Decriminalize Sex Work Now

I do not understand how something that is legal and consensual when no money is involved becomes illegal when money is involved. Decriminalization is different than legalization.

According to the website ProCon, (accessed Oct. 2, 2016) Kimberly Klinger, writer, in the Jan.-Feb. 2003 The Humanist article "Prostitution, Humanism, and a Woman's Choice," wrote:

"Decriminalization essentially means the removal of laws against this (prostitution) and other forms of sex work…

By contrast the term legalization usually refers to a system of governmental regulation of prostitutes wherein prostitutes are licensed and required to work in specific ways…. This is the practice in Nevada, the only state in the United States where brothels are legal. Although legalization can also imply a decriminalized, autonomous system of prostitution, the reality is that in most 'legalized' systems the police control prostitution with criminal codes. Laws regulate prostitutes' businesses… prescribing health checks and registration of health status."

Consenting adults should be free to express their sexuality their own individual way, even if that involves the exchange of money. A common argument used against sex work is that laws against sex work are necessary to prevent human trafficking. According to the website ProCon the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in "Fight Trafficking in Persons" on its website (accessed Apr. 19, 2007) stated:

"What is trafficking in persons? Trafficking in persons — also known as 'human trafficking' — is a form of modern-day slavery. Traffickers often prey on individuals who are poor, frequently unemployed or underemployed, and who may lack access to social safety nets, predominantly women and children in certain countries. Victims are often lured with false promises of good jobs and better lives, and then forced to work under brutal and inhuman conditions."

Trafficking is a terrible thing. Trafficking is slavery. Let me say it again human trafficking is a terrible thing and, decriminalizing sex work is NOT legalizing human trafficking. The fact that sex work is criminal encourages, not discourages, human trafficking because people involved in sex work are not protected by the law.

The illegality of sex work stigmatizes sex workers and makes it easier for sex workers to be victimized. Incarcerating sex workers makes it more, not less, likely that sex workers will have a hard time finding work other than sex work once they have a criminal record. The illegality of sex work makes it harder for sex workers to leave sex work.

It is long past time to decriminalize sex work. It's the right thing to do. It's the sex positive thing to do.

Feeling unispired

I am super excited about all the advances we have made as a culture moving towards embracing racial equality, different expressions of gender, sexual and relationship orientations. Then, I am shocked that an ass like Trump, who is seeming to run on a platform of hate, intolerance and bigotry can be so embraced by such a large percentage of our country's population. It just boggles my mind. It especially boggles my mind that so many people who embrace Trump claim to be Godly people. Really, Trump, Godly?

Excellent Gracie X Interview

Here is an excellent Relationships 2.0 podcast interview by Dr. Michelle Skeen of Gracie X on polyamory and her book Wide Open.

Reference:

http://www.iheart.com/show/27215456?episode_id=27724788

Looking back on Catalyst Con West, 2016

Last weekend my wife Sophia and I went to the 2016 version of Catalyst Con West, in Los Angeles, CA. This was our first Catalyst Con and it was a fantastic conference. We both enjoyed it. Special thanks to Dee Dennis for creating this great event.

The session that most exceeded my expectations was Coming Out Like a Porn Star with Jiz Lee, Joanne Angel, Casey Clavert and JackHammerXXL. I was deeply moved by them reading their stories of coming out, from of the book by Jiz Lee, Coming Out Like a Porn Star. The power of narrative is amazing and this anthology was a great way to humanize sex workers and their experience. I will be recommending this to my friends, especially my vanilla friends.

The slut shaming panel was very good, as was Andre Shakti's session. The session on poly was good as was the ethical porn session as well as Joan Price's session. I didn't learn a lot I didn't already know in Joan's session or the poly session; which is not so surprising as these are in my wheelhouse. Joan is just such a sweet person it's always a pleasure seeing her.

The session I found the most disappointing was the session on female libido and testosterone. This felt like a pharma sales pitch. I was disappointed that I could not be in multiple places at one time. Sometimes I had to choose between two sessions and sometimes, looking back, I felt I made the wrong choice. I wish I had chosen the session I hadn't attended. Especially the session by Dr. Marylou Naccarato; I am kicking myself for not attending her session now. Sophia and I went separately to different sessions this hour and we both missed her session. Marylou is an amazing person. Sophia and I really enjoyed meeting her and Michael Gogin. Omnipresence would have really been helpful at this conference!

A minor critique. The biggest disappointment was the closing plenary. Far too much time was spent moving people into and out of the circle and defining very granular categories regarding attendee demographics. The much more important planning session ended up feeling way too rushed.

I plan to go again. I hope to put together a plan for doing a session at next year's conference, that's how much I liked this event!

How many marriages would be open?

I have no evidence to back this up, but I believe that if there was not the cultural stigma against non-monogamy that 75% of all marriages would be open emotionally and/or physically in our society. I think this is our natural emotional state and that our bodies are made not to be monogamous. In fact I believe that holding back love is a disease our culture has inflicted upon itself.

I feel so lucky that I and my spouse are free to romantically love other people.

"What use am I ... if I'm living against my own grain?” ― Carol Aird, in the novel The Price of Salt (Carol) by Patricia Highsmith

Polycatery

Well it's six am. Our cat Shadow is in my lap which is causing my cat Pixel to be a jealous twit. I can love both cats. I told Pixel that. Pixel is all about hierarchies and right now he really wants to exercise primary privilege and veto Shadow off my lap. I told him Shadow has agency here but Pixel is not buying that argument.

Sigh, Polycatery drama...   

British TV show slandering Gracie X

According to Polyamory in the News!, Poly In The Media:

The daytime British TV show "This Morning," on the ITV network, broadcast a 7-minute remote interview with Gracie X and her husband Oz (June 29). The interview is excellent. However, the show falsely titled the segment "Having Sex With Strangers Makes Me A Better Mum" and left that title onscreen below her for the entire seven minutes! She never said she has sex with strangers, though the title is phrased as a direct quote.

I love Gracie and her excellent book. She and her husband Oz are very brave for being so transparent with their lives and their family. They do not deserve to be treated this way.

This kind of treatment can have a very chilling effect on poly people coming out and being public. It encourages shaming and in fact, in my opinion, it is slander.

Watch the video, tell me what you think. Is "Having Sex With Strangers Makes Me A Better Mum" really what Gracie and Oz are saying?

Of course it isn't!