Despite
the racy nature of ther jobs, sex workers say they
should be respected like anyone else.
Whores, unite!
Even in downtown Las Vegas on the steps of the Regional Justice
Center, it's a phrase that causes a stir among passers-by. But in the
oppressive midday heat of July 13, about two dozen self-described sex
workers massed for a grassroots demonstration to lobby for their civil
rights, human dignity and a little vocational pride.
"Any time a woman takes control of her own sexuality, she can be
labeled as a whore," said Susan Lopez, a Las Vegan and former
prostitute who now lobbies on behalf of the industry and its workers'
rights.
The demonstration was at the culmination of a week-long sex worker
rights conference, which drew about 150 people from around the world,
coordinated by a variety of different organizations including the
Desiree Alliance and several sex worker outreach projects from around
the country. (In the context of the conference, "sex worker"
referred to anyone who works in a business that directly relates to
sexual activity including prostitution, phone-sex operators, stripping
and escort services.) According to organizers, this is the first such
conference since the 1970s "Whore Conference" in California.
Of course, Las Vegas seems a natural place for a sex worker conference
considering Nevada's laws, which permit brothels in some counties.
(However, prostitution is illegal in Clark County.) But even a place
nicknamed "Sin City" has its own contradictions about sex.
Conference organizers pointed out it is illegal to carry more than a
handful of condoms at a time on the Strip. Any more and you risk being
arrested for prostitution. Because who would want to carry around more
than five condoms at a time in a place called Sin City?
"The laws that criminalize prostitution don't target the things
that the public thinks they do," said Barb Brents, a UNLV
sociology professor who is known for her research on sex work.
"They make things worse."
Key messages at the protest were decriminalization of prostitution;
increased safety for sex workers; and better treatment of sex workers
by law enforcement.
"We are here to put a human face on prostitution. You are
witnessing a groundswell right here. This is the beginning of a
movement," said Robyn Few, the executive director of Sex Workers
Outreach Project USA and a sex worker who is on probation for federal
charges of conspiracy to promote prostitution.
"We're proud to be whores. There's safety in numbers. We're not
afraid. We're not going to take this [treatment by law enforcement]
anymore," said Few, who lives in San Francisco.
Few said she was prosecuted in 2002 under the PATRIOT Act as promoting
terrorism through prostitution.
"I couldn't believe that our country would use the words
'terrorism' and 'prostitution' in the same sentence," she said.
At the protest, some of those who attended the conference -- sex
workers, academics and activists -- held up banners reading "Sex
worker rights are human rights" emblazoned across American flags.
Many spontaneously chanted such slogans as "Whore pride!"
Many at the demonstration talked about the pride they had for their
profession. San Franciscan Sadi Lune said she got involved in sex work
because it was her fantasy from childhood. Lune said it is important
for the social stigma of sex work to change, including decriminalizing
prostitution and increasing health options for sex workers.
"[In San Francisco] we've got community," Lune said.
"There's support through free clinics and a network of people.
Most sex workers feel a lot of isolation. They feel invalidated and
abused."
Lune admitted that not everyone gets involved with sex work by choice.
"I come from privilege. I'm young, white. I came from a
middle-class background. I have choices that others do not," she
said.
Indeed, Jennifer Ramirez said she started her career in prostitution
and phone sex because of economic hardship but has since "grown
to love it." The New York City native is a transgendered sex
worker, which sometimes adds another element of danger to her work.
(Born a man, she has had several surgeries and takes hormones to live
life as a woman, but is awaiting her final gender-reassignment surgery
because of its expense.)
"I try to be careful about mentioning my gender identity right
away, but sometimes I forget because I am so used to just living my
life out in the open," Ramirez said. "There's been
situations where clients have gotten physical or violent. But usually
after a few minutes their lust takes over and they want to
anyway."
Starchild, an openly bisexual sex worker from San Francisco, said he
is running for the Board of Supervisors there to try and raise
awareness of the community's issues and change laws. Like Lune,
Starchild (who legally changed his name to the one-word moniker) said
he has always felt very sexual and first entered the business in
low-budget porn videos. In addition to porn, Starchild now works as an
escort.
"I'm more of a starlet. Not really a full-fledged porn
star," he jokes. "I love the exhibition of the videos. It's
a lot of work that you don't see behind the scenes.
"Generally, I feel incredibly lucky to do what I do. Most sex
workers feel an internal stigma or guilt about what they do, but I
don't have that. I like my work," he said.
Starchild said he is very proud of his work, but that laws need to be
changed. Likewise, Lopez said it is most important to ease the stigma
surrounding sex work.
"The stigma is reinforced every day by the legal system,"
she said. "They lack respect. We are treated like second-class
citizens. Until private, adult, mutually consensual sex is legalized
[these problems] won't go away."
Perhaps because of the upcoming elections, local law enforcement have
been particularly focused on prostitution lately with several stings
set up in the past few months. One sting resulted in the arrest of a
local judge.
Emmily Bristol is a CityLife staff writer. She can be
reached at 871-6780 ext. 344 or ebristol@lvcitylife.com.
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Despite
the racy nature of ther jobs, sex workers say they
should be respected like anyone else.
