drlove

[URL="http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/03/02/ubc-researchers-aim-to-improve-canadas-prostitution-laws.html"]http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouv...tion-laws.html[/URL] It is currently legal to sell sex but it is illegal to purchase it or communicate with a sex worker about their services UBC researchers are launching a nation-wide study to determine how Canadaâ??s prostitution laws affect sex workers because while selling sex is legal, purchasing it and asking a sex worker about their services in public, is not. The then Conservative government enacted Bill C-36 two years ago but the law has faced criticism from advocates who say it puts sex workers in danger. Researchers hope to collect enough data on how the law impactâ??s peopleâ??s safety to influence a review on the bill scheduled for 2019. â??We want to collect this data now so that we can provide empirical evidence about the impacts these new laws have on both sex workers and clients when it comes time to review the law,â? said Chris Atchinson, a co-principle investigator on the project. The bill puts both sex workers and clients in harmâ??s way, said Vicky Bungay, principal investigator and the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Equity, and Community Engagement at UBC. â??If you canâ??t communicate, how do you establish consent? How do you establish what you will or wonâ??t do?â? People can take part in the project, called Street-To-Screen, by completing a survey or participating in phone or in-person interviews. Participantsâ?? identities will be protected, said Atchinson in a written release. â??This is an opportunity for people to safely and confidentially participate in a project that has the potential to change current laws and attitudes around the sex industry.â? The survey will include questions about how people buying and selling sexual services use technology to communicate with one another. â??We know that good communication is key to ensuring the health and safety of those involved in the sale and purchase of sex, but we donâ??t know how people are getting around the legal restrictions placed on that communication in Canada,â? said Bungay.

I agree with Sophia and Raven... the tone of the board has changed dramatically in the past few years. Back when I joined in 2008, I could look forward to a steady influx of captivating, well read, intelligent ladies. Further, the discourse between the ladies and gents made for interesting discussions, with the diverse range of topics and opinions discussed here. It was always a step above the other boards, and Cerb/Lyla exuded class. Now, however it seems that some ladies prefer to advertise on places like "BP" exclusively, and are unwilling to become a part of a community such as ours. I feel it's a give and take - that said, choosing to simply monetize a service takes away from the spirit of what makes places such as Lyla so special. Moreover, discussion in some forums has been reduced to "Have you seen so and so from BP?" ad infinitum, ad nauseum. I for one do not see why these ladies may be discussed, as they are generally not part of Lyla, nor do they wish to be, as another poster pointed out. I prefer not to delve into what I refer to as the wild west, as BP and other spots are a free for all, imho. I prefer to stick to the tried tested and true, which is why I am proud to be a member here.

A definite milestone, indeed. Thank you, Cato for being a valued member of Lyla. I always enjoy reading your posts, and here's to many more!

Alas, not everyone is a member of Lyla... I'd say there's a good possibility that a portion of your gentlemen callers may not even be aware that the laws have changed, and therefore are oblivious to the implications of C-36. While it would be ideal if everyone took it upon themselves to become well versed in the legal discourse of our times, it is likely wishful thinking. All you can really do is attempt to convey things in a manner which is comfortable for you, and if certain people don't get it, it will be their loss.

It's already spreading to Canada... the news is reporting a shooting at a Quebec mosque.

Exactly, and therein lies the conundrum. The Liberals will likely not address the issue head on since it's too much of a political hot potato. That leaves a constitutional challenge, which can take years (literally!) While I would welcome such a development, it begs the question as to who, or what group of individuals would launch such an undertaking. I believe one would first have to be charged under C-36 before this could occur. This means that one of us brave souls e.g. (hobbyists) would have to volunteer to be the poster child for such an endeavour! (eek!) Now, I don't know all the ins and outs (pardon the pun!) of what's involved, so perhaps someone else would be so kind to enlighten us. It would be fantastic if a group such as Pivot could or would launch such a challenge, with the LGBTQ community alongside, but whether that's even possible, I do not know...

Sadly, I do not believe that Justin Trudeau is "pro prostitution", as you put it. I hope I'm wrong, but I believe it will be a very long time before C-36 is overturned. (if ever...)

I'd wish for Trudeau and his Liberals to take a stand and repeal C-36 in its entirety. Then again, that may just be wishful thinking!

A good first step would be to check out the recommendations section.

I chose mine since it's pretty much self explanatory, given my username! lol

With workplace parties in full swing, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyone searching for that special present for a certain someone on their list, and the traditional gatherings among family and friends, I'd like to wish each of you a safe, joyous and peaceful holiday season!

Recommendations are simply great literary works of fiction, my friend!

If I may, (and I might be completely wrong here) I'd like to venture a guess and posit the following: It may be true that OP has a cache of regulars, or that he knows how to get in contact with reputable ladies which are 'new' to him. However, just 'knowing' that he is technically breaking the law is a bit of a downer, and takes a bit of the fun out of something which was once a carefree hobby. Many have said 'it's just not the same anymore', or something to that effect. As well, being on the wrong side of the law can really mess with your mind, and all sorts of negatives can creep in, even though the likelihood of them occurring are relatively slim. It's the 'what if's that really start to play on you, even if you're seeing someone reputable: "what if security or hotel staff are monitoring the hotel' or 'what if the text communication is intercepted by LE' or 'What if my nosy neighbour finds out' or 'what if the SP knocks on the wrong door' etc.. ad infinitum, ad nauseum. Again, as correctly stated in a previous post, we are not the prime targets, and no one is 'out to get us' so to speak. However, that nagging little voice that says 'you've got a lot to lose' makes a lot of people think twice. It's unfortunate, and I sincerely hope the new justice Minister will look into and repeal Bill C-36, for all our sakes. Just MHO.

Congratulations... time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?

I do recall that the new Justice Minister stated that she would look into C-36 and have a discussion with sex workers on how best to proceed... Granted, that was a while ago.

Thank you for all of your valued contributions to the board!

MEDICINE HAT [B]Local man charged with attempting to purchase sexual services at hotel[/B] BY CHARLES LEFEBVRE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2016 [URL="http://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2016/11/03/local-man-charged-with-attempting-to-purchase-sexual-services-at-hotel/"]http://medicinehatnews.com/news/loca...ices-at-hotel/[/URL] A 48-year-old Medicine Hat man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly attempting to purchase sexual services at a local hotel. Members of the Medicine Hat Police Service Priority Street Crime Unit responded to a website ad in regards to a female offering to provide sexual services at the hotel. The unit conducted surveillance on the hotel and subsequently arrested the man who went to the room. â??We see a lot of sexual services offered over the Internet all the time, on websites,â? said Insp. Brent Secondiak, saying the police service will investigate websites such as Backpage for potential crimes. In 2014, Bill C-36 was passed by the Canadian government which makes it a criminal offence to purchase sexual services from any person. â??The intent of the bill was to target the users, the johns, people who use sexual services,â? said Secondiak, who notes the crime is not very frequent in Medicine Hat. â??Our intent is to get these girls safe and try to get them out of the lifestyle.â? The woman involved was not charged, said Secondiak. The man, who has not been named as charges have not officially been sworn in court, was arrested and charged with purchasing sexual services. The man is due in provincial court on Nov. 29.

Years ago, I developed a 'business friendship' with a lady... saw her outside of the agency and sometimes she would call me, but it was ok since I was single at the time. She was a really nice girl, and once even offered me a freebie to make up for the fact that she was two and a half hours late for her appointment (she was partying at a club with friends who didn't know she was an escort). I appreciated the gesture, but declined just the same, as I understood. After all, it was the thought that counts. One day, she called and wanted to know if I could help her out with a car payment. While I would have liked to help her out, I had to say no since things were starting to cross the line and become blurred. I liked her, but at the same time wanted to stick to our original arrangement... a lot less complicated that way.

Well said; Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

[INDENT] [B]Dawson: Why the slow-going on prostitution law reform?[/B] TYLER DAWSON, OTTAWA CITIZEN Published on: October 3, 2016 [URL="http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/dawson-why-the-slow-going-on-prostitution-law-reform"]http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/col...ion-law-reform[/URL] [I]A lot of Canadians are still waiting for â??sunny waysâ? to shine upon them. One of those groups is the cadre of Canadians who sell sexual services. Itâ??s been a roller-coaster three years in prostitution law, with decriminalization tantalizingly close before those hopes were roughly quashed by the Tories. Today, criminal charges are still being laid, prostitution is still a shadowy industry and its many dangers â?? exacerbated by laws not yet repealed â?? continue, especially for the most vulnerable. [/I] The federal justice department is working on reviewing Tory-era prostitution legislation, though a spokeswoman for Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould wouldnâ??t give a timeline for this work, or what the result might look, or identify with whom the department has been consulting. â??From an activist perspective â?¦ we understand that itâ??s common that government takes time, but for sex workers working in the industry, itâ??s not fast enough,â? says Jenn Clamen, a co-ordinator with the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform, an umbrella group of 28 organizations lobbying for prostitution law changes. Back in 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled against three Criminal Code provisions that deemed illegal communications for the purposes of prostitution; living off the avails of prostitution; and running a brothel. The Conservatives responded with the controversial Bill C-36. Not only did it rebuild some of the laws that had been struck down, it criminalized the buying of sex, which previously hadnâ??t been illegal. Philosophically, these measures were meant to target pimps and johns. Practically, they mean workers are isolated, reluctant to talk to police and work discreetly to avoid attention. Sure, they might not be jailed themselves, but clients could be. Canadians know what unsafe prostitution looks like. It looks like Robert Pickton preying on women in Vancouverâ??s Downtown Eastside. That should add some urgency to reforming the laws. But the stigma that surrounds sex work still is probably enough to dampen Liberal enthusiasm; they were subject to gross attacks in the last election about brothels opening in sweet, quiet Canadian neighbourhoods if they took power. There likely are ways for them to dodge changing the laws, if they so desire. Police arrested prostitutes over the summer in St. Catharines. Ottawa police still send men to â??john school,â? creepy re-education nights run by the Salvation Army. The renewed emphasis on trafficking has fuelled the narrative that cops are saving women; cops may think women are trafficked, but a prostitute might feel quite differently. Some who were migrant sex workers have found themselves facing deportation after police raids. This is hardly justice. Sgt. Jeff LeBlanc with the Ottawa police says the new laws have given police some new powers in trafficking cases, and generally officers go after people exploiting sex workers. â??A lot of the negative comments havenâ??t changed toward the police, but I can say that our approach toward the sex trade has changed probably 180 degrees,â? LeBlanc says. â??We donâ??t go about evicting people from hotels or condos because theyâ??re involved in the sex trade.â? With all the delay in changing the law, there is still a sense of optimism. While the sex-worker alliance wouldnâ??t disclose which parliamentarians it has met with, it feels as if sex workers are actually part of the conversation this time. â??Itâ??s a really big deal to our member groups because the door was literally locked shut with the Conservative government,â? Clamen explains. And if discussions break down, or no change is forthcoming, thereâ??s the trump card, though nobody is eager to play it: legal action. In November 2015, the PIVOT Legal Society in Vancouver said it would be willing to head back to court if the Liberals didnâ??t change the laws. Alan Young, the Osgoode Hall law professor who battled the old laws to the Supreme Court, said heâ??d be ready to do it again, but that changing the laws is just simpler. â??If you are opposed in principle and conceptually to what the government has done, eventually you need to remove it either by lobbying the government or by bringing a court challenge,â? Young says. Whatever comes of this, weâ??re still a long way off what has to be the final goal: the acceptance that prostitution is just work. Unique, admittedly, but so what? Thousands of men, women and trans Canadians have figured this out. It shouldnâ??t be hard for the government. When you consider the harms caused by criminalizing prostitution, the solutionâ??s a no brainer. [I]Tyler Dawson is deputy editorial pages editor of the Ottawa Citizen. [/I] [/INDENT]

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Thanks for sharing, Cato. It's certainly a poignant reminder of the true human side of our interactions with others, not just in this hobby but in everyday life. There have been so many incredibly wonderful ladies who have gone above and beyond, and have given of themselves selflessly. I can recall at least two such experiences myself. Although these encounters occurred many years ago, whenever they come to mind, the memories warm my heart and put me at ease all over again... The first was a lady in Toronto who spent some of her free time with me before our appointment. We headed downtown, walked for awhile, engaged in great conversation, and ended with her taking me out for lunch!! On another occasion, a lady spent an extra three hours with me off the clock. Neither of these were expected, but I was very flattered. It felt good to know that they held me in such esteem, and made me want to pay it forward...

[URL]http://www.thestranger.com/savage-love/2016/08/30/24522723/savage-love[/URL] The current line from prohibitionistsâ??people who want sex work to remain illegalâ??is that all women who sell sex are victims and all men who buy sex are monsters. But talk to actual sex workers and you hear about considerate, regular clients who are kind, respectful, and sometimes personally helpful in unexpected ways. (A sex worker friend had a regular client who was a dentist; he did some expensive dental work for my uninsured friendâ??and he did it for free, not for trade.) You also hear about clients who are threatening or violentâ??and how laws against sex work make it impossible for sex workers to go to the police, making them more vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and abuse, not less. There is a large and growing sex workers' rights movement, NAJ, which Emily Bazelon wrote about in a terrific cover story for the [I]New York Times Magazine[/I] ("Should Prostitution Be a Crime?" May 5, 2016). Bazelon spoke with scores of sex workers active in the growing and increasingly effective decriminalization movement. Amnesty International recently called for the full decriminalization of sex work, joining Human Rights Watch, the World Health Organization, and other large, mainstream health and human rights groups. But there's something missing from the movement to decriminalize sex work: clients like you, NAJ. Maggie McNeill, a sex worker, activist, and writer, wrote a blistering piece on her blog (The Honest Courtesan) about a recent undercover police operation in Seattle. Scores of men seeking to hire sex workersâ??the men ranged from surgeons to bus drivers to journalistsâ??were arrested and subjected to ritualized public humiliation designed to discourage other men from paying for sex. "These crusades do nothing but hurt the most vulnerable individuals on both sides of the transaction," McNeill wrote. "The only way to stop this [is for] all of you clients out there get off of your duffs and fight. Regular clients outnumber full-time whores by at least 60 to 1; gentlemen, I suggest you rethink your current silence, unless you want to be the next one with your name and picture splashed across newspapers, TV screens, and websites." The legal risks and social stigma attached to buying sex doubtless leave some clients feeling like they can't speak up and join the fight, and the much-touted "Nordic Model" is upping the legal stakes for buyers of sex. (The Nordic Model makes buying sex illegal, not selling it. In theory, only clients are supposed to suffer, but in practice, the women are punished, too. Bazelon unpacks the harms of the Nordic Model in her storyâ??please go read it.) But sex workers today, like gays and lesbians not too long ago, are coming out in ever-greater numbers to fight for their rights in the face of potentially dire legal and social consequences. Clients need to join the fightâ??or perhaps I should say clients need to [I]rejoin[/I] the fight. In [I]The Origins of Sex: A History of the First Sexual Revolution[/I], which I read while I was away on vacation, author Faramerz Dabhoiwala writes about "Societies of Virtue" formed all over England in the late 17th century. Adulterers, fornicators, and Sabbath-breakers were persecuted by these groups, NAJ, but their campaigns against prostitutes were particularly vicious and indiscriminate; women were thrown in jail or publicly whipped for the crime of having a "lewd" appearance. The persecution of streetwalkers, brothel owners, and women guilty of "[walking] quietly about the street" went on for decades. Then a beautiful thing happened. "In the spring of 1711, a drive against 'loose women and their male followers' in Covent Garden was foiled when 'the constables were dreadfully maimed, and one mortally wounded, by ruffians aided by 40 soldiers of the guards, who entered into a combination to protect the women,'" writes Dabhoiwala. "On another occasion in the East End, a crowd of over a thousand seamen mobbed the local magistrates and forcibly released a group of convicted prostitutes being sent to a house of correction." Male followers of loose women, soldiers of the guard, mobs of seamenâ??not altruists, but likely clients of the women they fought to defend. And thanks to their efforts and the efforts of 18th-century sex workers who lawyered up, marched into court, and sued the pants off Society of Virtue members, by the middle of the 18th century, women could walk the streets without being arrested or harassedâ??even women known to be prostitutes. I'm not suggesting that today's clients form mobs and attack prohibitionists, cops, prosecutors, and their enablers in the media. But clients can and should be out there speaking up in defense of sex workers and themselves. Sex workers are speaking up and fighting backâ??on Twitter and other social-media platforms, sometimes anonymously, but increasingly under their own namesâ??and they're staring down the stigma, the shame, and the law on their own. It's time for their clients to join them in the fight.

What if an SP is advertising a one hour "GFE" experience- Does that count as advertising a service, instead of just time? E.g ( a case could be made that someone has purchased a service from an SP, namely a GFE experience, which would be illegal) - is that right? Please correct me if I'm wrong. I admit I get confused about the semantics. Any clarification would be very much appreciated! Thank you.