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SEX WORK LAWS
Amongst all of the ‘confusing’ laws (‘ACT sex worker laws ‘confusing’’, MCV #371, Thursday February 14) it is clear that discrimination against sex workers is enforced by legislation.

Ms Skelsey is accurate in pointing out that sex workers must provide evidence of being regularly screened. However, this process does not actually protect anyone. If anything, it is there to place the onus of responsibility on the sex worker.

What fails to get a mention is that, despite this mandatory testing, the sexual practices of sex workers are amongst the safest in the community.

Sex workers consistently use condoms. We teach ourselves to identify symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in our clients and work around them. We know what to do and where to go should any potential exposure occur, and we perform valuable safe sex education work with each other and the community via our clients. We see these as expectations of any sexually active individual: could the general public live up to our standards?

Despite all of our best practice and the fact that the occurrence of STI among sex workers are lower than that of the rest of the adult population, we are constantly discriminated against; if not through negative stereotypes in the community, then by legislation.

Why do we need extra criminal laws in Victoria to manage sex work when there already are current health and industrial laws that do the same thing? We are workers, skilled, hard working and professional. And yet we are victimised by legislation that forgets that sex between consenting adults is the responsibility of all the parties involved. 

Sex workers do it better; it’s time we were treated that way.

Christian Vega, St Kilda
National Spokesperson for the Male Sex Industry
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