Mr. Pinup

Although prostitution itself is technically legal in Canada, the criminal code makes it virtually impossible for sex workers to conduct business without breaking the law. Having sex for money is fine, in theory — as long as you don’t solicit it in public, live off the proceeds, or “keep a bawdy house” (which effectively means you can’t do it indoors). Last month, three members of Sex Professionals of Canada — Amy Lebovich, Terri-Jean Bedford and Valerie Scott — brought a complaint challenging those sections of the code before the Superior Court of Ontario, arguing that the restrictions on prostitution “violate their constitutionally protected right to liberty and security,” according to Women’s eNews. (A decision is expected in 2010.) The fear of losing their assets and homes for illegally living on money earned by providing a legal service is one part of it, but the more important part is that changing the laws could save lives. Unable to work openly, in groups or to hire security, sex workers believe they are more at risk of robbery, assault, rape and murder under the current criminal code than they would be if prostitution were fully decriminalized. “I don’t believe that sex work is inherently dangerous,” Lebovitch told WeNews. “It is the laws, the stigma (that are harmful).”

via Broadsheet – Salon.com.

Related articles by Zemanta

• End of the Jarvis stroll? Sex workers ‘think it’s safer inside’ (thestar.com)
• Prostitutes can take steps to be safer within law: government (nationalpost.com)
• Sex trade workers call prostitution laws unconstitutional (nationalpost.com)
• Throw out ‘bizarre’ prostitution laws, court told (cbc.ca)
• The “Glamor” Of Prostitution And The Outing Of Belle De Jour [Belle Of The Ball] (jezebel.com)
• The Honesty Of Prostitution (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Sex trafficking estimates exaggerated (guardian.co.uk)
• Prostitutes set to challenge sex laws in Ontario court (nationalpost.com)
• Push to decriminalize prostitution begins in Toronto court (cbc.ca)