Star Light Ministries

Yeah, even after all these years, sometimes I still get that question.

Here’s LaLibertine’s interpretation, which is nearly the best I’ve seen. Quantifiable? Maybe not. But real? Absolutely.

Star Light Ministries:
I have to do a special shoutout to Lia here. Starlight Ministries is not specifically a sex worker rights organization dedicated to changing legislation. However, it does aim to help destigmatize sex work. Starlight Ministries is a Christian organization (yes, I know!) that primarily works with exotic dancers but all sex workers are genuinely welcomed with open arms. There is no patronizing or condescending here. No, “Well, God would love you if only you got out of sex work!” It’s more, “God loves you” period. Let’s face it, for many sex workers, that little statement would make ALL the difference in the world. I won’t lie, I do not like the Christian Church at all for many reasons. However, Lia and her ministry practice what that whole “Love thy neighbor as thyself” thing is supposed to be. Truly.

LaLibertine has written one of the best posts I’ve seen about the Sex Worker Movement. And yeah, it is a movement. If you really want to understand, go read it. Please, go read it.

I have conversations with sex workers nearly everyday of my life. And I listen.

I hear differing points-of-view. I hear stories of women pimped into strip clubs, sold to strip clubs. I hear stories of women getting ahead financially and being empowered by sex work. I hear stories of women who cry before every shift. I hear stories of women being excited about going to work. I hear stories of women who cannot work without drinking or using drugs. I hear stories from women who say that sex work is fun. I hear success stories of women leaving the industry. I hear stories of disappointment when women have to return to sex work. I hear stories of trouble in relationships because of sex work, both because the spouse of the sex worker can’t handle it, and on the other side, because the sex worker cannot stand to be touched. I hear stories from women who love the flexibility, freedom and autonomy that sex work gives them.

Remember, this is from sex workers about their own experience, not people writing about sex workers, people who have never done sex work, or even academics.

Who do I believe?

I believe them all.

I believe that everyone’s experience of sex work is different. Put a unique individual into a unique situation, and his or her experience will be unique.

I believe that the deepest thing that sex workers need, that all humans need, is acceptance.

Anything short of acceptance is unacceptable.

I love Harm Reduction as a concept. Harm reduction is most commonly seen in condom and needle programs. Many people are critical of this concept, mostly because it seems as if you are “condoning the behavior.” But, you know, a person has to live in order to make different choices in their lives. You can’t make a different decision if you’re dead, can you? Therefore, using condoms (reducing the risk of STD’s) and clean needles (reducing the risk of getting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis) can perhaps leave you with the energy and health to make different decisions at a later date.

Star Light uses Harm Reduction principles. And the best list I have seen in a long time is Renegade Evolution’s list of harm reduction principles.

-Accepts, for better and for worse, that the sex industry is part of our world and chooses to work to minimize harmful effects rather than simply ignore or condemn them.

-Understands the sex industry as a complex, multifaceted thing encompasses a vast range of activities, and acknowledges that some aspects of the sex industry are clearly more dangerous than others, and those working in the sex industry may have vastly different needs.

-Calls for the non-judgmental, non-coercive provision of services and resources to people who are involved in the sex industry and bases those provisions around the wants and needs of the sex worker/ prostituted person.

-Ensures that sex workers/ prostituted people and those with a history in the sex industry have a real voice in the creation of programs and policies designed to serve them.

-Affirms sex workers/prostituted people themselves as the primary agents in setting the course of their lives, and seeks to empower them to share information, support strategies and resources which meet their actual needs.

-Recognizes that the realities of poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past trauma, education, abuse and other social inequalities affect both people’s vulnerability to harm and capacity for independent operation.

-Does not attempt to minimize or ignore the real potential harm and danger associated with the sex industry.

-Does not attempt to minimize or ignore the choices and agency of those involved with the sex industry.

This is the thinking behind the implementation of the Exotic Dancer, M.B.A. Making more money brings the dancers more agency, more opportunities, more success. And living a life with more agency, more opportunities and more success will foster even more agency, more opportunities and more success!

We care about the lives of exotic dancers. We want to help make their lives better. The Exotic Dancer, M.B.A. does make their lives better.

And it’s fun, too!

Renegade Evolution. A brilliant, beautiful and ballsy (I had to say that because it’s alliterated, okay?) woman.

She’s writing a series of articles at Feministe, and I really, really want to repost them here so I can be sure that you, dear readers, read them. However, linking to them is better. Then she gets the traffic. So get your butt over there and read them, puh-lease.

First post: The Sex Workers Rights Thing: An Overview

Second post: Sex Work Activism: Topic One, Harm Reduction.

Third post: Sex Work Activism: Two- Decriminalization

Fourth Post: Sex Work Activism- Three: The Problem with Creating a Monolith

Can’t you tell she’s brilliant?