Posted on by Nathan Riley

Legalize Sex Work So Sex Workers Can Become Citizens

If sex work is legal:

* Sex workers could file rape charges against violent Johns.

* Sex workers could accuse angry and intimidating Johns of witness tampering if temper tantrums prevent calls to police for help

* Sex workers could insist on condoms unless other arrangements are clearly specified. Taking condoms off during sex without permission is a legal offense in many states.

* Sex workers could keep records that help identify clients who might cause them harm.

* Johns can file robbery, extortion and blackmail charges if sex workers hold up Johns for extra money.

In other words, making sex work legal gives sex workers their rights as citizens and offers them the protection of the law.

This is a good thing, and it will curb abuse. It dramatically changes the relationship between police and sex workers. Rather than perps facing arrests, sex workers become citizens with rights the police are obligated to protect.

Across the globe, nations have decades of experience with legalization. The Netherlands is world-famous for the protections it offers sex workers and their clients. In parts of Australia and all of New Zealand, sex work became legal at the start of this century, and it persists; even if problems crop up, they are confronted, but the legality of sex work continues. If the United States gives sex workers their civil rights, it will not be inventing the wheel.

In the United States, legal protection of sex workers is a life-or-death matter. In recent years, on what feels like a weekly basis, transgender persons are murdered, even if they are not sex workers. Legalizing sex work is one step towards ending these ghastly killings. Republican attacks on trans persons only heighten the tension and perhaps offer excuses to murderers.

New York State is often dangerous to sex work. The Gilgo Beach serial killings started in the early 1990s and may total eleven victims. The exact number may never be known. Wikipedia reports “many of the victims’ remains were found over a period of months in 2010 and 2011” after the arrest of a Suffolk County police chief led to new policies. The repetitious killings were discovered when a woman disappeared after making frantic phone call to 911. DNA evidence and witness statements led to an arrest. Rex A. Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 and charged with the murders of six women. As of October 15, 2024 Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

One victim worked at a motel. Many of the victims were very petite, Maureen Brainard-Barnes was 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m) tall and 105 pounds (48 kg).[7] Brainard-Barnes left behind a 7-year-old daughter, another victim was a mother and telemarketer who faced foreclosure on her mortgage, another mom had a boyfriend living off her earnings, and an Asian trans person was also a victim.

After making a date, friends of a heroin user gave police tips that led to the identification of the suspect and his vehicle.

Rather than the common practice of labeling sex workers as drug addicts and losers, many of these women were working at low paying jobs, who had to supplement their income. They weren’t losers; like many of us, they were working at wages that required a second income.

Clients of sex workers are often overweight and worried about rejection. This is especially true if their sexual preferences are for good-looking people. Senior citizens are regular clients, especially those who like younger adults. Workers whose families live in foreign countries are another group of clients, and then of course there are people with money to spare, who just want to get off. Customers of sex workers are regular people, so are sex workers.

The shame and stigma attached to sex work is unjustified. In a free society, people should control their bodies and that includes renting them for sex work.

Freedom Democrats offers sex workers, clients, LGBTQ+ persons, drug users, porn watchers and performers, college graduates, and people without high school diplomas time to socialize, work jointly on important projects, and get to know each other without feeling compelled to hide important parts of their lives. In this way, the weekly parties offered by Freedom Democrats undermines stigma and promotes the dignity of each person.

Posted on by Nathan Riley

Freedom Democrats/

Those of us who party face threats; we should organize to stop intimidation and arrests.

Next year a President will be elected and it’s a perfect time to start a coalition including sex workers, drug users, porn watchers and the friends and family of people who party to fight militant puritanism.

Biden faces a tough election; if we help him, his supporters might help us. Even if they do not, we will learn who is our friend and who keeps their distance. Consider it as important as losing your virginity.  As the new kids on the block, we will face hostility, but if you live in a Republican area than the Democrats might want allies.There is only way to find out, mix it up and get involved.

Attacking the transgender, treating children who express their sexual inclinations with hostility, calling prostitution human trafficking, accusing drug users of murder after an accidental overdose, shutting down craigslist personals are danger signs that Democrats and Republican can be stampeded into taking hostile steps against people who party.

The Republicans with their ties to religious fundamentalists are often hostile, but they also have support from strait-laced Democrats. Neutralizing this support is a sensible idea.

Call the new group “Freedom Democrats.” It should organize and oppose these aggressive acts by following this principle: privacy must be respected. In a free society, especially in a capitalist society, people who rent their bodies are not committing a crime, getting high is not a crime, and teaching controversial ideas is a positive good—a strength of a free society.

Political power does not require a majority. The LGBTQI community is not a majority, but the Democrats met the members of this community, developed relationships, and learned it is a human right to allow people to choose who they love.  Familiarity turned contempt into respect. By becoming political, gays and lesbians threw off the label “sick” and found pride.

People who party should enjoy the same rights, and they don’t have to be a majority to bring about change, they must be united and develop a program so they can tell politicians if you want our votes then add freedom to government policies.

Consider this simple truth. If it is ok to drink coffee as a pick me up, then it is not a crime to get high. Fentanyl is used every day in hospitals and nobody dies. So why does it kill drug users?  By making it illegal, policymakers make it dangerous; drug users are denied medical care.  Before abortion became legal, illegal operators gave poor medical care. Woman got sick and even died.  The same principle applies to drug users.

There are strong arguments in favor of freedom, and they will be presented in future articles, but today we’re focusing on becoming political.

Getting organized requires cooperation. Getting started is simple. Just throw a party. Weekly parties give friends and family a place to meet. It creates new friends and adds excitement to life.

Parties are for dating, dancing and fun. A

Freedom party will add a special attraction. Lawyers, college professors, activists and doctors should be invited to give talks while others party. The talks will be voluntary; only those who are interested will show up. For the rest, the party goes on. The primary purpose of the weekly event is for people to meet and become friends.

The group should be on the lookout for people with a talent for supporting the cause of liberty. For example, a guest speaker must be introduced to the group. Finding out who does this well is useful.

Don’t start with leaders-become friends first. In the beginning stay low key. It is a party after all. Finding who knows how to listen and be genuinely friendly is important.

America’s greatest President, Abraham Lincoln. had a reputation as a wrestler and storyteller. It wasn’t his politics that made him popular-he was good company. He also devoured newspaper stories; he was a political guy and his friends knew it. In a word, Lincoln’s friendly disposition made him good company. The weekly parties give everyone a chance to find who has these talents. Can he/she/they bring people together? The weekly party is a place to practice these skills.

Pressing for change gives members of the group a chance to meet community leaders as equals. Despised groups enter a new environment. They meet the public, develop issues, and have face to face meetings. When a person meets a community leader, they not only have a specific purpose in mind, the interaction fosters pride. Some of the party goers will display skills at working with people on a common cause—for example, electing a president.  It gives despised people a chance to show off.

The success of the effort depends on staying power that means throwing the weekly parties after the election.

The parties are more than fun, they are opportunities to meet people. They offer learning and a chance for serious conversations.  Party goers have an opportunity to learn; the events are free, and homework is optional.

Bringing speakers and performers is a perfect way for strangers to become acquainted. It allows curious people to meet sex workers and drug users without passing judgment.

It gives Freedom Democrats a chance to find allies. There will be hostile criticism. There may be arrests and lawsuits. For this reason, it is critical that lawyers, business owners, and people of all incomes become allies. With this support, Freedom Democrats can demonstrate they are permanently in the political process. When you press an issue, nobody can guarantee that the Freedom Democrats will win. Victory is walking away with pride.

Freedom Democrats should stay united by agreeing everyone is entitled to their own ideas. Caution dictates that there be no party lines insisting that everyone follow the leader. Drug users may be divided. Some oppose making heroin legal; people who have seen friends die often firmly oppose allowing the drug to become available. They should work with people who’ve reached a different conclusion. Freedom means thinking and making up your own mind.

Nothing is simple in life and each party must decide how to stay legal. Do you want high school students? Then the law may stop the party from serving alcohol. If Freedom Democrats want to drink, the law might force the party to impose 21 drinking. Drinking may bring liability for drunk-driving accidents. In other words, creating the party allows Freedom Democrats to meet lawyers on a friendly basis. Throwing the party becomes a learning experience.

The objective is to create a community that will speak up for freedom and oppose government interference with people’s private choices.