More Stand-Up Guys

These days it takes some serious balls for a man to stand up, demand rights for sex workers, and actually sign his real name to the thing. - Maggie McNeill

A year and a half ago I published “Stand-Up Guys”, in which I saluted men outside the sex industry who dared to stand up and speak out for sex worker rights, despite the rising tide of “end demand” and other Swedish-flavored prohibitionism.  Things have grown only worse since then; prohibitionists viciously attack men who support sex worker rights, hinting that they are “pimps” or “sex traffickers” even when they don’t identify as clients.  What’s more, some sex worker activists appear to have imbibed the neofeminist Kool-Aid and foolishly shun the help of clients or other men; some even proclaim themselves misandrists, which looks to me a lot like using one’s own feet for target practice.  And yet despite all that, some men stubbornly fight for our rights anyway; I don’t mind saying that I find that sort of obstinacy rather sexy.  So today I present another list of male allies; remember, this doesn’t include men who are directly involved in our industry, since it’s as personal for them as it is for us.  It does, however, include clients (and one former sex worker) who have chosen to “out” themselves for the cause.  As before, this is by no means meant to be a complete list; if you have any suggestions who didn’t appear on either list, please mention them in the comments below!

Tim Barnett  The New Zealand MP who sponsored the Prostitution Reform Act (which decriminalized sex work in 2003) is now his party’s general secretary, and still often speaks in favor of decrim both in New Zealand and in the UK.  Follow him on Twitter: @tim4858

Dave Barry  The famous humorist has libertarian leanings, and has spoken out about the injustice of prostitution stings.  Email him at nolowflow@davebarry.com or follow him on Twitter: @rayadverb

Chester Brown  Well-known comic book artist who wrote Paying for It, in which he detailed his experiences as a client of Toronto sex workers; the book’s appendix contains a strong argument for decriminalization.  I’m also proud to say that he’s a regular reader and a friend, and drew the cover art for my upcoming story collection Ladies of the Night.  Chester can be contacted through his publisher, Drawn and Quarterly, at info@drawnandquarterly.com

Graham Ellison  Professor of Criminology at Queen’s University Belfast, a staunch proponent of decriminalization and outspoken opponent of the Swedish model; I have linked a number of his essays in my TW3 columns.  Email him at g.ellison@qub.ac.uk

Rupert Everett  This British actor came out as having done sex work when he was young and struggling, and is now supporting an anti-Swedish model campaign by the English Collective of Prostitutes and Queer Strike.  He can be contacted by mail through his agents.

Zander-Dexter Falcon  A regular client in Saskatoon who recently came out in the process of fighting legislation that endangers sex workers.  Email:  zanderfalcon@sasktel.net  or follow him on Twitter: @furyofpatience

Ally Fogg  Freelance journalist in the UK who generally writes on social justice and gender issues, including strong support for sex worker rights.  He prefers to be contacted via Twitter: @allyfogg, but his website also has an email contact form.

Chris Hall  Freelance journalist in the US who can be counted on to consistently write about sex workers and our rights in a respectful and eloquent manner.  Follow him on Twitter: @literatepervert

Michel Houellebecq  French novelist who has repeatedly states that he loves prostitutes, and has often featured us in his books.  You may email him at houelle@magic.fr

Karl Lagerfeld  The famous fashion designer prefers escorts to unpaid companions, and often speaks of his admiration for us; he also helped former underage hooker Zahia Dehar get started as a designer herself.  He may be written at Karl Lagerfeld Group, 12 rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris, France.

Matthias Lehmann is a German sex work researcher whose articles (especially those debunking prohibitionist lies) I have referenced many times. Email him at yongsagisa@gmail.com  or follow him on Twitter: @photogroffee

Scott Long  Veteran activist for human rights, especially sexual rights, who unlike many in that field does not seem embarrassed to speak out for the rights of sex workers.  Follow him on Twitter: @scottlong1980

Paul Maginn  Urban planning expert who is especially interested in the sex industry; I have linked his anti-criminalization essays several times.  Email him at paul.maginn@uwa.edu.au or follow him on Twitter: @planographer

Marc Randazza  Prominent First Amendment lawyer who has gone to bat not only for porn, but for the speech rights of hookers as well.  You may email him through this page, or follow him on Twitter: @marcorandazza

Mike Siegel  Astronomer, libertarian/conservative blogger, regular reader and friend who has written on numerous occasions in support of sex worker rights.  Follow him on Twitter: @Hal_RTFLC

Jesse Walker  Though virtually all libertarians are against criminalization, some are more actively vocal about it; this historian, Reason editor & writer of The United States of Paranoia is one of them. Email him at jwalker@reason.com or follow him on Twitter: @notjessewalker

Ken White  Respected First Amendment lawyer, popular blogger, defender of those threatened by censorious twatwaffles, geek extraordinaire and personal friend.  Read his thoughts on sex work, email him at ken@popehat.com or follow him on Twitter: @popehat

Kevin Wilson  Professional research consultant, graduate student in epidemiology and friend who became interested in sex work research through reading this blog.  Email him at Wilson2@dal.ca or follow him on Twitter: @WilsonKM2

Tim Worstall  Economist and journalist who writes often on the absurdity of prostitution law; he also debunks “trafficking” myths.  Email him at timworstall@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @worstall

I apologize for anyone I’ve forgotten.  If you’d like to be on the next list of this type, just email me with a link to whatever public statements you’ve made about sex worker rights under your real name, and we’ll see about adding you to the next one (and you needn’t be shy, either; Aphrodite knows I’m certainly nothing of the kind).  If I did forget you, please don’t be offended; most of y’all know how busy I am, and things that shouldn’t often slip through the cracks.  In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for “Stand-Up Guys” in my weekly TW3 column, where I’ll mention guys who come to my attention without having to wait another year and a half.