Outdated Fear: Criminalizing HIV+ Sex Workers

(Image via the Stigma Project)

With thanks to members of SWOP-USA Laws that criminalize HIV exposure are supposed to benefit public health, but in practice are extremely harmful to public health and to the targeted HIV-positive individuals. Sex workers are highly vulnerable to these laws, which sometimes target HIV-positive prostitution specifically. Many require forcible HIV testing, and sometimes they simply… Continue reading Outdated Fear: Criminalizing HIV+ Sex Workers

The Week In Links—December 13

The New York Times ran an editorial endorsing the pending legislation in France to criminalize the clients of sex workers. The editorial qualifies its opinion by stating: “Nine out of 10 prostitutes in France are reported to be of foreign origin, and many are presumed to be victims of sex traffickers.” Um, source? Let’s join… Continue reading The Week In Links—December 13

The Week In Links-May 24th

The Gender Commission for Equality’s report last week supporting the decriminalization of prostitution has been covered in a variety of venues, from Sowetan Live to All Africa, SABC News and an editorial in favor of the idea in the Star. South African sex workers welcomed the GCE’s call, with sex worker run orgs SWEAT and Sisonke leading the… Continue reading The Week In Links-May 24th

The Week In Links–May 17th

The San Francisco Bay Guardian profiles this year’s Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival, focusing on contributions by festival co-founder Carol Leigh/Scarlot Harlot, Mariko Passion, James Darling, Siouxsie Q,  Juba Kalamka, Courtney Trouble, Amber Dawn, and Rhiannon Argo. Toro Hashimoto, mayor of Osaka, outraged pretty much everyone this Monday when he stated publicly that the sexual services… Continue reading The Week In Links–May 17th