Susie

[url]https://www.change.org/p/rabble-ca-we-demand-that-rabble-ca-end-your-ass[/url]...

May 1, 2015
Open Letter to the Editors of Rabble.ca,
We are feminists, grassroots community groups and organizations that support intersectional feminism. We are concerned about your ongoing relationship with Meghan Murphy as one of your editors. Murphy has been publishing material that dehumanizes and disrespects women with different experiences and perspectives than hers for many years, in particular Black women, women in the sex industry and trans women. By allowing Murphy to continue as an editor at Rabble.ca you are giving a platform to her hate and we are writing to demand that you end your association with her as editor and columnist.
Recently, Murphy published a piece about Laverne Cox's decision to pose nude for a US women's magazine. In her piece, Murphy attacks for Cox for attempting to achieve a â??â??perfectâ?? body as defined by a patriarchal/porn culture, through plastic surgery, and then presenting it as a sexualized object for public consumptionâ? and later mocks her and other trans women for â??spending thousands and thousands of dollars sculpting their bodies in order to look like some cartoonish version of 'woman,â?? as defined by the porn industry and pop culture.â?
Laverne Cox is not a cartoonish version of a woman. She is a woman, a Black trans woman who is changing history by defining her own beauty and loveability in the public sphere.
For years, Murphy's racism and attacks on women who trade/sell sex or are trans have been tolerated or supported and published by Rabble, including this article where she pits Black women against each other, calling another Black trans woman (Janet Mock) "selfish" for using glamour to feel powerful--and again maligning a Black trans womanâ??s decisions about her body.
[url]http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2014/05/bell-hooks-will-save-us-all-long-slow-death-popular-feminism[/url].
Her anti-black racism extends to men as well as in this tweet where she calls for the death of Chris Brown [url]https://twitter.com/aurabogado/status/376380825542987776/photo/1[/url]
She is famously antagonistic toward sex workers and has a long track record of using degrading, dehumanizing language such as â??prostituted womenâ?, being ageist and factually incorrect by suggesting older women cannot be active sex workers, mocking and misrepresenting sex work activists and employing racist terminology such as â??illegal immigrantsâ?. We were shocked when on the pages of rabble.ca, she blamed Cindy Gladueâ??s murder on pornography, co-opting the deaths of Indigenous women in the sex trade to denounce our calls for rights and respect.
[url]http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2015/03/owen-jones-its-political-flaws-matter-not-women%E2%80%99s-lives[/url]
[url]http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/a-prostitution-solution-outlaw-the-customers-not-the-hookers/article12306020/[/url]
[url]http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2014/04/feminism-new-misogyny-on-belle-knox-feminism-and-new-backlas[/url]
[url]http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2014/12/feminism-existed-2014-well-other-years[/url]
[url]http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2014/12/hi-media-do-your-job-love-feminism[/url]
This is not a question of free speech, it is a question of offering active support to bigots. For example, Rabble would not employ right wing christian fundamentalists for their opinions as their stance clearly undermines the dignity and humanity of communities they are not a part of. The same is the case for Murphy. She is a white, cis, non sex working person who writes with contempt about communities that she is not a member of. It is unjust of Rabble to financially support her bigotry. Rabble is stronger and more relevant when it publishes the voices of those who are directly impacted by the issues they cover. Doing otherwise has made Rabble unsafe for many members of marginalized populations who write from a place of personal experience.
Other feminists and womanists have taken notice.
[url]http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-04-27/the-soapbox-on-laverne-coxs-nude-photo-spread-meghan-murphys-transphobia/?utm_source=share-tw&utm_medium=button[/url]
[url]http://www.theroot.com/blogs/the_grapevine/2013/12/twitter_feminism_meghan_murphy_sparks_outrage_on_black_twitter.html[/url]
[url]http://www.gradientlair.com/post/70596255418/stop-dismissing-women-of-colour-feminsts[/url]
We support working with people to transform their politics toward more equity and accountability. Despite endless attempts, Murphy has remained unwilling to evaluate her racism, transmisogyny and whorephobia. We've chosen to use an open letter as a medium, only after all other avenues toward accountability have been explored and have failed.
We demand a discerning voice of equality and equity that respects and values all women including trans women, women of colour and women in the sex industry. Displays of racism, whorephobia and transmisogyny have no place in a progressive publication like Rabble. It is time for Rabble to take responsibility and cease offering a platform for hate in the form of zealous bigotry from Meghan Murphy and others like her.

-on behalf of
STRUT
Maggie's - Toronto Sex Workers Action Project
Black Lives Matter - Toronto
No More Silence
TransPride Toronto
Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform
Southwest Ontario Sex Workers
Stella, Lâ??Amie de Maimie
PACE Society
Sex Professionals of Canada
Winnipeg Working Group for Sex Workersâ?? Rights
PIECE Edmonton
Butterfly (Migrant and Asian Sex Workers)
Toronto Migrant Sex Worker Project
ASTT(e)Q : Action Santé Travesti(e)s et Transsexuel(le)s du Québec
Shameless Magazine

i am susan davis, a sex worker and activist in vancouver and longtime member of cerb. i am a member of the canadian alliance western working group and so have forwarded this from them.

 

their members include maggies, stella and POWER....

 

so, these questions are from sex workers to sex workers in an attempt to try to ensure all perspectives are included....

 

make sense?

 

as an activist and researcher - this is not for research's sake but rather to inform those who are in a position to speak on our behalf about what we need them to say - i have a long standing reputation of respecting confidentiality and ensuring people are safe taking part in these kinds of activities.

 

i do understand concerns however and understand if people are reluctant to take part. i hope people will consider it though, these kinds of things are important if we are to ensure that those in a position to speak on our behalf are armed with the facts...

 

love susie

The Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform (national coalition of sex work organizations, sex work support organizations and allied groups) is collecting information on the impact of the new laws. Below are a series of questions and I'm hoping that people will be willing to answer them and forward the answers to me. I'll make them anonymous and send them off to the Alliance.

 

This is so that when people are talking to the media or doing public talks, we'll have some recent anecdotal information about impacts sex workers are experiencing, if any. Please provide as much or as little information as you wish.

 

Please feel free to forward the questions and my email address to anyone in your network as we'd like to hear from as many sex workers as possible and particularly independent workers as you often get missed!

 

· What are some of the safety issues you face when doing sex work?

 

· What is your relationship with police?

 

· Have the police been hassling you and if so, do you know why?

 

· Have the police been hassling your clients and if so, do you know why?

 

· Do you go to the police if you need help? Why or why not?

 

· Where do you work and is that the place you would like to work or would you prefer to work somewhere else?

 

· Do you advertise and have there been changes in terms of how you advertise?

 

· Do you work with others, have there been changes in terms of how you work with others?

 

· What can you do with third parties in your place of work?

 

· Have you changed your safety mechanisms since the news laws have come into effect? If so, how?

 

please send me your answers and i will forward them to the alliance!!

[email protected]

 

love susie

wow, what amazing and reasoned responses!! keep up the good work cerbites!!

 

love susie

good point i am also only going to answer the 2 times i did. the second one was short answers and just a test of the system....

 

susie

hello from vancouver!! hope all is well out east and that you are all trying to stay warm!!

 

i took the survey also and noticed that you can answer the survey more than once...

 

i am sure that the feminazis will use this to their advantage so am wondering if people think we should do it too...

 

it does prove that the survey is completely anonymous so clients and sp's can both safely take part...

 

love susie

just want to say this is awesome!! if i was out that way i would be all over this!! great project by a great group of organizations!!

love susie

nada prob nikki!! yes there will be opportunities in ottawa, toronto, montreal, halifax and vancouver....i think montreal...can't remember right now...opportunities for people to come out and have their say. i want to defer to POWER, SPOC, Maggies,et al about where when and how though.

 

in vancouver we will be starting our meetings soon i hope and i will definitley be sure to ensure i post any updates here as they come out. it needs to be complete by the end of december so we can compile the findings into a discussion document we want to use as the foundation of an "experts summit" or all stakeholders meeting to be held in vancouver next spring in june.

 

we are hoping to identify where human rights violations/stigma and complacency about sex workers rights are affecting our "health" ( funding is hard to get and health is generally a more open approach for success). we wanted to make sure it was a national project to ensure experiences in different regions were highlighted and respected.

 

we hope to come up with a unified strategy for all of us to use moving forward towards safety and stability for our community.

 

i have no idea what recommendations will emerge but am really looking forward to some direction from sex workers across canada.

 

consumers could form advocacy groups which worked under terms or reference that make them safe like confidentiality. identities of group members could be protected and statements or press relelases etc. could released by a spokesperson( perhaps someone not afraid of being outed) or could even be released by a 3rd party like POWER, SPOC or the BCCEC.

 

...the following statement comes from the sex consumer group "nipple nuzzlers for decrim"...?lol it could all be done in cyber space...?

 

i would be willing to do whatever it took to support the formation of such a group...

 

and consumers will be included in the project nikki and i are refering to. chris atchison is part of the planning committee and i expect he will be the one to facilitate the inclusion of your voices.

 

please feel free to contact me if anyone has questions or concerns and please let me know if consumers would like any support in forming a social justice/advocacy group.

 

love susieXXXO

there are plenty of studies demonstrating the tremendously positive impact of decriminalization in new zealand,australia,etc...google it and also check out the words of the workers themselves...decrim is the only solution.

 

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

http://www.nzpc.org.nz/index.php?page_name=Home

 

the studies refered to done by perrin and farley are absolutely bogus and do not meet the criteria set out by the federal government governing research involving human beings- known as the tri-council policy statement- this is why farely's "research" was thrown out in the ontario charter case. in my opinion the perrin and farely data is promotion of hatred and can not be held up as a reason for any actions taken by the canadian government.

 

consider if you took a religion let's say just for fun christians in general.

 

imagine if a member of parliament said they were un apologetically chasing the complete abolition of christianity... or the hebrew religion....is this seeming familiar to anyone else....?

 

perrin and farely are constantly and consistently held up as the leaders in "research" but its crap. they only care about their own goals- making money and the abolition of prostitution- no matter who they hurt.

 

i have contacted the federal ombudsman for the victims of crime and demanded that their office intervene and ensure the inclusion of actually working sex working peopled uring development of any plans or strategies that may comprimise the safety of sex working people.

 

their mandate forces them to have to meet with us and take our concerns forward. i will keep people updated. also, the ongoing missing women's inquiry in vancouver- while it may seem un related- should be able to give us all a powerful tool to combat these kinds of morality based actions.

 

they are inverstigating the actions of police- broadly- during the timeline of the case of the missing women and also now. i have told them the details of what we learned about the effects of on going brothel/health enhancement center raids, show lounge closures,etc... the bc coalition- www.bccec.wordpress.com- of which i am a member have done a number of projects related to gaps in services provided by the criminal justice system including victim's services...yes, a conflict of interest to be sure to have the police in charge of victims services.

 

i am hoping that the report could be used to combat future efforts to "irradicate" our community.....

 

as always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

love susieXXXO

joy smith is a moral zealot and with a majority conservative government...? it might happen.

 

we are fighting for inclusion in the federal human trafficking strategy development and hope to go through the federal ombudsman for the victims of crime to fight the implementation of any kind of criminalization including criminalize the client.

 

on a personal note; hope everyone in cerb land is well!!

love susieXXXO

World Cup Avoids Flood Of Sex Workers

 

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=139&art_id=vn20100619084506590C889199

 

By Thabiso Thakali and Candice Bailey

 

There's just no "boom boom" in Joburg's sex industry. Sex workers hoping to turn a quick buck when thousands of horny soccer fans descended on the city for the World Cup say they have been disappointed.

 

And while some upmarket strip clubs say business has been good, others have been forced to cancel shows.

 

Even metered taxi drivers delivering girls to tourists say business has died down.

 

In the months leading up to the World Cup, there was mounting expectation that prostitution would peak.

 

Reports suggested that up to 40 000 sex workers would be brought into the country to satisfy the demand for sex.

 

But last year, during the Confederations Cup, prostitution suffered a hammer blow when a theft from the Egyptian team's hotel room at the Protea Wanderers in Illovo was blamed on prostitutes.

 

Initial reports suggested that there had been prostitutes in the players' room, but the police later ruled this out.

 

Nevertheless, since then, hotels have begun clamping down on sex workers.

 

On the streets this week, the winter chill and increased police visibility meant fewer sex workers on the strip.

 

Visits during peak cruising hours, around 9pm, to the traditional red-light areas of Oxford Street, Illovo and Sandton found fewer than 10 sex workers roaming around in skimpy skirts.

 

Those who had braved the low temperatures to lure clients dived into bushes whenever the police patrolled.

 

One sex worker, in her seventh year on the streets, said the tourists were "boring".

 

"We have not had any luck. I usually make R4 500 a month. I was hoping I would cash in R15 000, but it has been quiet."

 

Another sex worker, known as Natalie, also said the tourists were "boring", adding "It's disappointing".

 

She had been approached by some Mexican tourists, who would have given her $500 for the night - but when she arrived at the hotel in Sandton, security refused her entry.

 

"The securities have been making our lives hard. They say they don't want girls in their hotels."

 

Her friend Nicole said she'd had a good time with an American. The two, aged between 22 and 24, are from Bez Valley and have walked the Oxford Street strip for about two years.

 

They were still hopeful that business would pick up.

 

If a white man approached them and looked like he had money, they could charge up to R500 for a "full house".

 

A metered cab driver said that while he had requests at the beginning of the tournament to get "girls", when he brought the girls to the men, they could not agree on a price, and the girls left.

 

He'd had requests from Argentinians, Americans, Mexicans and Brazilians.

 

"They say they're being ripped off.

A proper legislative discussion on the inconsistency of Canada's prostitution laws is long overdue. British Columbians recently endured the lengthy trial of Robert Pickton, and came face-to-face with the perils of life on the street for dozens of women who were victimized. Just a few blocks away from the Downtown Eastside, purported massage parlours operate in apparent disregard of the Criminal Code, blatantly advertising access to women on the Internet or the back pages of weekly periodicals.
Last year, two challenges to Canada's prostitution laws were launched in British Columbia and Ontario. It is the expectation of the plaintiffs that the Supreme Court of Canada will end up making the final call on how our country's prostitution laws should be interpreted.
Under existing guidelines, exchanging sex for money in Canada is legal. However, the Criminal Code makes many activities surrounding prostitution illegal, including the public communication for the purposes of prostitution, and owning, running, occupying or transporting anyone to a bawdy house (or brothel). In a 1990 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada called this incoherence "bizarre."
A survey conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion sought to review just how much Canadians know about existing legislation, and whether they would be open to change. For starters, just 23 per cent of respondents are aware of the fact that exchanging sex for money in Canada is legal, with residents of Ontario and British Columbia being a little better informed than those in other provinces -- but not by much.
Canadians, however, are divided on whether it makes sense to criminalize all other aspects of prostitution. Two-in-five claim that the Criminal Code provisions are fair to the purpose of protecting the public good, while the same proportion view them as unfair and forcing prostitutes into unsafe situations.
It has been suggested that Canada look at the examples of other countries. In Norway, the government opted to make purchasing sex a criminal act. Under the new regulations that came info force last year, Norwegian citizens and residents now face a punishment-- ranging from fines to jail terms -- if they decide to exchange money for sex.
Canadians are not ready to take this drastic step. Half of respondents to the Angus Reid survey believe that adults should be allowed to engage in consensual prostitution without punishment, while 34 per cent would punish both the prostitutes and the clients, and eight per cent would only punish the clients.
Throughout the entire survey, a wide gender gap is evident. While 60 per cent of men are ready to accept consensual prostitution in Canada, only 36 per cent of women concur. And while 43 per cent of female respondents want to see both prostitutes and clients punished, this view is shared by only 25 per cent of men.
Canadians are also open to the concept of brothels, with the impression that working indoors would make prostitutes safer. Two-thirds of men and half of women surveyed supported this notion. However, the gender gap appears again on another question. While 62 per cent of men are in favour of decriminalizing some aspects of the sex trade, only 40 per cent of women side with this option.

It is clear that male respondents are more welcoming of prostitution than female respondents, on the questions related to working indoors, punishment and even on how a new policy should be created. Canadian women, for the most part, relate to prostitution as an exploitation issue and do not believe that decriminalization will help.
The 1990 case that reached the Supreme Court dealt with the issue of liberty, and the judges stopped short of openly discussing decriminalization. This time around, the prevalent issue is safety, which is at the heart of the double-standard that is flagrant in Vancouver. The lack of a consistent approach has allowed better funded operations to advertise their services openly, while other sex workers are routinely exposed to disease, violence and even death. They are both, for all intents and purposes, acting in direct contravention of the Criminal Code. But one is evidently safer than the other, not because of a suitable safeguard under the law, but because of wealth.
Lawmakers are supposed to make laws. On this particular file, the centre-left and the centre-right have failed to formulate a strategy. Conservatives may not want to alienate their base by appearing to endorse a way of life that is contrary to their moral beliefs. Liberals may not want to touch the law because it may be construed as an attack on the civil liberties that they hold dear. Ignoring the problem, which has been the modus operandi for decades, is clearly the worst course of action.
When it comes to prostitution, Norway has opted to punish the clients. In Canada, it is the lawmakers -- past and present -- who require a scolding.
Mario Canseco is vice-president, public affairs, at Angus Reid Public Opinion.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

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so fucked up!!!

these people are our opposition and do not care if they hurt women to save women. they are so well funded its almost impossible to keep up with them. they are extremely dangerous and many of the places they visit experience raids right after with police looking for "trafficked underage girls"....if you are in TO go down their and call them on their shit. ask them where their plans are to support exiting sex workers, or plans for our so called "decriminalization" under the swedish model. what by-law structure do they propose? how will they help decriminalized workers work more safely? after all they want to protect us...how do they plan to do that? i mean beyond making our bosses and customers into villans. what practical things do they propose for their ideas?

 

these people have the ear of the prime minister, we must call them on their shit!!!

 

STOP Human Trafficking...BUYING SEX IS NOT A SPORT

 

 

As our nation is getting excited about the Olympic Games approaching in February 2010, many people are grieving the horrors that will take place during the 2010 Games. Large sporting events attract human traffickers, as they know there will be great opportunities to make huge money from (mainly) men who buy sex.

 

I have been contracted to organize a panel discussion that will address how buying sex supports human trafficking, and the reality of what takes places to prostituted women and children. I want to personally invite you to come to one of the panels, this is a HUGE injustice in our world, and it is time that we become aware of, as Artist and Director Justin Dillon states, the "world's 27 million darkest secrets."

 

Human Trafficking is the fastest growing crime on the planet today, and our nation, Canada needs to be a leader and an example to the world to join the movement to STOP Human Trafficking and the exploitation of people around the world.

 

This is not a Christian issue, a Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Agnostic, or Atheist issue, it is not a black or white issue, nor is it a conservative or liberal, Canadian or Indian issue, this is not just a male or female issue...this is GLOBAL HUMAN ISSUE, and if you happen to fall in that category, it should demand your attention; but further it should compel our hearts, minds and souls to learn more and take action against this injustice. I urge you to come to the panel January 30th and/or February 1st at 8pm.

 

As a nation, it is my heart to see Canadians take a firm stance to tell the world that Canada will not tolerate the sexual exploitation against women and children.

 

*There are 27 million people in slavery today,

(the current population of canada is 33.3 million people)

*70% of people trafficked are for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

*80% are women and children.

 

I believe that the abolition of slavery can end within 25 years, but it will require millions of voices to unite together on this issue.

 

I invite you to come to hear why we need your voice!

 

TWO PANELS: ONE CAUSE!

 

ON THE PANEL:

 

MICHELLE MILLER DIRECTOR OF REED:

is the founder and Director of Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity (REED), a faith-based organization that works with trafficked women and seeks to end sexual exploitation. For over ten years she has been standing in solidarity and struggle with women who have been sexually exploited and trafficked into the sex industry both in Vancouver and the Philippines.

 

JANINE BENEDET: LAW PROFESSOR AT THE FACULTY OF LAW, UBC: She researches, teaches and writes about male violence against women and the law, including sexual assault, prostitution, pornography and sexual harassment in employment and education. She is a frequent lecturer on sex equality law and continues to explore how law can be used to oppose the sexual exploitation of women and girls around the world in pornography and prostitution.

 

TRISHA BAPTIE DIRECTOR OF EVE:

is the Director of Honour Ministries and Consulting and a founding member of EVE (formerly Exploited Voices now Educating), a group of former sex industry women who challenge the idea of sex as ?work?. In 2008 she received the Courage to Come Back Award for her role in covering the Robert Pickton trial from her perspective as an experiential woman.

 

CHERRY SMILEY AWAN:

* special guest: Cherry Smiley from AWAN (Aboriginal Women?s Action Network)

 

*WITH OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE!

 

SATURDAY JANUARY 30 8PM | WALMER ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH | 188 LOWTHER AVENUE.TORONTO

 

MONDAY FEBRUARY 1 8PM | UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING | 155 COLLEGE STREET. 6TH FLOOR. ROOM 610

i'm glad people approve!it was a big decision for this guy to come out. i hope that as these conversations take place more and more we will begin to break down the stigma around being a sex worker or consumer.

 

it;s probably a long way off, but at least if the mainstream community are aware of the truth about us, it may influence future policies that can affect our safety.

 

a woman from calgary contacted me and it seems another round of research with sex consumers is coming our way. she seemed to be a supporter butthem discussed facilitating a sex addiction counselling group...? i stated that i wasn't sure that information from people considering themselves sex addicts would generate clear data on exactly "who" sex consumers are and "where they come from"....?

 

she dropped some big names in research but we'll see...

 

scary times for us all. these next years will determine all of fates and will decide if business owners and clients are to made more criminal and the focus of enforcement.

 

love susieXXXO

john's voice on the current, great article above. this side is never discussed enough. all we hear is all hobbiests are evil

 

http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/current_20100111_25612.mp3

 

let me know what you think!!

 

hope everyone had a nice holiday!

love susieXXXO:boobies:

this explains alot.....fuckin exclusionist bull shit. they will use tthis to mess with people in all kinds of ways.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/11/26/crack-house-bill963.html

 

Crack house bill debated

 

Last Updated: Thursday, November 26, 2009 | 8:19 AM ET Comments12Recommend13

 

CBC News

 

The Ontario legislature is debating a private member's bill designed to help shut down crack houses and brothels.

The proposed safer communities and neighbourhood act lowers the burden of proof required for the courts to act against drug dealing or running a brothel.

Neighbours would be able to give anonymous testimony, and if a judge is persuaded that a property is most likely being used for crime, the occupants could be evicted. A judge would also be able close a property for up to 90 days or evict individual tenants

"Innocent people are being targeted by those who are engaged in illicit drug trade and ? the sole purpose behind this legislation is to ensure that we protect the vulnerable," said the author of the bill, Liberal Yasir Naqvi.

The bill passed second reading in October, and is now being considered by a legislative committee.

Cheri DiNovo, the NDP member for Toronto's Parkdale-High Park riding, is vowing to stop the bill, which she says violates tenants' rights and unfairly targets the most vulnerable.

'Criminals don't target rich neighbourhoods'

 

But Naqvi, who represents the Ottawa Centre riding, disagrees, saying the bill protects the disadvantaged.

"Criminals don't target rich neighbourhoods, they operate in poor neighbourhoods, and those poor people also have the right to live in a safe and healthy community and that's what this legislation is trying to do," he said.

Patricia Gora lives on a street with a reputed crack house in DiNovo's Parkdale riding.

"If there's a supposed crack house here and those people are found and they're thrown out of their homes, well, where will they go next?" she said.

Else-Marie Knudsen, a spokeswoman for the John Howard Society of Toronto, a group that advocates for the rights of those in trouble with the law, dismisses the bill as being ineffective at preventing crime.

"The crime is simply displaced. It moves on to another street, another neighbourhood, another community, for someone else to deal with," she said.

Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta already have similar laws. Supporters of the bill in Manitoba have credited it with cleaning up parts of Winnipeg.

this guy is a moron!i notice he didn't even mention me...i threatened them with a human rights complaint so he'd better not!!!jerk!!

it was awesome! i spoke i annie temple's place, she wasn't feeling well!!there were probably 100 people there, dr.john lowman(sfu), professor becky ross(ubc)

 

when the AWAN rape relifers tried to say "where are the women of colour", a bccec member of colour stood up and explained she was the founder of the BCCEC and how we, in general do not racialize ourselves in terms of sex worker rights.

 

the woman was so mad, she left!!yes....and then the crazy old lady wagging her finger calling young men who had experienced sexual trauma as children deviants...what a weirdo....she kept moving closer and closer to the panel.

 

and the "reformed trick" yelling about immigration canada being the biggest pimp in the nation....god!

 

and of course, always,still..... the olympic brothel bullshit. i can't believe how long this shit is gong on!!oh well, i don't think they thought we would stick it out, think they thought we would give up. at least another large group of people now know the truth about the coop and our plans.

 

it felt really good to speak again, it's been awhile. i guess the feminism forum wars on babble have kept me sharp. 2 abolitionists were banned from the site because of publically attcking me.it's like a thousand posts or something, i may print it off just to look at it in terms of paper.

 

love susieXXXO

 

ps-hi cookies!!:bowdown:

trafficking myths are the biggest threat to our industry presently. i read an estimated 40,000 wome and childrena re to trafficked i vancouver during the games....yeah right!

 

i love that story from the UK and am ging to use it in the Sally Ann meeting coming up. if you remember they are fundraising to "fight trafficking".....morons.....

yay!!it's finally done!thankyou again to everyone who took part!!!for those who do not remember this will be foundation of our industry association the terms of which were discussed here on cerb. to see those plans again in detail go to www.wccsip.ca . please feel free to add your knowledge and expertise!!

 

http://www.tradesecretsguide.blogspot.com/

 

love susie

Sub-sections (h)

No person carrying on the business of a body rub parlor shall practice or provide or permit the practice or provision therein of a therapeutic touch technique or advertise in any way that a therapeutic touch technique is available or being practiced on the premises.

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

We note that supporting this definition as the ?license of choice? provides a clear definition between therapeutic massage and ?body rub? parlor thereby eliminating the confusion that arises around these two terms and allowing consumers clear options as far as legal and safe ways to access the industry.

 

6. Governance of Clubs within the City of Vancouver By-Law 2647

 

Section 13

It shall be unlawful for the manager of any Club within the City to knowingly suffer or permit any prostitute or person evil repute to enter or remain upon the club premises.

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

This section reflects discriminatory attitudes about sex workers which greatly contributes to their stigmatization and marginalization. We ask that this section be removed.

 

 

 

7. By-law 5156

 

A by-law to prohibit the carrying on of sundry businesses, trades, professions and other occupations;

1.?nude encounters?- or synonymous word or phrase

2.?out call? body massage service

3.?erotic telephone call? service

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

Since such businesses operate freely and openly in Vancouver, we request that this section be removed.

 

Conclusion

 

Under the Vancouver Charter, Section 202 (a), the City Council ?may provide for social planning to be undertaken including research, analysis and coordination relating to social needs, social well-being, and social development in the City.? The Coalition respectfully requests that Council consider the spirit of this section of the City?s Charter when making its final decisions regarding the proposed revisions.

2. Criminal Record Check Requirement

 

Although the reasons for criminal record checks are obvious, the Coalition?s view is that convictions under criminal code sections related to prostitution (sections 211,212, and 213) shouldn?t automatically exclude sex workers from obtaining an escort license. This is especially so given that those with prior convictions are prevented from working in less harmful indoor venues leaving them with no choice other than to work in the far more hazardous street-based trade. We note here that obtaining a federal criminal pardon can take up to seven years and, in our experience, the Vancouver Police Department does not always chose to acknowledge such pardons.

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

The Coalition requests a community-based consultation on these issues and, ideally, some level of shared decision-making with regard to who is able to apply for and obtain a social escort service and/or individual license. In seeking this, we are in no way advocating a ?carte blanche? approach to licensing but rather we seek an opportunity for controlled community-based vetting in situations where such an approach is warranted.

 

3. Steam Bath/Massage Parlor By-laws: 4782, 6038, 6646

 

Licensing Fees

Current fees: New license: $272, Renewal: $222

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

We request that the fees be lowered to bring them in line with fees required of other similar businesses (e.g. hair salon: New license: $254, Renewal: $204).

 

Sub-section (a)

No person owning, keeping, maintaining, or operating any bath, steam bath or massage parlor shall allow or permit any person of the male sex to act therein as an attendant or employee in respect of any person customer or patron of the female sex; or allow or permit any person of the female sex to act as an attendant or employee in respect of any person, customer or patron of the male sex; nor shall any person owning, keeping, maintaining or operating bath, steam bath or massage parlor attend, treat or serve any person, customer or patron thereof of the opposite sex.

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

We ask that this section be removed as it is obsolete. Today, male and female masseuses routinely massage clients of the opposite sex.

Sub-section (b)

Every person owning, keeping, maintaining or operating and bath, steam bath or massage parlor shall provide and keep therein a written and legible record in journal form of all person?s using the facilities of said bath steam bath or massage parlor to record his or her name and address together with the date and time of registration in such register;

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

We request that these records be considered confidential unless proof of a threat to the life and/or safety of an individual is provided.

 

Sub-section ©

No person owning, keeping, maintaining or operating a steam bath shall allow persons of the opposite sex to occupy the same room or adjoining rooms with an inter-communicating door or which have doors opening into a common steam room. Provided, however, that a person may maintain a steam bath a family room intended to be occupied and occupied by members of the same family, if such a room is closed off from the rest of the steam bath by a door.

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

This section is obsolete and does not in any way reflect current business practices. It is also open to misuse by individuals who may feel a need to disrupt a business of which they do not approve.

 

Sub-section (d)

Every person owning, keeping, maintaining or operating a bath, steam bath or massage parlor shall ensure that the interior of the premises is at all times during business hours illuminated to a minimum of ten foot candles in every part thereof.

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

This section should be revised to reflect current codes and language.

 

4. Health Enhancement Centre By-laws 6830, 7052

 

Sub-section (a)

The Inspector shall not issue a license for a health enhancement centre unless satisfied that the applicant for the license or an officer of the applicant demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of the art and practice of reflexology, Shiatsu, bio-kinesiology, hellework, polarity, reiki, rolfing, the trager approach, or any other therapeutic technique, and the Inspector may in that regard require the applicant or officer to take and pass an examination.

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

While some services licensed under these by-laws do have the ability to require that staff enroll in training that leads to certification, due to the criminalized nature of sex work, sex workers do not have an option to acquire certification. At the same time, this is the business license that sex workers would most prefer to operate under (as long as no additional restrictions or increased enforcement occurs). Given this, the Coalition requests that the City consult with the community to develop an approach that addresses the issue of demonstrated knowledge/experience..

 

Sub-section (b)

All persons carrying on the business of a health enhancement centre shall ensure that all persons hired to administer a therapeutic touch technique are qualified in that respect and have not been convicted of an offence under sections 212 or 213 of the criminal code.

 

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

This section prevents sex workers, including even those who have exited from the trade, from gaining access to employment in these types of businesses. It presents yet another example of how the most vulnerable sex workers are shamed and cast out of the larger community. We ask that this section be removed.