They are escorts and prostitutes and fetish models and pro dommes and pro subs and pro switches and porn stars and erotic massage providers and nude models and strippers and dancers and sex surrogates and more.

They, just like [...]]]> Sex workers are people. They are your friends, your exes, your lovers, your sisters, your brothers, your parents.

They are escorts and prostitutes and fetish models and pro dommes and pro subs and pro switches and porn stars and erotic massage providers and nude models and strippers and dancers and sex surrogates and more.

They, just like everyone else, are working for their living.  Many of them file their taxes, pay social security, etc. All of them have to figure out housing and food and medical expensive. They are have families. They have people who love them, and people that they love. 

They are service providers. Like a waitress. Like a retail clerk. They are people give other people what they want, and what they need.

With all of this said, why would ANYONE, none the less hundreds and thousands of people join a groups about killing hookers so one doesn’t have to pay them?  And then once it’s been taken down, start yet ANOTHER group?

And then, why would anyone truly debate whether saying killing a hooker truly contrues violence/hate? Since when did wanting to kill someone become neither violence or hateful?

So yes, I am impressed with the digital movement that reported the hell out of that page, and got it taken down (read more about that here), just like I was impressed with Wordress for taking down the Expose a Ho page within 24 hours to protect the privacy of all people, including sex workers (blogspot, on the other hand, still has the page up — boo on them). We have a strong network of sex worker advocates (which does not mean sex worker; it means all people, sex workers and not, who support the rights of sex workers) who got it shut down.

But still, there are so many hateful pages left, not even just this newly popped up one.  It’s not December, but I am taking a stand against violence (physical, emotional, mental, verbal, online, etc) against sex workers. It is NOT ok to hate, and EVERYONE has the right to be safe against hate, violence, violations of privacy, etc.

There are many ways to stand up for sex workers rights; join one of the many sex worker positive facebook groups like this one, donate for sex worker awareness/advocacy, support the NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar, etc.

This post, Thoughts on Sex Worker Hate, originally appeared on Shanna Katz M.Ed, ACS -- Board Certified Sexologist and Sexuality Educator on February 11, 2010.