What the holy FUCK?!

In Israel a couple of days ago, Rudy Giuliani made horrid, cruel and extremely misogynistic comments about Stephanie Clifford, aka Stormy Daniels. In part he said:

“I respect women—beautiful women and women with value —but a woman who sells her body for sexual exploitation I don’t respect. Tell me what damage she suffered. Someone who sells his or her body for money has no good name.”

Here, I quote the Christian Bible:

Matthew 7:5

You hypocrite! First, take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

He continued his horrible tirade with smirking comments about her looks and then went on with more, saying:

“Yes, I respect porn stars. Don’t you respect porn stars? Or do you think that porn stars desecrate women? Do you think that porn stars don’t respect women?” Giuliani said. “And therefore sell their bodies. So yes, I respect all human beings. I even have to respect, you know, criminals. But I’m sorry I don’t respect a porn star the way I respect a career woman or a woman of substance or a woman who has great respect for herself as a woman and as a person and isn’t going to sell her body for sexual exploitation.”

I am so angry I’m shaking as I write this.

Choices in Occupations

The great majority of sex workers do this by choice. Yes, the choice is often economic, but it is still a choice. Yes, for many, the options are created by lack of education, lack of support from partners or family, or lack of skills in other jobs, but for most, it is still a choice. And women in the professional erotic film industry (porn) are simply not forced, drugged or manipulated into the movies like they were 50 years ago.

Doesn’t this look like a woman who could kick Giuliani’s ass? Go, Stephanie!

Just as a reference, sex workers can include:

• Porn/Erotic actors
• Cam folks
• Dance club dancers
• Phone sex operators
• Agency escorts
• “Masseuses”
• Folks who solicit on the street
• Pro Dommes
• and more…

My Tirade Escalates

Before you judge a person, walk a mile in their shoes.

My yelling is not just for Giuliani,  but for ALL judgmental people who think less of sex workers, who are whorephobic, who believe one sex worker is better than another or is less “tainted” than another because of her use of her physical body or not. Those who sit around making fun of sex workers, but look at porn when they go home to have a jerk-off nightcap. Those who sit in their place of worship shame shaming sex workers and calling us Mistresses on Monday morning when the wife heads off to work. Those who vote against laws to protect transpeople (who are overwhelmingly marginalized into the sex industry), but who fetishize “trannies.”

FUCKING STOP IT!

Decriminalize Sex Work

Instead of shaming folks who are sex workers, how about figuring out a way to protect us, keep us safe and alive. I won’t go into all the ways this can happen, even without your religious institutions knowing you are helping sex workers find freedom from hate and garner support, but know they are out there.

My Tirade Fades

I feel better now. If you found yourself in this post… and believe me, I see myself quite clearly, too! Let’s do better. Please do not applaud Rudy Giuliani’s stupid, pigman comments. Please remember sex workers are PEOPLE. People who have lives, too. Sex workers are not invisible when you stop talking to them (or fucking them). They/We are your friends, neighbors, FAMILY MEMBERS and people in your lives you would never suspect. They/We hear you when you say nasty words. Please stop.

Please speak gently about our industry.

Giuliani shut the fuck up.