Fight Syphilis With Marriage
December 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment
It’s not a comforting thought or one that medical science would agree with. Apparently Hitler believed it, enough that it became one of his plans. He also felt marriage would help fight prostitution. Little does he know!
Yet another example of how power-crazed rulers don’t understand sex or humanity. (Hitler was off the deep end more than most, but Bush has gotten into the marriage game too, though for different reasons than Hitler.)
Cops Give Tips to Escort Clients
December 18, 2007 | 2 Comments
A Charlotte, NC news station warns clients about the dangers of screening. An escort service was busted a few weeks ago and police have been unraveling their records (and reporters have been writing breathless articles over the investigation).
This particular article focuses on the client records the agency kept. It seems the police feel it’s incriminating to clients and, of course, feel that clients submitting personal information isn’t in the clients’ best interests.
I have a real problem with this entire article.
If the police want to offer escort agencies tips on running their agencies, perhaps they should stop trying to arrest everyone involved. That would be a great start and I think everyone: agencies, escorts, clients — would be happier that way.
The police involved in this case are either stupid or playing dumb. Escorts require screening information to 1) make sure their client isn’t a cop and 2) for their own safety since the law doesn’t protect them in any way. Having a client’s real and personal information is the only safeguard escorts have against something bad happening. And if something does go wrong, the client can be arrested (hopefully). (Screening does not stop violence or theft, but it lessens the number of incidents.)
Printing propaganda like this just gives clients more ammunition in refusing to give screening info. Escorts have enough difficulties in getting screening information for their own safety. Having the police threaten clients doesn’t do anything to stop men from seeing escorts, it only make the job riskier for escorts. The client risk — which is always low — is even lower if they refuse to give screening information. The risk to escorts rises exponentially every time a client is allowed to see an escort without giving screening information.
Frankly, it doesn’t help clients either. If more escorts stop screening (because of client demand), more escorts are going to get arrested. Clients are far more at risk from an arrested escort than they are from one who diligently screens. (Arrested escorts often go back to work and may be supplying information or under surveillance.)
So I’m wondering if the police have decided to make life easier for themselves by trying to scare clients into demanding less screening, therefore making it easier to arrest escorts. If this is their goal, it’s not well thought-out. Escorts will be the ones to suffer from this idea; just as they’re already more often arrested than clients. And often brutalized by police.
Although this article tries to be fair, it basically sees clients as people with certain rights (even though they’re breaking the law as much as escorts are — if escorts are indeed breaking the law). Escorts and the agency in question seem to have no rights — perhaps because they’re not quite the same as “regular” people? This attitude also leads to major problems with escorts. Yesterday was the 5th Annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. A large part of this violence happens because sex workers are not seen as human beings.
Encouraging clients to refuse screening does not stop sexual exploitation or help escorts. As long as escort work remains criminalized, the only protection escorts have is in gathering client information and background checking. Remove that slim margin of protection…the cops are going to have a lot more to do than merely arrest agency owners and investigate their books.
End Violence Against Sex Workers
December 17, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Today is a day of awareness and memorial for sex workers around the world. Because of the illegal status of sex work and the low status of women in many countries, sex workers are a particular target of violence. (Transgendered sex workers face the same levels of violence as female sex workers.)
I don’t have any stats handy right now, but a large number of sex workers have been murdered through 2007 in the US and Canada. Most of these cases will never be solved. (Many other sex workers have simply disappeared and are presumed dead.) And every day sex workers are assaulted (sexually and violently). Their abusers have no fear of being brought to justice.
This is only the 5th Annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. But awareness of the issue is growing. We can’t actually hope to end violence against sex workers until we erase violence against all women, but at least we can make the world aware that sex workers are humans and deserve basic human rights. Their abuse or loss of life affects more than themselves.
It’s easy to join us. SWOP-East is hosting an online vigil and live discussion. Or, if you’d like to physically show your support, carry a red umbrella today or find an event near you.
Hushmail Isn’t Private
December 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Last month Hushmail turned over PGP encryption keys to American authorities in a steroid case. Escorts who aren’t steroid users might not be concerned, but it clearly shows that Hushmail, though a Canadian company, is willing to help investigations on suspected criminals.
No e-mail system is secure. Assume that every e-mail is being saved and read. Never say anything incriminating in an e-mail.
On Playboy Radio!
December 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment
I’m very excited to be on Tiffany Granath’s “Afternoon Advice” show on Playboy Radio this Friday. I’ve listened to that show for over a year now (in bits and pieces) and have been too shy to try being a guest. But I’m working with somone who’s helping me get over that.
Should be an interesting and sexy discussion!
The Details
- Who: Tiffany Granath
- What: “Afternoon Advice”
- When: Friday, 12/14/07, 1pm PST (for about 30 minutes)
- Where: Playboy Radio, Sirius Channel 198
- Online: Playboy Radio
- Call In: (877) 205-9796
Although Sirius has a free trial subscription, apparently only paid subscribers can listen to Playboy Radio. (And I’ve been told that copies of the show will not be available.)
This is my last radio spot planned until January — unless something comes up between now and then.
