Sex Worker Rights

I am not only a GLBT activist but I am also a sex worker activist. I am often times frustrated with the fact that many people don’t even bother to think about sex workers. Some sex workers, such as prostitutes, are forced to work in the underground while even the most legal of sex workers is usually in the closet about her career choice. Sex workers are just as legitimate as any other job a person might hold. Although in this country sex workers are treated like second class citizens. Many people aren’t even aware that there are groups of people fighting for the rights of sex workers, but hopefully in the future it will become more apparent.

Our government is consistently applying religion to our laws, how is that separation of church and state. It also breaks the rule about freedom of religion, because in my religion working in the adult industry is seen as a form of “God’s work.” So again I find myself with my rights stripped from me because I am not your typical American citizen. Sure I can do my job without going to jail and I am able to be honest on my tax return about the nature of my job. BUT I am forced to pay thousands of dollars to hold a merchant account that accepts Visa or Mastercard because when Bush came into office he decided that anyone running a small business in the adult industry or gambling should be forced to pay a high price to function in the new world of technology. So now anyone running a business that would be seen as a sin must pay thousands of dollars to accept the most popular credit cards in the world. Therefore putting the smaller of these businesses under a lot of stress causing them to crash. Bush’s first attempt at controlling our country, even before 9/11. It also forced many other companies to no longer offer adult items, like ebay and paypal because they would have to pay the high prices for offering adult material. The goverment and their friends are doing what they can to stop YOU from looking at porn and to stop ME from creating it. Obviously they haven’t won yet, and with all those horny congressmen I doubt they ever will. BUT sex workers still suffer! AND the fact that prostitution is illegal is absurd. If Prostitution was legal we could offer these sex workers benefits and safety. Currently they are underground and forced into unsafe situations because of their choice in careers. Anyway there is an excerpt from the “Bound but not Gagged” blog that I found interesting today:

Petition to Support Sex Workers’ Rights
Support Nevada’s State Rights!

When sex work is a part of the underground economy, workers have no labor rights; they suffer violence, stigma, isolation, fear and criminalization.
Support the basic labor rights and human rights of your local sex industry worker!
Sex Workers Outreach Project asks the people of Nevada to:
• Support the right for sex industry workers to be free of violence and exploitation.
• Support the rights of individuals to choose sex work.
• Support sex industry workers’ rights to work and travel just like other workers.
• Promote labor rights for those who freely choose sex as their work.
• Support the rights of consenting adults to make individual choices about their sexuality.
• Stand up and fight against coercion, deceit and violence against women.
• Spend our tax dollars to combat sexual assault, rape, and abuse.

*Source can be found HERE

~ by reallustylesbians on October 8, 2007.