From Melissa Gira’s Tumblr:
Hype, Hustle, Harm: Why Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, and the DNA Foundation Need To Stand Down
“Hype. First, terminology. “Sex slavery” is a hot issue, and a non-issue. I refuse to use the term “sex slavery,” because all of the people, practices and conditions that the term “sex slavery” has been applied to vary so greatly. It’s a huge mistake to label absolutely everyone involved in commercial sex as a “sex slave.” Even when people are coerced into selling or trading sex, it is not clear that calling forced labor or rape a form of “slavery” is accurate or beneficial. By using very emotional terms like “slavery,” paired with images of young girls — and usually girls of color — campaigns against “sex slavery” play on stereotypes, fears, and melodrama in order to gain public support. Anyone who faces force, fraud, or coercion in the sex trade does not benefit from having their whole lives reduced to “slavery,” “trafficking,” or “exploitation.” People in the sex trade are not slaves in need of rescue. They do not need saviors, no matter how well-intentioned. They need power and control over their own lives.”
Preach it Melissa! I agree with her 100%. I also wonder what Kutcher’s and Moore’s real reasons for promoting this campaign.
The first time I saw Kutcher’s “Real men don’t buy girls” ad I thought well of course they don’t. Real men rent adult women’s time. Melissa is spot on-labeling all sex work as sex slavery is a huge mistake. I’m a sex worker and am certainly not a sex slave.
—
While researching the recent prostitution bust in New Mexico I came across a website devoted to the Long Island Serial Killer.
There’s a lot on the site-emails people have sent in, a chatroom for people to discuss the case, a profile of the killer, a timeline of the murders and more.
On one hand a site like this could stir up unhelpful rumors about the case. It’s even possible the killer himself could send false flag information to a site like this. Doubtful yes but still possible. But the site keeps the murders current. The more the murders can be kept in the news and in the public’s mind the better I think. Maybe the West Mesa Murders should have a similar site?
—
Recently New York and Rhode Island took two different paths for gay marriage.
From the Advocate:
New York says”I Do”
“In a historic vote with far-reaching implications, the New York State Senate passed the marriage equality bill Friday, making New York the sixth and most populous state in addition to Washington, D.C., to offer civil marriage for same-sex couples.
The 33-29 vote, including four Republicans, came at the end of the legislative session and capped a dramatic week in Albany, where loud protests for and against the bill, many based in religious belief, filled the hallways outside the Senate chamber and the majority conference room at the state capitol. New York became the first state with a Republican-controlled legislative body to pass a marriage equality bill, following passage multiple times in the Democratic-controlled state Assembly since 2007. ”
Yes, yes and YES!
Also from the Advocate:
R.I. Gov Signs Civil Unions Law
“Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee Saturday signed into law a controversial civil unions bill that failed to please many gay activists, who had hoped for marriage rights instead and objected to the bill’s broad exemptions for religious institutions.
Chafee, an independent who supports marriage equality, said at the signing that he sympathized with the criticism of the civil unions bill, but he also said it “brings tangible rights and benefits to thousands of Rhode Islanders,” the Associated Press reports.”
A frustrating compromise but still it’s progress.
—
From San Francisco Gate:
US Airways let man wearing women’s panties fly
“Six days before a college football player was arrested at San Francisco International Airport in a dispute that began because he tried to board a US Airways jet with sagging pants, a man who was wearing little but women’s undergarments was allowed to fly the airline, a US Airways spokeswoman conceded Tuesday.
(snip)
A photo of the scantily clad man was provided to The Chronicle by Jill Tarlow, a passenger on the June 9 flight from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Phoenix. Tarlow said that other passengers had complained to airline workers before the plane boarded, but that employees had ignored those complaints.”
This news is a bit old but I got several emails asking me to blog about it. I’m so curious about this man. Is he a brave crossdresser? If so then I say-you go girl! The lipstick, necklace and pose suggest crossdressing.
On the other hand I wonder if this guy is fucking with the TSA. Just think if he went through the pat down line. How much would that freak the TSA agent out? I love that idea. Really I’m a fan of either scenario.
But shame on the people who are complaining. What’s more offensive? A guy wearing feminine clothing in public or the government legally allowing molestations of adults and children at airports?
Posted by Vixen as News, Sex Workers at 11:35 PM CDT