In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set || First feminist blog on the internet

Month: June 2009

Sex Workers Project 2009 Legislative Agenda for New York State

Robin from SixToedKitties forwarded me the Sex Workers Project (SWP) 2009 legislative agenda for New York State.  These issues don’t get nearly enough airtime, and I doubt that I’m the only New Yorker who cares about these issues and didn’t even know about the bills in question.

I’m going to repost the entire agenda below, since I fully agree with the importance of everything in there — with the caveat that I think (and imagine most of those pushing this current agenda would likely agree) several of these efforts are band aids and eventually need to go farther:

PLEASE ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT THESE BILLS

  • STOP PUNISHING POSSESSION OF CONDOMS!  Support the No Condoms as Evidence Bill (A3856, S1289): This bill would stop police and prosecutors from using possession of condoms as evidence that they engaged -or intended to engage- in prostitution.  Currently, police and courts use the fact that a person has or is carrying condoms to prove that they are engaging in criminal activity.  Sex workers report that they are more likely to be arrested if they carry condoms, and sex work venues are more likely to be raided if there are condoms on the premises.  Police officers regularly confiscate condoms from people they allege are engaged in prostitution to use as evidence at trial.  As a result people are hesitant to carry condoms to protect themselves and others, for fear that it will lead to arrest or be held against them in court.  Sound public health policy would encourage condom use by eliminating the fear that carrying a condom will be used against you by police or in a court of law.
  • RAPE IS RAPE – NO MATTER WHO THE VICTIM IS!  Support the Rape Shield Reform Bill (A6293, S2668): This bill would stop rape victims from being questioned about past convictions for prostitution.  Currently, sex workers – and those who are profiled as sex workers – are excluded from the protections of the “rape shield law,” which generally protects victims of rape from being interrogated about their sexual histories and practices.  Allowing for questioning of rape victims about past prostitution convictions implies that sex workers cannot be raped or should not be believed when they say they have been raped.  In reality, sex workers are raped at rates consistent with, or higher than, national averages.  Our government should protect all rape victims from being put on trial when they come forward to seek justice in the courts.
  • A FRESH START FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS!  Support the Vacating Convictions Bill (A7670): Unfortunately, when people are trafficked (forced, threatened, or coerced) into prostitution, they are also often arrested and convicted of prostitution-related offenses – without the police or the courts recognizing that they need help.  Even after escaping their abusers, it is hard for people who have been trafficked into sex work to start a new life with a long “rap sheet” of prostitution convictions, which have many consequences for access to housing, employment, ability to obtain professional licenses, and even parental rights.  This bill would allow victims of trafficking to clear their records and start fresh.

PLEASE ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS TO OPPOSE THESE BILLS:

  • NO BRANDING OF LEGAL SEX WORKERS!  Oppose the “Sex Performer” Registration Bill (A06476): This bill would require workers in “adult” establishments to register with government authorities in order to be able to engage in legal forms of sex work.  This would result in sex workers being branded as “sex performers” by the government – which could affect their ability to obtain government benefits, employment, or housing, and could increase their vulnerability to violence, extortion, and interference with parental rights.  Although aimed at curbing trafficking into sex work, such an initiative could actually increase vulnerability to trafficking, as it would push undocumented workers further underground and away from help by driving them into criminalized forms of sex work.  The rights of workers at strip clubs and other adult businesses need to be respected and enforced, rather than subjecting them to burdensome regulations that infringe on their rights and take away their privacy.
  • SUPPORT SAFETY FOR SEX WORKERS – Oppose the Craigslist Bills (A2598, A264, S2212): These bills would increase penalties for promoting prostitution, especially through the internet.  Many sex workers work through the internet to increase their safety and avoid street-based sex work, where they are more vulnerable to violence at the hands of police, clients, and community members.  If use of the internet for the purposes of engaging in sex work is further penalized, sex workers will have fewer avenues to work more safely.  Although these bills are intended to increase penalties for “pimps,” they would place many sex workers at risk for felony convictions.  Sex workers often seek to work more safely by working collectively, sharing referrals, clients, and safety tips, and by hiring agents, security, and support staff, all of whom could be subject to increased penalties under these bills.  The government should pursue justice against those who commit violence against sex workers under existing laws against trafficking, abuse of minors, assault, and rape, rather than increase potential penalties for sex workers trying to work more safely.
  • INCREASED PUNISHMENT DOESN’T HELP ANYONE – Oppose the Increased Penalties Bill (A381): This bill would increase penalties for people convicted of prostitution more than once.  Those most likely to be impacted are the sex workers who are most vulnerable to profiling, arrest, and violence – those who live and work on the street.  Many transgender women are profiled as sex workers and arrested scores of times – regardless of whether or not they actually engage in sex work.  Victims of trafficking are often arrested many times, until they find the power or resources to escape coercive situations.  These individuals need housing, job training, and protection from profiling and police abuse, not increased penalties which just decrease rather than increase the options available to sex workers.

The No Condoms BIll — a particularly important one — is currently before the Assembly and could be voted on as soon as today, or within the next week.  So while SWP is encouraging New York residents to write to their assembly members with regards to all of the items listed above, it’s particularly important to write or call now to voice support for A3856.  You can find your assembly member’s contact information by typing your zip code into VoteSmart.org.

Lastly, if there are sex workers reading who would like to anonymously share their experiences under current New York law with legislators, you can write to swp@urbanjustice.org.

Right-wing shock jocks: Now attacking children

This is reprehensible (trigger warning). I’m not going to quote from the piece because it’s really sickening, but the gist is this: Right-wing radio jocks in Sacramento attacked transgender kids, calling them horrible names and basically encouraging listeners to beat their children if their children expressed any sort of gender-nonconforming behavior — including things as simple (and common) as a little boy wanting to wear high heels or a dress.

With kids killing themselves after being teased at school for being gay* or gender-noncomforming, this strikes me as not only mind-bogglingly cruel, but incredibly irresponsible.

I always have a hard time with stories like this one, because I just can’t understand why. What’s the point of terrorizing children?

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So this is what “common ground” looks like?

I know a lot of pro-choice advocates dislike Obama’s “common ground” rhetoric, but I’ve actually thought it was quite strategically smart. After all, the “common ground” position is abortion reduction through contraception, poverty alleviation, and increased gender equality — the pro-choice position, in a nutshell. It is irritating to see that position re-packaged and sold as new, but if it works, I’m fine with it. It also puts anti-choicers on the defensive, and it makes them explain why they’re opposed to all the things that have been proven to decrease the abortion rate. The anti-choice position is centered solely and wholely on making abortion illegal; they have no other tenable plan for making abortion less common. So I like the “common ground” argument, because it puts them in a position of refusing all common-sense solutions.

But if this is what “common ground” looks like, count me out.

President Obama has appointed Alexia Kelley, executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good (CACG), to head the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Health and Human Services. Kelley is a leading proponent of “common ground” abortion reduction — only CACG’s common ground is at odds with that of Obama. While the administration favors reducing the need for abortion by reducing unintended pregnancies, Kelley has made clear that she seeks instead to reduce access to abortion. That is an extremely disturbing development, especially coming this week in the wake of George Tiller’s assassination.

Kelley and CACG have made clear they are committed to Catholic doctrine on abortion and birth control. CACG has supported the Pregnant Women’s Support Act, aimed at stigmatizing abortion and making it less accessible. In discussing legislation on reducing the need for abortion, Kelley has written that various pieces of legislation concerned with women’s health “are not all perfect; some include contraception — which the Church opposes.” Never mind that more than 90 percent of American Catholics use it anyway.

As Catholics for Choice points out in its press release criticizing the pick, “the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for providing and expanding access to key sexual and reproductive health services. As such, we need those working in HHS to rely on evidence-based methods to reduce the need for abortion. We need them to believe in men’s and women’s capacity to make moral decisions about their own lives. Unfortunately, as seen from her work at CACG, Ms. Kelley does not fit the bill.”

In a 2008 press teleconference co-sponsored by CACG and Sojourners, Kelley stated that she supported state-imposed restrictions on abortion, such as waiting periods and informed consent. In her 2008 book, A Nation for All, co-written with Chris Korzen, Kelley wrote, “Each abortion constitutes a direct attack on human life, and so we have a special moral obligation to end or reduce the practice of abortion to the greatest extent possible.”

I’ll echo Sarah’s question: Why do we need religious groups involved in health care policy?

Catholics for Choice has even more background. I’m glad that Ms. Kelley supports anti-poverty measures, but without support for basics like contraception, it doesn’t seem like there’s much common ground to be had.

I Am Dr. Tiller

An amazing and inspiring project. It’s a living memorial to Dr. Tiller, featuring women and men around the world who are continuing on his mission of providing reproductive healthcare to women in need.

Check it out. And if you’re an abortion provider, please submit your story. There are submissions instructions here.

SPEAK! Listening Party in Long Beach, CA!

Remember that awesome CD that’s out right now? The spoken word collection that features the work of BFP, Black Amazon, Little Light, and so many others? The one that combines personal history and movement making in truly inspiring ways? If you live in or around Long Beach, CA and haven’t heard it yet, now’s your chance! On Sunday, June 14th, Petit Poussin, Christine, and I will be hosting a listening party from 2-5. As we listen to the CD, you’ll be able to participate in discussion and respond by making your own media, whether it’s visual art, handwritten text, a zine, blogging or twittering, or whatever combination of the above you can come up with. Afterwards, we’ll sit down to a potluck dinner. CDs will be available for sale – remember that all proceeds go towards getting single mothers to the Allied Media Conference next month.

Address available upon RSVP. A quick warning for people with allergies: a friendly medium-haired cat will be present.

RSVP to modernmitzvot at yahoo com or ppoussin at gmail com!

On GRITtv with Laura Flanders

The lovely Laura Flanders graciously had me on her show today, along with Mario Murillo and Russ Baker. In small-world strangeness, Mario was my first journalism professor at NYU. It was a great panel, and even though I say “you know” too much, I think it’s worth checking out, if only for the very insightful commentary from Laura, Mario and Russ. We discuss Dr. Tiller, Obama’s Middle East trip, GM, and Sotomayor:

So when does Laura get her own cable news show?

Terms of Debate

Over at A Little Bit Pregnant, Julie posted about the murder of Dr. Tiller. One of her commenters–Jennifer on Jun 1, 2009 11:10:02 AM–put her personal beliefs this way:

I am pro-life and believe that all life is precious, in utero and out. The death of anyone is a horrible thing, particularly when it is a life cut short by the acts of a mentally unstable person. I have never treated anyone differently because of choosing to end a pregnancy, but it does cause me to wonder what more we as a nation and culture can do to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, and to prevent birth defects and improve screenings so that no baby is lost to false results. I am pro-life, but believe that no one should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term. I am a realist and understand that sometimes abortions are necessary.

However, I am a little shocked at the sweeping generalizations that have been made on some of the comments here about “pro-lifers.” That we are all religious nuts who would kill anyone trying to perform an abortion or obtain one. Please, don’t lump me and most of the people I know into that kind of category. Its not fair to anyone.

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Wow

I’m not sure how to describe this story. It’s not exactly “sweet,” but it is oddly heartwarming. It’s certainly nice to be reminded of how compassionate and forgiving people can be. I also love the line, “I said ‘Congratulations. You are now a Muslim and your name is Nawaz Sharif Zardari.'”

via Ali’s g-chat status.