For now, I'm porting this blog over to www.jessicaland.wordpress.com.
All of the posts located here have been imported there, and I'm tidying things up, which I expect to be doing sporadically over the next few days, and probably the weekend as well.
New posts will be made to the new blog.
I'm trying to condense some of my most visited sites. I'm over on BnG all the time, so I figured I might as well move this blog to there. (And since you should be spending more time on BnG, then it makes more sense for us both.)
I am also flighty and like to play around mindlessly on the internet, so maybe I just needed a change of location for said play. Who knows . . . .
I've also got it on my long list to play around with the SWOP East site, colleagues' approval as of yet unrequested. But I've got several things to clear off my plate first. At least with my own blog, I don't care as much if my mindless tinkering brings the whole operation crashing to the ground.
See you on wordpress!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Eliot Spitzer . . .
Want to know what sex workers have to say about the Spitzer "scandal"?
Get thee self over to www.boundnotgagged.com!
Get thee self over to www.boundnotgagged.com!
WHAT ABOUT KRISTEN? New York Sex Worker Organizations Respond to Spitzer Scandal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts
Shakti Ziller, Sex Workers Action New York (SWANK), swank@riseup.net 877-776-2004 x 2
Audacia Ray, 718.554.1714
Sarah Bleviss, Sex Workers Outreach Project NYC (SWOP-NYC), swop.nyc@gmail.com
Prostitutes of New York (PONY), pony@panix.com
Desiree Alliance, http://www.desireealliance.org/
WHAT ABOUT KRISTEN? New York Sex Worker Organizations Respond to Spitzer Scandal
New York, NY - In the last few days, Governor Eliot Spitzer has publicly admitted to being associated with an escort agency and is considering resignation. As sex worker advocates, we are concerned about the representation and fate of “Kristen” and sex workers who are being thrust into the spotlight because of the investigation into the Governor. We also share the widespread concern for Governor Spitzer’s family.
Sex worker organizations urge the press and the public to focus on the violation of sex workers rights and the need to change these laws and policies, rather than simply on the story of one individual who has purchased sexual services.
“Nobody is talking about the impact of this story on ‘Kristen’ and other women, men and trans people who are currently working in the sex industry,” Shakti Ziller of SWANK in NYC added, “Prostitutes disproportionately face punitive action after arrest as compared to clients. Whether or not she will face prison time, “Kristen” has been dragged into the spotlight and will be subjected to public humiliation. Shouldn’t the police emphasis be on catching perpetrators of violent crime and protecting sex workers - not exposing adults who are consenting to a transaction? All she did was try to make a living.”
“Governor Spitzer ran on a platform of being a different kind of politician and then portrayed an inaccurate image of himself. Being involved with the services of sex workers is a very common thing, if all forms of consensual sex work were decriminalized for adults involved in a consensual transaction, sex workers could access the services they need,” says Dylan Wolfe of SWANK (Sex Workers Action New York).
Governor Spitzer took a lead role in developing the NY State Anti-Trafficking Law. Over the objections of advocates who worked directly with victims of human trafficking and with sex workers, Governor Spitzer pushed through penalty enhancements against clients of all sex workers. Sex worker advocates fought against such provisions because these policies drive people who need help further underground.
“Spitzer has stood up for workers’ rights in certain capacities, but has not followed through with meeting the real needs of sex workers,” Audacia Ray, author of Naked on the Internet, noted, “It would be great if the government could use money towards services, not punitive measures.”
The press has picked up on the relationship that inter-state trafficking laws (under the Mann Act) have to this case. This connection illustrates a point that sex worker advocates have been making for a long time: Laws against inter-state transportation for the purposes of commercial sex are too often used for punishing people working as sex workers and those who work with and patronize them.
The exposure of Randall Tobias last year as a customer of an escort agency, Senator Vitter’s rumored association with sex workers and now this recent news of Governor Spitzer, the corruption and hypocrisy inherently associated with prohibiting consensual prostitution are again being brought to light. Shaming these men will do nothing to improve the nature of the sex industry and the deeply-rooted corruption that is associated with the prohibition of prostitution.
“The criminalization of prostitution breeds this type of hypocrisy and makes our politicians (and other public figures) vulnerable,” says Carol Leigh of Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA. “This vulnerability exists until our society recognizes that consensual sexual behavior is private and these private acts should no longer be criminalized.”
“Many of our clients are politicians, judges, lawyers and even police,” Monica S., 26 of Brooklyn said. “It’s odd that they spend so much effort putting us into jail, but then turn around and give us their money in exchange for sex. Why do they think they won’t get caught breaking the laws that they make?”
The commentary on Dealbreaker.com, a Wall-Street news site, says about Wall-street’s anti-Spitzer reaction to the ‘Client 9′ story: “‘There is a God’ was the first thought on Wall Street. The next thought is, ‘Please don’t let it be revealed that I’m Lucky Number 7.’”
Contacts
Shakti Ziller, Sex Workers Action New York (SWANK), swank@riseup.net 877-776-2004 x 2
Audacia Ray, 718.554.1714
Sarah Bleviss, Sex Workers Outreach Project NYC (SWOP-NYC), swop.nyc@gmail.com
Prostitutes of New York (PONY), pony@panix.com
Desiree Alliance, http://www.desireealliance.org/
WHAT ABOUT KRISTEN? New York Sex Worker Organizations Respond to Spitzer Scandal
New York, NY - In the last few days, Governor Eliot Spitzer has publicly admitted to being associated with an escort agency and is considering resignation. As sex worker advocates, we are concerned about the representation and fate of “Kristen” and sex workers who are being thrust into the spotlight because of the investigation into the Governor. We also share the widespread concern for Governor Spitzer’s family.
Sex worker organizations urge the press and the public to focus on the violation of sex workers rights and the need to change these laws and policies, rather than simply on the story of one individual who has purchased sexual services.
“Nobody is talking about the impact of this story on ‘Kristen’ and other women, men and trans people who are currently working in the sex industry,” Shakti Ziller of SWANK in NYC added, “Prostitutes disproportionately face punitive action after arrest as compared to clients. Whether or not she will face prison time, “Kristen” has been dragged into the spotlight and will be subjected to public humiliation. Shouldn’t the police emphasis be on catching perpetrators of violent crime and protecting sex workers - not exposing adults who are consenting to a transaction? All she did was try to make a living.”
“Governor Spitzer ran on a platform of being a different kind of politician and then portrayed an inaccurate image of himself. Being involved with the services of sex workers is a very common thing, if all forms of consensual sex work were decriminalized for adults involved in a consensual transaction, sex workers could access the services they need,” says Dylan Wolfe of SWANK (Sex Workers Action New York).
Governor Spitzer took a lead role in developing the NY State Anti-Trafficking Law. Over the objections of advocates who worked directly with victims of human trafficking and with sex workers, Governor Spitzer pushed through penalty enhancements against clients of all sex workers. Sex worker advocates fought against such provisions because these policies drive people who need help further underground.
“Spitzer has stood up for workers’ rights in certain capacities, but has not followed through with meeting the real needs of sex workers,” Audacia Ray, author of Naked on the Internet, noted, “It would be great if the government could use money towards services, not punitive measures.”
The press has picked up on the relationship that inter-state trafficking laws (under the Mann Act) have to this case. This connection illustrates a point that sex worker advocates have been making for a long time: Laws against inter-state transportation for the purposes of commercial sex are too often used for punishing people working as sex workers and those who work with and patronize them.
The exposure of Randall Tobias last year as a customer of an escort agency, Senator Vitter’s rumored association with sex workers and now this recent news of Governor Spitzer, the corruption and hypocrisy inherently associated with prohibiting consensual prostitution are again being brought to light. Shaming these men will do nothing to improve the nature of the sex industry and the deeply-rooted corruption that is associated with the prohibition of prostitution.
“The criminalization of prostitution breeds this type of hypocrisy and makes our politicians (and other public figures) vulnerable,” says Carol Leigh of Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA. “This vulnerability exists until our society recognizes that consensual sexual behavior is private and these private acts should no longer be criminalized.”
“Many of our clients are politicians, judges, lawyers and even police,” Monica S., 26 of Brooklyn said. “It’s odd that they spend so much effort putting us into jail, but then turn around and give us their money in exchange for sex. Why do they think they won’t get caught breaking the laws that they make?”
The commentary on Dealbreaker.com, a Wall-Street news site, says about Wall-street’s anti-Spitzer reaction to the ‘Client 9′ story: “‘There is a God’ was the first thought on Wall Street. The next thought is, ‘Please don’t let it be revealed that I’m Lucky Number 7.’”
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Celebrate International Sex Worker Rights day with SWOP East in North Carolina!
SWOP East (Sex Worker Outreach Project East) will host a free movie night to celebrate International Sex Worker Rights Day on March 3rd. Join the Triangle's only sex workers' rights organization, as we stand in solidarity with sex workers around the world, to call for full recognition of the human rights of sex workers.
When: Monday March 3, 7:00 PM
Where: Bull City Headquarters (BCHQ), 723 N. Mangum St., Durham, NC
Celebrate Sex Worker Rights with subversive movies, delicious cupcakes, and spirited discussion about the films and our condom project Pledging Action!
Pledging Action (PA) is a small, informal, grassroots project under the umbrella of SWOP-East, a US-based, public nonprofit organization operated by three SWOP-East board members – two in the US and the other in Chile. PA was created for the benefit of sex workers. The idea was born after watching Taking the Pledge about the USAID anti-sex work pledge international organizations were forced to take in order to receive USAID funding. Giving condoms to international organizations that support sex workers seemed to be a good answer to the many problems created by the Pledge.
On March 3rd, we will be screening Taking The Pledge, along with Live Nude Girls Unite!
For more info contact: swopeast@gmail.com and see our website at http://www.swopeast.org
What is International Sex Worker Rights Day? The 3rd of March is International Sex Worker Rights Day. The day originated in 2001 when over 25,000 sex workers gathered in India for a sex worker festival. The organizers, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a Calcutta based group whose membership consists of somewhere upwards of 50,000 sex workers and members of their communities. Sex worker groups across the world have subsequently celebrated 3 March.
SWOP East is a chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA. SWOP USA is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of sex workers and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy. Visit http://www.swop-usa.org/ for information on other March 3rd celebrations throughout the USA!
When: Monday March 3, 7:00 PM
Where: Bull City Headquarters (BCHQ), 723 N. Mangum St., Durham, NC
Celebrate Sex Worker Rights with subversive movies, delicious cupcakes, and spirited discussion about the films and our condom project Pledging Action!
Pledging Action (PA) is a small, informal, grassroots project under the umbrella of SWOP-East, a US-based, public nonprofit organization operated by three SWOP-East board members – two in the US and the other in Chile. PA was created for the benefit of sex workers. The idea was born after watching Taking the Pledge about the USAID anti-sex work pledge international organizations were forced to take in order to receive USAID funding. Giving condoms to international organizations that support sex workers seemed to be a good answer to the many problems created by the Pledge.
On March 3rd, we will be screening Taking The Pledge, along with Live Nude Girls Unite!
For more info contact: swopeast@gmail.com and see our website at http://www.swopeast.org
What is International Sex Worker Rights Day? The 3rd of March is International Sex Worker Rights Day. The day originated in 2001 when over 25,000 sex workers gathered in India for a sex worker festival. The organizers, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a Calcutta based group whose membership consists of somewhere upwards of 50,000 sex workers and members of their communities. Sex worker groups across the world have subsequently celebrated 3 March.
SWOP East is a chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA. SWOP USA is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of sex workers and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy. Visit http://www.swop-usa.org/ for information on other March 3rd celebrations throughout the USA!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The vote on PEPFAR reauthorization happens Thursday!
Tell your representatives that you oppose restrictions on organization providing essential services to sex workers, and you support science-based teaching in the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
*******************************************************
A report, from 2006 (!!!) on how dangerous PEPFAR conditions truly are for the global south.
Report on Bush's program to combat HIV
***********************************************************
Sex workers in India, (2 million individuals!!!) started their own magazine, a la America's $pread, last year. In a post at, Voices of American Sexuality, discussing the magazine, they offer this suggestion:
*******************************************************
A report, from 2006 (!!!) on how dangerous PEPFAR conditions truly are for the global south.
Report on Bush's program to combat HIV
A new report released by the Center for Public Integrity finds that President Bush’s $15 billion dollar initiative to combat HIV abroad has failed countries struggling with the pandemic.
The report, titled “Divine Intervention,” was released as countries across the globe observed World AIDS day on Friday. It is the result of a year-long investigation and is the first of its kind to examine the policies, politics and goals of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief known as PEPFAR. The center worked with reporters in eight countries who found that PEPFAR’s faith-based ideology–including promotion of abstinence–often trumps science. The report states, “PEPFAR is failing to stop the global spread of AIDS and failing to help lead the world to stop this deadly disease. Instead of empowering people we are restricting them. We have a flawed framework with flawed policies.”
***********************************************************
Sex workers in India, (2 million individuals!!!) started their own magazine, a la America's $pread, last year. In a post at, Voices of American Sexuality, discussing the magazine, they offer this suggestion:
If you want to support sex workers here and abroad one good way to do so is to push the American government to reform Pepfar, the US emergency plan for AIDS relief.
Let the government know that banning federal aid to organizations that refuse to condemn sex workers is killing women. Visit Pepfarwatch.org to find out how you can do more.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Take Action to Reform USAID Funding!
From www.boundnotgagged.com:
GOP opposes AIDS program change
If we're friends, then I've probably talked to you about the 'Anti-Prostitution Pledge' and/or the focus on abstinence-only sex education in US HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns. Both of these policies run contrary to best practices in public health, and some of the most effective HIV prevention programs world-wide. PEPFAR comes up for reauthorization this week, please let your representatives know that you support proven effective measures for curbing the spread of HIV.
If you follow the link above, you will find excellent information, provided by Stavey Swimme of the Desiree Alliance, to assist you in taking action on this critically important issue!
GOP opposes AIDS program change
If we're friends, then I've probably talked to you about the 'Anti-Prostitution Pledge' and/or the focus on abstinence-only sex education in US HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns. Both of these policies run contrary to best practices in public health, and some of the most effective HIV prevention programs world-wide. PEPFAR comes up for reauthorization this week, please let your representatives know that you support proven effective measures for curbing the spread of HIV.
If you follow the link above, you will find excellent information, provided by Stavey Swimme of the Desiree Alliance, to assist you in taking action on this critically important issue!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Excuse me . . .
When did dancers at Scores become the final word when it comes to what strippers think?
Perez Hilton Sez Strippers Care
I could be wrong, but there's something in my gut---experience, perhaps---telling me that the managers at Scores have more to do with this political PR buzz than the dancers.
Perez Hilton Sez Strippers Care
The ladies of the night have spoken, and they're backing Hillary Clinton!
Just because they shake their titties for a living doesn't mean they aren't politically minded.
The girls of Scores in NYC remind you to vote tomorrow.
Hillary's got the exotic dancer vote, does she have YOURS?
I could be wrong, but there's something in my gut---experience, perhaps---telling me that the managers at Scores have more to do with this political PR buzz than the dancers.
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