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Red Light, Green Light: The Sex Industry in Vancouver

Peter Severinson

| October 9, 2008

Image by: Nik West

Mia Bella is quite comfortable with the work she does. Other people are less so. She's a prostitute.

A peek inside the dark and light of a juggernaut industry in Vancouver: sex.

Mia Bella is quite comfortable with the work she does. Other people are less so. One time last summer, she explains, she was out picking up some groceries at the Save-On-Foods near her home in Victoria when a friendly older woman at the produce counter asked why she needed so many blueberries. As Bella shared her favourite recipe for blueberry oatmeal, the two got talking. The woman asked what she did for a living. “I’m an escort,” replied Bella.

“You mean like, when new people come to town, you show them around?”

“More like a prostitute.”

Blog: Prostitution: The Truth Ain't Pretty
Stats: Spotlight on Vancouver Sex Work
Blog: Is Prostitution a Vancouver Business?
Audio: Vancouver prostitutes plan for 2010

“That’s terrible!”

“Oh? I really like it.”

“But you seem so nice.”

Bella (not her real name) says she first did sex work four years ago because she wanted to go on a two-month fishing trip in Fiji. She needed the cash to advance her rent, and a girlfriend suggested they do a few jobs at a body rub parlour. Her friend didn’t enjoy the experience. Bella, on the other hand, loved it, and today the 24-year-old works as an independent escort. She rents a four-bedroom house near downtown Victoria, works between one and five hours a day and usually brings in between $4,000 and $10,000 a month. She’s adamant this is a job she chose and one that she loves, and repeatedly insists her clients are “great guys.” “It’s a healing, therapeutic profession,” she says. “I get emails and phone calls years after seeing some guys; they just have to touch base and thank me because I made such a difference in their lives. . . . Those kinds of things are so rewarding.”

The common perception of prostitution – fed by such tragedies as the missing women of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside – is that of desperation, addiction and abuse. It is not of successful, self-assured entrepreneurs like Bella, and that bothers her. She doesn’t see herself as a victim or a criminal; she sees herself as a businesswoman. However, prostitution in Canada is far from a legitimate business, despite the fact the practice is technically legal. A bewildering mix of rules is in place to restrict it, making it almost impossible to run a legal business involving sexual contact. So prostitution is an outcast industry – hidden in dark alleys, hushed apartments, anonymous hotels, and small businesses with no windows. According to many who study the industry, that’s a big reason why it’s so rife with exploitation and abuse.

Bella is one of many B.C. sex workers fighting to make the industry a legitimate part of the business landscape in an effort to improve working conditions. With the help of an experienced escort manager and a pair of activists, she launched Victoria Independent Providers in June: a licensed escort agency that charges escorts fair fees for booking and promotion services and doesn’t rely on intimidation and extortion. The business model will, in theory, attract talent away from abusive workplaces, while also appealing to clients who want to know they’re not playing a part in another person’s misery. “We want to change the way things are run in the industry,” Bella says.

Another group of sex workers is pushing for a co-op brothel in east Vancouver to bring street-level sex workers indoors, while a third is launching a legal challenge to strip away Canada’s prostitution laws altogether. And much like the controversies surrounding Insite, Vancouver’s landmark safe-injection drug facility, talk of decriminalization and/or legal amnesty for sex workers has drawn intense protest. There are two points, however, where the opposing sides in the prostitution debate generally agree: what has been done in the past has not worked, and it’s time to try something new. With the Olympics coming and the world’s eyes about to train on our most glaring urban sore – Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside – B.C. is becoming a battleground where we might finally have to decide how prostitution fits in our society.

Historically, keeping the sex industry out of sight was relatively easy, with authorities and residents chasing outside sex workers from one neighbourhood to another. The Downtown Eastside has long been the exception: sex workers have had a near-constant home there since the birth of the city over 120 years ago. But with the agreement in 2004 to turn the central Woodward’s building into a condo complex, the area has been the focus of a flurry of gentrification, and many are wondering if the new, more upscale denizens will tolerate the area sex trade. History indicates they may not be. In the early ’80s, West End residents obtained an injunction against street-based sex workers in their neighbourhood. Similarly, in the early ’90s, Mount Pleasant residents teamed up with police to carry out “shame the john” campaigns, publishing the names of sex workers’ clients, and in 2003 Yaletown residents pressured city hall to forbid escort agencies and massage parlours from operating in its live/work areas. If the same sort of thing happens in the Downtown Eastside, where will the trade go next?

That question worries Patricia Barnes, director of the neighbouring Hastings North Business Improvement Association (BIA), whose territory covers the commercial strip along Hastings Street east of Commercial Drive as well as a swath of light industry stretching south from the Vancouver port. She was hired in 2001 – almost 20 years after the first name was included on a list of more than 60 women to go missing from the Downtown Eastside. The industrial area Barnes represents has long been host to street-level prostitution – a result, she says, of a city-sanctioned strategy to get sex workers away from residential neighbourhoods.

“Along with the sex workers came the pimps, the drug dealers and the johns. So light industrial areas became these areas of human misery,” Barnes notes. She describes used needles and condoms in the alleys, homeless people sleeping in doorways and acts of public violence. Business owners have complained over the years about the safety of their late- and early-shift employees, and about the impression the neighbourhood leaves with suppliers and clients. For Barnes the problem became acute in 2002, when the number of sex workers in the industrial lands suddenly spiked. Violence and drug use increased, and johns circled the streets constantly; soon, says Barnes, members were calling the BIA office, demanding to know why the problem was getting worse.

Turns out Vancouver police had recently carried out a vice operation on a sex-worker stroll on Kingsway around Knight Street, pushing them out of the area. The women moved into Strathcona and Hastings North in search of new places to work. It left Barnes with a dilemma. When police enforce anti-prostitution laws in one area, sex workers simply relocate, she explains – and when residents of the next area complain to the police, it can often get pushed right back to where it started. Now it was her turn to choose. Would she lobby to have the sex workers pushed out yet again, or would she try something different?

Tags

harika

Submitted by havadurumu on Thu, 2011-12-29 07:11.

A comment by someone named "anonymous" is erroneous at best.

very nice work. pelt loved

Submitted by kral oyun on Tue, 2011-08-02 06:19.

very nice work. pelt loved it. Thank you very much for this information

Who are we to judge.

Submitted by mattkentsmash (not verified) on Mon, 2011-03-21 18:58.

Who are we to judge. Prostitution has been with us since time began. Yes it, like many business is fraught with risks, danger and troubled people. I am not suggesting that this is a path I or one of my family members could embark on, however, Ms Bella has displayed another side to the entire business. Good on her for being upfront and proud of HERSELF. Regards, Matt

Unless you been

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2009-09-01 20:03.

Unless you been there...............you have no idea what goes on. The only actual comment I would like to address here is the breaking up marriages thing....Those men made the choice to spend their money with a prostitute, escort etc....It is NOT the sex workers responsibility to council the john's that approach her. It is the man's responsibility to say no or not go there. It is so easy for those of you who have never lived a day in the life of a sex worker to pass judgement and say how disgusting it is etc etc. Instead of passing judgement how bout doing something other that sitting behind your computer beaking off. Go be proactive in the community...speak to young girls...volunteer with people who need support and help to make better decisions. OH and just so you know...prostitution IS LEGAL!!! Solicitation is illegal. Whatever your views...make sure that you are practicing what you preach....don't be so quick to consider yourself perfect because you THINK you have morals...."He who has never sinned cast the first stone!!!!" and I am not religious but it's the truth.....Don't do thinkgs standing in judgement of others...do things standing in love for each other....if you want results...go actually do something to get it!!!!

"successful self assured

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2009-08-25 14:43.

"successful self assured entrepreneurs like bella" ahahahahahahahahahah piece of crap.

What about the diseases? I

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2009-07-23 07:43.

What about the diseases? I would not love myself if I was a prostitute thank you very much

By wfarian, October 19, 2008

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2009-02-19 08:38.

By wfarian, October 19, 2008 at 07:58 Anonymous from october 13 has bought into a common misconception; prostitutes do NOT break up marriages, they aid in keeping these troubled relationships together by providing an outlet not provided by the wife (or girlfriend). In no way is this service comparable to a human being bought and sold. Believe it or not, most (not all) sex workers have chosen the work they do to pay their bills, which is something many workers cannot say for themselves.

Talk about putting women

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2008-10-29 11:42.

Talk about putting women back a hundred years. Bella wanted to go on a trip and pay her rent so she sold herself to men. Why not pick up some more hours at work? A Vacation hardly sounds necessary. Sounds like the cheap and easy way out. It's funny that you're trying to make yourself sound like some kind of therapist, that you're helping these Johns. If you want to be a therapist you should go to University. I am a recovered drug addict and i knew plenty of call girls and prostitutes, none of them as glorified as you're making them seem. Some may look pretty but deep inside they're harboring pain.

I want to applaud the people

Submitted by Rocko (not verified) on Sun, 2008-11-02 13:46.

I want to applaud the people who are working for a better life for women in prostitution. I believe that both sides of this argument have at least some similar goals. -Respect for all individuals, and in this case we're talking specifically about all women -safety for those women involved in the prostitution industry. My two cents 1. The argument that prostitution has always existed and will always exist doesn't stand up. We wouldn't say "Child prostitution has always existed and always will, and we should just try to make the conditions better." We wouldn't say "forced prostitution has always existed and always will, and we should just try to make the conditions better. The same argument was used against slavery. It doesn't hold up. No matter what has gone on in the past, we as individuals, and as a society are the only ones responsible for what is going to go on in the present, and what will go on in our future. 2. What happens in Victoria does have a direct correlation to what is going on in the rest of the province/country/world. We can see from what has happened in other countries who have legalized/decriminalized prostitution that it hasn't helped the most vulnerable in those countries. (I know, there's New Zealand, but it's hard to tell what's really going on there when the official reports coming out are being written by the same people who ushered in the new laws, and who have so much at stake. Other reports from people on the ground in New Zealand say exactly the opposite, and human trafficing in particular has been taken right out of the report) I'm saying that our answer for prostitution has to be focused on the effect that it is going to have on our most vulnerable, and what we can see in every other situation is that normalizing prostitution diminishes the position of the most vulnerable. 3. I don't have the answers. And I am assuming that the women in Victoria and other places who are trying to provide safer situations for women to work in are doing what they're doing because they care about those particular women. If there were a way to ensure that women weren't being sold into the industry, that children weren't being allowed to work in the industry, that the industry was only made up of women who were happy to be doing what they're doing in a safe environment, I would definitely have to look at the proposition differently. While the industry's existence ensures that for every woman who has things lined up the way she wants them, there is another woman who has been physically or mentally forced into violent acts against her, I can't see it any other way. Highbrow and Lowbrow prostitution don't exist in a vacuum apart from each other. While we tolerate one, we are forced to tolerate the other. I understand that the plan in Victoria is for some of the profits to go to helping the lowbrow workers. I will choose to believe that that is more than a marketing move and it is a real plan. It seems to me that the women behind things in Victoria are sincere in their bid to help the women who work with them. (I haven't met them, and am only going by what I've read on here.) I believe that normalizing prostitution has been show to have a negative effect on the most vulnerable, and so their plan with have to be better designed than anything the world has seen so far to compensate. I think a better idea would be to decide as a society that we won't tolerate violence against our women.

I can't believe a "feminist"

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-10-20 14:15.

I can't believe a "feminist"

Submitted by JennHills (not verified) on Sun, 2008-10-26 17:20.

I can't believe a "feminist" would support conditions where women are being bought and sold in brothels or sitting in shop windows like in Amsterdam. Women who don't find this dehumanizing and degrading can't possibly call themselves feminists. I am a woman and I don't want to live in a country where things like that are legal. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? - Why in the World would you consider this dehumanizing and degrading? It's people like you, who force these Women into the arms of "pimps" and organized crime. Aren't we rooted on the freedom of speech, religion and trade? If a woman or man for that matter, chooses prostitution as a trade. She/He should have the rights that every civilian is entitled to have. It's people like you, who create negative behaviours and attitudes in the midst of societies. How about we stop fighting against crime, fighting against this/that! And maybe then the word fight will no longer be used! I think before one states an opinion they should really educate themselves on a subject. Please, educate yourself on this industry before you open your mouth. It's not just the desperate, poor drug addicts that seek this trade. We also have very intelligent, sophisticated, by far educated women who seek this industry, love what they do, and ultimately live amazing, fulfilling lives. Some of these women do everything you do. From paying taxes, buying homes, raising children, and always seeking to improve themselves and the lives of those that surround them. Think about this one. Sex sometimes becomes a bartered service within a marriage/relationship: Sex for love, love for sex, some find affection, comfort, warmth thru sex and some of us are at home being supported 100% by our partners/husbands - this job is called (being a housewife). Why don't we judge the job of a housewife? We should, it's job entails a lot of what a prostitute might do on a regular basis. From providing comfort to sex without the emotional attachment of course. Lets say no to "hypocrisy" and "sexism" and support our women.

I don't think anyone is

Submitted by Motion (not verified) on Tue, 2008-10-21 01:41.

I don't think anyone is proposing the "Amsterdam" scenario you suggest. The point of Mia's interview was to help dispel the preconceptions (like yours) and put a real face and personality to the industry. This trying to legitimize something that already exists, and has no intentions of going away, and make the best of it for the people involved.

Thanks everyone for adding

Submitted by Peter Severinson (not verified) on Mon, 2008-10-20 13:40.

Thanks everyone for adding all your comments. The discussion here shows why this is such a controversial and difficult topic, and why this was such a challenging article to write. I've researched this issue for months now and I still feel daunted by it. It's so hard to know what to believe when the two main camps present wildly conflicting evidence, both claiming their goal is to protect vulnerable people. On one hand are those who believe all prostitution, no matter how free and consensual, is equal to abuse. For them, nothing short of abolishing prostitution is acceptable. The danger here is that total abolition may be impossible and that by taking a stand against the industry we abandon the people within it. On the other hand are those who believe that if prostitution were just another job, sex workers could benefit from the same protection as the rest of us. The danger here is that if we as a society accept prostitution, we become responsible for it. And when bad things happen, we can't just blame it on our monsters: the "pimps," "johns" and other convenient ogres. So this is what I'd like everyone to think of: what exactly is the problem? Is prostitution intrinsically violent, or is it the things that surround it, such as poverty, addiction, human trafficking and criminalization? This question is so important because the topic is so emotional. What scares me is that we get so enraged and confused that we become morally bullied into doing the wrong things. It's easy to take a moral stance. You get to be right while the rest of the world is wrong. It's much harder to try to find real solutions. Because the things that are effective, the things that change the world, might not be things you want to do. And I fear that this issue does not have a feel-good solution.

In response to those who say

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-10-20 11:30.

In response to those who say visiting prostitutes helps marriages. You are absolutely wrong. If a wife doesn't want sex, there could be a good reason. He might be rude, unclean, inconsiderate, etc. Of course, the professional prostitute will tell this klotz that he is great, there is nothing wrong with him and there must be something wrong with a wife that doesn't appreciate him. She does this to get his business, his money. In reality, prostitutes KNOW the guy is inadequate, but they encourage him because this is how they make money. And the husband, instead of working on his skills with his wife, or to get in the habit of making himself appear appetizing not only for a short visit, but for most of the time, so his wife won't feel turned off sex, visits a prostitutes and thinks he is OK. In the meanwhile, the wife sits at home, unfullfilled sexually, wondering what is wrong with her, and trying to work on the marriage and the sex life that is impossible for her to do alone. It would take TWO willing partners to work out the problems, but the husband's problem has been worked out already. He lives a lie, lies to his wife, and takes his affection and his better, cleaner, nicer self to an undeserving third party. Of course it is easy for a prostitute to look sexy, smell nice, look gorgeous and tell the client how wonderful is for a few hours. But a wife, raising kids, having a carrier, worrying about finances, cooking, cleaning, shopping, taking the kids to school, etc. it is impossible to look sexy all the time. It is unfair to a wife to use her to raise kids with and to build a life, and then turn around and have pleasure with someone else. I think people should not get married until they are responsible enough to make sacrifices, to know that sex life might not be great all the time, but life is not about sex. If you don't love your partner enough to find her attractive when she is tired having worked FOR YOU and for your kids, if what you want is a fresh new floozy to roll in the hay to be happy DON'T GET MARRIED. Simple as that. Prostitutes do not hold marriages together, they help the philandering husband to keep up appearances, while the woman wastes her life with an unworthly guy, unhappy, sexually unfulfilled. Girls, take the money, but don't even try to get proud of what you are doing. What you are doing is being extremely selfish and rationalizing the damage you are doing.

There are plenty of reasons

Submitted by MiaBella (not verified) on Mon, 2008-10-20 15:34.

There are plenty of reasons that women lose their sex drive. It's not just women, either. It happens to men, too! I agree with you that if a wife is sexually unfulfilled, "sitting at home wondering what is wrong with her", that the last place her husband should be is with a prostitute. I wholeheartedly agree that if she is willing to work on it, he had better put in just as much into that relationship to make things work. To paint all of the relationships with that brush, however, is very close minded. I also notice that now, instead of victimizing prostitutes, you also seem to be victimizing the men who choose to visit them, and the poor, poor wives suffering miserably because of them. I wonder when the scenario of prostitution without victims will ever be the generally accepted idea in Canada? Sure, a husband might be denied sex from his wife because he is a complete jerk, or is totally inconsiderate to her. I just don't see personality defects as grounds to punish someone as a human being. I am not suggesting that a woman who has lost interest in sex is punishing her husband by denying him sex, herself. But to deny a human being any physical outlet, in my opinion, is cruel. I admit that many of my clients would not make the best partners, for reasons varying from: Workaholics- are always on business trips, or just working too many hours to be in a healthy relationship. Too shy- some men are SO shy with women, that even getting in a relationship in the first place would be a feat!, Depressed- some men are too depressed, or negative, to be appealing to women Character "flaws"- I personally don't see them as flaws, but some people just have personality traits that are not conducive to a successful "traditional" marriage. Unattractive/ "ugly"- Unfortunately, there are men out there that are just not attractive, physically. Although few women would be so charmed by their personalities to see past their looks, to see them as more than friends... these men are amazing clients. In my experience, they are some of the the sweetest, most appreciative gentlemen. Some people ask me "how do you handle guys that are fat and ugly?" I enjoy my time with them immensely, because it means so much to these men, to have a young, attractive woman treat them like they are the only man in my world, for the time we are together, even if they have to pay for it. We are are all human beings, nobody is perfect. I just think that it is a blessing to be able to provide a service that forgives the imperfections that, in or out of a relationship, might be unforgivable, and let everyone enjoy that warmth and human contact, even temporarily. There are also couples that are confronted with the illness of one of the partners, that make it impossible to have a sexual relationship anymore. I think it is so wonderful to be able to help those couples out. Sometimes it is actually the wife who arranges the appointment for her husband! And, sometimes it is the other way around, when the man is no longer physically able to have sex, and it is the wife who actually seeks my services. The husband is the one at home, but totally encouraging and supportive of his wife's exploring of her sexuality with a professional. I had to smile when you said, " the professional prostitute will tell this klotz that he is great, there is nothing wrong with him and there must be something wrong with a wife that doesn't appreciate him. She does this to get his business, his money. In reality, prostitutes KNOW the guy is inadequate, but they encourage him because this is how they make money." I challenge my clients quite often, when I see a quirk in their personality that is obviously a turn off to their wives. And, you absolutely right: I encourage him... to work on his inadequacies! I actually feel responsible to tactfully point out and offer suggestions, that I think their wives, or anyone they are trying to be close with, would appreciate. After all, it's not like I am involved in their lives in a way that would make them as defensive or hurt, as if their friend or wife pointed it out. One example is flossing. There are quite a few men out there who don't realize how bad their breath is. I can completely understand how a wife might be adverse to kissing, and might just not know how to tell her husband without hurting his feelings. Although, I think the lack of kissing might hurt his feelings more, but anyways... So it might be awkward for a moment or two, but I tell them that their breath is bad because there is food rotting between their teeth, and no matter how much they brush, they HAVE to floss to have fresh breath! And when some of these clients never come back, I'm assuming it's because now that their breath is so fresh, their wives won't let them leave the bed! I hope, anyways... Another example: A young guy came to see me, and near the end of our session he started to talk to me about his relationship. It was very rocky at that time, and the end was looking like it was around the corner. So I asked a few questions, and things looked quite easy to fix, from an outside perspective. I offered him some advice about "really listening" to his girlfriend, etc, and I never saw him again. About a year later, I got a phone call from this guy. "You probably don't remember me, but I saw you about a year ago when my girlfriend and I were about to break up. You gave me some advice, and I just wanted to thank you so much. We're getting married!" I know it sounds kind of corny, but it is 100% true. I am making an assumption here, but I doubt you personally know any prostitutes. My opinion of prostitutes used to be fed by the media, too, so I can understand where you are coming from. I had an image of what a prostitute was (note: "what" object, rather than "who" human being), a victim, a parasite, pitiful, and what the clients must have been like, sleazy, disrespecting of women, if TV, church, and popular opinion were right, which they always are... right?? I thought that it was "just not in my genetics" to be able to "do that". I believed in my opinion with everything I had. Then, when I tried it out, I had the biggest epiphany of my life. I realized that the act of prostituting myself, and my opinion or idea of what that would look like, were miles apart. How could I hold such a strong opinion, that I believed in as much as I believe that the sky is blue, when, in reality, I was just regurgitating what I had learned not from experience, but from TV? I felt ashamed. I was not ashamed of prostituting myself, but ashamed of buying in to an idea spoon fed to me by the media without questioning it. Ashamed of judging anything, or claiming to know anything about anything that I did not experience first hand. After all, does the media just spread the truth? Or, is there an agenda behind the slanted, twisted content. Just take a look at the "War on Terrorism". Do I have to elaborate? One last thing: "But a wife, raising kids, having a carrier, worrying about finances, cooking, cleaning, shopping, taking the kids to school, etc. it is impossible to look sexy all the time." I can't count how many prostitutes do all of those things, too, and still look sexy. They are some incredibly amazing women! To be a wife, a mother, taking the kids to school, worried what would happen if someone like you happen to be on the PTA and find out, having to lead a double life for the sake of her kids growing up in a society where their mothers are judged so harshly and unforgivingly by those who really are only regurgitating what TV/ church, told them. Imagine what it might be like for her children, not victims of their mother's job, which hurts no one, but by the judgments of the parents of schoolmates, who can be so mean, especially when backed by the moral indignation of their parents. I have so much respect for prostitutes being the best moms they can be in a society that treats them like anything but.

We're glad to have all the

Submitted by jbucher on Mon, 2008-10-20 09:51.

We're glad to have all the commentary on this thread. A piece of advice: People will find it much easier to respond to you when you have a user name. You can get one by clicking "register here" at the bottom of thread—it only takes a second. John Bucher Editor, BCBusiness Online

In response to the comments

Submitted by Violet Flame (not verified) on Mon, 2008-10-20 02:54.

In response to the comments by "Anonymous", Oct 13, entitled "I would like to add a few..." (excerpts in quotations) "As far as I know, escorts' work is widely tolerated by the authorities and the police give them all the protection they need. So, there is no need for added protection for the women working from their homes or for escort services. " I was not only talking about those working as escorts, but also those who are being "pimped out" or working on the street. These are the ones you claim to be concerned for, shouldn't they also feel comfortable going to authorities for help? And although escorting may be "tolerated" by police, it is still looked down upon enough to deter women from getting help when they need it, or from being believed when they report abuse etc. Many women are afraid to get licensed or to get help if they want to leave the business, & attitudes like your's certainly don't help. Views of prostitution like your's are as much to blame for the negative aspects of it as are those who victimize women in the trade. "Prostitution IS legal in Canada. What we are talking about here is legalizing "pimping". Sorry, but this is the expression for living off the avails of prostitution. And legalizing it will inevitably attract shady characters." Just because there is no law against prostitution itself does not make it legal. Most of the activities surrounding it are currently all illegal, not just "pimping" as you call it. Don't apologize when you are deliberately using that word to conjure negative stereotypes. For example, injecting heroin into oneself is not illegal, does that then mean that heroin is legal? Of course not. Legalizing the activities surrounding prostitution is NOT going to attract "shady characters", those people are doing what they do regardless of whether it is legal or not. I was simply pointing out that legalization is NOT going to make things like coercing someone into the sex trade legal. "As far as the women on the streets are concerned, how do you want to protect them from pimps, drug dealers and abusive clients?" That is not the issue here, those people need help, & that is a social problem & not a legal problem. However, legalization certainly won't hurt the women in that position. "I doubt the loved ones of the wives of the married johns will be easily convinced about the usefulness of your profession". So blame the women providing this service rather than the married men who make the decision to use those services? They are responsible for their own choices. "You have chosen the easy life. You don't have to go to work 9 - 5 for low wages. Instead you have sex with strangers for money. No matter how I look at it, you want to have your cake and eat it, too. You want to sell what is supposed to be given to people you love, you chose to aid men in deceiving their wives and family and now you want to be celebrated or at least respected for it." You think this profession is "easy"?? Than why don't you try it? Because of your high moral standards? Last I checked being judgemental to something that has no effect on you was not a valued characterisitic. I work hard for my money, & my life is difficult because of people like you. It is a valid occupation, there is plenty of demand for it (& not just from married men), & it is NOT going to go away. Yes, I DO deserve respect. "Just like it is impossible to make stealing or killing look respectable, you will never succeed in making sleeping with other women's husbands respectable. Live with it. You are basically professional home wreckers." Your statements are so ignorant. How could you possibly compare prostituting oneself to stealing or killing?? That is ridiculous. Are you a woman whose husband cheated on you with an escort?? No one forced him to do that, nor even convinced him. We don't solicit clients, THEY seek US out. We may not ask whether they are married or not, but you are taking the easy road by blaming the escort instead of holding men responsible for their own actions. I can only assume you want to blame someone other than yourself, & would also like to see your husband as an innocent victim who was tricked into it, right? Perhaps he was trying desperately to avoid having to divorce you because, while he loved you, his sexual needs were not being met. Besides, wouldn't you rather he cheat on you with a professional, rather than having an affair & falling in LOVE with someone else? Or picking someone up in a bar who he then has unprotected sex with & bringing home an std? Regardless, there are plenty of clients who are not married, & we are not to blame for the existance of the ones who are. They are grown-ups & it is a cop-out to say they wouldn't cheat if escorts didn't exist. Bottom line: Whether you think something is "immoral" or not, or whether or not you would choose to do it yourself, does not mean it should be illegal. Laws are not supposed to protect your moral judgements, they are supposed to protect us from being harmed by others, & in this case the aspects which are harmful would remain illegal.

Mia certainly does show the

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-10-20 02:29.

Mia certainly does show the brighter side of the industry. I have as much respect for her as I do any person who strives to be good at their work. Kudos. The sex trade isn't going away, it hasn't in the last couple thousand years, and probably won't in the next couple. We should aspire to make the industry legitimate, and those in it should have every opportunity to be legitimately successful. Cheers.

Anonymous from october 13

Submitted by wfarian (not verified) on Sun, 2008-10-19 06:58.

Anonymous from october 13 has bought into a common misconception; prostitutes do NOT break up marriages, they aid in keeping these troubled relationships together by providing an outlet not provided by the wife (or girlfriend). In no way is this service comparable to a human being bought and sold. Believe it or not, most (not all) sex workers have chosen the work they do to pay their bills, which is something many workers cannot say for themselves.

In response to "I would like

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 2008-10-18 11:47.

In response to "I would like to add a few..." Does every man on earth have a wife? No. There are so many men out there that aren't fortunate enough to have that passionate wife waiting for him at home that. EVERY married man enjoys how passionate and physically attentive EVERY wife is, right? I'll get back to the marriage thing later... So, do the men who do not have wives not deserve human contact? Not without buying in to the shady, seedy world of the evil prostitutes. A lot of men already have low self esteem. Then, just because they crave, yearn for, need, as a human being, that soft touch of a woman, he has to also carry shame and guilt for rendering the services of these women who are so disapproved of. Why? I would think that society might be happy for those men, and thankful to the women who are willing to provide to them what should be given to them freely by someone who loves them, if only someone loved them. Now, back to marriage. Professional home wreckers? I bet that prostitutes keep more marriages together than wreck them. Think about the men that are in marriages that aren't balanced as far as sex drive. Shocking, I know, but it does happen. So, a man really really loves sex. Just as much as he did in his 20's. His wife, on the other hand, has lost interest now that she is getting on in years. It doesn't happen to every woman, but there are quite a lot. He tries candles, he tries lingerie, they just don't have the same chemistry they used to. They still love each other, and have no desire to break up. And he is going crazy. Let's look at his options:1. just live with it. The drive should die down one day, right? Then he starts to resent her, who knows... 2. Have an affair? He might get away with it for a while, but all of the sneaking around, EMOTIONAL involvement with another woman, the guilt would be unbearable. And, not very fair to the wife. 3. Make an appointment with a professional. She can take care of his unmet needs, and will not be emotionally involved. There is the set time, nothing before it, nothing after it. Then he can go back and enjoy his partnership with the woman he loves, without resenting her for depriving him of what he "needs" as a man. And, his wife doesn't have to go through the rest of her marriage feeling inadequate or pressured by her husband to meet his needs that she no longer has a desire to fulfill.

In 2003, the Prostitution

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2008-10-16 13:49.

In 2003, the Prostitution Reform Act was passed in New Zealand, and as expected, was met with howls of protest from various corners of society

I didn't see in the article

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-10-13 16:10.

I didn't see in the article that "Bella" wants to stop being a prostitute and "make money of of other prostitutes instead", but if so, why is that bad? It is perfectly normal for someone to move from the front lines in a business up to the management levels. The owner of a garage who has 10 mechanics working for him is still working, even though he does not have to crawl under cars anymore. Managing a business, with employees, customers, suppliers, etc. is still work. The reality is that her looks are going to fade after a few years, and she will need to do something else. This is no different for her than for any other job where youth and vigor are a requirement (professional athletes, dancers, some musicians, some actors). If she's smart (and I suspect she is), she knows this and is making reasonable plans for the future. Bella never said she would employ the downtown eastside prostitutes, another woman who was arranging a co-op said she would. And the co-op would not precisely employ them, the co-op would have them as members of the co-op, which makes them part owners. However, I do agree that "survival prostitution" will never completely go away. As long as we have drugs, we will have drug addicts, and as long as we have drug addicts, we will have people who are willing to sell anything (including their bodies) to get some more drugs. It is sad, but no more sad than an addict selling medicine, clothing, food, jewelry, family heirlooms, and the like to finance a drug habit. The problem is not the prostitution, it is the drug addiction and desperation. The first commenter also mentions that the people who want to legalize prostitution are the people who will make money off it and the people who want to be customers. Of course! Who else would care? It is a business, and the people who are most interested in the legality of a business are those who want to buy or sell in it.

I would like to add a few

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-10-13 08:39.

I would like to add a few comments to Violet's post. As far as I know, escorts' work is widely tolerated by the authorities and the police give them all the protection they need. So, there is no need for added protection for the women working from their homes or for escort services. Prostitution IS legal in Canada. What we are talking about here is legalizing "pimping". Sorry, but this is the expression for living off the avails of prostitution. And legalizing it will inevitably attract shady characters. What makes you think women in bordellos can't be abused and coerced to do work they don't want to do? Just take a look at Europe. Prostitution is legal and hundreds of women are trafficked from poor Eastern European contries and forced into prostitution by pimps. There are documentaries about it. They are bought and sold like cattle. These are facts by the way. Just read the British newspapers. So, the argument for protecting women isn't working. As far as the women on the streets are concerned, how do you want to protect them from pimps, drug dealers and abusive clients? Do you see them working for escort agencies? Because I can't imagine any agency would employ crack addicts. What these women need is a safe environment to kick the habit, and when they do, they won't need to prostitute themselves, because they are doing it mainly to feed their addictions. In case you are worried about the reputation of your profession, why don't you try to raise awareness, like writing books, newspaper articles or organizing Pride Parades? It worked for gay people, it might work for you. Although I doubt the loved ones of the wives of the married johns will be easily convinced about the usefulness of your profession. You have chosen the easy life. You don't have to go to work 9 - 5 for low wages. Instead you have sex with strangers for money. No matter how I look at it, you want to have your cake and eat it, too. You want to sell what is supposed to be given to people you love, you chose to aid men in deceiving their wives and family and now you want to be celebrated or at least respected for it. It's not gonna happen. Yes, prostitution has been around for thousands of years, but also the resentment of women towards their fellow women who sleep with their loved ones have been around for at least that long, and you won't change that, no matter how much you try. You chose to have a shady carrier, and you will be judged, no matter what you do. Just like it is impossible to make stealing or killing look respectable, you will never succeed in making sleeping with other women's husbands respectable. Live with it. You are basically professional home wreckers.

(In response to the comments

Submitted by Violet Flame (not verified) on Sat, 2008-10-11 00:30.

(In response to the comments posted by anonymous) The sex service industry is in no way "buying and selling humans"! It is consenting adults selling a service. How could you possibly think that legalization of prostitution would mean decriminalizing exploitation? It wouldn't suddenly be legal to force people into the industry, just like the fact that working in a factory is legal does not mean slave labour is legal. In fact, legalization would help eliminate some of the expoloitation, as sex workers could file complaints & take legal action against employers who were coercing or abusing them. It could also make them feel safer about going to the police if they are attacked or assaulted by their clients. No where does it say that Mia Bella "wants to stop working as a prostitute and wants to get into making money off of other prostitutes without having to work herself". She did not say she was planning to stop working as an escort herself. And regardless, even those people who do run escort agencies without being a sex service provider themselves are not all, as you put it, "pimps & madams" who are "making money off of" victimized prostitutes. Some are legitimate business owners with fair practices, who put hard work into their business & supply the escorts who they represent with valuable services, a safe location, advertising, receptionists, etc. As clearly stated in the article, this is the kind of business that Bella was talking about setting up, one that is helping women in the sex trade, not exploiting them. Many women in the industry, particularly those just starting out, are greatly helped by being part of a properly-run agency or co-op instead of being completely on their own, & at greater safety risk. It is attitudes like the commenter's above which are perpetuating society's negative view of sex trade workers. I am also frustrated by the attitudes of women who claim to be "feminists" who treat all sex-trade workers as naive victims. It is very arrogant for anyone to think that prostitution can be "abolished"! It is the oldest industry in existence & is not going to go away. Legalization would be a step in the right direction, but the bigger issue is the social stigma, the way society treats the women who work in the sex trade. The claim that legalization will do nothing to make conditions safer for the women who work in the industry, with the explanation that men are the ones commiting the violence, not the night or the street etc, is just as ludricrous as the viewpoint that some people have that since "Guns don't kill people, people kill people" we should have no gun laws or restrictions. It is true that there will always be people who want to exploit or hurt women, but don't you think we should at least make it harder for them to do so? It is a lot easier for someone to attack, rape or rob a prostitute if she is alone in a dark alley & is commiting an illegal act in order to do her job, than a prostitute who is fully legal & licensed & working in a safe clean indoor location with a support system in place, back-up available if needed, & the confidence that she can call the police if attacked. Who do you think the victimizers are going to choose?

Actually, prostitution is

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2008-10-10 16:57.

Actually, prostitution is not legal in Thailand. The laws are not enforced, however, because of corruption (bribes, etc. from pimps to law enforcement). If a prostitute is being exploited, she is far less likely to go to the police for help, since she would be also subject to the consequences of breaking the law in the first place, by being a prostitute. When prostitution is legal, on the other hand, the fear of law enforcement is gone, leaving a woman (or man) empowered to protect herself(himself) from those who would exploit her(him). Prostitution is NOT synonymous with exploitation, therefore, legalizing prostitution would NOT mean legalizing exploitation. It would draw the line between them, making exploitation an easier, more deserving target for the law enforcement to put an end to. Regarding "Bella"'s good intentions... if you take even closer look, she makes no mention of wanting to stop working as a prostitute. Who's to say she can't provide a place for prostitutes to safely work free from exploitation, and still work as a prostitute herself? It seems that you are completely ignoring a key group of people in the issue of prostitution... the prostitutes! I am sure there are more prostitutes asking for legalization than pimps. Doesn't that count for anything? I am also proud to live in a country that discourages the buying and selling of humans. I am also proud to see the difference between extreme exploitation and prostitutes who are providing men services of their own free will.

A comment by someone named

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2008-10-10 16:35.

A comment by someone named "anonymous" is erroneous at best.

This sounds very good in

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2008-10-10 07:51.

This sounds very good in theory, but with legalization will come the real exploitation of women. Just take look at Asian countries like Thailand where prostitution is legal, or even at Europe. Legalization doesn't eliminate the evils, it actually adds to them by taking from pimps and madams away the fear of prosecution. Just because prostitution is legal, it doesn't mean there aren't any exploiters. I am sure the human traffickers would like legalization very much. No more fear of police, they could become "respectable" businessmen doing what they are doing now. It looks like "Bella" is full of good intentions, but if you take a closer look, what really happening is is that she wants to stop working as a prostitute and wants to get into making money off of other prostitutes without having to work herself. Just another thought: Who will "employ" the drug addict Vancouver Eastside prostitutes? They are being used as reason for legalization. But will legalization change their situation in any way? I don't think so. I am sure Bella won't employ them, they will stay on the streets and be exploited by pimps and drug dealers. Before you contemplate legalizing prostitution, please take a look at who are asking for it, and you will see they are people who want to make money of it and married johns who don't want to be bothered by the police and found out by their wives. I am proud of living in a country that discourages buying and selling humans, please keep it that way. And I am in no way prude or a religious fanatic.

legalization of prostitution

Submitted by sexihexi123 on Tue, 2011-11-29 19:14.

Bella is only another business woman just like your car repair shop charges $120 per hour and pays the mechanic that does the actual work $36 per hour. you can draw a comparison with this the only difference is that the "exploitation" of the mechanic is legalized but in prostitution it is not. Granted, the shop has expenses but so does Bella. what are you going to do for the paraplegic who needs a sexual outlet because that part of his body is still functioning but obviously no girl would look at him ??? he can only get a sex worker to relieve him.