Ho Stage Zine #3

Open publication - Free publishing - More harm reduction

Issue #3 features
- Excerpt from a Bitch Magazine article about the damage done by "Anti-Trafficking" groups
- Letter to a UH Professor in reaction to a video of the misinformation presented by a local "anti-trafficking" figure to a college class
- Brief Overview of Movements for Sex Workers' Rights, including a WWII Strike by Honolulu's Brothel Workers
- List of Recommended Resources
- Q&A from a Panel Discussion about Sex Work and the Law
- Poetry Centerfold by Erik from the Park
- Advice on How to Act when dealing with Police
- Story about a Stripper Fight
- Words of Praise about members of North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC)
- NCHRC's Guide to Safer Crack Smoking
- Details about the 2012 Transgendered Census
- "Chewing the Zinery" story about experiences at the Girl Fest Zine Workshop over the years
- Instructions on "How to Use a Condom

Let Us Be Part of the Solution

This video is from Serpent Libertine's youtube channel. It was written by Serpent Libertine, Megan Morgenson, and Ursula OrElse, then edited by Ben Furie.

The video features an array of sex workers and their advocates, speaking about the differences between sex workers, and victims of human trafficking. They are against trafficking, and could teach anti-trafficking people on the best ways to identify trafficked individuals, while respecting the labour rights of all.

"A sex worker is someone who engages in sexual labour in exchange for money or services, who chooses to perform, without coercion or duress.

A victim of sex trafficking is an individual who performs sexual labour under force or threats - to self or loved ones - who does not receive any of the benefits of the fruits of their labour, and are exploited in other ways.

Often the most marginalized in our society, are the ones most at risk for trafficking.

Most sex work does not involve trafficking. It involves consenting adults in consensual business exchanges. Conflation of consensual sex work with sex trafficking, is a disservice to both victims of sex trafficking, and to sex workers.

We as sex workers, allies and advocates are opposed to all forms of sex trafficking.

Many people fighting against sex trafficking, think all sex workers are victims of exploitation and abuse. This is a huge fallacy."

Contrary to the condescending words and actions of people who want to "save all prostitutes", many sex workers are adults who engage in consensual transactions with other adults. We have control over our own lives, and a sense of right and wrong. If we knew someone was in distress or under duress, we would do what we could to help. However, since the illegal status of our means of making a living opens the door for many to exploit or undermine us, many sex workers are afraid to speak upp or act out. This is unfortunate, because these people who are providing a service to members of the community, might occasionally encounter someone who is being forced into the sex trade. Without the threat of arrest or other abuses at the hands of the law, sex workers could be major players in the fight against human trafficking.

"If you are involved in anti-trafficking efforts, you can contact your local sex workers rights organization, and invite them to discuss trafficking issues and policy making.

If there are no sex worker rights organizations in your area, contact
Sex Workers Outreach Project USA, or the Sex Workers Project, to find out how you can include sex workers' input in the fight against trafficking.

Help us find safe avenues to report suspected trafficking, where the person reporting won't be subject to harrassment or arrest....

Sex workers WANT to stop trafficking. Let us be a part of the solution."

You can call Sex Workers Outreach Project at 1-877-776-2004, or visit their website at www.swop-usa.org

You can call the Sex Workers Project at 1-646-602-5617, or visit their website at
www.sexworkersproject.org

In Hawaii, you can call Arresting Prostitutes is Legal Exploitation at 1-808-988-3493, to speak to the Reverend Pam Vessels, or 1-808-534-1846 to speak to Tracy Ryan, or visit their website at www.aplehawaii.org.

"Feminist Ire" Blog Exposes the Damaging Effects of Swedish Anti-John Laws

Just this past Monday, Sept 26, Feminist Ire blog published a well-researched, heavily footnoted piece by Stephanie Lord and Wendy Lyon about the harmful effects of Swedish "anti-john" sex trade laws, imposing heavier penalties on the people who seek out the services of sex-workers. Meanwhile, oddly enough, selling sex remains legal in Sweden.

It seems in Ireland, where Feminist Ire is based, the government is considering adopting the Swedish model, without consulting or considering the needs of the sex-workers themselves. Unfortunately, this results in creating higher risks and dangers for sex-workers. Following are what I consider the two more vital paragraphs from the article:

More importantly, Swedish sex workers have reported significant adverse consequences as a result of the law – including that it has deterred some of the “ordinary” clients who only want regular sex, but has not deterred the dangerous ones. In short, criminalising the purchase of sex in Sweden has meant for Swedish sex workers that the odds of any particular client turning out to be dangerous are much higher. According to the sex workers – as opposed to their self-appointed spokespersons – since the clients are more nervous about being caught, the decision about whether to accept them has to be made much more quickly and without adequate time to assess whether they are dangerous [10]. For them, the loss of “ordinary” clients now means they have to accept clients they would not otherwise accept, including those who demand sex without a condom [11]. By making direct contact between buyer and seller more difficult, the law is also said to have increased the power of intermediaries (or in common language, pimps).[[12]

It has been widely recognised in the HIV/AIDS sector that sex workers who are not able to control their working conditions, most importantly condom negotiation, are at a higher risk of infection. This is the reason why virtually the entire global health sector supports the decriminalisation of sex work and granting sex workers occupational health and safety rights. The World Health Organization[13], UNAIDS[14], the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights[15], the UN Secretary General[16], the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health[17] – all of these have called for the removal of laws criminalising commercial sex between consenting adults, primarily because criminalisation is a recognised risk factor for HIV/AIDS.

Click Here to read the whole article, and when you have time, peruse their extensive bibliography. It seems local abolitionists are pursuing similar laws in Hawaii, to pursue and punish the men, women & transgender people who hire sex-workers. Unfortunately these efforts are counter-productive, and only create more problems for sex workers, and society at large.

Ho Stage Zine #2

Open publication - Free publishing - More 2

Ho Stage Zine #2 finally came out (about 15 years after the first).
In this issue you'll find the following:
~ excerpts from §712-1200 the Hawaii State Law Against Prostitution. 
~ examples of Harm Reduction
~ Poetry by D.R.
~ an interview with Doug Upp
~ Doug Upp's letter to Honolulu Weekly
~ D.R.'s zine reviews
~ contact info for
Waikiki Health Center, Life Foundation, CHOW Project & APLE