Racism on SF Red Book

Feb 4, 2006

I recently had the misfortune to read the following on the popular local site sf-redbook.com. I repost the link with some distaste here.

I am disgusted. This should be offensive on any number of grounds, but most blatantly for the unreconstructed racism in evidence. Tis just my opinion, but I thought ‘racism is evil’ is something we might have figured out by the anointed one’s 21st century. Yes, it is doubtless true that many African-American escorts downplay their ethnicity in a racist world, but this is just one more reason for us to protest against a civilisation which makes the colour of one’s skin something to hide. In a culture worthy of the term, every variety of the human form would be celebrated in its particular beauty; Aphrodite is no more stunning than is Oshun or Tlazolteotl. SF Red Book is here offering a nonchalant insult to every African-American provider and deserves universal condemnation.

And it should be especially shameful for those of us who do love and respect sex worki that such racism exists so openly in our industry. When I see something of this nature, I think: “how can I claim I love this Life, when what other people see is this?” A large part of the reason so much of the world holds sex worki in contempt is precisely because of the perception that our industry is inherently sleazy and dishonest- a place where the worst elements of humanity sink together like debris at the bottom of a pond. When most of this world has at least pretended to progress past such bigotry, the disgrace of a prominent review site endorsing such a ‘guide’ shows the public that the sex industry is not worth respecting. Racism in the sex industry is a standing danger to the recognition of sex worker rights.

Let me be utterly clear: I believe in the inviolate right of all people to speak what they wish, including the espousal of racism. And the last thing I wish to do here is encourage state involvement in the already persecuted sex industry. But such racism is not harmless, and precisely because of the power of the human voice we should face down such baseness with our own sharp words. I encourage everyone in the sex industry, or who just happens to like us (*smooches!), to write Red Book or their newspaper to ask that such a blatant offense be taken down. And as a general principle, sex workers who can afford to should challenge any form of prejudice in our industry. It only helps discredit us all, and to divide us in the context of a perilous society.

As I said, there is certainly more than racism to object to in this particular gem. But it’s late, and I’m too tired today. More next session.