Sex workers make a valuable contribution to society

The Sexual Freedom Coalition sent an 86 page response to the Home Office Paying the Price team and didn't even get an acknowledgement.¹ We argued the case for decriminalisation, promoting the New Zealand model. We pointed out that if this were any other business, the client's health and safety would be a priority, unlike the 11 lines the Home Office devoted to “users.”

Sex workers can and do provide invaluable services to clients: obese, disabled, and widowed and people rejected for not being in jobs, good looking, and fit. I recently brought Pru, Sex Worker of the Year in the Erotic Awards, along to speak at the Different Strokes conference, making the point that no stroke survivor should be left to sit without speech or friends during years of recovery. A sex worker, master or mistress of non-verbal communication, should be part of the rehabilitation team. We're a long way off combating the stigma, but between us a little toe is in the door.