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A full-feature documentary film, Les Criminelles, by Quebec film maker Jean-Claude Lord, opened this past Friday in Montreal, playing in French only, at Cinema Quartier Latin and Cinema Beaubien. Here is the film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=uA5oei4D0rg The film features interviews with various Montreal sex workers, including strippers who work at the Kingdom strip club, as well as escorts, erotic masseuses, a street worker, a tantric goddess, personnel at Stella, a sexologist and others. The documentary denounces the stigmatization and criminalization of sex work and powerfully illustrates the impact of the stigmatization and criminalization of sex work, in terms of compromising the safety of sex workers, and the impact on the lives of sex workers in general. In seeking to understand the root of society's attitude toward sex work, the film asks several questions: Why is sex for money illegal when sex in return for a meal at an expensive restaurant or a trip is perfectly acceptable? Why is nudity so offensive to so many people when portrayal of graphic violence is perfectly acceptable to these same people? What are the consequences for society of such hypocrisy? In arguing against the stigmatization and criminalization of sex work, the film deals extensively with the fact that a good part of the demonization of sex work is spearheaded by feminist groups, specifically radical feminists. The film points out that the laws against prostitution were written by men and date back to a time when women did not have full right rights, could not vote, and were not considered as full citizens. The film goes on to to highlight the fact that, ironically, today it is radical feminists who are in the forefront of the fight against prostitution, and that feminists who refuse to accept the fact that there are sex workers who have chosen their profession of their own free will, are essentially portraying these women as infantile, immature and incapable of making the right choices on their own, which is not much different from how men viewed women before the birth of feminism. The film compares the actions of these radical feminist groups who campaign for the abolition of sex work to the witch hunts of the 18th century. If you are in Montreal this week and understand French, the film is well worth seeing.

In an early post as a member of Cerb I recall writing about how nice it would be to have sex workers recognized and respected in society as valuable contributing members in the same sense as are educators, blue collar workers, civil service employees and so on. Wouldn't it be nice to have safe working conditions, pension plans, health benefits, maternity leaves, and all of the benefits that many employees have either in unionized or self employed situations. How naive I was (am). The issue is so complex. I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the industry as I have experienced it is high quality, involves women who are doing what they do by personal choice, (there certainly are long involved stories here that I am totally unaware of) and includes respect from both sides. The concept that I am participating in something that is illegal or even on the fringes of illegality is abhorent to me. For me it has been an important aspect of my life and in many ways despite some confusion, has been a large part of a healing process for me. Ms Laliberté indicated that the laws and solutions must come from the women involved in the industry. That is at least partially correct, but if you think about it, there are more men involved as clients than there are women as service providers. The men are not in the high risk area in the way that the women are, but they are in the criminalization risk area, and for that reason is there not a role for them in providing input? I hope that the men of Cerb are as concerned about the safety and well being of the SP's as the SP's should be themselves??? Do the sex worker organizations seek input from men and are there men who are on the boards or members? It has been pointed out that there are clearly at least two major groups of sex workers. The independents as we know here on Cerb are one group with their own ways of conducting business and then the street workers who are probably in an entirely different situation? Can one law or series of laws cover both of these groups? As mentioned, are there new laws required when we already have existing laws under the criminal code to cover abuse, assault, threats, underage sex and so on? Just some thoughts on a terribly complex issue after having read the article and as my opinions continue to evolve.