Shadowban

Poetry

I see right through everything you try to impress upon me.

My nose is already cut; off, my mask forever cast into the pantomime of the dead.

When I rise,

I won’t need you.

There are no wallflowers here,
just silent observers casing the joint.

My grandfather’s spyglass has a cracked lens – one of those monocled, steampunky brass edged gems that’s uncoordinated at best but it serves more than a purpose.

Without you, I fade into the background.

I am like a mage.

I draw you in, but you beckon me out from behind my crystal pillars dangling wads of money and a job offer that’s on hold.

I come, baring more than just my breasts,

I am yours.

Till the thrill is gone.

I am in danger of succumbing to my own spell, rebounding long before

I am discarded,

when you’ve already moved on to Nightingales and page three nostalgia,

my unnatural incantations losing their spark along the way.

Still, you make me question where I belong.

I stand in the orange sunset smoking a durry on my balcony,

looking down from my lofty thoughts.

My high society, contemptible self-loathing

boldly framing my red-hinged double revolving doors

that would swing wider, if it weren’t for the sunstrike that has me

blind.

A spectral shade

of surreal light,

trapped by my own shadowban.

I see right through everything you try to impress upon me.

My nose is already cut; off, my mask forever cast into the pantomime of the dead.

When I rise,

I won’t need you.

Cairns Cyber Siren

Reflections of Bohemia

I am a cyber siren. I was chatting with a companion of mine Lindsay, that I have known for more than 14 years this morning and he asked me what I was doing with my day.

While I wait for potential clients to ring, or the next booking to arrive, I often sit at my computer and refine my SEO configurations (Search Engine Optimisation) for my website, so I can generate more traffic to my blog. I made a joke that I was like a kind of ‘cyber siren’, and its true!

Those of you who are mariner’s will understand the sea legends of seductive siren’s and mermaids that would lure unsuspecting sailors to their watery graves. While no one is going to die from pleasure on my sexy watch, you may feel like you’re dying to drown in my delightfully juicy juices and that would be my SEO tugging ever-so-gently, at your rather large blue balls!

My alluring cyber siren call is loaded with keywords and phrases, designed to have you salivating at the mere thought of my delightful company, yearning to be inside me and wanting to suck and caress my sexy toes. Sure, a siren of the sea has no tail or toes to merit a mention but I do have a rather lovely derriere that loves to be spanked every once in a while. A funny thing happens when my ass is lovingly man handled…

My lovelies, I am the most exquisite, super sexy cyber siren there is in Cairns and Port Douglas. Not only do I have a wonderful tail, I also have the most luscious set of round bouncy DD breasts that would love to be dangling in your face, as we ride those waves of pleasure to the end’s of the earth and back! Consider your cyber siren’s needs thoroughly, while contemplating your own and we will be well on our way to having a wonderfully, splashy time!

It sounds so bloody cheesy doesn’t it? But it works! Now all you have to do, is make a booking with me and find out what all the screaming is about! Jx

Mermaid:The Body Found

Tinders Cora Pearl

Poetry

Tinder dating.

Balancing on that tight rope between modern meat markets, vintage marriage proposals and a continuum of taffeta excuses for those with no idea about couture.

Coffee date number two,

torn between a Trelise Trelise Cooper bustle or Collette Dinnigan trousers, opting for mid length K-mart culottes and flat shoes – quite sensible really.

Then he makes a move, casually stroking her genius arm while he takes a business call leaning back on his wing.

It’s an affront to Cora’s touch-starved senses; Georgette raised speed bumps, bristle with expectations.

Its awkward for a moment –

deciding weather to pirouette or sashay onto the dancefloor with some spurious home truths.

Ta da!

‘I used to be a sex worker’,

she crowed, sipping on a nonchalant eyelash latte on the verge of treason

‘and if I decide to go back, you can’t stop me’.

Silence.

Ms Pearl takes another sip, the onslaught of ignorance threatening to tighten her whale bone corset breath, now held in contempt.

A standing ovation or white knuckled finale taking the bias edge out of contention, taking it all in.

See, she can’t see the point of another round of ruffles and rouge.

Spontaneous attraction hides in the shadows

of a cloak and dagger past life, frightened

by a mere unorthodox interlude.

To Grey or Not to Grey

Reflections of Bohemia

Jezabel July 2019

Hello everyone! It has been a while since I’ve written an escort blog post.

Firstly, I’ve been away from the sex industry for about 4-5 years (since Feb 2014 there about’s) and I’ve had a rather long hiatus and two failed relationships. I am also renovating my house pretty much from scratch.

Secondly, I have run out of money, therefore I am going back to work to finish what I’ve started. Basically, there is no rest for the wicked!

Lastly, I have moved into a beautiful apartment in the Cairns CBD. I am on the 6th floor, with wonderful views of the city and Great Dividing Range! Off street parking is available for those choosing to stay with me, with my Deluxe Holiday Stay package. AND I have a spa bath!

As you can imagine, a lot has changed. I am greyer! I actually don’t mind going grey or white actually. I want to let my natural silver come through – the problem is growing out my dyed hair.

I have had several professional attempts to try to blend my hair to a silver/grey colour, and they have all failed. I’ve been left with a fried natural belayage (my own darker roots, bleached lighter ends) and I don’t like it. So now, I have no choice but to go through the painfully slow process of growing it out. It truly is a heinous process. Luckily, grey is the new hot cougar colour, so there’s never been a better time to bite the bullet!

These selfie pics were taken a few weeks ago and the light captures my struggling grey’s quite nicely. So, please bear with me and embrace my courageous attempt at going natural with me, although I’m sure most of you are not really interested in the hair on my head (giggles), but you get my drift.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I hope I will see you all in Cairns or Port Douglas again, soon. I’m sure I’m not the only one whose ageing disgracefully!

Whore

Poetry

Clock app, I chime well.

The sheets are slithery crevices

Satin-lined, with serpent tongue poised to strike,

It is a meeting of the soul,

A shaft of light

Through cathedrals of stained glass.

Where you are safe,

There are no family heirlooms,

No dinner on the table, no lies.

Suave virile hips, the smirk of men

Glaze at her smoke

And I, in my honeyed plume,

Milk a gallon of amphibian seed.

To release

The roar of angst I swallow toads ~

Meat and three vege, a staple,

The ‘Elixir of Life’.

My mouth gags,

The mouth of Mary

When my accelerator touches the pan.

The giggle of my

Plastic features, my way of arching

John’s to rigors of trapeze

Lays on the charm, a gasp.

And it goes on and on, and on.

I shall remain a nymph. Old muscles

Strain like a bough and I

Blush like Betty Boop

Satisfied,

All the sighs of winter, fall

Offering up last seasons rosella

Tea to read.

Visible Woman

Poetry

I’m a whore.
A hooker for all
Intents & purposes

I fuck

Men, women or both
If they show me
Respect & pay my fee

How they treat
Me is how I screen;
They peep through key
Holes in my web,
Mobile phone or face
Book

Leave me clues
I peruse at my leisure.

On my unpaid time,
Weeding
Always pulling
Out roots & bare
Back, barking mad
Messages

Cutting into my family!

My family time
Intrigues you & yours –

Watching how we
Balance on that edge,
While I swing my leg
Over, hold on
Tight & tiptoe
Around the giant
Dildo in the room

But we do

Those Bill’s
Just don’t stop coming!

I work hard for the money
I work hard for family
I work hard
Pulling my weight where it counts
To make ends meet;
Reconciling differences
Underneath

I bleed red & my shit still
Stinks but that doesn’t make me
Invisible, unless you’re
Anti

Anti this, anti that
Why should it matter
What I do to support my
Self or my family?

I should ram my fist right up
Your arse, to my elbows
(I’d like to – bend you over) &
Piss all over your pride & prejudice!

Your mind is already made up.
Stuck up, to the eyeballs
In condescending lies pandering
To unpopular beliefs;
Nothing like countering ‘prostitution
Narratives’ in the belly
Of the beast

I am a very tall poppy.
I am not so uneloquently on display
I am not a victim
I am not coerced
I am not a survivor
I am not damaged
I am not suffering any
More than anyone else

I don’t buy into
Negative, stereotypically ignorant
Profit driven victimisation
Either!

I choose to be the
Architect of my own life
Doing my bit,
Arousing your awareness
So that those who are
Tarred with the same brush
Can find support
Not rescue

It’s called autonomy.
Something I have more of than
Some, but you are not one

Tomorrow I’m going to wake up
Turn on my phone
Answer messages
Boil the jug & light up a dart,
Considering all my options
Before heading back in to sex work

It makes me stark raving
Mad, to think you could
Possibly be offended!

For what it’s worth,
I feel sorry for you

Written in protest of the ‘World’s Oldest Oppression’ Conference in Melbourne, Victoria 2016

The Online Protest

Pieces of Meat

Sound of Silencing Sex Workers

Online Pocket Guide to Dealing with Antis

Sex Work & Violence

About Sex Work, Sex Work & Violence

On Sunday night, the 17th of February 2013, I got a distressed call from a young sex worker in Cairns. For the purpose of this Blog her name shall be Gemma.

Gemma had taken an enquiry from a man calling himself Will. He seemed warm, polite and friendly. They agreed on a price, time and place for a 1 hour outcall at an upmarket hotel in Cairns along the Esplanade. She took her time getting ready, making the effort to look and feel her best. She chose light make-up, a lovely but casual dress and 3 inch heels. Her supplies of condoms and lube were tucked away in an evening bag. She headed out the door…

Gemma arrived on time and made her way up to the third floor. A well dressed man in his late 20’s, early 30’s opened the door, smiled and let her in. She looked around the room and noticed empty beer bottles and pizza boxes. She made the comment “Oh is this your bachelor pad?” laughing and gesturing toward the mess in a friendly manner to break the ice. He laughed and said “something like that”. Then another male of around the same age came out of a side room. Then another and another and another. Five in total were in the room and making smiles and lewd gestures toward her.

Gemma asked to speak with Will, looking at the guy who opened the door for her. He replied that Will wasn’t there, that they had borrowed his phone and that they wanted to ‘party’ with her. Right about now she realised she was in her worst nightmare. She stated firmly and calmly that she had made an hour booking with Will and that there was no mention of anyone else being involved. They offered her more money and encouraged her to sit down. Gemma declined. One of them pushed a chair in behind her knee’s to force her to sit down but she remained standing. They had been drinking.

By this time Gemma is trying to reposition herself away from the men crowding around her, to move closer to the door. As she was trying to extricate herself, repeatedly stating that she was not going ahead with the booking, one of the five stated “Prostitution is illegal in Australia and you have to fuck us!”. Another started yelling at her “get in the fucking bedroom!”. She managed to manoeuvre herself in to the kitchen before making a dash for the exit, deliberately knocking everything she could off the kitchen bench onto the floor. She made it out of the door and down to reception. shaken and in shock. She phoned her boyfriend who came over immediately to pick her up outside the hotel. He told reception what Gemma had told him.

Gemma is a 24 year old woman. She lives alone with her pet dog and Goldfish. She has a boyfriend whom works away for a couple of weeks at a time and who is supportive of her choice of work in the interim. They both have goals and aspirations for their future together.

Like a lot of sex workers, Gemma entered into the sex industry to ease social and economic pressures. A cash income meant she could begin to create an independent life for herself and pool her resources into savings, learning and up-skilling, ultimately to improve her chances of competing in a modern society. A global financial crisis resulting in fewer job opportunities, and tighter budget constraints combined with poor leadership and cowardly politicians like Queensland’s Attorney-General, Honourable? Jarrad Bleijie and Mr Premier Campbell-Newman pissing all over human rights, targeting our most vulnerable in society, leaves little hope for our young people to see any kind of future.

This scenario could have been much worse. Gemma was a very lucky young woman to have escaped from those lowlife scum who dared to call themselves men. Could her risk be lowered? You bet; yet under current Queensland law it is still illegal for two sex workers to work together to provide back up to each other and this immediately increases the risk of further abuses being perpetrated against us. Who is more aware of our particular safety needs than another sex worker? In my mind, current regulation is actually perpetrating gross negligence and causing undue harm which violates our basic human rights.

Queensland law does actually allow sex workers to hire a fully qualified bodyguard slash driver whenever we feel there is a need. But lets face it, could Gemma have foreseen what was planned for her that night? The answer is NO. However, when isn’t there a potential risk for sex workers when we have a government that doesn’t support their basic human rights in general and a public who knows this and an element of depravity in some people who will continue to be violent by nature? In Gemma’s case it is unrealistic to expect her to hire a bodyguard slash driver to serve as a chaperone on every single job, she accepts. The cost alone puts this service way out of reach for most sex workers. Where is this fictitious pool of bodyguard slash drivers on standby 24/7?

What about the Police? Gemma chose not to report this incident. That is her right. When I asked her what made her think twice, she said she rang them anonymously and they couldn’t do anything unless she made a statement. She didn’t want to make a statement. She wanted the Police to go around and scare them to make them at least think twice about doing it again to another unsuspecting sex worker. This was not to be. She could not see that making a statement to Police would enable them to visit the men and force them to at least tell their side of the story. The only thing she could see, was that nothing would happen to them and she would become a known sex worker to Police. This made her feel uncomfortable. Sad isn’t it.

I referred Gemma to her local sex worker organisation for support immediately after the incident. Respect Inc have drop in and outreach centres on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Townsville (Head Office) and Cairns. She was able to debrief over the phone with a peer in Cairns, was given information about her rights and the opportunity to have the respect Peer Educator with her if she chose to make a statement with Police. What an invaluable service! Severely under resourced and very lucky to have escaped the heinous community funding cuts that surged though Queensland last year like a fiscal enema.

What happened to Gemma could happen to any one of us at any time. It has happened to a lot of us. Is this a deterrent? No it is not. We cling to what little support we have within society and lean on each other and pick up the pieces and move on with our lives – and continue to sex work. Men, women and transgender alike have been making the best of difficult situations for centuries. Sex work is not a new phenomenon. It is known as the oldest profession in the world for damn good reason! Historically, it was not always an illegal or heavily regulated profession either.

Australia needs to make a National change uniting the States and follow in the huge footsteps of New South Wales and New Zealand who lead the way with complete Decriminalisation of the sex industry. Draconian laws and heavy-handed, often purely misguided moralistic regulations do nothing but make the lives of sex workers fraught with danger, ripe for exploitation and reek of political potato chips. How many more stories like Gemma’s do you have to hear before you realise that she is a person just like yourself, with a family and friends, neighbours, work colleagues and a guy that comes around to mow the lawn every 2nd Wednesday. A person who deserves to have laws in place to protect her human rights to live and work free from harrassment.

Why is Federal Australia still turning a blind eye to screeds of evidence-based research stating how decriminalising sex work removes so much unwanted paper work for bureaucrats, free’s up resources for Police to actually focus on real crimes, empowers people to make better choices, makes would be criminals think twice, and more importantly begins to improves negative stigma and discrimination which in turn raises self esteem and a feeling of belonging in society for a vulnerable minority group? Perhaps we need to invest our hard earned tax payer dollars into buying a pair of thick lens glasses so that each and every Member of Parliament can begin to read the not so small print in front of them.

Finally, I have one last statement to make. Sex workers are here to stay. Sex workers are uniting and growing stronger every single day. Sex workers will not tolerate abuse of any kind. There should be ZERO TOLERANCE against violence full stop! To those of you who are foolish enough to try to hurt or belittle us, remember we are watching you with eye’s in the back of our heads. We are becoming organised and united. These men were exposed to the hotel reception staff who also took great offence and I have no doubt they would have been uncomfortable attempting to explain it away. Be prepared to be questioned, stood up to, refused, denied and exposed as the low-life scourge of society that you are. We are the majority. You are merely that 1% of the population that resembles a sharp prick we encounter occasionally when pulling out the weeds.

Published by the Aim Network

Published by Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP)

My Submission for the Inquiry into the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 – Exposure Draft Legislation

Political Lobbying

THE SENATE

STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Inquiry into the Human Rights and
Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 – Exposure Draft Legislation

I am writing this submission to ask that my human rights as a legal, lawful sex worker be included in Federal Law in line with the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 so that State Law cannot discriminate against me and remove my civil liberties like what happened recently in Queensland.

I live and work in Queensland and I have been in complete turmoil over the recent Amendment to the Anti-Discrimination Act, sec 106C, which now allows LEGAL DISCRIMINATION specifically against sex workers in the area of accommodation. I was physically ill. This came about because of a high profile anti-discrimination case in Queensland where the legal sex worker GK was found to have been discriminated against and WON.

Then we all were reminded of the actual depth of corruption and discrimination against sex workers in the Queensland government when our own Attorney-General Mr Jarrod Bleijie began a very public campaign, along with our Premier Mr Campbell-Newman and other Australian Christian Lobbyists to perpetrate the most heinous vilification and discrimination crime against sex workers. Their political interference in this case is blatant, disrespectful and makes a mockery of existing laws. What’s the point of human rights if they can simply be taken away at the whim of renegade politicians and rednecks whenever they feel threatened? I think Queensland is corrupt. The anti-discrimination case debacle is a prime example of why.

Despite 100% of the submissions received being against supporting legal discrimination, the Bill was still passed. The arguments that were used in parliament to support legal discrimination, appeared to be based on misguided morals that did not seem to care about the rights of sex workers, arguing that the rights of hotelier and moteliers were more important. They did not seem to care that there were already laws in place to protect hoteliers and moteliers from the usual disruptive guest in their establishment, because they were collectively discriminating on the basis that we are sex workers. They were discriminating against a minority group based on negative stereotypical assumptions about sex workers that are simply fabrications.

The amount of potential harm this Bill can cause to sex workers, their partners, children, families and friends is HUGE. How can this type of discrimination be allowed to occur in Australia in this day and age? Since when is legal discrimination ever an option? We may as well be living in Uganda where they are trying to pass the ‘Kill the Gays’ Bill at the moment.

I have experienced discrimination directly in my life as a sex worker. I have been evicted from my leased accommodation, physically locked out of my carpark, my gate codes changed so I couldn’t get in. I have had money stolen by real estate agents withholding part of my rent for no reason other than because I am a sex worker.

I used to play Roller Derby. I was outed as a sex worker by someone to my team and I was shunned by them. I was targeted by them on the flat track. I was not included in social events. I was segregated and ostracised. I joined roller derby to feel more empowered and to actively participate in the community. I was met with stigmatisation and marginalisation, both direct and indirect discrimination.

My self esteem plummeted. I began to feel depressed. I withdrew into my apartment and avoided contact with the outside world. I generally felt bad about myself and it took me a long time before I could pick myself up and move on.

I pay tax. I work within the Law. I respect myself, my colleagues and my clients. I would like to be shown some respect by the Australian government in Federal Law so that my faith in Australia signing up to international Human Rights Constitutions is not thrown back in my face. I want to know that my Federal government is taking the recommendations of the United Nations reports about sex workers seriously.

Sex workers are real people, with real lives, with real families, with real children, with real friends. We are EVERYWHERE in society but most of the time you don’t even know we are there.

Kind regards,

Jodine

Sex Worker

www.escortjodine.com

Stop Legal Discrimination in Australia

Political Lobbying

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

The Queensland Attorney-General, Mr Jarrod Bleijie has successfully campaigned to change the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 to allow legal discrimination to occur in Queensland. Section 106C was passed to specifically target sex workers in the area of accommodation. It effectively removes the ‘Lawful Sexual Activity’ part of the Act which has protected sex workers from discrimination by hoteliers/moteliers, landlords and body corporates to date. Our basic human right to live and work in peace, free from harassment and vilification have been compromised.

Supporting ‘legal’ discrimination is an oxymoron and against the United Nations ‘Universal Human Rights Constitution’. The Prostitution Act 2000 made sex work legitimate work within Queensland and sex workers are protected under the provision of ‘Lawful Sexual Activity’. Despite other area’s of law which currently still protect hoteliers/moteliers, landlord’s and Body Corporates from noisy guests, legal discrimination puts sex workers, their partners, children, friends and family directly into danger and at risk of abuse and corruption all over Australia.

On 21 November 2012, the Senate referred Exposure Draft legislation for the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 (Exposure Draft Bill) to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (committee) for inquiry and report. The Exposure Draft Bill seeks to consolidate existing Commonwealth anti-discrimination law into a single Act, replacing the Age Discrimination Act 2004, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986.

The Exposure Draft Bill proposes a number of reforms to Commonwealth anti-discrimination law, including:

· introduction of a single, simplified, test for discrimination applying to all protected attributes;

· coverage of additional protected attributes including sexual orientation and gender identity;

· coverage of discrimination and sexual harassment in any area of public life;

· a streamlined approach to exceptions, including a new general exception for justifiable conduct;

· additional measures to assist and promote voluntary compliance;

· improvements to the complaints process to improve access to justice; and

· some adjustments to the functions of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The committee is due to report on 18 February 2013, and has invited written submissions to its inquiry by 21 December 2012.

We must ensure that sex workers human rights are included in the above recommendations. You can contribute actively by making a submission recommending this and why. The Exposure Draft Bill, explanatory notes and associated materials may be accessed from the committee’s website at www.aph.gov.au/senate_legalcon.

There appears to be widespread discrimination against sex workers in general throughout Australia. Discrimination, that also violates the basic Human Rights of sex workers. Lyon asserts that health outcomes of sex workers are directly affected by stigmatisation and marginalisation and that “It is described as the single biggest issue facing sex workers – even those who operate legally” (Lyon, 2011: 2.3.1, 45).

In Queensland, it was found that sex workers who were working legally (i.e. service providers in licensed brothels, legal sole traders) had better mental health than those in illegal settings (Seib et al 2009). Harcourt et al (2005) suggested that decriminalization seemed to provide the best outcomes for sex workers health and welfare and that this is a desirable outcome that affects the community as a whole.

Jodine

SIGN THE PETITION HERE.

Youth Justice (Boot Camp Orders) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012

Political Lobbying

I am writing this submission for the Director of Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee who have been asked to report on the recent Youth Justice (Boot Camp Orders) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 by the 22nd of November, 2012.

As a legal sex worker in Queensland, I am appalled by the proposed amendment to the Anti-discrimination Act 1991 in particular, hidden within the Youth Justice (Boot Camp Orders) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012. This Amendment effectively targets the removal of the one piece of legislation within the Act that protects the civil liberties and human rights of sex workers. In the state of Queensland, it is illegal to discriminate against ‘Lawful Sexual Activity’.

The proposed new Amendment to the Anti-Discrimination Act 2012 is therefore both illegal and discriminatory by all intents and purposes. Supporting ‘legal’ discrimination is an oxymoron and against the United Nations ‘Universal Human Rights Constitution’. The Prostitution Act 2000 made sex work legitimate work within Queensland and therefore legal sex workers are protected under the provision of ‘Lawful Sexual Activity’. This new Bill is clearly singling out sex workers and does not make any reference to other business activities which may be conducted by other guests or patrons using various rented or leased accommodation to conduct their work.

This Bill gives individual hoteliers/moteliers, body corporates and landlords the right to evict sex worker’s from their hotel rooms, apartments and homes on a whim, any time of the day or night, just because they either suspect or know someone is a sex worker and working. This new law also extends to clients who will also be evicted if they get ‘caught’ bringing a consenting sex worker back to their hotel room, or place of residence. This is blatant discrimination on a grand scale. It has all the elements of the former Joh Bjelkie-Petersen days most Australians want to forget.

This new Bill must be scrutinised in line with the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 which is now in effect. The Attorney-General, Honorable Nicola Roxon, released a media statement on the 4th of January this year reminding us that all new laws must consider “… protection and promotion of human rights”. Human Rights will be “…bought into sharper focus in Parliament this year with all new laws to be checked to see if they stack up against human rights obligations”. The principles of freedom, respect, equality, dignity and a fair go, apply to everyone including sex workers.

Under the Commonwealth Of Australia Constitution Act says: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA CONSTITUTION ACT – SECT 109 Inconsistency of laws When a law of a State is inconsistent with a law of the Commonwealth, the latter shall prevail, and the former shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be invalid.

We are witnessing Puritanical Moral Police with God Complexes cavorting with Renegade Rednecks in positions of power who collectively gang up to bully minority groups and manipulate the media who then use propaganda and scaremongering tactics to mislead the public in order to gleen political votes which ultimately ensures that their pockets are fully lined. Enough to pay for a good curry at least!

This Amendment will severely affect sex workers in every aspect of their lives. It will also negatively impact their partners, children, family, friends and their clients. Sex workers will be forced onto the street at all hours of the day and night. Accommodation will be refused as word is quickly spread from one hotel to another, one real estate agency to another, one data base to another. Current law abiding citizens will now become criminals. Stigma and marginalisation will increase to even more damaging levels and sex workers health and well-being will deteriorate.

As it is, the number of sex workers accessing community organisations like RESPECT Inc, Queensland’s Sex Worker Organisation, for support, is increasing. Sex workers are already finding themselves out on the street in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere with no place to go. These illegal evictions are occuring because no one is protecting our basic human rights. Sex workers live with this ever-present threat to their health and safety on a daily basis.

Last year, my then partner and I were evicted from my leased apartment. We were physically locked out of the underground carpark we had been using for the past 6 months. The gate codes were changed and we were told we were not allowed to park there anymore. The onsite manager began to harass my guests at first as they came through the door and up to my apartment. Including a RESPECT Inc support worker doing Outreach with me. He then informed my real estate agent and attempted to prove I was a sex worker by going through the local paper. He then rang me on my work phone and left text messages. He then told everyone in the complex that I was a sex worker and I was subject to rude stares, hostile looks and general beligerance from my otherwise unsuspecting neighbours.

The real estate agent then issued me with a Breach of Tenancy stating that I were running an illegal escort agency and we were told our lease would not be renewed. We were not refunded all of our bond even though the apartment was beautifully kept. We were not given a reference and we were not assisted to find other accommodation with the same real estate agency. I provided the onsite manager and the real estate agent with pamplets from RESPECT Inc, ADCQ and the Prostitution Licensing Association (PLA) in an attempt to educate them about sex work and the law but it made no difference.

We had not done anything wrong or illegal. I would discreetly sex work while my partner was away working for up to two weeks at a time. I would then cease work when he came home for a week. We were polite and courteous to everyone in the complex. We minded our own business. We didn’t have loud late night parties and no complaints were made against me, by my neighbours or clients.

So when a high profile case like the recent Civil & Administrative Tribunal ruling between GK v Dovedeen Pty Ltd, Mrs Joan Hartley, ruled in favour of sex worker GK, all hell breaks loose! We all felt a sense of hope that maybe we could trust the ADCQ and QCAT to get it right and apply existing laws to protect our civil and human rights. Unfortunately, what we all witnessed was bigotry and corruption and widespread systemic discrimination at the highest level of government. I agree with Janelle Fawkes of the Australian Sex Worker’s Association who states that “‘Systemic Predjudice’ is most definitely at the core of all anti-discrimination cases throughout Queensland”. We are witnessing just how far up the hierarchy it has reached.

It is my shared belief that the Attorney-General, Mr Jarrod Bleijie is grossly abusing his political powers with other key political figures like Mr Campbell-Newman, and other Christian based groups and individuals, for political gain. By interfering in this case he is perpetrating abuse against a specific vulnerable minority group and this is morally corrupt and unethical. Mr Bleijie and his cronies should not be above the law. He clearly has a bias and discriminatory agenda. His actions are arguably enough to warrant a collective Anti-Discrimination complaint being made against him for further investigation.

Please seriously do something about what is going on under our noses. There appears to be widespread discrimination against sex workers in general throughout Queensland and Australia. Discrimination, that also violates the basic Human Rights of sex workers. Lyon asserts that health outcomes of sex workers are directly affected by stigmatisation and marginalisation and that “It is described as the single biggest issue facing sex workers – even those who operate legally” (Lyon, 2011: 2.3.1, 45). Pushing new laws through like this one, is an attempt to over-ride existing laws that have proven evidence that glows in the dark! Even then, as we re-enter the Dark Ages, people who proclaim to see the light, are all blind.

There has to be a shift away from the pre-existing moralistic viewpoint, to one that supports a public health and human rights approach such as New Zealand and New South Wales. It is apparent that there needs to be more constructive discussion and debate between sex workers, the government, lawmakers and about public opinion in Australia. In Queensland, it was found that sex workers who were working legally (i.e. service providers in licensed brothels, legal sole traders) had better mental health than those in illegal settings (Seib et al 2009). Harcourt et al (2005) suggested that decriminalization seemed to provide the best outcomes for sex workers health and welfare and that this is a desirable outcome that affects the community as a whole.

By Jodine

This submission can be found here along with others.

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http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/s109.html”

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