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

Tag: Sex Work

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.

Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery

Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery by Siddharth Kara
(Columbia University Press)

This review may contain triggers.

At this moment, there are roughly twenty-seven million people enslaved globally, and over a million of them are sex slaves. Millions more have escaped, “earned” their freedom, or died from assault or STDs over the past twenty years – and, unless action is taken right now, millions more will become enslaved. Tellingly, almost all the countries that serve as either origins or destinations of trafficking victims have enormous, well-funded police forces devoted to drug wars, but can’t be bothered to rustle up the money for anti-trafficking efforts. The abuse of drugs has the power to whip entire populations into a frenzy, but the abuse of people is met with listless dismissal.

Read More…Read More…

International Sex Workers Rights Day

Via Amber, today March 3rd is International Sex Workers Rights Day.  SWOP-USA provides some history:

The 3rd of March is International Sex Worker Rights Day. The day originated in 2001 when over 25,000 sex workers gathered in India for a sex worker festival. The organizers, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a Calcutta based group whose membership consists of somewhere upwards of 50,000 sex workers and members of their communities. Sex worker groups across the world have subsequently celebrated 3 March as International Sex Workers’ Rights Day.

Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (2002): “We felt strongly that that we should have a day what need to be observed by the sex workers community globally. Keeping in view the large mobilization of all types of global sexworkers [Female,Male,Transgender], we proposed to observe 3rd March as THE SEX WORKERS RIGHTS DAY.

Knowing the usual response of international bodies and views of academicians and intellectuals of the 1st world [many of them consider that sex workers of third world are different from 1st world and can’t take their decision] a call coming from a third world country would be more appropriate at this juncture, we believe. It will be a great pleasure to us if all of you observe the day in your own countries too…We need your inspiration and support to turn our dreams into reality.

Check out SWOP-USA for more information on events taking place today, namely a potluck dinner in NYC. They also have information on the specific and most pressing issues affecting sex workers.  In addition to racism/transphobia/sexism/homophobia/poverty, they are: ending violence against sex workers, involving sex workers in the fight against human trafficking, ending stigmatization and discrimination against sex workers, fighting HIV/AIDs, ending the raids/stings against prostitutes and decriminalizing prostitution overall.

If you have more information on events taking place today (or in the near future), also make sure to leave them in the comments!

Posted in Sex

Updates on Burn Victim Roberta Busby

Moving this up so as many people see it as possible.

Just a few days ago, I put up a post about a woman who was doused with a flammable liquid outside of a strip club, her place of employment, and set on fire.  There are two suspects in this horrific attack, named Nathaniel Petrillo and Rianne Theriault-Odom.  In the comments here and elsewhere, there was a great out pouring of support for her.

The new details that have come in since then are few but significant.  The woman’s name has been released as Roberta Busby.  As of yesterday, she was reported to be in critical but stable condition.  This is a relief and excellent news.  Her attackers, however, still have not been found and arrested.  You can view images of the suspects here. If you know anything, please immediately call the LAPD at 213-485-2531 (or 877-LAPD-24-7 for after-hours and weekend calls).

Perhaps most importantly of all, many of you have asked how you can help Roberta financially with her medical bills.  I’ve yet to find anything on that specifically, but after some serious searching, I did find information on an account that has been set up for donations for her children.  Remember that Roberta is obviously out of work at the moment, has likely lost her previous livelihood entirely, and that any financial contribution will be a huge help in reducing the overall financial burden she is facing.

According to local CBS affiliate KCAL 9, here is how you can send donations:

If you would like to help the children of dancer Roberta Busby, who was recently set on fire outside the club where she works, bring a check in to any Washington Mutual branch, made out to “Rodrigo Busby For The Benefit Of The Children Of Roberta Busby” or send a check to

3835 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., #256
Westlake Village, CA 91362

Please give if you can, and pass on the information about how to help regardless.  If anyone happens to have any additional information, please let me know.  And keep up those well-wishes, prayers or whatever it is you’re doing in the hopes that Roberta is going to pull through.

Transgender Woman Beaten By Police and Threatened With Murder in Honduras

From Amnesty International UK comes the story of a woman, transgender sex worker and HIV/AIDS campaigner (unnamed for her own safety) in Honduras, who was assaulted by police officers and threatened with death if she spoke out about the attack:

Four police officers in a police car approached the transgender woman, who has asked Amnesty International to withhold her name, at about 12.40am on 20 December 2008 in the Palmira district of the capital, Tegucigalpa. She was working as a sex worker at the time. The police officers tried to rob her but, when she resisted, they grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly smashed her head against a nearby window, breaking the glass. She received numerous cuts to her face and knees.

The officers then said that they were arresting the woman for breaking a window in order to gain forcible entry to private property. The officers took her to the local police station, and then to a local health centre to be treated for her wounds. Since she was bleeding, she informed the officers that she was HIV positive and the officers replied by saying “AIDS bitch, people like you should be in a separate place” (perra sidosa, gente como Ustedes tiene que estar en un lugar aparte) While on their way, the officers also told her “if you speak out, we will leave you dead in the countryside” (si hablas, te dejaremos muerta en el monte). She was taken back to the police station and was released without charge at around 11.30am. She has recently filed a formal complaint with the Human Rights section of the Public Prosecutor’s Office about this incident.

Jack said something wise on this very blog once when commenting on the murder of Duanna Johnson:

Just to be trans, just to be a woman, just to be a person of color in this country is enough to drastically increase one’s exposure to hatred and violence; when oppressions overlap, violence tends to multiply.

The context here is somewhat different, but to paraphrase Jack now, we do know that to be a woman, to be trans, to be a sex worker, and to be HIV positive pretty much anywhere is to increase one’s exposure to hatred and violence.  And yes, when oppressions overlap, the rates of violence increase.

We don’t know with certainty for which of the above reasons this woman was attacked: one, many or a combination of all of the above.  (My guess?  All but the last, unless they knew who she was, in which case all.)  But we do know with a pretty damn solid certainty that it was at least one.

This kind of violence is never acceptable, especially coming from police. It is even less so when marginalized members of our society, as they usually are, are the ones specifically sought out in this kind of violence.  And as Amnesty International notes in this materials, this is not an isolated incident.  Just like in the U.S., transgender sex workers are assaulted and murdered far too often in Honduras.  And police specifically have a reputation for assaulting transgender sex workers.

Click here to send appeals to the Honduran authorities urging that they guarantee the safety of the woman who was attacked. It will only take a moment of your time, and it is surely worth that.

h/t Womanist Musings

Woman Set on Fire Outside Strip Club

I really wish that I knew what to say, and I just don’t:

Shortly after 1:30 a.m., 22-year-old Nathaniel Petrillo and 27-year-old Rianne Therialut-Odom allegedly called the unidentified dancer outside the Babes and Beer nightclub in Tarzana to meet with them. For unknown reasons, they poured a combustible liquid on her and set her ablaze. She then ran back inside the bar where people came to her aid.

The dancer is now listed in grave condition with severe burns over 60 percent of her body. The suspects took off in a metallic gold in color newer model four door sedan, police said.

In another article, police suggest (I think rather insensitively and hopefully not prophetically) that the two suspects may end up being charged with murder. Apparently the woman’s condition is just that critical.

I think that abbeyjean said it well with her apparently needed reminded that women who work in strip clubs are PEOPLE, not firewood. If only more of us could remember that, as well as the fact that this is where misogyny and hatred and marginalization of sex workers leads us.

My thoughts are with the woman who suffered this horrendous attack, and I hope with all my heart that she makes a recovery.  If you’re someone who prays, now would probably be a good time.

Natalie Dylan Speaks Out

Yesterday, an article from Natalie Dylan — the pseudonym of the women’s study student who is auctioning off her virginity — appeared in The Daily Beast.  She now claims that the auction is more than a way to pay for grad school, as previously reported, but also a sociological experiment.  The article makes for an interesting read.  I recommend checking out the whole thing (it’s not very long), but these two paragraphs struck me as most relevant for discussion:

When I learned this, it became apparent to me that idealized virginity is just a tool to keep women in their place. But then I realized something else: if virginity is considered that valuable, what’s to stop me from benefiting from that? It is mine, after all. And the value of my chastity is one level on which men cannot compete with me. I decided to flip the equation, and turn my virginity into something that allows me to gain power and opportunity from men. I took the ancient notion that a woman’s virginity is priceless and used it as a vehicle for capitalism.

Are you rolling your eyes? I knew this experiment would bring me condemnation. But I’m not saying every forward-thinking person has to agree with what I’m doing. You should develop your own personal belief system—that’s exactly my point! For me, valuing virginity as sacred is simply not a concept I could embrace. But valuing virginity monetarily—now that’s a concept I could definitely get behind. I no longer view the selling of sex as wrong or immoral—my time at college showed me that I had too blindly accepted such arbitrary norms. And for what it’s worth, the winning bid won’t necessarily be the highest—I get to choose.

I hesitate to ask this question, feeling like the results are likely to divide along the common “anti-prostitution” and “sex-positive” feminist lines, but I’m also hoping that we might be able to have the conversation respectfully.  So, what do you think?

For my part, I’m personally uncomfortable with the concept of selling sex, especially within the context of a patriarchy, but also believes that one has a right to do with their body what they will.  I further think that Dylan is likely telling the truth about her intentions, and have thought the same things about this being an interesting example of how our society values virginity while watching this play out.  As someone who is rather resentful of the social construct of virginity and how it is used against women, I really do like that aspect and think it’s quite subversive, at the same time as I have the conflicting thought that it’s not so subversive (if again, still not morally objectionable in my view) to partake in “the world’s oldest profession.”

For what it’s worth, I think that Renee’s essay on this subject over at Global Comment is also quite good.

Discuss.

Thanks to Anna for the link.

New anti-prostitution laws will put women in danger

A guest post by Caroline Shepherd.

Hi Feministers, I’m Caroline Shepherd and I blog at Better burn that dress, sister. Jill has very kindly given me a guest spot to tell you all what’s happening to the prostitution laws in England and Wales right now – they’re set to change, and not in a good way.

Let me tell you about the laws as they are now: selling sex in England and Wales is legal, but the associated activities are not. For example, ‘causing’ or ‘inciting’ prostitution is illegal. Loitering on the street, soliciting basically, is illegal too. So is running a brothel and persistent kerb-crawling. Wiki has a useful page if you want a bit more info. These laws as they are far from ideal; a look back at the attacks of sex workers in England reported in the media this year alone very clearly demonstrate their vulnerability –

These are the cases that made it to court and the papers, God knows how many attacks happen that don’t even make it to the police station. Clearly, there is a group of women in society that are being completely and utterly let down by the law.

And it’s set to get worse.

Read More…Read More…

A Call to Action on Trans Rights in Tennessee

Via Questioning Transphobia comes this press release from the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition on the shooting of Leeneshia Edwards, the third transgender woman to be shot in Memphis in the past six months.  One of the other women was Duanna Johnson, who died.  Renee at Womanist Musings further points out the strong racist thread to the transphobic and misogynistic violence.  My thoughts are with Leenashia and her family, and I hope that yours are as well.  Read the press release below, do what you can, and pass the information along.

For Immediate Release: Dated December 27, 2008

Another Transgender Woman Shot in Memphis

On Christmas Eve, a Memphis television station reported the shooting of Leeneshia Edwards in Memphis. She becomes the third transgender woman shot in Memphis in just six months. At last report, Leeneshia is in critical condition. We extend our hopes and prayers to Leenashia for a speedy recovery.

We also ask for anyone with any information about this latest crime to call Memphis Crimes Stoppers at (901)528-CASH.

The shooting of Leeneshia Edwards helps shed light on a disturbing trend in Memphis. Transgender women who work in the sex industry in order to survive are now being targeted by a pervasive culture of violence.

The indifferent attitude of law enforcement towards the February 16, 2006, murder of Tiffany Berry, and the February 12, 2008, beating of Duanna Johnson by Memphis Police Department officers, has sent a message that the lives of transgender people are not important. This has fed the culture of violence that has permeated the second half of 2008, and is exemplified by the July 1 murder of Ebony Whitaker, the July 28 murder of Dre-Ona Blake, a two year old girl who was killed by the man who had previously been charged with the murder of Tiffany Berry, but was allowed to walk free for two and a half years, the November 9 murder of Duanna Johnson, and now the shooting of Leeneshia Edwards.

This open season on transgender people in Memphis and elsewhere, regardless of whether or not they engage in sex work, must come to an end right now.

We call on business people who refuse to hire transgender people to open their doors immediately to transgender workers so there are alternatives to working on the streets.

We call on shelters that routinely turn away transgender people who are seeking help, to open their doors so that transgender people do not have to live on the streets.

We call on religious leaders who preach intolerance towards crossdressers and transsexuals from the pulpit to cease immediately and begin preaching messages of love and acceptance of diversity.

We call on political leaders of all parties to stop campaigning against transgender people and start supporting fully inclusive employment non-discrimination and hate crimes legislation to show that the lives of transgender people have value.

Marisa Richmond
President

The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) is an organization designed to educate and advocate on behalf of transgender related legislation at the Federal, State and local levels. TTPC is dedicated to raising public awareness and building alliances with other organizations concerned with equal rights legislation.

For more information, or to make a donation, contact:

Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC)
P.O. Box 92335
Nashville, TN 37209
http://ttgpac.com
TTGPAC@aol.com
(615)293-6199
(615)353-1834 fax

Sometimes there’s nothing else to say but holy shit

This is horrific.

It was a little before 8 at night when the breaker went out at Emily Milburn’s home in Galveston. She was busy preparing her children for school the next day, so she asked her 12-year-old daughter, Dymond, to pop outside and turn the switch back on.

As Dymond headed toward the breaker, a blue van drove up and three men jumped out rushing toward her. One of them grabbed her saying, “You’re a prostitute. You’re coming with me.”

Dymond grabbed onto a tree and started screaming, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.” One of the men covered her mouth. Two of the men beat her about the face and throat.

As it turned out, the three men were plain-clothed Galveston police officers who had been called to the area regarding three white prostitutes soliciting a white man and a black drug dealer.

All this is according to a lawsuit filed in Galveston federal court by Milburn against the officers. The lawsuit alleges that the officers thought Dymond, an African-American, was a hooker due to the “tight shorts” she was wearing, despite not fitting the racial description of any of the female suspects. The police went to the wrong house, two blocks away from the area of the reported illegal activity, Milburn’s attorney, Anthony Griffin, tells Hair Balls.

After the incident, Dymond was hospitalized and suffered black eyes as well as throat and ear drum injuries.

Three weeks later, according to the lawsuit, police went to Dymond’s school, where she was an honor student, and arrested her for assaulting a public servant. Griffin says the allegations stem from when Dymond fought back against the three men who were trying to take her from her home. The case went to trial, but the judge declared it a mistrial on the first day, says Griffin. The new trial is set for February.

“I think we’ll be okay,” says Griffin. “I don’t think a jury will find a 12-year-old girl guilty who’s just sitting outside her house. Any 12-year-old attacked by three men and told that she’s a prostitute is going to scream and yell for Daddy and hit back and do whatever she can. She’s scared to death.”

Since the incident more than two years ago, Dymond regularly suffers nightmares in which police officers are raping and beating her and cutting off her fingers, according to the lawsuit.
Griffin says he expects to enter mediation with the officers in early 2009 to resolve the lawsuit.

So plain-clothed police officers beat up a little girl who they were wrongly arresting, and now the girl and her father are the ones in trouble for trying to defend her?

Dymond and her father did exactly what most people would do in that situation — if anything, Dymond was exceptionally brave in fighting back and yelling for help. The fact that she’s being criminalized for it is beyond comprehension.

Apparently the Milburns have filed a lawsuit against the police department. Hopefully they’re successful.

This case is especially compelling because it involves an innocent 12-year-old girl who did not fit the description of the alleged criminal the police were looking for, and instead was targeted because she happened to have the bad luck of opening her own front door while wearing shorts and being black. But if the allegations against the police are true, it’s troubling on an even deeper level — because it’s an illustration of what sex workers face every day, but are rarely able to fight back against.

Police offiers and other people in positions of power can victimize and abuse sex workers with almost no fear of retribution or legal consequence. The police beat up a 12-year-old girl because they thought she was a prostitute, and, if the news report is accurate, have said as much. Had she actually been a prostitute, that treatment would have apparently been acceptable.

The whole story is disgusting. I haven’t read anything about the officers being suspended or fired, but I sure hope they’re out on their asses for this.

Galbeston Chief of Police, Charles Wiley, can be reached by phone at 409-765-3790, or by email at cwiley@cityofgalveston.org.