Good Vibrations Magazine

Forgive me if this post seems a little hasty. It’s now 3:45pm and there’s mere hours left to vote at the polls. This is one of the most historic votes and that feeling is hard to shake. Many co-workers and friends have had a hard time sleeping, waking up to a lot of excitement. With so much media around the Presidential race and in California a HUGE fight over equality with Prop 8, it seems there’s still other civic rights that I’d like to have a little attention as well.

While many progressive publications have pushed for the passing of Prop K (text), including the San Francisco Chronicle and the SF Bay Guardian (which include a voters guide), The League of Pissed Off Voters recently changed their answer for the California ballot guide about Proposition K in California, reflecting a hopeful change in the way voters may approach the issue. (See YesonPropK.org) The League is a popular go-to guide for young voters, and while thousands of guides were printed and distributed with a blank “no endorsement” for Prop K, their website now reflects more behind why they decided not to delve deeper into the issue.

The League said:

Thanks to advocates like Melissa Gira on Bound Not Gagged (a GREAT collection of all the events of Prop K including press, and video) and Jiz Lee’s Vote Porn (NSFW) and it looks like there could be hope. YesonPropK.org has been reporting a gaining momentum.

Shortly after these posts, four comments in support of Prop K appeared on the League’s Guide:

“As a current sex worker and long-time political activist, I am totally shocked and disappointed that you guys totally bought into all the negative hype around prop K. C’mon, you should be smarter than that. For one thing, Prop K actually will make it EASIER to prosecute traffickers and those who would abuse us sex workers, by allowing the workers themselves to report the abuse without fear of being arrested. Secondly, contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of johns are actually completely nice, normal people- guys who would report abuse if they knew they could do so without jeopardizing their entire lives. Finally, the programs being funded by the current tax money that were referenced here are actually NOT voluntary programs- they are mandated, shame-based programs with an extremely poor track record of rehabilitation. We should be funding programs that focus on empowering sex workers to make their own decisions about their futures- whether that is to be able to work more safely , on our own terms, or to get access to resources that will help us exit the industry with dignity.… [read more] As someone else pointed out above, just because people don’t like it doesn’t mean sex work will ever go away. Prop K is the simple statement that sex workers are people too (you probably know several and don’t even realize it), and we deserve to be able to live and work in peace and safety. It really is just that simple.”

“I love the guide, I really do. But as a sex worker and harm reduction/HIV specialist, I am really surprised to see an undecided stance on Prop K. Decriminalization would by no means be a green light for traffickers and pimps; rather, it would allow san francisco to focus on human rights violations instead of policing consensual sexual activity. The bottom line is, criminalization doesn’t help anyone. Those millions of dollars should be used to provide social, legal, and health services to sex workers. Not to mention, it’s a lot harder to report things like exploitation and violence if you run the risk of being arrested in the process.”

“Prop K would not remove any laws against human trafficking, or prevent their enforcement. SF police would still be able to enforce existing laws against rape, torture, kidnapping, and human trafficking. If prostitution laws allow cops to rescue victims of human trafficking, then why have they not been able to prosecute any cases of trafficking in SF? The current system does not work. The true use of laws against prostitution is to arrest San Francisco’s most vulnerable people — drug users, the homeless and marginally housed, women of color and especially transgender women of color, and young people. It makes no sense that those who can support voluntary drug treatment programs and who resist the expansion of the criminal justice system by locking up yet more people for nonviolent offenses could also support jailing all sex workers in the guise of ending human trafficking. In the sex trade, only human rights will stop the wrongs.”

“Prop K: I was shocked that The League does not strongly endorse YES on Prop K. Worse yet, it seems to suggest a negative view of sex workers. If there were a “decriminalize abortions” proposition on the ballot, you would be for it, as it would create safer situations for women to make the choices they’d need to continue living healthy lives. So is the same for decriminalizing prostitution. You can read more on YesforPropK.org but the way I see it, prostitution is going to exist whether you condemn it or not. However the way our laws work right now puts danger on women in prostitution, making them high risk for abuse by both police and pimps. Because prostitution is illegal, it creates situations like trafficking — one of the things the League claims to be wary of. We should decriminalize prostitution and promote the sexual liberation that San Francisco is so proud of. P.S. Many other countries you might not expect have legalized prostitution: Australia, England, New Zealand, Canada… the list goes on and on.”

They appeared with three comments in opposition of the proposal saying:

“Although decriminalizing those who are prostituted is a good idea, this proposal would effectively decriminalize pimps and traffickers as well. Vote No.”

“prop K would turn SF into a safe haven for prostitution. People would then flock here for it…. Vote NO. I agree w/K-inSanFrancisco.”

“PROP K: It is very important for San Francisco voters to read the actual text of proposition K. Not many would argue that prostitutes should not be arrested for prostitution, but that is NOT what prop K says. Prop K says the city “shall stop enforcing laws against prostitution.” That goes FAR BEYOND consensual adults exchanging money for sex. “Prostitution” includes all aspects including pimping, pandering, human trafficking, child prostitution, etc. Also, prop K will ’stop funding anti-prostitution programs.’ What are ‘anti-prostitution programs’ you ask? Well, they are social service programs that help women and girls to escape prostitution and obtain safe housing, vocational training, trauma and addiction recovery services, and mentorship opportunities. Why would a caring and compassionate person want to deny women and girls of these life-changing services?”

Regardless of whether the vote passes, the attention and publicity has raised a lot of support towards respecting sex workers. If you’re on the East Coast, you can also show your support at the Sex Bloggers Calendar Launch, a fundraiser for Sex Worker Awareness.