Well-written and persuasive piece. While Ms. Cruz understandably focuses upon the plight of erotic dancers, most or all of the points raised apply equally to those in other types of sex work.
For example, Ms. Cruz's statement that "Decriminalizing sex work weakens the profit-driven relationship between club owners and police by removing the threat of prostitution raids in the club" is striking, in that the ridiculous and generally baseless stigmas that our society applies to all aspects of sex work only serves to drive it underground and expose those workers to exploitation and profiteering.
Open call to the rest of society: Come on, people! As a species, we are hard-wired to engage, and participate, in sex work. Homo sapiens aside, such behavior has been observed (so far) by researchers in several species of monkeys, and at least one species of great apes. We are many generations removed from the puritan societies that settled Europe and North America, and we pat ourselves on the back for our progressive social thinking. Let's give ourselves a real reason to pat ourselves on the back, not blindly follow the overly strict and closed-minded thinking of our ancestors. Let's embrace the many sex workers out there, welcome them into our society, and stop arresting, blackmailing and otherwise exploiting them! - David Stone
Honestly one of most insightful reads on the topic of decriminalization of sex work as well as a thought provoking response to the question “why not just legalize it?”
Well said, and in my experience, absolutely right. As an attorney who has represented multiple SW's over the years, including the "prostitution" charges, the entire system is set up to enrich the state and the clubs,and to allow the cops to take advantage in many ways of the SW, all at the expense of SW's. Decrim is the only logical solution. Strip clubs are a safe haven for SW who are much safer in the clubs than on the streets, IMO.
All prostitutes are filth. You’ll never be respected. spreading perversion, disease, distrust of women. The world would be a better place without you disgusting femcels. You hold women back as a whole. Fuck all of you sympathizing, encouraging, or participating.
This sums up why sex workers of all trades (legal and decriminalized) need to stand in solidarity for decrim, as well as the short answer when a well-intentioned ally says “yes we need to legalize it”. Cops and gov’t regulation against stigmatized work will only lead to more policing, violence and injustice.
“Decriminalizing sex work removes police as the arbiters of state-sanctioned violence against people selling sex, perceived to be selling sex, or simply too close in proximity to people who sell sex.”
Fuck strippers fuck prostitutes get real employment you don't gotta sell your ass your soul and he'll no they should not make it legal tell He'll no. Hell no
Well-written and persuasive piece. While Ms. Cruz understandably focuses upon the plight of erotic dancers, most or all of the points raised apply equally to those in other types of sex work.
For example, Ms. Cruz's statement that "Decriminalizing sex work weakens the profit-driven relationship between club owners and police by removing the threat of prostitution raids in the club" is striking, in that the ridiculous and generally baseless stigmas that our society applies to all aspects of sex work only serves to drive it underground and expose those workers to exploitation and profiteering.
Open call to the rest of society: Come on, people! As a species, we are hard-wired to engage, and participate, in sex work. Homo sapiens aside, such behavior has been observed (so far) by researchers in several species of monkeys, and at least one species of great apes. We are many generations removed from the puritan societies that settled Europe and North America, and we pat ourselves on the back for our progressive social thinking. Let's give ourselves a real reason to pat ourselves on the back, not blindly follow the overly strict and closed-minded thinking of our ancestors. Let's embrace the many sex workers out there, welcome them into our society, and stop arresting, blackmailing and otherwise exploiting them! - David Stone
Been looking forward to reading this since I caught you on Street Fight.
Honestly one of most insightful reads on the topic of decriminalization of sex work as well as a thought provoking response to the question “why not just legalize it?”
Well said, and in my experience, absolutely right. As an attorney who has represented multiple SW's over the years, including the "prostitution" charges, the entire system is set up to enrich the state and the clubs,and to allow the cops to take advantage in many ways of the SW, all at the expense of SW's. Decrim is the only logical solution. Strip clubs are a safe haven for SW who are much safer in the clubs than on the streets, IMO.
Amazing article sex worker rights are human rights we care and appreciate sw as important and amazing people who deserve the same legal rights.
This is a really lucid and convincing article Marla; I'm looking forward to reading your future writing, whenever it comes! (Oh and hbd again!)
All prostitutes are filth. You’ll never be respected. spreading perversion, disease, distrust of women. The world would be a better place without you disgusting femcels. You hold women back as a whole. Fuck all of you sympathizing, encouraging, or participating.
This sums up why sex workers of all trades (legal and decriminalized) need to stand in solidarity for decrim, as well as the short answer when a well-intentioned ally says “yes we need to legalize it”. Cops and gov’t regulation against stigmatized work will only lead to more policing, violence and injustice.
“Decriminalizing sex work removes police as the arbiters of state-sanctioned violence against people selling sex, perceived to be selling sex, or simply too close in proximity to people who sell sex.”
"Sex workers are workers. The exploitation strippers face every day in the club will not be resolved with more policing but with more worker power. "
Goddam right! Solidarity ✊
Tell Hell no. Hell no. Fuck strippers fuck prostitutes
Fuck strippers fuck prostitutes get real employment you don't gotta sell your ass your soul and he'll no they should not make it legal tell He'll no. Hell no
They should shut down all the prostitute clubs or strip clubs
Everyone knows strippers are prostitues
Apparently you didn’t get the memo: no one cares about you.