Comments for nothing-about-us-without-us.com http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com Addressing emerging issues related to the NSW sex industry Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:57:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on More than 500 Sydney prostitutes are offering unprotected sex to clients in brothels The Daily Telegraph 10.01.12 by Rebecca http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/more-than-500-sydney-prostitutes-are-offering-unprotected-sex-to-clients-in-brothels-the-daily-telegraph-10-01-12/#comment-303 Rebecca Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:57:18 +0000 http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/?p=2062#comment-303 I think, Mr Seage, that the rate of "accidental pregnancies' within the sex industry is nil. Yet within the general population it is still quite high. This obviously reflects the disparity between safer sex practices between sex workers and the general population. If you also too the time out to look at the rate of STIs within the general population compared to the Sex industry, you'll fine the rate of STIs to be MUCH higher. This is because sex workers are safe sex educators and know how to negotiate safer sex practices, know where to access condoms and lube, know how to use such things and actually know about how STIs are transmitted. We are NOT "grubby prostitutes" but the ones who - since the early 80's have demanded condom use and protected ourselves and our clients from contracting and spreading STIs like HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia etc. Half my clients don't even know what these are and are very happy and thankful when I educate them about these STIs. I am legally entitled to work as a sex worker in NSW, I pay my taxes and my council rates and I deplore ANY council wasting tax payers money to employ you to try to "find out where I work/ operate from". Decriminalisation in 1995 meant an equal playing field without the fear of entrapment or underhanded activities. If you are SO concerned that " the spread of disease could rise if the level of unsafe oral sex was left unregulated" then perhaps you should spend your evenings in nightclubs and online within casual dating sites as the rate of unprotected oral and unprotected sex blatantly advertised is beyond belief. Stop wasting your time within a profession that knows how to look after itself. Every night in nightclubs people hook up and i can assure you that EVERYONE outside of the sex industry performs oral sex WITHOUT a condom or a dam. Good luck with curbing that activity! Stay out of our professional arena. Rebecca I think, Mr Seage, that the rate of “accidental pregnancies’ within the sex industry is nil. Yet within the general population it is still quite high. This obviously reflects the disparity between safer sex practices between sex workers and the general population. If you also too the time out to look at the rate of STIs within the general population compared to the Sex industry, you’ll fine the rate of STIs to be MUCH higher. This is because sex workers are safe sex educators and know how to negotiate safer sex practices, know where to access condoms and lube, know how to use such things and actually know about how STIs are transmitted.

We are NOT “grubby prostitutes” but the ones who – since the early 80′s have demanded condom use and protected ourselves and our clients from contracting and spreading STIs like HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia etc. Half my clients don’t even know what these are and are very happy and thankful when I educate them about these STIs.

I am legally entitled to work as a sex worker in NSW, I pay my taxes and my council rates and I deplore ANY council wasting tax payers money to employ you to try to “find out where I work/ operate from”. Decriminalisation in 1995 meant an equal playing field without the fear of entrapment or underhanded activities.

If you are SO concerned that ” the spread of disease could rise if the level of unsafe oral sex was left unregulated” then perhaps you should spend your evenings in nightclubs and online within casual dating sites as the rate of unprotected oral and unprotected sex blatantly advertised is beyond belief. Stop wasting your time within a profession that knows how to look after itself. Every night in nightclubs people hook up and i can assure you that EVERYONE outside of the sex industry performs oral sex WITHOUT a condom or a dam. Good luck with curbing that activity!

Stay out of our professional arena.

Rebecca

]]> Comment on “How To” Guides by Be wise, decriminalise: Letter writing campaign » nothing-about-us-without-us.com http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/take-action/how-to-guides/#comment-301 Be wise, decriminalise: Letter writing campaign » nothing-about-us-without-us.com Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:08:58 +0000 http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/?page_id=2099#comment-301 [...] “How To” Guides [...] [...] “How To” Guides [...]

]]> Comment on More than 500 Sydney prostitutes are offering unprotected sex to clients in brothels The Daily Telegraph 10.01.12 by Henry http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/more-than-500-sydney-prostitutes-are-offering-unprotected-sex-to-clients-in-brothels-the-daily-telegraph-10-01-12/#comment-300 Henry Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:48:45 +0000 http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/?p=2062#comment-300 Chris, The use of the pejorative "grubby prostitutes" is offensive and sums up your approach to this matter. From the things I have read by you, you seem to be waging a war to promote your vested interests. Take the advice on the replies here and talk to Scarlet Alliance who know what is really going on in the industry. Do you ever consider the facts, rather than relying on your preconceptions and the innuendo that I often read from you? Have a look at the incidence of STIs in the regulated VIC and QLD industry compared to that of the less regulated (at the moment) NSW industry. You may be unpleasantly surprised. Yes STIs are on the increase but I think you'll find that it is in the non-prostitute area in NSW that this is the case. How are you going to regulate that? There are a lot of things that don't benefit by more regulation, and prostitution is one of them. Education is the key. Will you accept the challenge to find out the real facts, or are you a "grubby prostitute" yourself, who is happy to spread misinformation so you can get money from your vested interests? Chris,

The use of the pejorative “grubby prostitutes” is offensive and sums up your approach to this matter. From the things I have read by you, you seem to be waging a war to promote your vested interests.

Take the advice on the replies here and talk to Scarlet Alliance who know what is really going on in the industry.

Do you ever consider the facts, rather than relying on your preconceptions and the innuendo that I often read from you? Have a look at the incidence of STIs in the regulated VIC and QLD industry compared to that of the less regulated (at the moment) NSW industry. You may be unpleasantly surprised. Yes STIs are on the increase but I think you’ll find that it is in the non-prostitute area in NSW that this is the case. How are you going to regulate that? There are a lot of things that don’t benefit by more regulation, and prostitution is one of them. Education is the key.

Will you accept the challenge to find out the real facts, or are you a “grubby prostitute” yourself, who is happy to spread misinformation so you can get money from your vested interests?

]]> Comment on More than 500 Sydney prostitutes are offering unprotected sex to clients in brothels The Daily Telegraph 10.01.12 by Holly http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/more-than-500-sydney-prostitutes-are-offering-unprotected-sex-to-clients-in-brothels-the-daily-telegraph-10-01-12/#comment-299 Holly Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:04:03 +0000 http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/?p=2062#comment-299 Dear Mr Seage, I am not 100% familiar with all the things you want to change in the adult industry, but as a sex worker in NSW, these are some things i'd like you to share with you. I dont speak for all sex workers, just myself xx I dont cause any trouble within society. I keep to myself. I think i am pretty much a good person. As a sex worker, i know my duty of care to my clients and i get tested monthly and i provide safe sex acts. I took the time to get as much knowledge about safe sex as possible. I pay taxes. I have an accountant. I give to charity. I pay attention and follow the states rules and regulations on sex work, how i advertise and generally run my business. I am not a slave. I am not abused. I am happy and complete :) What i would hate to see, is this job become a criminal offence. Or an offence for my clients. Id hate to see two adults choice in what they do behind closed doors be taken away. Id hate to see, this country look at sex workers in the same way America does. Id hate to see us go backwards 100yrs and put women like me underground.... I dont want to try and make you a client. I dont want to sleaze onto you with my charm and take your money from you, seduce you like a devil. I dont want to corrupt you or men like you, to lead you astray, to make you sin...Im quite happy to respect your choice, that seeing a sex worker is not something you do.... I would love for you to allow me my choice to be one. We all make different choices in life. Mine are different to yours. Does that make my choices wrong? Choices... i make a choice to use protection for sex acts, but some of my fellow sex workers offer natural things. I have no issues with this! Its their choice! We might not agree with them and their choice Mr Seage, but as long as everyone is consenting, what business is it of ours? Good luck to them! They are enjoying life! Let them have their fun! They could be hit by a bus tomorrow! :) Not all of us are horrible grubby people Mr Seage.. some of us are just normal, happy go lucky people who dont want to cause a fuss, that just want to be left alone to live life in the way that makes them most fulfilled whether that be by gaining financial freedom or their desired lifestyle... We just want the right to do what we like with our own bodies... and for our clients to be able to do with their hard earned cash whatever makes them feel good.....make love, not war and all that :) Please dont take my choices away. Please? Love Holly xx Dear Mr Seage,

I am not 100% familiar with all the things you want to change in the adult industry, but as a sex worker in NSW, these are some things i’d like you to share with you. I dont speak for all sex workers, just myself xx

I dont cause any trouble within society. I keep to myself. I think i am pretty much a good person.
As a sex worker, i know my duty of care to my clients and i get tested monthly and i provide safe sex acts. I took the time to get as much knowledge about safe sex as possible.
I pay taxes. I have an accountant. I give to charity.
I pay attention and follow the states rules and regulations on sex work, how i advertise and generally run my business.
I am not a slave. I am not abused. I am happy and complete :)

What i would hate to see, is this job become a criminal offence. Or an offence for my clients. Id hate to see two adults choice in what they do behind closed doors be taken away. Id hate to see, this country look at sex workers in the same way America does. Id hate to see us go backwards 100yrs and put women like me underground….

I dont want to try and make you a client. I dont want to sleaze onto you with my charm and take your money from you, seduce you like a devil. I dont want to corrupt you or men like you, to lead you astray, to make you sin…Im quite happy to respect your choice, that seeing a sex worker is not something you do…. I would love for you to allow me my choice to be one.

We all make different choices in life. Mine are different to yours. Does that make my choices wrong?

Choices… i make a choice to use protection for sex acts, but some of my fellow sex workers offer natural things. I have no issues with this! Its their choice! We might not agree with them and their choice Mr Seage, but as long as everyone is consenting, what business is it of ours? Good luck to them! They are enjoying life! Let them have their fun! They could be hit by a bus tomorrow! :)

Not all of us are horrible grubby people Mr Seage.. some of us are just normal, happy go lucky people who dont want to cause a fuss, that just want to be left alone to live life in the way that makes them most fulfilled whether that be by gaining financial freedom or their desired lifestyle…

We just want the right to do what we like with our own bodies… and for our clients to be able to do with their hard earned cash whatever makes them feel good…..make love, not war and all that :)

Please dont take my choices away.

Please?

Love Holly xx

]]> Comment on More than 500 Sydney prostitutes are offering unprotected sex to clients in brothels The Daily Telegraph 10.01.12 by Julie Bates http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/more-than-500-sydney-prostitutes-are-offering-unprotected-sex-to-clients-in-brothels-the-daily-telegraph-10-01-12/#comment-298 Julie Bates Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:58:42 +0000 http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/?p=2062#comment-298 Dear Mr. Seage, Why don't you ask the Scarlet Alliance yourself or are you too afraid to converse with people who really know about the sex industry and care for it in ways you will never understand. What you continue to miss with your attacks on some sectors of the sex industry is that dishing dirt in one area, sticks to us all. The Goverment doesn't think well those couple of brothels Mr. Seage says are nice should be exempt from the potentially new licensing regime - they take what you say and add it to their basket of other unsubstantiated tripe and pretty soon we'll have an industry that cannot survive the cost of this potentially new regime, let alone the other controls proposed. The industry will return to its previous underground status much like has occurred in Victoria and Queensland since licensing was introduced in those two states. How proud will you be then when your mates in their brothels have to start footing a bill of $20 - $30K as a new regulatory fee. That is, of course, if they pass probity muster! Dear Mr. Seage,
Why don’t you ask the Scarlet Alliance yourself or are you too afraid to converse with people who really know about the sex industry and care for it in ways you will never understand. What you continue to miss with your attacks on some sectors of the sex industry is that dishing dirt in one area, sticks to us all. The Goverment doesn’t think well those couple of brothels Mr. Seage says are nice should be exempt from the potentially new licensing regime – they take what you say and add it to their basket of other unsubstantiated tripe and pretty soon we’ll have an industry that cannot survive the cost of this potentially new regime, let alone the other controls proposed. The industry will return to its previous underground status much like has occurred in Victoria and Queensland since licensing was introduced in those two states. How proud will you be then when your mates in their brothels have to start footing a bill of $20 – $30K as a new regulatory fee. That is, of course, if they pass probity muster!

]]> Comment on More than 500 Sydney prostitutes are offering unprotected sex to clients in brothels The Daily Telegraph 10.01.12 by IGP http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/more-than-500-sydney-prostitutes-are-offering-unprotected-sex-to-clients-in-brothels-the-daily-telegraph-10-01-12/#comment-297 IGP Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:49:28 +0000 http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/?p=2062#comment-297 Hi Chris, It may be useful for you to contact Scarlet Alliance directly if you wish to ask them questions. You'll be able to find all of their contact details here: http://www.scarletalliance.org.au/ They're an amazing group of people with incredible depth of knowledge when it comes to the sex industry. I'm sure they'll be able to answer any questions you have and provide you with accurate information on STI's in the sex industry and the success of the legal model NSW works in. Alternatively, if you're a sex worker you may find it useful to contact SWOP and they will be able to provide you with resources and accurate information on OH&S and STI's you will need to happily, succcefully and profitably work in the NSW sex industry. You may also find it useful to check out the pages on this website. I'm sure you will find the Resources and Key Documents page most useful: http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/background-information/resources-key-documents/ Even if you're not a sex worker Chris, rather a concerned citizen, or maybe you're thinking of applying for a job in the NSW sex industry, or are about to employ someone into a position in the sex industry, it would be a good idea to have a read of the above links provided to make sure you and your future employee(s) operates safely and within the law Happy punting Chris! Hmmm or maybe it's more I hope your business can be as profitable and successful as all people who have sub contracting sex workers working for them are! :) Hi Chris,

It may be useful for you to contact Scarlet Alliance directly if you wish to ask them questions. You’ll be able to find all of their contact details here:

http://www.scarletalliance.org.au/

They’re an amazing group of people with incredible depth of knowledge when it comes to the sex industry. I’m sure they’ll be able to answer any questions you have and provide you with accurate information on STI’s in the sex industry and the success of the legal model NSW works in.

Alternatively, if you’re a sex worker you may find it useful to contact SWOP and they will be able to provide you with resources and accurate information on OH&S and STI’s you will need to happily, succcefully and profitably work in the NSW sex industry.

You may also find it useful to check out the pages on this website. I’m sure you will find the Resources and Key Documents page most useful:

http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/background-information/resources-key-documents/

Even if you’re not a sex worker Chris, rather a concerned citizen, or maybe you’re thinking of applying for a job in the NSW sex industry, or are about to employ someone into a position in the sex industry, it would be a good idea to have a read of the above links provided to make sure you and your future employee(s) operates safely and within the law

Happy punting Chris! Hmmm or maybe it’s more I hope your business can be as profitable and successful as all people who have sub contracting sex workers working for them are!

:)

]]> Comment on More than 500 Sydney prostitutes are offering unprotected sex to clients in brothels The Daily Telegraph 10.01.12 by Chris Seage http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/more-than-500-sydney-prostitutes-are-offering-unprotected-sex-to-clients-in-brothels-the-daily-telegraph-10-01-12/#comment-290 Chris Seage Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:14:55 +0000 http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/?p=2062#comment-290 What is Scarlet Alliance going to do about all these grubby prostitutes doing BBBJ? What is Scarlet Alliance going to do about all these grubby prostitutes doing BBBJ?

]]> Comment on More than 500 Sydney prostitutes are offering unprotected sex to clients in brothels The Daily Telegraph 10.01.12 by Julie Bates http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/more-than-500-sydney-prostitutes-are-offering-unprotected-sex-to-clients-in-brothels-the-daily-telegraph-10-01-12/#comment-286 Julie Bates Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:58 +0000 http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/?p=2062#comment-286 If anyone is the culprit here it is the client demand for unprotected sex and those few brothel owners that do not support sex worker's occupational health and safety rights and needs. My experience in the industry, which is considerably longer than Chris Seage and not based on self-interest, tells me that education is the key to better practice, not more regulation. The NSW sex industry under decriminalisation, where peer educators are able to gain access to both approved and unapproved sex services premises (aka brothels), has better sexual health outcomes than does its Victorian and Queensland counterparts under a licensing regimes with enforced sexual health screening. (Donovan et al). Apportioning blame as Seage does without scientific evidence should be immediately discounted and seen for what it is -propping up his mates in the sex industry, who like other industries, are struggling in the current economic climate. The truth is that sexually transmissible infections (STIs), in particular Chlamydia, is on the rise in young heterosexuals but with no corresponding increase amongst sex workers. This tells me that sex workers are still largely at the forefront of educating Australian men about the need to practice safe sex. Often the only experience many will have of safe practices is when they visit a sex worker. It's about time sex workers were congratulated on their efforts to educate brothel owners and clients about the need for safe practices. Instead we continue to experience the vilification we see in articles such as those written by Nick Tabakoff with the support of his mate Chris Seage. Neither of these men has any real inside knowledge of the sex industry save for that which they gain via their dubious research which is far from being able to be peer reviewed. The rest is based on self-interest and cronyism. Sex workers for over 30 years now have held back the tide of client demand for unsafe practices. What we are seeing is a small breach in the dam walls in terms of client demand but no evidence to indicate sexual health of clients or sex workers is in jeopardy (Donovan et al) Finally, in respect to any further regulation of the sex industry, which is already highly regulated, WorkCover NSW has and does play a role in the regulation of the sex industry. This is no different to any other industry.. Sex work is a legitimate and legal industry and has its own brand of personal protective equipment (PPE) and supports. This includes condoms and lube and dams being made freely available to workers along with the education and (brothel) owner support to back safe practices - just like workers on building sites whose PPE includes hard hats and harnesses along with instructions on safe practices. The role of WorkCover via the 2001 WorkCover Guidelines for sex services premises is to ensure best practice on a range of issues from safe sex to self-care and supportive environments. A little respect please Julie If anyone is the culprit here it is the client demand for unprotected sex and those few brothel owners that do not support sex worker’s occupational health and safety rights and needs. My experience in the industry, which is considerably longer than Chris Seage and not based on self-interest, tells me that education is the key to better practice, not more regulation. The NSW sex industry under decriminalisation, where peer educators are able to gain access to both approved and unapproved sex services premises (aka brothels), has better sexual health outcomes than does its Victorian and Queensland counterparts under a licensing regimes with enforced sexual health screening. (Donovan et al).

Apportioning blame as Seage does without scientific evidence should be immediately discounted and seen for what it is -propping up his mates in the sex industry, who like other industries, are struggling in the current economic climate. The truth is that sexually transmissible infections (STIs), in particular Chlamydia, is on the rise in young heterosexuals but with no corresponding increase amongst sex workers. This tells me that sex workers are still largely at the forefront of educating Australian men about the need to practice safe sex. Often the only experience many will have of safe practices is when they visit a sex worker.

It’s about time sex workers were congratulated on their efforts to educate brothel owners and clients about the need for safe practices. Instead we continue to experience the vilification we see in articles such as those written by Nick Tabakoff with the support of his mate Chris Seage. Neither of these men has any real inside knowledge of the sex industry save for that which they gain via their dubious research which is far from being able to be peer reviewed. The rest is based on self-interest and cronyism.

Sex workers for over 30 years now have held back the tide of client demand for unsafe practices. What we are
seeing is a small breach in the dam walls in terms of client demand but no evidence to indicate sexual health of clients or sex workers is in jeopardy (Donovan et al)

Finally, in respect to any further regulation of the sex industry, which is already highly regulated, WorkCover NSW has and does play a role in the regulation of the sex industry. This is no different to any other industry.. Sex work is a legitimate and legal industry and has its own brand of personal protective equipment (PPE) and supports. This includes condoms and lube and dams being made freely available to workers along with the education and (brothel) owner support to back safe practices – just like workers on building sites whose PPE includes hard hats and harnesses along with instructions on safe practices. The role of WorkCover via the 2001 WorkCover Guidelines for sex services premises is to ensure best practice on a range of issues from safe sex to self-care and supportive environments.

A little respect please
Julie

]]> Comment on The Sex Industry in Western Australia: proposed law reform and submissions from sex worker activists in NSW by Attorney General Christian Porter’s West Australian Prostitution Bill 2011_ Ongoing letter writing campaign » nothing-about-us-without-us.com http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/the-sex-industry-in-western-australia-proposed-law-reform-and-submissions-from-sex-worker-activists-in-nsw/#comment-285 Attorney General Christian Porter’s West Australian Prostitution Bill 2011_ Ongoing letter writing campaign » nothing-about-us-without-us.com Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:00:08 +0000 http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/?p=1562#comment-285 [...] NAUWU has previously written on the proposed law reform on the following page which details submissions made by NAUWU, Scarlet Alliance and other peers in the industry. http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/the-sex-industry-in-western-australia-proposed-law-reform-and... [...] [...] NAUWU has previously written on the proposed law reform on the following page which details submissions made by NAUWU, Scarlet Alliance and other peers in the industry. http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/the-sex-industry-in-western-australia-proposed-law-reform-and... [...]

]]> Comment on Resources, Key Documents by IGP http://nothing-about-us-without-us.com/background-information/resources-key-documents/#comment-282 IGP Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:12:43 +0000 http://siteground198.com/~nothinga/?page_id=295#comment-282 Thanks for your comment Beccy-Babe! Trust me I know where you're coming from and I think and feel much the same way you do :( I've paid off 3 people's units in the time I've been renting in the last 10 years and they would have been million dollar mortagages, but because I'm a sex worker I'm not allowed my own. It's not that I can't afford to pay a home off, it's that no-one will let me have a home! Keep on keeping on Beccy and I'll have HUGE happy thoughts for you, IGP :) Thanks for your comment Beccy-Babe!

Trust me I know where you’re coming from and I think and feel much the same way you do :( I’ve paid off 3 people’s units in the time I’ve been renting in the last 10 years and they would have been million dollar mortagages, but because I’m a sex worker I’m not allowed my own. It’s not that I can’t afford to pay a home off, it’s that no-one will let me have a home!

Keep on keeping on Beccy and I’ll have HUGE happy thoughts for you,

IGP :)

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