From The Globe and Mail:
Judge decriminalizes prostitution in Ontario, but Ottawa mulls appeal
“A Superior Court justice gutted the federal prostitution law in Ontario on Tuesday, allowing sex-trade workers to solicit customers openly and paving the way for judges in other provinces to follow suit.
Justice Susan Himel struck down all three Criminal Code provisions that had been challenged – communicating for the purposes of prostitution, pimping and operating a common bawdy house.
(snip)
In her 131-page ruling which took her a year to produce, Judge Himel found that laws set up to protect prostitutes actually endanger their safety, forcing them to furtively engage in hasty transactions conducted in shady locations.”
Yes yes yes fuck yes!!! Thanks to reader Tinka for sending me this story. I read her message and then checked Twitter and the story had just exploded over there. I didn’t have time to read anything as I was about to leave for NYC. Things have settled down around Casa Radical and I’m finally getting around to reading news. Wow. This is huge progress. The story has a poll-should prostitution be decriminalized. Get this-72% are in favor. The times they are a’changing.
It’s not all good news though. The times may be a’changing but they change slow.
From Business Today:
RCMP crackdown on alleged brothels motivated by Ontario court victory: B.C. sex work advocates
“RCMP investigators are cracking down on alleged brothels in Metro Vancouver in the wake of an Ontario judge’s controversial September 28 ruling striking down a federal law forbidding living off the avails of prostitution in that province, according to sex work activists.
First came the crackdown on ISHQ-Vancouver. Then came police raids and resulting closures of massage parlours Serenity and Alley Cat, according to Susan Davis, spokesperson for the B.C. Coalition of Experiential Communities.”
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From Information Liberation:
Federal Judge Known for Stiff Drug Sentences Caught Buying Drugs for Prostitute
” A 67-year-old federal judge’s wild relationship with a stripper started with a lap dance, prosecutors said, and quickly escalated into escapades of prostitution and gun-toting drug deals for cocaine and prescription pills.
(snip)
Camp’s relationship with the dancer, who was not identified in court documents, began earlier this year. A day after receiving his first dance, he returned to the Goldrush Showbar for more dances, and added sex and cocaine to his tab, authorities said.”
Gods that headline is poetry! The story just gets better. He was appointed by Regan. I love it when the news makes me laugh.
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From AVN:
The Australian Sex Party Gets Registered in Victoria
“The Australian Sex Party has just been officially registered by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). Party President, Fiona Patten (pictured), said that the party would now field candidates for both upper and lower house seats in the Victorian state election on Nov. 27.
“We are one of only 11 parties registered at state level, and by far the newest,” said Patten. “The registration process is rigorous and demanding, and our registration was only achieved through the committed efforts and generous support of our volunteers and supporters. This achievement by a party of our relative youth and size should send a clear message to the major parties that we are capable of making a serious mark on the Victorian political landscape”.”
I find this story entertaining. As much as I’d love to see major political parties reformed I like seeing small political parties gaining more ground.
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From Erie Gay News:
New report reveals rampant discrimination against transgender people by health providers, high HIV rates and widespread lack of access to necessary care
“Transgender and gender non-conforming people face rampant discrimination in health care settings, are regularly denied needed care, and experience a range of health risks because they are transgender or gender non-conforming, according to a report of more than 6,450 transgender and gender non-conforming people. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey: Report on Health and Health Care was released nationally today by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality.”
Two statistics that stood out to me
“Nearly 1 in 5 (19 percent) reported being refused care outright because they were transgender or gender non-conforming.
A staggering 41 percent of respondents reported attempting suicide compared to 1.6 percent of the general population.”
I wasn’t surprised to hear that transgendered folk get discriminated when receiving health care. But getting outright refused?! What what kind of doctor/nurse turns down a sick patient in need? And 41% attempt suicide? Whoa.
Posted by Vixen as News, Sex Workers at 10:07 PM CDT