thread from the attorney general of manitoba

I've been following this on facebook...

http://www.facebook.com/andrew.swan.777/posts/577965505621918?comment_id=3576813&offset=0&total_comments=29&notif_t=share_reply

would love to see some sex workers get into this conversation.

when i click it , it takes me right to his thread.

His name is Andrew Swan. He is the NDP mp that is the attourney of manitoba. if you go on facbook and type his name, it is the first thread right now. some pretty crazy stuff...

saying all sex workers would quit if they could, etc.

It does not work for me either. It crashes my browser every time.

Goes to facebook login page.

No facebook for me thank you very much.

I couldn't get on it since I had to get off Facebook, but after you mentioned him I googled him and then sent him two articles from my blog: a Day I the Life of an Escort, and Legitimate Sex Work in Canada.

Maybe you could copy and paste the thread here so we can at least read it?

it is an extremely long post, but here are some posts;

Andrew Swan's original post;

"Manitoba is the first province in Canada - and maybe the first jurisdiction in North America - to call for a new way to reduce sexual exploitation, stop human trafficking, and protect victims ... by focusing on demand. I'm calling on the federal government to adopt laws that would make the purchase of sex illegal, and stop criminalizing the victims of exploitation."

some replies;

"So Tracey, you're saying we should entertain the notion that women's bodies can be safely used as commodities? Only in a rape culture is sex viewed as a right, that if not earned by being a decent civilized individual, can be bought instead."

again from Mr Swan

"It appears the NZ approach has increased demand for sexual exploitation. Municipalities choose where it takes place... so it's still the least empowered communities which face exploitation. The profile of those being exploited remains the same, including the age at which it begins. And... NZ doesn't share a border with a country of 300 million people, some of whom would be only too happy to travel an hour or two north to buy sex. It's a tough issue."

"why doesn't anyone ever sit with the thousands of sex workers who have chosen happily to have that as a job. Many of them are intelligent, thoughtful and have some great ideas. They are a completely different population than those you are trying to help, but it will impact them in a hugely negative way.

And we all know, prostitution will never stop. The demand is higher than ever; it has always existed and always will."

from Mr Swan again

"the average age that someone begins being sexually exploited for money or drugs is 13. That's the average ... some are younger. Even two of the "sex trade workers" who challenged the laws in the Bedford case admit they began in their early teens. Most come from situations where they have already been abused. That's no choice at all. I would challenge anyone (which I may have to do) to come down to Sargent Avenue or Selkirk Avenue in Winnipeg and conclude that being sexually exploited and being exposed to violence night after night is a "happy job"."

from Mr Swan

"we are talking about the same thing. And it's time to focus on demand. If men stopped buying sex, period, there would be no "market" for sexual exploitation and human trafficking, and all of the other damage to out communities that results. If you want to stop men from buying sex with kids, you have to stop men from buying sex. It wasn't that long along ago that domestic violence was quietly accepted by society, and you could try to fit in the logic of every one of your arguments on that issue too. Been going on for a long time? Yep. Lots of men from all walks of life involved? Yep. "Choice" being made by abused partners? Why don't they just leave if they're being abused? Well, no one believes that today - because we've moved to target the offenders and help the victims."

the response from a poster to that

" you almost had me till you brought in the abuse part. I don't agree with that comparison at all. For it to be true, you have to accept the premise that every sex worker is a victim, and I don't.

Plus, you will never, ever stop the purchase. it will always exist. I actually think sex workers provide a valuable service (no pun intended) to a great many people.

As much as I love and respect you, Andrew, one thing always holds true with me. I will always trust my gut more than any politician...that's for sure. Call me cynical, but making the purchase illegal while the sale is fine is a big scam. It allows the govt to make the men the targets instead of the women, which is politically more acceptable. It allows the govt to say they are doing something while they can actually still choose to do nothing. "see we didn't legalize prostitution"...we also aren't going to go after anyone. The govt can also then introduce a sex worker license; here ladies, pay for a license to sell a product that no one can buy.

Sounds a lot like prohibition..that worked great!"

it goes on and on and on...