I agree, all women deserve safety and human rights *regardless of whether we agree with their choics” or *regardless whether they chose* sex work.

I think that is what I’m trying to say. I don’t like porn, I don’t think I could do sex work, I’m not even sure how I “feel” about it. But that has nothing to do with whether sex workers deserve rights (of course they do!) or whether I like them as people (why would it?).

I wish I could articulate it better.

As you said it doesn’t matter if it was a choice or how she came to be in that hotel room that day. What matters is the Safety and Human Rights of all sex workers. It is a basic right.

I’m looking forward to finally meeting you at Sex 2.0 next month in DC and also having the opportunity to expand my knowledge of allies for sex workers.

I wonder if people are afraid that if they advocate supporting sex workers that it will “encourage” women to engage in sex work.

Some people might think that, but it makes about as much sense as the argument that over-the-counter availability of emergency contraception will “encourage” teenage girls to have unprotected sex.

And anyway, even if there *were* any merit to that argument – so what? Should the safety and human rights of all sex workers suffer just because one or two women out there might be *more* likely to work in the sex industry because it is – gasp! – safer? The whole thing falls apart the minute one tries to make any sort of logical sense of it.

Please forgive me if I offend, but my understanding is that the majority of women who are prostitutes are forced into it by circumstances.

That is a widespread misperception – and it’s maddening. But others have already addressed this countless times at great length, so I do not want to get off on that tangent here. I’m sure I’ve addressed it at some point on this blog, as well. Ren and Jill Brenneman are two bloggers who have been the very prolific on this matter; I encourage you to read their words.

It seems, though, that if feminism means choice, that that would include the choice to engage in sex work. If sex workers are not in it by choice, it seems we should support them in every way we can to 1) keep them safe, and 2) help them “escape.”

But once again, this is straying away from the central point. The “choice” argument is often used to derail – as it is doing here. My post mentioned nothing about whether or not the woman who was murdered in Boston chose her work. That piece of information is irrelevant. Whether she chose it wholeheartedly or was in some way coerced, or fell into a gray area as do most of us who work for a living – it doesn’t matter. She did not deserve to die. She, and all sex workers, deserve the basic protections most of us take for granted. The issue is the SAFETY and HUMAN RIGHTS of women – not “choice.”

It seems, though, that if feminism means choice, that that would include the choice to engage in sex work. If sex workers are not in it by choice, it seems we should support them in every way we can to 1) keep them safe, and 2) help them “escape.”

Again, the issue is muddied by fiery rhetoric and a lack of honest discussion. I support every measure to keep sex workers safe. I do not support marginalizing women who make different choices than me (engaging in sex work). Beyond that, I’m baffled.