Dear Judgemental Just Salvos Director..

Please note all that in italics is the views of Danielle Strickland and not my own. She published the following publicly on at least 2 blogs. I strongly oppose the vast majority of her views as you will see after her judgemental misguided drivel.

I'm sorry.



I'm learning more and more about the essentials of free speech lately.
I've been part of speaking tour called Sex On Demand (and pretty busy - which is why I haven't blogged lately - sorry!)... none the less the speaking tour has been with a guy named Victor Malarek who has recently written a book called 'The John's: sex for sale and the men who buy it'.
Victor is very passionate about trying to limit and indeed shut down the sex industry - the people who profit from women 'for sale'. Victor points out the reality - when you legitimize the commodification of women's bodies you perpetuate the growing evil of the global sex trade and contribute to inequality.

Thankfully this is supported by The Salvation Army Internationally (see the positional statement on human trafficking which suggests that we combat both the commodification of women - the sex industry. AND the demand for sex - men who buy it).

Apparently the 'sex industry' was insulted by the advertisement for the speaking tour. I've attached it here for you to have a look at. The reality is that when you make women's bodies commodities, no matter how you 'dress it up' it is degrading.
It's not the poster you should be offended with - it's the reality.

So, to the sex industry I say that I am deeply sorry. I'm sorry for the hundreds of thousands of women and children that are exploited into sexual servitude EVERY YEAR - I'm sorry for the equality of women being hijacked and set aside by people who desire money over freedom. I'm sorry for the future generations that grow up believing that subjugation and humiliation are 'empowerment'. I'm sorry that I've been quiet for this long and I'm sorry that I haven't offended you more often. I'm sorry that I've been apathetic and indifferent to the plight of women stuck in the grinding poverty and the gradual death of their bodies and souls as a result of this prostitution.

Not only am I sorry - but I'm repentant. I'm going to change my ways. I'm going to speak up more. I'm going to remind society of the costs to real women with real names and real lives who live as virtual prisoners to men who demand sex and use their economic power to get it - at great costs. I'm going to remind myself of the names and faces of women and children who suffer the real pain of sexual servitude... the young 12 year old girl in Tasmania who was raped by over 100 men - pimped out by her own mother... the 14 year old boys charged with gang rape as they re-inacted what they watched the 'sex industry' pump out as 'normal behaviour' on the internet... the young girls lured into prostitution from TV shows that glamorize the life of prostitutes and LIE to bolster their industry at the expense of the innocence of girls and the health of society.

So, let it be known. I'm sorry. And I've changed my ways. I determine to stand up, speak up, and fight for a society that protects it's most vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens. I determine to protect and serve women and children who have been exploited from economically poor conditions to sexual slavery in Australia (they say this is a better life!). I determine to set my sights on a day where Australia and the rest of the world will believe deep within their hearts that women and children ARE NOT FOR SALE. Where men are held accountable for violence against women - ALL women. And where little children are taught the value and dignity of every human being!

Grace
Danielle


My Response

I'm learning more and more about the sickening nature of some peoples idea of free speech lately. When it is used to stand up for your right this is one thing, when you are using it to impinge on others, make judgement, defame and harass - I'd rather it didn't exist. Thanks so much for reminding me of the latter.



The women are not for sale, they provide services for money - the same as anyone who has paid employment does. A sex worker as a person s no more for rent than is someone who washes your car, or fixes your busted pipe in your house. Try and remember that, or perhaps you feel you in your paid employment (which I am assuming here you have) you rent your body and mind to perform the tasks required rather than consider you perform the tasks required for your wage. It is a very different notion.



I note you ignore the existence of male sex workers - don't fit into your argument do they? You ignore the women who purchase the services of sex workers, be the sex worker male, female or trans*



Before you start with but oh that's not the majority of the industry, it is part of it - do not ignore peoples existence its inherently rude and despicable.



You may find that its not some emotionless soulless industry that was insulted, it was sex workers who were insulted by the advertisement - real people, with lives, feelings, emotions. Real people who value their skills and the work they do, the happiness they provide to others through their actions. Do you value providing happiness through your actions - it doesn't seem so with such an attack shrouded as an apology blog for having such a poor narrow minded attitude.



Sex workers are people providing a service, they do not consider themselves some meat for sale. By supporting the poster design indicates you do consider sex workers meat. It is you doing the commodification of flesh. Not the workers who use their skills, and not the clients who appreciate and value the skills sex workers have.



Is catering to someone else's wants and needs of your own free will subjugation and humiliation. if you consider it is, be careful when you next dare open the door for someone, help them carry something or do anything that they want that you were happy to agree to help by using your physical skills and your body as a tool for that.



Perhaps you should apologise to each individual sex worker you upset not the industry, you keep ignoring sex workers are people.



You claim death of sex workers souls. people who cater to what may make a day brighter for someone, people who recognise other people as being worthy of their attention and care, and make this their work. To you I am sorry you must have no soul. I wish I could give you one. I'm sorry people will read your drivel and feel disenfranchised about humanity that judgemental people like you exist. I am sorry you think that offending anyone is something you should strive to do. I'm sorry you consider a sector of our community not to be people worthy of dignity. I am sorry you consider another whole sector of our community to not even exist. I am sorry you consider the lonely, the disabled as exploitative and unworthy of human affection.



Not only am I sorry, but I am proactive. I will continue to challenge the small minded who go through life with blinkers on, to see sex workers as people who deserve equal rights. I will challenge those people not to see sex workers as commodities, but as people as most of our clients do. I am going to remind society that sex is a joyous act shared, not something that is degrading. I will remind myself of the names and faces of those who judge my lifestyle as lesser, and remind myself they are hypocritical by doing more judging than the rest, and remind myself that society will be a poorer place while these people continue to expound uninsightful drivel. I will strive to bring these people to elucidation of how just because they wouldn't want something doesn't mean others don't.



I will not deny that there are some cases such as the Tasmanian one you refer to that are abhorrent - but the fact that that does on attests more to the people who force their child to do anything against their will, more than it does to people who willing perform services. If they had forced their child sew tshirts would you call and end to the textile industry ? Is the demand for shirts worth that - you wouldn't make that claim - but yeh in a way you are just directing it differently.



So let it be known - i stand in my place. I am determined to continue to stand up for my rights, my co workers rights, and sex worker rights and fight for a society that sees sex workers as people, values their rights, their skills and what they contribute to society. I am determined to protect and serve sex workers who are judged, degraded and emotionally attacked by people who seek to deride their rights, see sex workers as victims and not the proud skilled people they are, be it through their work or how they choose to live their life. I am determined to set my sights on a day where Australia and the rest of the world will believe deep in their hearts, sex workers are not for sale, they sell their services and have respect for them. Where perpetrators of such hate writing of this are held accountable and brought to justice for the attacks they make on our sector of the community. Where people understand the value and dignity of every human being is not lessened because of an industry they choose to work in.



I do not deny there are some but far in the minority who are not in the industry of their choice, and I believe in supporting anyone to be in a place they want to be, regardless of what the circumstance is. the sex industry is not the only location of this in our society. To empower those people to have their lives as they want. It would be nice if yo did not deny or ignore the majority of sex workers in Australia who are not exploited and perfectly satisfied with how they are. Surely you can afford people such respect and dignity? I will assume if you edit, censor or do not publish my reply that you are comfortable in your oppression of a sex workers voice, and consider I am not valued enough by you to allow my voice to be heard.