New Initiative to Combat Prostitution in the San Fernando Valley
By Joy Wang
Monday, February 24, 2014 | 11:43 a.m. PST
The city of Los Angeles will be working with the non-profit organization The Mary Magdalane Project to educate both prostitutes and johns.
Their goal is to break the cycle by giving prostitutes and johns access to a diversion program and the tools they need to exit the sex trade by offering 18 sessions focusing on education, housing and job training. At the end of the sessions, those in the program will get their particular case dismissed.
Officials say the corner of Sepulveda and Haynes is the epicenter of prostitution in Van Nuys. Activists argue targeting this area is a step forward, but more needs to be done.
Local residents and law enforcement agree this change is a step in the right direction.
Every day across the country men and women are arrested for prostitution and related actions. Why are these people, both sex workers and their clients so vilified and harassed? Society's view of sex has changed over the years. It now accepts more public display and discussion about things sexual. With all the openness and heightened exposure of sex in the media and general public, the oldest element of sex, prostitution, still lives in the shadows. Both prostitutes and their customers are reviled and forced to operate in the margins of this otherwise open society. What does who one has sex with and wether or not the sex is paid for have to do with their qualification for public or private position? Rather than fall back on the tired bromides and sensationalism of the plastering
it appears that society is beginning to take another look at sex work, sex workers and those who patronize them. Why is prostitution against the law? Where is the crime when two adults agree to have sex in exchange for money? This isn’t trafficking, which isn’t a sex crime but is a human rights abuse. Those forced into sex work should not be charged with prostitution but should be rescued from the traffickers. These laws allow too many dehumanize sex workers. If they aren't looked on as having the same rights as the rest of society then those who prey on women find easy targets in sex workers. Today sex workers and their customers are marginalized and viewed through a distorted lense. They are dehumanized and as a consequence it is too easy to take advantage of or abuse them. We need to recognize they are members of our society with the same wants and needs as everyone. Many if not most add to society in a positive manner, paying taxes, raising families adding to the economy etc.
Legalizing will allow escorts the opportunity to contact police when they need to. Right now they can't because no matter why they call they are subject to arrest. Believe me escorts who are in the business for themselves are as against trafficking as you are. Legalization will allow escorts to be removed from the criminal element. Just like gambling, and alcohol and other so called vices, when legalized prostitution will be no longer a vehicle of the mob or pimps or gangs.
Watch the documentary "American Courtesans", a movie where sex workers, their families and even customers have a chance to speak about their lives. It is powerful, fascinating and has been shown in film festivals all over the world including the ECU festival in Paris and Women's International festival in Miami and won awards for best editing and best documentary. The producer Kristen DiAngelo is also a sex worker/activist.
Kristen DiAngelo is a voice for the rights of all sex workers and has launched The American Courtesans Project www.the-ac-project.com to bring light and humanity to the world of sex work. She is giving lectures at Rutgers and San Francisco State later in the year.
'American Courtesans' is available in over 100 million homes across the US and Canada -- including on some of the largest cable systems in the country and iTunes , Amazon, Google+ and Hulu. It is also available on DVD and BluRay on www.americancourtesans.com and ebay.