kerrixoxo

I loved watching Justin Ling (on twitter) critiquing Dechert's authority on the issue and mocking him for keep bringing up the fact he is a "lawyer" which Dechert mentioned many times during the committee hearings. Basically, Dechert is a dick.

There is so much hilarity in this case. I can't stop reading AND laughing at this. I love judges who can write oh so well. Lol http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2014/2014onsc3061/2014onsc3061.html

"We are people too and we are workers and we want the same rights as any other worker" I love this video so much! Information about prostitution in New Zealand: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3mqMOhRg5FeQ3lFVDZVSkZscWM/edit

I love Cage the Elephant! Naughty girl - Beyoncé (SP) ;)

Taking a much needed and deserved break! I am going to go for a run (maybe a roller blade if the ground is dry). Have a beautiful evening all! Xo

So I didn't want to reply but I think what you said here is exactly what is missing from the site. This Bill is criminalizing the ability to screen clients and the SCC already unequivocally established that screening is vital to the safety of sex workers. You mention that it was the ability to screen your clients that increased your happiness because it changed your feelings of fear AND that is going to trigger a response from MPs or to attract MPs to listen to your messaging. Otherwise, like I have previously mentioned, the MPs will brush you aside and all sides of the political spectrum will dismiss your voice as a small minority or someone the Bill isn't meant to protect. You may argue that you are not a victim and that your voice isn't being heard but the logic behind the Bill isn't meant to protect the non-exploited sex workers. You can call this an opinion but I am telling you, your site misses the point of the charter challenge, the SCC decision and the government response (the Bill). These facts are undeniable. The SCC also said that third party violence does not negate the role of the state in creating the harms. If the Bill prevents a sex workers' ability to screen and the SCC already unequivocally established that screening is vital to the safety of sex workers, then the state is negating its role in creating harms in sex workers' lives. You can be happy all you want but you need to make it clear why you are happy on your site and why screening has protected you. Like I said, this isn't about happiness it is about safety and protection--the right to life, liberty, and security of person (FYI happiness isn't included in establishing the legal test for this type of charter challenge). And as for your comment, "why do your feelings matter and mine dont?" I never once said this was about my feelings. This isn't personal. Also thank you Gabriella for asking a much needed question!

Steak + corn on the cob + salad! Nomnomnom!

I hope one day you realize that your site adds support for Bill c36 and not opposing it. The government doesn't care about your feelings or the feelings of clients-they will bulldoze through this Bill and the antis will say you are the minority and they already have. That's the problem with this site. You can create your own movement but this site just adds support to the preamble to the Bill--it's about the victims and you are not a victim thus, you are not a representative of the people the Bill is trying to protect. That is all and that's the logic behind the Bill and the site. I'm out.

Hmmm, I don't know how to say this without upsetting anyone. I get that MJL wanted to take some sort of action. I commend you for stepping up to the plate and filling (what you thought) was a gap in the discussion. However, I have to say that the major issue with the happy hooker narratives is when the anti-sex workers employ these arguments, "If you are so happy with your job why aren't you out and proud as a sex worker?" Well there are a lot of reasons why, the main one, criminalization. As a sex worker, if you are charged with any prostitution related charges, then you will not be able to cross the border. If you are a mother and you are outed as a sex worker, you may potentially lose your children or access to your children. If you are a sex worker and are working other forms of employment, you could lose your other forms of employment. If you are a sex worker and a student, you could potentially damage your future career--yes some sex workers only do this part time and to help fund schooling. If you are a sex worker and you volunteer with certain organizations (or want to volunteer with certain organizations), sometimes those require background checks and/or a "clean" criminal record. Some sex workers are alienated from their family/friends and/or their personal/professional relationships are harmed and they are pushed further to isolation and alienation. Not everyone can be out and proud because of the risk of criminalization which contributes to stigmatization, alienation, and isolation especially for the most marginalized sex work populations. There are so many other things you could lose access to if you are out and proud as a sex worker like access to equitable health care, access to housing, access to safety and security, access to social supports--this isn't just about a few sex workers who can afford all the nice things in life, plus happiness and more. While I get that the intentions were good and that someone wanted to have their story heard, that could have been done in many ways that does not feed into these anti-sex work narratives. The antis and the government HAVE already said that if you are safe and it was criminal before, then what is the problem with sex work STILL being criminal, As quoted by Hillyer, "In the sex worker's letter...if these people are already willing to give their information during this illegal activity, I am not sure why they would not under this new legislation." The site says, "a happy hooker is a safe hooker" and if this all that is needed, then I am certain that the antis will also say, "well, you don't have to have your work decriminalized for your safety then" and they already HAVE made this argument plenty of times--they always argue, "this is for the victims!" and this is what the happy hooker site contributes to--these happy hooker/victim narratives. The site basically says that sex work doesn't need to be decriminalized and supports the intent of the Bill, which is "to protect the victims and if you aren't a victim, then you don't have to worry! The Bill doesn't worry about you!" You can be a proud sex worker/hooker/whatever but when we feed into these larger discourses, we run the risk of hurting the case for decriminalization which is access to rights not access to happiness. I hope, Jessica, you realize that nobody is attacking you personally. I also hope what I said was clear and if you have any questions/comments/concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or reply here.

Give back to my community! I know I haven't been home for a while but I want to give back to my community for all their support throughout my life. I think it would be to help create youth programming and include the youth from the beginning which is what I did last summer in northern Alberta. Often times though, youth are left behind or considered last when they should have been involved from the beginning. I've been apart of so many projects that did just that and I remember feeling so accomplished seeing the project take off--I want to share that feeling with other youth!

Teehee!

Hmmm this is a tough one! London: The Tasting Room or The Church Key Toronto: The Korean BBQ (it's my fav place to eat at a low key place) and Blowfish; also Keriwa cafe (it's a bit out there on Queen Street East but it is literally the best and most authentic Aboriginal cuisine I've had in Toronto--Bannock too but I've never ate there just heard great things) Sault Ste Marie: Fratelli's on top of the hill (it is the sons of the owners of the Gino's family restaurant and more modern/relaxed) That's really all the places that come to my mind but I am not a picky water and love to try to new places (all the time)! Love this list BTW!

OMG! Going for a run .... Literally after being in a car for 13 hours. Never have I ever thought I would almost orgasm at the thought of running (I've already orgasmed once while running lol) sooooooooo good! Lol see you soon Saskatchewan xox

I wasn't sure where to put this. This was share with me but I am not in Calgary. I figured I would post it here. http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages/Engagement/Federal-legislation-prostitution.aspx. City of Calgary is asking for responses to prostitution. It says "This is your opportunity to share the impacts, if any, that prostitution has had on your community, family and/or business. City staff will report the outcome of this survey to Council in June."

Oh fun! I really enjoyed your story behind your name Delilah! Mine? My stage name was Kerri, and I kept using it after I stopped dancing--it was just easier. As for my last name, well, one day I will be living at 24 Sussex Drive *hehe* jk (only slightly lol). It was actually inspired by the other cool London (London England that is) and the county of Sussex (also in England). I didn't want to use "Kerri London" so "Kerri Sussex" it was!

Yay! So exciting! It is on my TDL to be writing more frequently ;) http://blog.kerrisussex.com Have a great Tuesday everyone! Xo

Pretty much everything that turns me off has been said (negotiating, entitlement, not reading my site). One thing I experienced recently was a gent who messaged me asking me to explain why some ladies ask for references and some don't, and if there were "starter escorts." There was no indication he wanted to book--he just didn't want to do the research himself and expected me to answer his question. Essentially, gents who ask questions of ladies who they have no intention of booking or who don't want to do the research/work themselves is just a huge turn off. And, laziness is never attracted...except on Sundays lol (jk)

This thread reminds me of the Kevin Hart skit, Dirty Talk, from Laugh At My Pain (I believe it is also on netflix) (here is the direct link: http://youtu.be/05gXb8uitwc). It is worth a watch lol I love Kevin Hart!

I agree twitter is amazing. I also love the fact that I can connect with other sex workers all over the world! If there is one social media outlet I would recommend to other sex workers, it would be twitter.

To comment: There is lots of horrible offshoot laws and policies from the Nordic Model. Police can summon anyone to testify at any time for any law. But under Nordic model, I could see it meaning that the police have to catch you in the act with your client to prove he was paying for your sexual services. The question remains, "How will they go about doing that if the majority of sex work occurs indoors?" which demonstrates how BAD this entire model actually is. This blog post on the struggles of one sex worker (and eventually her murder by her abusive BF even after the court ignored her pleas for help) illustrates how bad this model is and not just looking at the criminalizing of clients but how it affects sex workers in other ways. To comment on issue of police going after clients: in reality, police wouldn't go after high profile clients to prove that this model actually work. They would go after the most accessible and visible clients--in other words, the street based sex workers' clients. Proving a model works doesn't mean garnering support for the most scandalous case but increasing numbers of arrests (not convictions but arrests). This is most easily done through the most visible and accessible subjects.

I think this thread illuminates the diversity that is present here in this community. For me, personally, I think it comes from both experience and personal preference. Some providers do advertise a little more explicitly and that's their decision to do so--it works for them and they prefer to advertise in that manner. I prefer not to do so. When I first started advertising, I kept advertising as a student. Yet, once I realized that every other girl was almost doing the same thing even if they weren't a student (lol), I decided to change how I advertised (save for the few obvious jersey pictures lol). This didn't happen because I wanted to be seen in a certain light. I did so because I wanted to be personalize my brand. For some girls, being explicit, that's their "thing." Others, not so much.

Nude. Sans panties Monday!

"My belief in myself will empower me." <3

Last night I had a dream and it was on my mind all day. It was a really strange one. I was running away from this person and trying to protect this person at the same time. They were really drunk and where we were, oddly enough, drunk people weren't welcome (lol). So I had to help them escape without getting caught (if you were caught drinking or with someone drunk you were kicked out). But it was really weird because it had a lot of violence. Not nice. I also have a lot of reoccurring dreams where I am dancing again (pole dancing) but then these turn to sex dreams without any sex. Lol Oh and I fantasize (sexually), often ;) Great thread! I love this! Xo

Yes, yes, and yes! I prefer lesbian porn or threesomes (any combo but less males the better lol). Nothing against men or penises in porn--I just prefer lesbian porn. My favourite is watching dominant woman/women take control--teacher/student or boss/employee *drool*