the first ever Happy Hooker Movement ... Please participate!

[Guest]

You just recieved a novel from this happy Hooker, big smile.

[Miss Jessica Lee 43328]

You just recieved a novel from this happy Hooker, big smile.

 

thank you!! got it and it's fantastic :)

 

c'mon ladies ... get typing!! I want to send 100 letters next week!!

[touchwould2 727]

Like Lee said, really well done Jessica. You're a class act, really. Thanks so much for speaking up for us all.xoxo

[Kathryn Bardot 99339]

Sorry, Jess. I don't believe in advocating that one type of work is "awful" compared to another. There are "high-end" escorts who have mental health or addiction issues, just as there are street-based workers who freely choose their work.

We don't look down upon someone working at McDonalds or bartending to get their next fix. We don't assume everyone who is a server is a drug user. Why continue to uphold these stereotypes?

 

Yes, social issues such as affordable housing, accessible education, health care, etc. should be addressed but not at the expense of a group of people. We can tell our stories of how sex work has benefitted us, how this is a legitimate enployment for many, but we don't need to do so while comparing "us" to "them ".

[EmilyMuse 420]

Hello all!

 

My name is Emily & Im working with Jessica on this movement. I wanted to address the post above...Under no circumstances should survival sex work be ignored! It absolutely needs to be addressed, treated, councelled, and advocated for. This Happy Hooker Movement's purpose is to express the side of the non-survival sex workers experience. It has not been told in the entire Committee debate. As much as there is a sector of the industry that is full of abuse & entrapment...there is also the entire side of consensual empowered sex workers! I personally believe these 2 subjects need to be tackled as seperate issues. Not everyone needs saving, but we all need support. Sex work is painted with a brush with 1 color. Jessica & I are working to expose the many facets of the industry.

 

In addition, im preparing a paper for the Senate and these letters of success stories will weigh heavily as evidence of how sex work can work safely & successfully.

 

I encourage all ladies and men to write!

[Miss Jessica Lee 43328]

Sorry, Jess. I don't believe in advocating that one type of work is "awful" compared to another. There are "high-end" escorts who have mental health or addiction issues, just as there are street-based workers who freely choose their work.

We don't look down upon someone working at McDonalds or bartending to get their next fix. We don't assume everyone who is a server is a drug user. Why continue to uphold these stereotypes?

 

Yes, social issues such as affordable housing, accessible education, health care, etc. should be addressed but not at the expense of a group of people. We can tell our stories of how sex work has benefitted us, how this is a legitimate enployment for many, but we don't need to do so while comparing "us" to "them ".

 

there is a clear and present difference between survival sex work and happy, voluntary, consensual sex work. If you choose to ignore it that's your prerogative.

 

At NO POINT did I say that all street workers were survival sex workers, or that indoor workers don't have survival issues ... please DO NOT put words in my mouth.

[Kathryn Bardot 99339]

there is a clear and present difference between survival sex work and happy, voluntary, consensual sex work. If you choose to ignore it that's your prerogative.

 

At NO POINT did I say that all street workers were survival sex workers, or that indoor workers don't have survival issues ... please DO NOT put words in my mouth.

 

I'm not putting words in your mouth. You said:

It's important this side be heard because it separates the experience of choosing high end sex work versus those stuck in the survival sex trade (which is often caused by social deprivations such as poverty, mental health, addiction; whereas high-end sex work is generally a free-will choice by empowered women choosing sex work as a platform to other life goals).

 

**We all can agree that the survival sex trade is awful and these contributing issues must be addressed.

 

However, more information & insight regarding consensual adults exchanging sex for money is needed ASAP! As this sector of the industry requires a different set of laws/regulation/legalization.

Again, we don't put other workers on a hierarchy or validate their employment based on whether they are doing it to "survive" or not, or whether they are happy or not (because let's face it, I've hated a number of my jobs previously)... End of the day, we are ALL working to pay the bills.

[Guest *Ste***cque**]

I applaud what you are doing. When someone like Peter MacKay stereotypes all SP's as victims, it's encouraging to see another viewpoint where maybe some of you freely choose this profession. I don't see anything wrong with that type of clarification when trying to educate someone.

I wish you all the best!

[Nicolette Vaughn 294340]

Frankly I'm tired of what Peter Mackay thinks is best for me. While I agree with the notion that there should not be any type of hierarchy where sex work is concerned, I do think that those who do this for a living and are happy with their line of work should be heard. While no job is perfect and everyone has their moments, I'm content with what I do for a living and this is about legislation, NOT moral legislation!

 

I will be writing a letter based on the fact that I have a right to voice my opinion not just as a sex worker but a Canadian citizen. I don't believe in different sets of legislation for different types of sex workers because at the end of the day we are all providing the same service. However, I do agree that our experiences need to be told to show such people as Joy Smith that we cannot all be painted with the same brush regarding stigmatization. No two sex workers are the same but the Conservative government seems to think so.

 

I encourage other ladies to write a letter in order to be heard. Let's not make this a debate on street workers v.s. Indoor workers rather women who make up this industry and have the right to be heard.

Posted via Mobile Device

[Guest S****r]

I have sent a few of my own in already to various representatives, including McKay and Joy Smith.

[Guest **cely***r***ne]

Will be working on a letter tomorrow.. 2am is not a good time to start my story.

 

But I have been thinking in my head why isn't there more of US being heard? Thank you Jessica for this.

[Guest *Ste***cque**]

So rather than a category of SP's saying "we're not all victims" we should allow a misconception to stand because of political correctness? Are we afraid to make distinctions here? Remember who the true enemy is and fight them. Afterwards we can start fighting amongst ourselves.

[Jstrano 130]

Totally agree and support your view Jessica. You are top class!

[Kathryn Bardot 99339]

So rather than a category of SP's saying "we're not all victims" we should allow a misconception to stand because of political correctness? Are we afraid to make distinctions here? Remember who the true enemy is and fight them. Afterwards we can start fighting amongst ourselves.

There is a difference between adding narratives that highlight how sex work has been a positive employment choice, and comparing one tier to the other as saying they are "less than".

 

I'm not against adding more voices to the experience of being in the sex industry. By all means, let's hear from as many different experiences as we can. I don't agree with comparing or differentiating ourselves, or having to legitimize our work by declaring ourselves as "happy" or "high class" or implying that mental health issues are a "class" issue.

[Guest]

There is a difference between adding narratives that highlight how sex work has been a positive employment choice, and comparing one tier to the other as saying they are "less than".

 

I'm not against adding more voices to the experience of being in the sex industry. By all means, let's hear from as many different experiences as we can. I don't agree with comparing or differentiating ourselves, or having to legitimize our work by declaring ourselves as "happy" or "high class" or implying that mental health issues are a "class" issue.

 

From what I understand that's what Jessica is trying to do. I most certainly wasn't thinking of dividing the escort classes, when I wrote my letter. I can understand the different diversities throughout escorting and the different challenges that may bring. However, not being part of any escorts rights advocates groups; I can only write through experience. My experience with escorting has generally been a good experience. I think that yes every escort has a right to say what she has to say, even some of the better off sex workers. Our right to have freedom of speech is very important and it's being threatened right now with Bill C-36. I agree that we need to stick together to see everyone have a better place. With that being said, I think it's a waste of time to be sitting here talking about logistics and pointing out points that don't even need to be applied to this particular thread. What about our freedom as women. The freedom to make our own choices and what if some women choose to be an escort. We did fight hard to gain our right to free will and choice.

 

Thread pooped on, yes, it was, in my opinion. Trying to turn a good gesture into classifying or ranking the escorts or picking on the streetwalkers is pretty shitty.

 

I wrote my letter out of choice to do something good. I wrote my letter so I could have a voice. I understand that there's bad out there but there is also good, in regards to escorting.

 

This will be my my final comment in this thread.

 

Here's my opinion. If you have had a good experience go ahead and write your letter and do what you can to help. If you would like to help any part of the sex industry go ahead and help. Just don't try to discourage people from having their voice.

[Miss Jessica Lee 43328]

good grief.

 

well first thank you for all your comments, they are appreciated. However this is a movement of LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS and if you're not like minded nobody is forcing you to be a part of it. There are many groups and movements and there is likely one out there that better suits your position.

 

It's frustrating to hear so many rain on a parade when they're doing sweet fuck all themselves.

 

Anyways.... back to being a happy hooker....I have been simply overwhelmed by responses to this movement to my work email address and I simply can't keep up! This is a very good thing!!! So in order to maintain momentum and bring this movement to the forefront I have invested some time and money...

 

There is a seal you may place on your website to declare you are a willing, consensual sex worker. I'd like it to be recognizable across the country as the symbol of free will sex work in Canada.

 

 

There is now a website:

http://www.happyhookersofcanada.com

 

a twitter handle:

@happyhookersCAN

 

an email address:

[email protected]

 

for those of you who would like to participate please visit the site.

 

I will be asking the ladies who have already written me to please submit their letters via the website so they can specify if they would like the letter posted on the site (anonymously if they choose) and if they would like to add website and work info. Some ladies want to remain nameless and others don't.

 

Keep an eye out for the "happy hobbyists" section coming soon!!

 

Happy Hooking everyone!!

[Guest *Ste***cque**]

Looks like all this friction has lit a fire! You go girl! :) I love how you turned adversity into action with a great idea! Well done!

[cat 262460]

While Miss Jessica's wording may ruffle feathers, the intention and willingness to take action is undeniable. The providers that have had the opportunity to study human rights and it complexities have valuable insight into the social and legal issues of the vulnerable and I appreciate their attempts to explain it to those of us who are not as fluent in the nuanced language and concepts. Anything that will broaden horizons is a good thing. What I'm always amazed at is how as a collective we agree on the changes that need to be made but how often the intellectual vocal activists chose to criticize action taken that doesn't directly reflect their chosen paths of action.

 

I have lived my professional life believing that being open about what I do with the civilian population actively helps remove stigma surrounding our industry one person at a time. I don't need people to become pro sex work by the end of the conversation to know that I have planted a seed that will grow, slowly entering their thoughts and challenging their belief systems about my work. By providing a face, giving a voice to those of us that society never sees, doesn't even know we exist; I challenge the stigmas they believe directly. I feel those of us who the general public can relate to have a responsibility to put our experiences out there because in fact we are already a part of their lives and they will relate to us in some way, no matter how small. I may not get a warm welcome initially but it's a start. I know they'll respond eventually if I'm patient and don't dismiss their beliefs but simply open a dialogue that allows an exchange of information. Every inch forward where ever it happens is still valuable forward movement imo.

 

The anti's and media parade the victims of violence to the public as the face of prostitution and the public have nothing else to compare it to. They don't hear from us, the quiet majority. We have no public face, no identifiable voice, only activists that the general public seldom take seriously. It's not the anti's we need to sway but the undecided. Giving those valuable undecided something to compare the horror stories to, our experiences is what I believe will help sway those who have yet to make a decision and that is key in starting to shift the stigma away from consensual sex work. While Jessica's approach may not be considered the most effect course of action by some, it is at the very least a starting point that we can build on. I see no harm in supporting it along with the other actions currently employed. We need a multi faceted approach because society is multi faceted and reaching out to them where they are consciously at this moment is the only way to ensure we are heard.

 

I believe that if we had a professional presence, one that showed the general public that this is an industry and there are many within it that have chosen to work in it, it will help us. We need to show them we are responsible business owners, tax paying citizens and good neighbours, giving them informaiton that will go a long way to influencing them to let go of the stigmas they have been taught to believe is key. The vulnerable will not suffer because we up our public presence, they will benefit. As providers we know the vulnerable need to be included and we do not minimize their experiences but at the same time, their experiences does not negate ours...

 

cat

[Mikeyboy 27133]

My compliments to all about both the letter, and the thoughtful responses. I do believe that it is important to point out that the overwhelming majority in this industry are there by choice and that most do not fall into the category of "victim" that MacKay has grouped all of you into. I agree that it is important not to create our own classes, although I don't believe that this was the intention of the letter.

 

I do believe that there are real victims in the industry, such as those who have been trafficked against their will. This is argument that the Conservatives will keep falling back on, even though they know as well as we do that there is nothing in the new legislation to address this beyond what is already in place. It is important however to make it clear that these people are the exception, and not the rule and that the new laws will simply serve to put the rest of you at risk, instead of helping anything.

 

Keep up the good work, and let your voices be heard.

 

Mikey

[EmilyMuse 420]

While Miss Jessica's wording may ruffle feathers, the intention and willingness to take action is undeniable. The providers that have had the opportunity to study human rights and it complexities have valuable insight into the social and legal issues of the vulnerable and I appreciate their attempts to explain it to those of us who are not as fluent in the nuanced language and concepts. Anything that will broaden horizons is a good thing. What I'm always amazed at is how as a collective we agree on the changes that need to be made but how often the intellectual vocal activists chose to criticize action taken that doesn't directly reflect their chosen paths of action.

 

I have lived my professional life believing that being open about what I do with the civilian population actively helps remove stigma surrounding our industry one person at a time. I don't need people to become pro sex work by the end of the conversation to know that I have planted a seed that will grow, slowly entering their thoughts and challenging their belief systems about my work. By providing a face, giving a voice to those of us that society never sees, doesn't even know we exist; I challenge the stigmas they believe directly. I feel those of us who the general public can relate to have a responsibility to put our experiences out there because in fact we are already a part of their lives and they will relate to us in some way, no matter how small. I may not get a warm welcome initially but it's a start. I know they'll respond eventually if I'm patient and don't dismiss their beliefs but simply open a dialogue that allows an exchange of information. Every inch forward where ever it happens is still valuable forward movement imo.

 

The anti's and media parade the victims of violence to the public as the face of prostitution and the public have nothing else to compare it to. They don't hear from us, the quiet majority. We have no public face, no identifiable voice, only activists that the general public seldom take seriously. It's not the anti's we need to sway but the undecided. Giving those valuable undecided something to compare the horror stories to, our experiences is what I believe will help sway those who have yet to make a decision and that is key in starting to shift the stigma away from consensual sex work. While Jessica's approach may not be considered the most effect course of action by some, it is at the very least a starting point that we can build on. I see no harm in supporting it along with the other actions currently employed. We need a multi faceted approach because society is multi faceted and reaching out to them where they are consciously at this moment is the only way to ensure we are heard.

 

I believe that if we had a professional presence, one that showed the general public that this is an industry and there are many within it that have chosen to work in it, it will help us. We need to show them we are responsible business owners, tax paying citizens and good neighbours, giving them informaiton that will go a long way to influencing them to let go of the stigmas they have been taught to believe is key. The vulnerable will not suffer because we up our public presence, they will benefit. As providers we know the vulnerable need to be included and we do not minimize their experiences but at the same time, their experiences does not negate ours...

 

cat

 

100%! Im so happy to see the momentum this movement is getting!

 

http://Www.happyhookersofcanada.com submit your story here!

[Guest]

A silly and fun play, about drag queens working together, to have a better community. I think it applies here.

[Miss Jessica Lee 43328]

ugh .. the plug in that was purchased to enable form submission is not cooperating and there is a call in to tech support ... if you're trying to submit a letter and are unsuccessful please try again tomorrow ... I'm getting it fixed as fast as I can.

 

Thanks again for all the support it's been crazy overwhelming :D

 

I did an interview for the National Post last week ... wish the HHC movement had been 'moving' last week as I would have mentioned it, it was published it todays edition ...here's the link for anyone interested ... good story!

 

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/11/sex-workers-could-be-forced-to-risk-their-lives-if-prostitution-bill-passes-escort-service-owner-says/

 

Also been asked to do a radio talk show this week ... if it is a go I will post the radio station it will be Tuesday at 8am :D

 

I never stfu ..... it's a blessing and a curse lol

[VedaSloan 119179]

good grief.

 

well first thank you for all your comments, they are appreciated. However this is a movement of LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS and if you're not like minded nobody is forcing you to be a part of it. There are many groups and movements and there is likely one out there that better suits your position.

 

It's frustrating to hear so many rain on a parade when they're doing sweet fuck all themselves.

 

 

United we stand, divided we fall, no?

 

I'm not saying don't write your MP's. I'm not saying, "do nothing." What I am trying to say is this:

 

Don't throw sex workers who aren't like you under the bus in your efforts to show you're not like the stereotype.

 

Write your MP's about how Bill C36 is harmful to sex workers and unconstitutional because I guarantee you, people like Joy Smith could give a sweet fuck if you're "happy"--in fact, she'll just assume you're lying. I say this with some experience since she said the very same to me during a radio interview on CBC.

 

And lastly, unless you know me Jessica, don't ever presume to know what I am or am not doing for this cause.

 

Although it's not a competition, I would like to point out that I've been an active and very outspoken member of the sex workers' rights movement for the last six years including using my real name to speak as a current sex worker. I was the Vice-Chair of a sex workers' rights org. When was the last time you put yourself out there like that? Were you at any of the protests against C36? When was the last time you went to a Dec. 17 vigil?

 

We'll never get anywhere if you're bound and determined to set yourself apart from the rest of us. And for the record, this isn't personal. I'm not trying to attack you. I'm trying to tell you, from a position of experience, that you're going about this the wrong way, and that this has the potential to create even further divisions within the movement.

[fortunateone 156618]

We'll never get anywhere if you're bound and determined to set yourself apart from the rest of us. And for the record, this isn't personal. I'm not trying to attack you. I'm trying to tell you, from a position of experience, that you're going about this the wrong way, and that this has the potential to create even further divisions within the movement.

 

 

 

I hope that those who see the posts that are questioning some aspects of this effort pay attention to this part.

 

No one is saying that making an organized effort of the anecdotal experiences of many consenting adult sex workers is the problem with this particular endeavour.

 

If you do want to know what the original concern was, ask, but i won't waste my time repeating it when i can see clearly that people are not paying attention to what is in the description on the website itself of who is welcome to comment with their letters, and who is not.

 

If those parts were changed, excised from the site and the explanatory threads introducing the site, I guarantee no one would say anything other than 'great job, i've sent my letter'. Then, having expressed these concerns, instead of cooperation and agreement that it is problematic and exclusionary, all I've seen is dismissal of those concerns, and a basic, if you don't like it, too bad for you attitude (not necessarily from MJL, but someone willing to speak on behalf of the site, but still, not helpful at all)

 

Post July 11, by Pascale Robitaille, who saw the site without the benefit of an introduction from a sex worker she knew I am assuming

https://www.facebook.com/groups/my.favorite.abolitionist/

[Phaedrus 209521]

I have to say, I find the direction this thread has gone to be profoundly depressing. I've been away from CERB for a couple of weeks, and almost the first thread I read on my return is people who I'd have expected to be cooperating - or at least broadly supportive of each other - sniping at each other over tactics and ideological purity.

 

I fail to see how this is productive.

 

I fail to see how the time and energy spent on this is better spent doing so, rather than being aimed at the abolitionists.

 

Perhaps this is because I'm not really engaged in political activism myself; perhaps these internecine feuds really do serve some greater good, of which I'm not aware. But right now, I just can't see it.

 

I happen think that people on both sides of this debate are doing a lot of good and useful work, and I'd love it if everyone could accept that the fact that someone else's views are not perfectly aligned with your own does not mean that they're an enemy that has to be shot down. But hell, what do I know?