Sex workers make a valuable contribution to society

doi:10.1136/bmj.39101.398958.1F

BMJ 2007;334:170 (27 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.39101.398958.1F

Letters

Sex workers' protection

Sex workers make a valuable contribution to society

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The Sexual Freedom Coalition sent an 86 pageresponse to the Home Office Paying the Price team and didn'teven get an acknowledgement.¹ We argued the case for decriminalisation,promoting the New Zealand model. We pointed out that if thiswere any other business, the client's health and safety wouldbe a priority, unlike the 11 lines the Home Office devoted to"users."

Sex workers can and do provide invaluable servicesto clients: obese, disabled, and widowed and people rejectedfor not being in jobs, good looking, and fit. I recently broughtPru, Sex Worker of the Year in the Erotic Awards, along to speakat the Different Strokes conference, making the point that nostroke survivor should be left to sit without speech or friendsduring years of recovery. A sex worker, master or mistress ofnon-verbal communication, should be part of the rehabilitationteam. We're a long way . . . [Full text of this article]

Tuppy Owens, charity worker

¹ Sexual Freedom Coalition, London N1 3QP tuppyo@gmail.com