Hugh Hefner: Rapist And Revolutionary

Content warning: this post contains brief references to rape and abuse.  Hugh Hefner died. Of course he did. Dude was 91. When my castmate announced it after rehearsal, I didn’t feel shock at the news. Hefner may as well have died when he stopped being the editor of Playboy magazine. Or when The Girls Next… Continue reading Hugh Hefner: Rapist And Revolutionary

Sex Workers And Scabs: Mixed Feelings After The Women’s Strike

Argentinian sex workers' union AMMAR-CTA members in a Women's Strike event on Wednesday.

I was a scab on Wednesday during the Women’s Strike. Too broke and disorganized as usual, still messily addicted, I ended up having to see a client. And sure, I wore red, and I limited my shopping to the South Asian woman-owned convenience store down the street, and I tried to allow the organizers’ reassurance… Continue reading Sex Workers And Scabs: Mixed Feelings After The Women’s Strike

To Live Freely In This World: Sex Worker Activism In Africa (2016)

A version of this review originally appeared in issue 19 of make/shift magazine In March 2016, South African deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa made a historic announcement of a nationwide scheme to prevent and treat HIV among sex workers, proclaiming, “we cannot deny the humanity and inalienable rights of people who engage in sex work.” Though… Continue reading To Live Freely In This World: Sex Worker Activism In Africa (2016)

When Feminism Is A Brand

(Photo by Toban B. via Flickr)

This piece was originally posted by the author on Medium. Content warning: the links in this post lead to articles detailing the rape and sexual assault of sex workers. We need to talk about the ever increasing number of men like James Deen who utilize feminism as a marketable identity to cover up their abusive… Continue reading When Feminism Is A Brand

Who Can We Trust? Vulnerability, Whorephobia, And Fundraising For Heather

One of the more difficult aspects of living as a sex worker is never knowing exactly whom you can trust. Sometimes even allies can say offensive things or break confidentiality. In the wake of such indiscretions, it’s sex workers themselves who are left to navigate that broken trust and the increased vulnerability that comes along… Continue reading Who Can We Trust? Vulnerability, Whorephobia, And Fundraising For Heather