In many ways it makes sense for the pro-prostitution movement to present itself as part of a proud social justice campaign, as it helps perpetuate the myth that prostitution is liberating.
I have heard, on numerous occasions, pro-prostitution lobbyists compare the campaign to legalise pimping, brothel owning and sex buying with the successful campaign for partial decriminalisation of homosexual acts in As a lesbian who has always been out and proud, I find this analogy as offensive as it is duplicitous.
The Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland , for example, directly stated last year that there was a close alignment between the pro-choice movement and the campaign to decriminalise pimping and sex buying. This is an obscene argument. The feminist campaign for legal abortion is the direct opposite to that โ in other words, the right to be free of patriarchal oppression. In ignoring the fact that young men and young women who are rejected by their families and communities, and isolated and bullied by their peers, are at risk of homelessness and sexual exploitation, we are betraying our youth.
I have met young lesbian and gay runaways who were pimped into prostitution by exploiters who found them easy prey. One of those activists who reaped the benefits of the alliance between the LGBT movement and the pro-prostitution lobby is Irina Maslova, founder of the Russian project Silver Rose.
I met Sia, a feminist activist, during a research trip to Australia last year. I asked her why she thought that queer-identified individuals were so keen on believing the myth about sex work? It was part of the party scene, the drug-taking scene. The bottom line is there was so much damage for a lot of the women that were involved in that.
