Today I am going to talk about a very sensitive subject. Some of you may not want to read this as it may go against your beliefs. I am going to talk about sex work. What that is and why I think it’s important. With all the negativity around sex work and sex workers I felt it necessary to speak my mind. 

Firstly, when I was a young man, I was with a sex worker back in the 80’s. It was my first-time having sex with anyone. Some of you might find this repulsed by this, for me it was an adventure. She was very gentle and understanding of me. I learned more about safe sex from her than I ever did from my parents or school health class. We talked more than we had sex. It was a memorable time that I am grateful for. It helped me respect and admire the profession I am writing about. It also helped me understand my own sexuality and how I treat others. Do I have any shame with what I did, the answer is “No”. I don’t regard any form of adult-to-adult consenting sex shameful. I feel that all the bad is some how related back to puritan values from of multiple religions. These religions seem to have more sex crimes than the norm. Don’t get me started on any one of these organized religions. These are the same people that burned witches at the stake. The same people that deny a women’s choice and whether you fit into their definition of sexual identity. These people still exist.

Enough about me, now on to what sex work is; according to a Wikipedia article sex work is; “the exchange of sexual services, performances, or products for material compensation. It includes activities of direct physical contact between buyers and sellers as well as indirect sexual stimulation”. Sex work only refers to voluntary sexual transactions; thus, the term does not refer to human trafficking and other coerced or nonconsensual sexual transactions such as child prostitution. The transaction must take place between consenting adults of the legal age and mental capacity to consent and must take place without any methods of coercion, other than payment. The term emphasizes the labor and economic implications of this type of work. Furthermore, some prefer the use of the term because it grants more agency to the sellers of these services.

We should be looking at sex work as normal and a necessary career option. It provides a service that is valuable to society. Clients are less likely to commit sex crimes.  Although this not always the case as sex workers can be the targets of a terrible person. This is why we need laws to protect sex workers. Not the police arresting the sex worker, but by treating them as the victim not the perpetrator. Sex Work helps with mental illness as lonely people are more likely to have these afflictions. I know there is a debate on this, as sex work is not counselling, but it is a form of therapy. For worker themselves, it is a good and fair wage, that they can support their lives with. Does it promote drug or alcohol abuse, no more that someone that is working a blue-collar job. Drug and alcohol abuse comes from all angles, poor, mid class to the rich. The rich just tend to get away with it.  There will always be point / counterpoint as it is with any sensitive subject.

In conclusion, sex work is a legitimate and beneficial profession that deserves respect and protection from society. Sex workers provide a service that meets the needs and desires of their clients, as well as their own economic and personal goals. Sex work is not inherently immoral, harmful, or exploitative, but rather a form of labor that can be empowering, rewarding, and healing for both parties involved. Therefore, sex work should not be stigmatized, criminalized, or marginalized, but recognized and supported as a valuable contribution to society.

That is all for now. Why don’t we just wait here for a little while… see what happens…