name of narratives would be an injustice.

I realize each person is in their own process and we need to be sensitive and willing to understand and empathize with other people who have their unique process. Especially when our actions will impact other people’s lives. Isn’t this what we are angry about abolitionists not doing in our behalf?

I live by the tenant that I should constantly challenge my understanding and perceptions in particular those perceptions which involve other people’s experiences (it’s much easier to accurately understand oneself, provided you are honest with yourself that is).

These are complex issues. There is no simple here.

I am still learning.

When digging deep for the truth (without it you cannot establish justice) you’ve got to get dirty.

Perhaps in some ways we can see each other as coal. Without friction the coals would never become diamonds.

I am rooting for US. ALL OF US. We can teach each other so much if people are willing to learn. I am!!

I hope this is just the beginning of you writing about these things.

yeah understand that, but there were “if your story is true” comments hidden amidst the bollocks. It didnt even look like he had read LJ;s piece since he made claims about them “hating every client” ect.
I despair of us ever moving beyond the happy hooker/tragic victim binary when we have privileged male sex workers like fox reinforcing the binary!

Oh and thanks for all your moderation work, understand it must be a pretty thankless task

I’ll delete it now–it was a long comment and I may have missed that part. I found his POV ridiculous and offensive but I didn’t want to censor it if it was presented civilly.

https://sometimesitsjustacigar.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/third-exit-from-the-left/