The Week In Links—March 28

The Devil's Auction, J. Gurney & Son (studio), part of the Charles H. McCaghy Collection of Exotic Dance from Burlesque to Clubs

The Ohio State University has made a slew of classic images from the Charles H. McCaghy Collection of Exotic Dance From Burlesque to Clubs available online. Let us take inspiration for future outfits from it. Bad boys! Whatcha gon, whatcha gon, whatcha gon do? That awkward moment when the chief of police gets arrested for… Continue reading The Week In Links—March 28

The Week In Links—March 21

The 58th meeting of the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women took place in New York over the last two weeks, and on Wednesday hosted a sex work panel, “Sex Work is Work: Making the case for the promotion of health and economic rights of sex workers.” It was sponsored by the American Jewish World Service (which published… Continue reading The Week In Links—March 21

The Week In Links—March 8

Bangladeshi sex workers form a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club (Photo by Sony Ramany, via demotix.com)

The prostitution crackdown in the Guangdong Province of China will continue; 363 suspects have already been detained. Strange news out of San Francisco last week as the faith-based sex workers’ outreach Solace SF was closed under allegations of fraud against founder Laura Lasky. Canadian sex worker Celine Bisette acknowledges that Canada has done a terrific job… Continue reading The Week In Links—March 8

Activist Spotlight: Melissa Gira Grant on Playing The Whore and Policing the Policers, Part One

Melissa in a pilgrimage to Frida Kahlo's house. O, roving reporter. (Photo via Melissa's flickr)

In the early aughts when I was a novice escort and On Our Backs was still being published, I was wowed by Melissa Gira Grant, an internet porn-making, geeky, theory-spouting phenom, even managing to be friends with her despite the fact that she was an Anais Nïn devotee. Over the years I’ve kept in touch… Continue reading Activist Spotlight: Melissa Gira Grant on Playing The Whore and Policing the Policers, Part One

The Week In Links—February 14th

Police in Duonguang, China, arrest alleged sex workers and clients in a massive raid on the entertainment district (Photo by Getty Images, via the Daily Mail)

Trafficking survivor Jes Richardson offers a concise, helpful critique of most ‘rescue’ operations: “When someone is rescued the power, strength, courage, and control is placed in the hands of the rescuers, rather than empowering the person being rescued.” Here are a few “no duh” sex tips from sex worker Siouxsie Q. This guy read Melissa… Continue reading The Week In Links—February 14th