Posted on by Miss Brook$

sex work is the new black

I often compare the sex worker rights movement with the Civil Rights movement and gay movement. Most often, I see it closer to the Civil Rights movement.

I’e become used to conversations with people or business interactions with them — all behind the scenes. But I understand that in public they might not wish to be associated with me. It’s not a condescending remark. Not everyone is ready to stand up to prejudice or make logical arguments to refute knee-jerk morality. I understand. So if we meet in public I pretend not to know and do not burden them with social embarrassment.

Take the constant checking I have to do with publishing-related businesses. I can’t assume they’re going to want to do business with me, so before we get too far down the road I have to give background info, detailed explanations, legal disclaimers (and prove that others have worked with me before) — and this is just the introductory e-mail. In essence, I apologize for what I’m doing and for imposing on them.

My hat must be in my hand, my eyes down and I should respectfully step out of the way so they can pass. In case I make them uncomfortable, I should cross the street so they don’t have to.

Usually I get praised for checking their tolerance level before daring to engage in a business conversation with them. Before I dare to believe I’m a regular publisher like anyone else making a book about cats (or cooking or yoga or whatever has been done to death). Before I dare to act as though I have a right to choose my business partners, instead of letting them choose me and being grateful for it.

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Posted on by Miss Brook$

taxing texas strip clubs

(Thanks to Amber Rhea for sending me the link this morning.)

This is a special $5 tax to be added to the door charge for all Texas strip clubs. The money collected will go to rape victims and shelters. This is the brain-child of Texas Association Against Sexual Assault.

Though the tax seems based on liquor sales, strip clubs are not the only places in Texas that sell drinks. I’ve heard rumors there are many liquor-only stores in Texas, as well as places that serve both food and booze (some of these places bill themselves as “family” restaurants). And I swear I’ve seen bottles of alcoholic beverages in grocery stores and other mundane retail outlets.

A $5 door fee isn’t much (unless you’re a guy who can’t even bother to spend $100 in an upscale club). But why strip clubs?

As we all know — strip clubs cause rape. Men don’t cause rape, naked women do. And damnit, women should have to pay for it, one way or another. You would think strippers would be thrilled to help out their sister-victims; because according to studies all sex workers are rape victims anyway. Why wouldn’t a stripper want to be forced by the state to support a program for members of her sex? It’s a great way of scrubbing that scarlet letter off her chest!

My solution? Raise the tax to several thousand per person and collect it from all men arrested for rape — even if they blame strip clubs for inspiring the violence.

Posted on by Miss Brook$

end violence against sex workers

Today is a day of awareness and memorial for sex workers around the world. Because of the illegal status of sex work and the low status of women in many countries, sex workers are a particular target of violence. (Transgendered sex workers face the same levels of violence as female sex workers.)

I don’t have any stats handy right now, but a large number of sex workers have been murdered through 2007 in the US and Canada. Most of these cases will never be solved. (Many other sex workers have simply disappeared and are presumed dead.) And every day sex workers are assaulted (sexually and violently). Their abusers have no fear of being brought to justice.

This is only the 5th Annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. But awareness of the issue is growing. We can’t actually hope to end violence against sex workers until we erase violence against all women, but at least we can make the world aware that sex workers are humans and deserve basic human rights. Their abuse or loss of life affects more than themselves.

It’s easy to join us. SWOP-East is hosting an online vigil and live discussion. Or, if you’d like to physically show your support, carry a red umbrella today or find an event near you.

Posted on by Miss Brook$

girl-on-girl “outing”

I debated whether or not to post this, but decided to (obviously). This is my personal blog, so I feel it’s ethically okay.

An online competitor of mine sells e-books (something I’ve been encouraged to do by several different people, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon — sorry). Competitor in the sense we’re presumably going after the same market. Since I don’t trust e-books or e-book sellers (the exceptions can be named on one hand), I never bought her book, plus it was too expensive for mere research purposes.

In my Google Alerts, I noticed she had a new blog. Its subject matter seemed a little odd, but okay. Then I discovered she outs people on her blog. In particular, customers who order her e-books. I found this out because an escort paid for the e-book, never received it and got blasted when she dared contact the seller about the issue. Not only has the poor girl not gotten her money back, all the information she put into the ordering system is now posted online in connection with the escort book.

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Posted on by Miss Brook$

george carlin on prostitution

I don’t understand why prostitution is illegal. Selling is legal, fucking is legal. So, why isn’t it legal to sell fucking? Why should it be illegal to sell something that’s legal to give away? I can’t follow the logic. Of all the things you can to do a person, giving them an orgasm is hardly the worst. In the army they give you a medal for killing people; in civilian life you go to jail for giving them orgasms. Am I missing something?
From Napalm & Silly Putty

At first, his argument is no different from any other common-sense argument regarding prostitution. But as he points out — in this society — “heroes” can be made by killing lots of people. Even serial killers are celebrated celebrities (most of the time their victims are women). But a woman who gives an orgasm to a man (who might not have had it otherwise) is a criminal and despicable human being.

I would ask that someone explain the logic to me in a way that makes sense. That won’t happen because it’s not possible. Even sadder, many of the arguments against prostitution operate off the base assumption that sex is violence. Only violence is violence, regardless of the form it takes.

Consensual orgasms between adults is not violence.