I wrote this, “Micro-brothels” in BC: Are we still criminalizing prostitution? a couple weeks ago to also make sure that we’re properly protecting the rights of sex workers who choose the industry. Generally, I fear a call to shut down all brothels will increase harm to sex workers. I’m especially worried about neighbours
Continue readingTag: prostitution
Melissa Fong: “Micro-brothels” in BC: Are we still criminalizing prostitution?
“Micro-brothels” in BC: Are we still criminalizing prostitution? The short answer: YES. Now the long answer: I’ve seen a couple articles in Vancouver’s 24hr News about how micro-brothels are a booming and we should be really scared because micro-brothels are dangerous. See here and here. First article: Sex-worker activist Sue
Continue readingStraight Outta Edmonton: Bedford Challenge to Canada’s Prostitution Laws
Straight Outta Edmonton: Bedford Challenge to Canada’s Prostitution Laws
Prostitution is legal in Canada. There are no laws prohibiting the sale of sex. However, criminal prohibitions on bawdy houses (such as brothels), living on the avails of prostitution, and communicating in public for the purposes of prostitution make almost all forms of sex work illegal. Out-call work, where sex
Continue readingStraight Outta Edmonton: Bedford Challenge to Canada’s Prostitution Laws
Prostitution is legal in Canada. There are no laws prohibiting the sale of sex. However, criminal prohibitions on bawdy houses (such as brothels), living on the avails of prostitution, and communicating in public for the purposes of prostitution make almost all forms of sex work illegal. Out-call work, where sex
Continue readingMelissa Fong: Are the Anti-Gentrification Front protesters wrong to “vandalize” Save-on-Meats?
My facebook feed went crazy last night with my Vancouver friends posting about a stolen sandwich board. Why is this important? Context: Save-on-Meats is kind of an iconic butcher in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. A long time retailer that had mixed reviews has now invested some capital into their business and,
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Sex and the Senate
Winston Churchill is credited with an exchange that when adapted illustrates, not only the similarities between prostitution and politics, but current inconsistencies in the popular view of our Canadian government. Churchill: “Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?” Socialite: “My goodness, Mr. Churchill… Well, I suppose… we
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Thought for the New Year – Let’s end Prostitution
The words are Susan Brownmiller’s. Her noble goal, to end the exploitation of women – “But my horror at the idea of legalize prostitution is not that it doesn’t work as a rape deterrent, but that it institutionalizes the concept that it is a man’s monetary right, if not his
Continue readingLeDaro: Spain: Prostitution – solution to unemployment!!
Could the world’s oldest profession be the newest solution to Spain’s jobs crisis? “Immediate opportunity! Professional prostitution classes. Very profitable occupation for both sexes.” This ad, targeting the nearly 25% of unemployed people in Spain, appeared last May in the streets of Valencia. Advisor of this employment training program must
Continue readingLeDaro: Barack Obama, Secret Service and Prostitution
This is quite a weird story. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy “Right now president Obama is meeting with world leaders in South America is being overshadowed here at home by stunning allegations involving agents and officers supposed to be protecting him. what at
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Surrogacy & Prostitution, or Neither
Paying to use a woman’s body for sex is legal in Canada, while paying to use a woman’s body to give birth isn’t. There is no law in this northern nation that makes prostitution illegal but strangely enough there is one that bans paying surrogate mothers to help those who
Continue readingCombat zone
It is a war out there, and the front line combatants are women. Dr Gabor Maté has charted the battles that rage within and without, which begin from the moment a zygote starts its journey of cell proliferation and eventually, attempts to survive as a creature facing a hostile environment.
Continue readingRegan Wolfrom: DriveTo45.com: Can Winnipeg Beat Out Edmonton for Murder Capital of Canada?
I haven’t bought the domain name, or created the website, or figured out how to do it without looking like a complete douche, but I’ve been thinking about a new Drive To 45 campaign to bring Winnipeg back to its glory days as the Murder Capital of Canada. Now, to
Continue readingDTK: Canada will be a "pimp"
Canada will be taking the role of a pimp, according to one MP. That’s because the courts have struck down anti-prostitution laws that, while not preventing prostitution, made it very dangerous.
Conservative MP Joy Smith:
“My goodness we would have the nation as the pimp and that’s wrong and we can’t afford that,”
Definition: pimp
a person, esp. a man, who solicits customers for a prostitute or a brothel, usually in return for a share of the earnings; pander; procurer.
I don’t think the government would be responsible for soliciting customers for prostitutes, although they might do a good job with putting up signs. That seems to be their thing, lately.
The government would be responsible, however, for doing the same things that they are currently (supposed to be) doing for other workers: protecting their rights; keeping them safe from criminals; taxing them.
On the other hand, I can’t expect much better than hyperbole from Conservatives. Their chief arguments in court seem to revolve around witnesses who pulled stuff out of their asses and the belief that prostitution was inherently “degrading and unhealthy”.
It’s a lot like being gay, I guess. I mean look at all those gay kids who get beat up and/or commit suicide. Must be an unhealthy lifestyle.
Well, Conservative super-right-wing christian freaks. You’ve had 2000 years to try to stamp out prostitution and all you’ve done is make women miserable. Maybe we’ll try something different for a little while and see how it works out.
Continue readingDTK: Canada will be a "pimp"
Canada will be taking the role of a pimp, according to one MP. That’s because the courts have struck down anti-prostitution laws that, while not preventing prostitution, made it very dangerous. Conservative MP Joy Smith: “My goodness we would have the nation as the pimp and that’s wrong and we
Continue readingDTK: Canada will be a "pimp"
Canada will be taking the role of a pimp, according to one MP. That’s because the courts have struck down anti-prostitution laws that, while not preventing prostitution, made it very dangerous. Conservative MP Joy Smith: “My goodness we would have the nation as the pimp and that’s wrong and we
Continue reading