Cara Silver 32412 Report post Posted August 20, 2009 I read it this morning and was disappointed by 1. that it was a typical copy of every other news story ever written on sex workers and contained the same superficial conclusions and 2. that it contributes to the stereotype of sex work being horrible for women by saying that it is horrible for women. I really wanted to see the other side of the story, ie. my side of the story: sex work can be fun, safe and empowering for women. I have only gained from being in this industry, never lost. I have become more confident, I have singlehandedly built a professional and successful business, and I have never been assaulted, threatened, raped, or tempted to do drugs. I use this job to fund healthy activities in my life like school and travel. I think that story, which is meant to be an expose, only shames women into thinking sex work can only be bad. Granted, there is a huge difference between the way I conduct business and the way street-walkers conduct business but they should be telling both sides of the story. So instead of being shamed, I am indignant about this story and I hope no one else on this board feels shamed either. I always have fun on cerb and I count some very good friends among cerb members. So: fuck the story, we're good people and I love my job. xoxox Amelia :-) 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ford1976 1074 Report post Posted August 20, 2009 Well said, and welcome back ... Halifax was missing you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigdawg 474 Report post Posted August 20, 2009 right on girl, and if you should ever visit ottawa you will be welcomed with open arms8-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest W***ledi*Time Report post Posted August 20, 2009 I really wanted to see the other side of the story, ie. my side of the story: sex work can be fun, safe and empowering for women. Well, it is a story about street-based prostitution in Halifax. So it's certainly true that the use of the general phrase "sex-workers" wasn't ideal. Also a bit too simplistic in reference to the Criminal Code; the blanket statement "it's legal to be a sex worker, but illegal to do sex work", as stated in the article, does not cover the nuances of the law. Other than that, I personally found the story reasonably balanced and even-handed in its presentation of street-based prostitution in Halifax and the issues surrounding it. Yes, the issues are familiar and predictable. But the article is substantial, and well worth reading. It really doesn't seem to paint a picture of "good" people vs "bad" people, or try to allocate "shame". The information about Stepping Stone, police relations, and the HRM boundaries issue was interesting. Street prostitution is out there. Yes, it's only one facet of a many-sided industry, and most of us on Cerb steer clear of it (we have much better things to do, lol). So the story isn't about us, or you. Neither we nor you have particular reason to feel we have been slighted. But nevertheless, there it is ... street-based prostitutes are vulnerable in many ways. Amelia, if you want the public to read a story about your side of the sex-industry ... I know that you certainly have what it takes to submit your own article to the editor of The Coast. (Although of course bringing public attention to the world of escorts could certainly be a double-edged propaganda sword -- "don't ask, don't tell" is the conventional rule for incalls, is it not?) Link to the article in The Coast, by Meredith Dault, 20 Aug 2009: http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/sex-work-in-the-shadows/Content?oid=1223991 Link to Stepping Stone: http://www.steppingstonens.ca/ Glad to know you're back in Nova Scotia and in fighting form, Miss A. I think I may have mentioned this before (lol), but you're a wonderful lady! And thanks for sharing your personal manifesto here -- I know you're telling it like it is, because it is always evident that you love your job. Cheers, Wrinkled Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drlove 37204 Report post Posted August 24, 2009 Canada should eradicate it's antiquated laws concerning prostitution; In effect it really boils down to archaic Victorian notions centered around morality. If you look at other countries such as Germany, or a city like Amsterdam in the Netherlands you'll find that it is government regulated. Now that may or may not be a good thing depending on who you ask. However, as such, ladies are free to work where and when they choose - in safe environments. Perhaps what we should be advocating is decriminalization as opposed to legalization. Doing so would promote equality for all, and eliminate the increasing marginalization of certain sectors of the sex trade. Btw... has anyone challenged the laws governing prostitution in Canada on the grounds that they are unconstitutional? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest W***ledi*Time Report post Posted August 24, 2009 Btw... has anyone challenged the laws governing prostitution in Canada on the grounds that they are unconstitutional? This fall the Ontario Superior Court is scheduled to commence hearings on the constitutional challenge of Terri Jean Bedford, Amy Lebovitch and Valerie Scott. They want the court to strike down the provisions in the Criminal Code against communicating for the purposes of prostitution, living off the avails of prostitution and keeping a common bawdy house. Court filing, 20 Mar 2007: http://myweb.dal.ca/mgoodyea/files/O...rch%202007.doc March 2007 report on the filing: http://hazel8500.wordpress.com/2007/...t-straight-up/ Some opinions on the whole laws-issue: http://cerb.ca/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1642 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drlove 37204 Report post Posted August 25, 2009 Thanks for the info, WIT. I'm especially interested in the prospect of brothels being legalized. Would anyone care to speculate on the likelyhood that this will actually occur sometime in the near future? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
