It was clearly stated that NZPC have accepted the changes, not ‘assert to make the change against migrants’. The article was not about migrant sex work experience and realities of it in NZ, rather the effect Healy has globally when promoting NZ as having the best model in the world. This is irresponsible considering the easiest way for many activists to push legalisation (calling it “decriminalisation”) is by throwing migrants under the bus. As the article points out, this is also the tactic of people pushing Swedish/Nordic model.

Further, if it were white people that were criminalised and no one else, I am sure that she will not be going around doing research to prove that it is the best model, only to then do conflicting research saying it is horrible for migrants. There is clear conflicting desire and messaging on NZ front that needs to resolved. For the most part, Healy has been promoting the model as being the best at the cost of migrants.

This is also not a PERSONAL ATTACK on Healy. I have no personal issue with her aside from the irresponsible messaging. It seems there is a cult of Healy and I can not criticise any of her actions without outright rejection and vilification. Yes, she is throwing migrants under the bus when ever she downplays the criminalising of migrants and promoting the model as best in the world. I guess people are so blinded by awesomeness of Healy that they can not see that it is offensive and irresponsible. Further, she is the spokesperson for NZPC. If there are conflict within the NZPC and therefore, what she is saying – that is also not my problem to figure out.

I actually have little hope for migrants in NZ. It would be very difficult to change the laws now especially when trafficking and anti-migrant sentiments is the dominant narrative. This article is less to do with NZ, but rather, how to make sure this does not happen ever again and to let other activists know the dangers and also that migrants aren’t stupid – we know and are watching. We are silenced by the white sex workers’ movement to not say anything and eat it. I have been silent for YEARS. Enough is enough. It is easier to disseminate information to the rest of the activist community rather than try to change NZ from the outside – this is not my place nor my job and intention. Healy/NZPC seem to care little for migrant issues globally – I also care little about how she/NZPC might look or feel with my messaging globally.

That said, I think the points about how the model is talked about are legit, since it’s ofc not full decrim. Also disappointed to hear of what Bennachie said at the AIDS conference; plus the SEXHUM project looks bad and it’s definitely fucked up that it’s largely done by white people. So yeah, despite what I think about some of the NZPC details I don’t want to come across as slanging the whole article, cos it’s good and migrant SWers deserve better from NZ SW activism. Also agree that it was bad form for Catherine to refer to the author as sounding like ‘our enemies’, cos jeesh the power differential is huge both btwn whorephobes and the author and btwn Catherine and the author. Appreciation to the author for raising this stuff.

The author explained above: “People with valid working visas are still arrested and deported if they engage in sex work.”

White sex workers within the movement need to take responsiblity for unpacking our own privilege. Thank you Nada for calling this out, and also it sucks that it takes sex workers of colour and sex workers of migrant backgrounds to literally go out on a limb in order for the movement to take this up as a serious question. Lets not shoot the messenger.

Neither NSW or New Zealand have full decriminalisation. Doesn’t matter how much we >wish< it were different, or have campaigned for it to be different, we CAN NO LONGER dress up either set of laws as ideal. To do so is racist. I own that I have done this for years too…. and I want my future advocacy to be less racist.

Lets own the racism inherent in social movements, society, and yes, within our very own community. To overlook this is to deny the deep roots of settler-colonialism, genocide of indigenous peoples, white supremacy…. et al. NO MORE DENIAL.