I am amazed and disturbed by alot of the comments.

I deserve the same rights as a sex worker as anyone else in any other occupation. I have worked in the sex industry for over 13 years. I was in the top 2% of my state with my year 12 marks, I am currently doing post graduate studies, I have travelled extensively for 10 years, have a morgage, wonderful friends and am happy. I am just like many, many other sex workers both here and around the world.

I have met sex workers in many countries including: Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Sweden, Thailand, Canada, France,Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Germany, Poland, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Japan, Spain, many from different parts of Africa and many from different parts of eastern Europe.

If you took the time to actually speak to sex workers and looked at the many sex worker organisation sites on line you would find that our voices ring out loud and clear: consult with us, give us the same rights as other occupations, do not discriminate against us, do not alienate us, decriminalise our work. We are someone's daughter, someone's son, someone's lover, someone's partner, someone's friend, someone's neighbour.

Do not post back and say that I am 'rare' or 'unique'. I am not. I am a typical sex worker. I am a human being and ALL of my clients, over 13yrs, have treated me with much dignity, respect and humanity. Which is more than I can say about these so-called feminists who only want to view me like a walking vagina who has no brain, no options and no soul.

Thank you Debbie and Candi for such good postings and the others who actually want to consider our opinions. The others should get a grip - just remember - any one of us could be standing in line behind you at Coles buying milk. We do not have two heads, we are just regular people living life the way we choose.

Oh Billy, You crack me up. You have been watching a little too much tele. Rather than 'shining example of the lucky few that are able to exercise genuine choice in their lives.' My experience of working alongside more women than I can remember (and no false consciousness has not adled my brain) is I am not that different to most.

As for your assertion that few '“choose” prostitution' if you consider there are about 20,000 sex workers in Oz and that lots of people move in and out of the industry thats a lot of men, women and transgender either current or ex workers. So in fact a lot of people have chosen sex work.

I wouldn't know a whole lot about the 'wonderful relationship between pimps and workers?' because in my 15 years whoring I have never had a pimp - and before you attempt to marginalise my experience by making me the lucky odd example. The Australian sex industry doesn't have a culture of pimps! I wonder why - now that would be an interesting topic.

The fact that there is no recorded case of a sex worker or client transmitting or acquiring HIV through sex work in Australia must make you re-think your portrayal of us as lacking choice or control in our workplaces. So i guess either condoms don't break as much when experts put them on or maybe it has to do with the fact that most clients last [during insertive sex] such a short period of time with a sex worker. Maybe we could just acknowledge that sex workers are skilled professionals.

I agree the readers can read the many posts. Consider what sex workers have said. Read what other speculators have had to say and decide for themselves.

Jesus loved whores.....

Great to see other sex workers having a say on the list. We have been discussed without being heard for too long. Happy Hookin'

This is not the most warped article I have read today however its the more recent one. These feminists needs to get the *#$% down off their misguided soap boxes, stop perpetuating *#$% stigma - maybe go spend a week with some real sex workers in various forms of the industry and get an idea what it's actually like, what the girls actually think and feel about their work.

Sure some girls aren't happy in the industry, some people aren't happy in office work, in Macca's, in Woolworth's, cleaning out septic tanks, digging graves, cleaning public toilets - that doesn't mean all these different occupations need to be eradicated because some people aren't happy working in them - some people are and they should be able to get on with it free of others putting them down and making conclusions about what kind of people they must be. I am all for helping people out of the industry if that is what they want.

I will admit I did not start in the industry for the best of reasons but I came back to it entirely by choice leaving a well paid normal job, to pursue a career as an escort - I have never been as happy. I have a good income, free time to spend on my various hobbies and a caring and understanding partner. I know plenty of other sex workers who are happy with their choice also. Let the happy whores stay and those not happy can pursue other careers.

Thanks Debbie, Mellanie and other sex workers providing some reality to the discussion.

The feminist position on this issue both in regard to the rights of sex workers and their clients should be summed up with one simple statement

My Body, My Choice.

It's not a new idea. Unfortunately some demand freedom for their own bodies while expecting to control what others do with theirs.

R0bert

Robert here is an interesting radio interview.

http://wms2.streamhoster.com/mhrudov/ChioWired965_070307.mp3

A few posters here might just burst an anuerysm if we are lucky.

JamesH, thanks for that link. A very interesting bit of talk radio to accompany my breakfast.