OPINION Why would a Christian minister support Proposition K, the November ballot initiative that would decriminalize prostitution in San Francisco?
There are many reasons. Prop. K would allow sex workers to organize for their rights and safety. It would enable them to report abuse in the industry without fear of prosecution. It would improve their chances of maintaining their health by lessening the stigma that prevents many from seeking the health care services they need. And it would do all this while still allowing law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute human traffickers.
I also feel a kindred spirit with prostitutes. Like me, they are a stigmatized sexual minority in our culture. They, too, suffer due to stereotypes and prejudice because of who they are. As a lesbian, I know only too well what it is like to live in a world that is dangerous for me because of hatred and discrimination.
But there is another reason I support this measure. Prop. K has my vote because I believe that we who are created in the image of the Divine are both spiritual and sexual beings, and we need ample opportunities to nurture both parts of ourselves to be whole.
In the Bay Area we are fortunate to have access to a full range of spiritual practices and traditions. Whether we worship in a synagogue, mosque, church, temple, or at the altar of the Goddess, we have a plethora of opportunities for spiritual exploration and growth. Why shouldn't the same range of offerings be available for the sexual aspects of our lives as well?
Human sexuality is an incredibly complex and wondrous thing. Some of us are able to find sexual satisfaction in long-term relationships. But limiting everyone to such a narrow path for sexual expression is like saying we all must be Christians to find God. Because we don't limit our spirituality to such narrow expression (well, perhaps people like Sarah Palin do), why do we insist on forcing our sexuality into such a box?
Some of us like spanking. Some of us just want to be held. Some of us want to be told what to do. Sometimes we need sex without a long-term relationship. Many of us, because of our age, physical illness, or circumstances beyond our control, have a difficult time finding sex partners. Many find our most powerful spiritual places within ourselves through fantasies we cannot bring ourselves to share with our partners. I want to live in a world where we all have opportunities to experience those transcendent places without shame, and where the sex workers who can help us access those places may do so without fear of arrest or stigmatization.
I believe we must all work together to create a world in which no one is penalized, persecuted, or harassed for their gender presentation, sexual orientation, or sexual activity with consenting adults. Prop. K is one step closer to ensuring that the human rights of all sexual minorities are protected and promoted everywhere, which is why I will be voting yes. As far as I'm concerned, it's just the Christian thing to do.
Rev. Lea Brown is the senior minister of the Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco
Also, prop K will ’stop funding anti-prostitution programs.’ What are ‘anti-prostitution programs’ you ask? Well, they are social service programs that help women and girls to escape prostitution and obtain safe housing, vocational training, trauma and addiction recovery services, and mentorship opportunities. Why would a caring and compassionate person want to deny women and girls of these life-changing services? Vote No on K.
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That proposition, as noted, has not proven to be the case--anywhere. Instead, legalizing this gross violation of human rights has always led to an increase in violence against impoverished women and children.
As if that wasn't enough, the fact that this crime against humanity is disproportionately destroying aboriginal peoples leaves me at a loss for words.
As far as the idea of whether legalization or decriminalization has worked in other places, I encourage you all to read the recent Economist article comparing the different systems. They offer a much more balanced analysis, and they do not whitewash the issues.
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While there appears to be support from the US State Department to stop the trafficking in humans for prostitution, we never hear of US Attorneys initiating a task force on organized crime to deal with this most abominable crime against humanity. Why is that? Is it the ingrained racism of the institution that allows DOJ to be insensitive to Asian and indigenous girls transported to American brothels and massage parlors to be serially raped for profit?
Whatever the answers to these pressing questions, there is nothing stopping local communities, mayors, and district attorneys from investigating organized crime in their cities. Nothing other than a lack of courage and will to do the right thing. Does San Francisco have what it takes?
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This is a lie. Sex workers have organized in San Francisco since the 1970s. COYOTE ([link]) has existed since the seventies, and now there is the Erotic Providers Service Union ([link]).
Don't listen to the hysterical lies of fundamentalists. Get the truth:
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I entered here as a delegate to represent that great mass of outraged humanity, my sisters whom I can see in the night when I go out in Chicago, who are young and fair and beautiful, but who are compelled to sell the holy name of womanhood for a night's lodging. I am here to raise my voice with them, and ask you to put forth from this organization a declaration of principles and a constitution that shall give them hope in the future, that they shall be enrolled under the banner of this organization... And so let me say to you brothers and sisters, don't engage in any personalities, but simply remember that we are here as one brotherhood and one sisterhood, as one humanity, with a responsibility to the downtrodden and the oppressed of all humanity."
I can't believe you would say that sex workers forming a union is "obscene." I find that comment to be a bit ridiculous. Sex workers should be able to form unions and advocate for themselves.
Traffickers will not benefit from Prop K. They are benefiting from the current system because they never get prosecuted - sex workers are the ones being arrested, not traffickers.
Prop K tells the authorities to go after traffickers, not sex workers. It also tells the authorities to to go after those who commit violent crimes against sex workers.
The fact that this situation is allowed to exist in the present won't be changed by Prop K. Expecting law enforcement to become more vigorous in protecting underage immigrant girls, now abused by pimps and traffickers, just because a handful of upper class prostitutes ask them to is delusional.
Rights on paper mean nothing to these children with a knife to their throats.
How the f**k can you say that rights on paper mean nothing?
I can see from this statement that you don't want sex workers to have any rights at all. The existence of sex worker unions offends you, because they are demanding their rights.
What are you afraid of? You are afraid that Asian sex workers and street sex workers will rise up and join a union and demand their rights. You are afraid that a sex worker will go to the police to report a rape or abuse by a pimp, and the police will NOT be able to arrest her for it.
You are afraid that you will have to treat sex workers as an equal to yourself in every way, instead of slut-shaming them as you would want to.
So let us not have any more nonsense from you about "those poor trafficked slaves" because you don't give a damn about any of them. It is the sex workers who are demanding their rights that you can't stand, and that you want to see beaten down. Why don't you just admit it?
While I doubt that the SFDP will post "SF Dems Welcome Organized Crime" on the marquee at their convention, the fact that the city hosts a lot of conventions from which the party gets donations through the still strong local unions, is enough of a connection to not rule it out. Fog City may not be able to compete with Las Vegas in recruiting criminal enterprise to service tourists and conventioneers, but then, why would they want to?
Unless the Democrats figure a piece of the action is worth a few thousand adolescent immigrant girls living in slavery in their city.
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