Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Anti Prostitution Group Commits Violence On Sex Worker At UC Berkeley Performance
“My Real Name” was a One New Earth Production performance by Students and Artist Fighting to End Human Slavery. Sponsored by the UC Berkeley Ethics Studies and promoted by the SAGE Project violent scene after violent scene was played out against streetbased prostitutes. This play actually turned out to be a propaganda piece conflating incest, rape, domestic violence, economic disparity, homelessness, drug addiction with the occupation of prostitution by depicting graphic sexually violent images and reenactments.
Anti Prostitution Group Commits Violence On Sex Worker At UC Berkeley Performance
By Maxine Doogan
11/09/07
An altercation involving Maxine Doogan of the Erotic Service Providers Union, followed a performance sponsored by U C Berkeley Ethic Department at UC Berkeley Worth Ryder Gallery on Nov. 9th 2007 which resulted in the U C Berkeley Police issuing a 7 day stay away order to Ms Doogan, Lisa Roelillg one other companion.
“My Real Name” was a One New Earth Production performance by Students and Artist Fighting to End Human Slavery. Sponsored by the UC Berkeley Ethics Studies and promoted by the SAGE Project violent scene after violent scene was played out against streetbased prostitutes. This play actually turned out to be a propaganda piece conflating incest, rape, domestic violence, economic disparity, homelessness, drug addiction with the occupation of prostitution by depicting graphic sexually violent images and reenactments.
The producer had stated that this performance was meant to be interactive and invited audience members to interact with the people depicting the violence during the performance. It was unclear if the people relating the violence were actors or the actual people who had experienced the violence originally. The producer also said a discussion about trafficking in the sex industry would follow the performance.
Many people walked out before the end as did Doogan, who returned at the conclusion expecting to find a discussion under way but instead found her comrade, Lisa Roellig, a former streetbased worker surrounded by anti prostitution activist, like researcher Melissa Farley, who recently called for the closing of the legal brothels in Nevada.
Roellig, an ex-streetbased worker and Doogan attempted to converse with the producer about her relationship to the issues raised in the performance. The producer responded by yelled and waved her arms saying she didn’t believe in the comodification of women and that no discussion was going to take place. However a loud discussion ensued between all parties with the producer stating that Doogan ‘sucked the dicks of corporate America’ and was ‘a white and privileged’. Another anti prostitutionist, also a former streetbased worker, stated that all prostitutes are dogs, and used physical intimidation to push Doogan out the door while evoking the name of blood of Jesus Christ. Doogan responded by leaving the building and calling the anti prostitution group “poverty pimps”. Annie Fukushima, U C Berkeley Doctorial Candidate, threatened to call the cops and Doogan encouraged her to do so.
Doogan, Roellig and the third person made statements to the police that Doogan had been physically assaulted. UC Berkeley Campus Officer Sanchez only wanted to know if the women who called the police were women of color. All three women were issued 7 day stay away orders.
Said Roellig, “While they were privileged enough to call in the cops because two women show up to question their view of our lives, I was not ever privileged enough to call the cops when I was raped, assaulted or robbed on the street because I was a criminalized worker. These women are outspoken on their abolitionists views and are advocates of the continuation of the States oppressive laws that control our bodies, our economies and most important make us easy targets for police abuse and corruption”
Please call, write or email the Berkeley Police Department and tell them to receive the report of battery on Maxine Doogan. And the UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies Department because it failed in its commitment to be understanding of the deep multiple meanings of racial diversity in the Americas in the area of prostitution when they sponsored the performance and facilitated racial violence against sex industry workers.
Office Of The Chief Of Police
Victoria Harrison, Associate Vice Chancellor/Chief
(510) 642-1133
vlh [at] berkeley.edu
Mitch Celaya, Assistant Chief
(510) 643-9597
mjc [at] berkeley.edu
Jennifer Woods, Executive Assistant
(510) 643-7500
jwoods [at] berkeley.edu
Adan Tejada, Administrative Lt.
(510) 642-3679
Andrew Tucker, Administrative Sgt.
(510) 642-1157
atucker [at] berkeley.edu
Jennifer Sakai, Training Officer
(510) 642-1135
jvargas [at] berkeley.edu
Department of Ethnic Studies 506 Barrows Hall #2570, Berkeley, CA 94720-2570. (510) 643-0796 (510) 642-6456 [Fax] Email: ethnicst [at] berkeley.edu
Beatriz Manz Chair and Professor
Graduate Group Staff
Ethnic Studies Graduate Group Staff
Name Position Phone Number E-mail Address
Francisca Cazares Student Affairs Officer (510) 642-6643 fcazares [at] berkeley.edu
Ethnic Studies Graduate Group Advisors
Ethnic Studies Graduate Group Advisors
Name Position Phone Number E-mail Address
Laura Perez
Graduate Advisor (510) 643-1584 leperez [at] berkeley.edu
Sau-ling Wong
Advisor for GSI Affairs (510) 642-6195 slwong [at] berkeley.edu
Francisca Cázares Student Affairs Officer (510) 642-6643 fcazares [at] berkeley.edu
By Maxine Doogan
11/09/07
An altercation involving Maxine Doogan of the Erotic Service Providers Union, followed a performance sponsored by U C Berkeley Ethic Department at UC Berkeley Worth Ryder Gallery on Nov. 9th 2007 which resulted in the U C Berkeley Police issuing a 7 day stay away order to Ms Doogan, Lisa Roelillg one other companion.
“My Real Name” was a One New Earth Production performance by Students and Artist Fighting to End Human Slavery. Sponsored by the UC Berkeley Ethics Studies and promoted by the SAGE Project violent scene after violent scene was played out against streetbased prostitutes. This play actually turned out to be a propaganda piece conflating incest, rape, domestic violence, economic disparity, homelessness, drug addiction with the occupation of prostitution by depicting graphic sexually violent images and reenactments.
The producer had stated that this performance was meant to be interactive and invited audience members to interact with the people depicting the violence during the performance. It was unclear if the people relating the violence were actors or the actual people who had experienced the violence originally. The producer also said a discussion about trafficking in the sex industry would follow the performance.
Many people walked out before the end as did Doogan, who returned at the conclusion expecting to find a discussion under way but instead found her comrade, Lisa Roellig, a former streetbased worker surrounded by anti prostitution activist, like researcher Melissa Farley, who recently called for the closing of the legal brothels in Nevada.
Roellig, an ex-streetbased worker and Doogan attempted to converse with the producer about her relationship to the issues raised in the performance. The producer responded by yelled and waved her arms saying she didn’t believe in the comodification of women and that no discussion was going to take place. However a loud discussion ensued between all parties with the producer stating that Doogan ‘sucked the dicks of corporate America’ and was ‘a white and privileged’. Another anti prostitutionist, also a former streetbased worker, stated that all prostitutes are dogs, and used physical intimidation to push Doogan out the door while evoking the name of blood of Jesus Christ. Doogan responded by leaving the building and calling the anti prostitution group “poverty pimps”. Annie Fukushima, U C Berkeley Doctorial Candidate, threatened to call the cops and Doogan encouraged her to do so.
Doogan, Roellig and the third person made statements to the police that Doogan had been physically assaulted. UC Berkeley Campus Officer Sanchez only wanted to know if the women who called the police were women of color. All three women were issued 7 day stay away orders.
Said Roellig, “While they were privileged enough to call in the cops because two women show up to question their view of our lives, I was not ever privileged enough to call the cops when I was raped, assaulted or robbed on the street because I was a criminalized worker. These women are outspoken on their abolitionists views and are advocates of the continuation of the States oppressive laws that control our bodies, our economies and most important make us easy targets for police abuse and corruption”
Please call, write or email the Berkeley Police Department and tell them to receive the report of battery on Maxine Doogan. And the UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies Department because it failed in its commitment to be understanding of the deep multiple meanings of racial diversity in the Americas in the area of prostitution when they sponsored the performance and facilitated racial violence against sex industry workers.
Office Of The Chief Of Police
Victoria Harrison, Associate Vice Chancellor/Chief
(510) 642-1133
vlh [at] berkeley.edu
Mitch Celaya, Assistant Chief
(510) 643-9597
mjc [at] berkeley.edu
Jennifer Woods, Executive Assistant
(510) 643-7500
jwoods [at] berkeley.edu
Adan Tejada, Administrative Lt.
(510) 642-3679
Andrew Tucker, Administrative Sgt.
(510) 642-1157
atucker [at] berkeley.edu
Jennifer Sakai, Training Officer
(510) 642-1135
jvargas [at] berkeley.edu
Department of Ethnic Studies 506 Barrows Hall #2570, Berkeley, CA 94720-2570. (510) 643-0796 (510) 642-6456 [Fax] Email: ethnicst [at] berkeley.edu
Beatriz Manz Chair and Professor
Graduate Group Staff
Ethnic Studies Graduate Group Staff
Name Position Phone Number E-mail Address
Francisca Cazares Student Affairs Officer (510) 642-6643 fcazares [at] berkeley.edu
Ethnic Studies Graduate Group Advisors
Ethnic Studies Graduate Group Advisors
Name Position Phone Number E-mail Address
Laura Perez
Graduate Advisor (510) 643-1584 leperez [at] berkeley.edu
Sau-ling Wong
Advisor for GSI Affairs (510) 642-6195 slwong [at] berkeley.edu
Francisca Cázares Student Affairs Officer (510) 642-6643 fcazares [at] berkeley.edu
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
The account of Maxine Doogan is accurate. I sat through the entire play because we were told there would be a discussion following the performance. Although we were also told by the plays producer that the play was meant to be an interaction, we at no time interacted or reacted during the performance.
Following the play, I approached the producer of the play because I wanted to know if there was going to be a discussion. She told me that there was not going to be a discussion that evening but that there would be a discussion following the other performances. I told her that I would not be at any other performances, that I was there tonight along with another actual sex worker and I wanted to discuss the content of the play. I told her that I was angry that the play portrayed all women as victims and all men as predators and rapists. I wanted her to know that what I saw that night was a shallow and stereotypical dipiction of our lives. She let me know that she used the stories of real "survivors." she is also informed me that one of the cast was an actual "former prostituted woman."
My comment to her was that this kind of stereotypical portrayal of prostitution reinforces the abolishionists position of criminalization, which in turn makes us more stigmitized and victimized.
It was during this conversation that Maxine Doogan joined the arguement. I want to again remind you that the show was over when this arguement took place. In fact the audience that was left were either leaving or had already left due to the graffic violenct scenes and images, The women left in the room were the promotors, producers and sponsors of the event.
Maxine Doogan told the women that they were promoting the criminalization of prostitution and profitting off of the criminalization of prostitution. The producer of the show responded by saying that we were commodifing womens bodies and sucking the dicks of corporate america. She also called us white priveleged western women. I also remember that M. Farley wanted to ask me a question and that Maxine's response was that she was not going to let her interview me because she takes our stories and than lies about us.
The producer of the show did lose control. My take on her loss of control was that she was pissy and defensive that we did not like her "art" piece. her reaction (actually reactionary) was more "drama" than substance and it was clear she was not interested in any kind of a dialogue about such a complex issue.
Especially with two actual sex workers.
The one identified "survivor" of the play came out screaming that she had been raped and abused and that the story she read during her monologue was her story. At the same time I was trying to keep her from my face ( I had my hands up ) I was also trying to tell her that I had had those experiences also. I was not trying to deny her story. I never got further in the conversation because at this time she starting saying all prostitutes were dogs and calling us dogs. She seemed very focused on Maxine because we were trying to leave as the lights turned off and the woman followed Maxine on her way to the door to tell her that she (Maxine Doogan) was either posssed by satan and there was something else she kept saying that had something to do with jesus's blood and being washed with it. The woman grabbed Maxine as she was trying to get out the door and I actually had to pull the woman off of her so that Maxine could exit safely.
It was as we were almost to the street that the Berkeley campus Police stopped and detained us. They were unwilling to take Maxine's assault report.
I also want to make mention of the other crime that took place that night beside the assault on Maxine Doogan, That plays producer was very irresponsible in showing such graphic scenes and images of child and women rape and murder that it should have had warnings. Personally I felt retraumitized by the ecperience and I can't understand why the so called mental health professionals present that night could not recognize that. That the producers of the show and the promotors would use a mentally unstable women to further their agenda of state sponsored opression (laws criminalizing women and their enforcers, the DA's and the police) to further their agenda is shameless.
I would like to again state that Maxine Doogan was assaulted that night as she was trying to exit the building and that the campus police were unwilling at that time to take her report.
To call in the police on women who have already "survived" abuse and violence from law enforcement is all that needs to be said on who these women really represent.
Lisa Roellig
Following the play, I approached the producer of the play because I wanted to know if there was going to be a discussion. She told me that there was not going to be a discussion that evening but that there would be a discussion following the other performances. I told her that I would not be at any other performances, that I was there tonight along with another actual sex worker and I wanted to discuss the content of the play. I told her that I was angry that the play portrayed all women as victims and all men as predators and rapists. I wanted her to know that what I saw that night was a shallow and stereotypical dipiction of our lives. She let me know that she used the stories of real "survivors." she is also informed me that one of the cast was an actual "former prostituted woman."
My comment to her was that this kind of stereotypical portrayal of prostitution reinforces the abolishionists position of criminalization, which in turn makes us more stigmitized and victimized.
It was during this conversation that Maxine Doogan joined the arguement. I want to again remind you that the show was over when this arguement took place. In fact the audience that was left were either leaving or had already left due to the graffic violenct scenes and images, The women left in the room were the promotors, producers and sponsors of the event.
Maxine Doogan told the women that they were promoting the criminalization of prostitution and profitting off of the criminalization of prostitution. The producer of the show responded by saying that we were commodifing womens bodies and sucking the dicks of corporate america. She also called us white priveleged western women. I also remember that M. Farley wanted to ask me a question and that Maxine's response was that she was not going to let her interview me because she takes our stories and than lies about us.
The producer of the show did lose control. My take on her loss of control was that she was pissy and defensive that we did not like her "art" piece. her reaction (actually reactionary) was more "drama" than substance and it was clear she was not interested in any kind of a dialogue about such a complex issue.
Especially with two actual sex workers.
The one identified "survivor" of the play came out screaming that she had been raped and abused and that the story she read during her monologue was her story. At the same time I was trying to keep her from my face ( I had my hands up ) I was also trying to tell her that I had had those experiences also. I was not trying to deny her story. I never got further in the conversation because at this time she starting saying all prostitutes were dogs and calling us dogs. She seemed very focused on Maxine because we were trying to leave as the lights turned off and the woman followed Maxine on her way to the door to tell her that she (Maxine Doogan) was either posssed by satan and there was something else she kept saying that had something to do with jesus's blood and being washed with it. The woman grabbed Maxine as she was trying to get out the door and I actually had to pull the woman off of her so that Maxine could exit safely.
It was as we were almost to the street that the Berkeley campus Police stopped and detained us. They were unwilling to take Maxine's assault report.
I also want to make mention of the other crime that took place that night beside the assault on Maxine Doogan, That plays producer was very irresponsible in showing such graphic scenes and images of child and women rape and murder that it should have had warnings. Personally I felt retraumitized by the ecperience and I can't understand why the so called mental health professionals present that night could not recognize that. That the producers of the show and the promotors would use a mentally unstable women to further their agenda of state sponsored opression (laws criminalizing women and their enforcers, the DA's and the police) to further their agenda is shameless.
I would like to again state that Maxine Doogan was assaulted that night as she was trying to exit the building and that the campus police were unwilling at that time to take her report.
To call in the police on women who have already "survived" abuse and violence from law enforcement is all that needs to be said on who these women really represent.
Lisa Roellig
My name is Anneshia Freeman. I am one of the survivors of prostitution that performs in the play, “My Real Name.” I am also their Director of a Cognitive Restructuring and Resocialization Program entitled The Lies That Bind – The Legacy of the Locks. Maxine Doogan’s rendition of what happened at the My Real Name play is laced with fabrications and distortions. First, Ms. Doogan approached the play’s director and stated that the stories were not real. My personal story was one of the stories depicted in the play. You see I worked the streets of Detroit as a prostitute for 15 years. It was a horrible, degrading, humiliating, and demoralizing life. I didn’t realize that at the time that I was doing an unconscious adult reenactment of my childhood script. You see as a child I was molested and abused practically everyday. I was delivered from that debilitating script in August of 2000.
The night of the play I approached Ms. Doogan and stated that one of the stories she was calling untrue was my personal experience and she had no right to call my hell “unreal.” Ms. Doogan lied when she said I called prostitutes dogs. Why would I refer to myself as a dog? I worked as a prostitute for 15 years. I’m a QUEEN! If Ms. Doogan is such a fan of the sex industry she would have recognized the quote I used from the 1975 book entitled, The Happy Hooker by Xaviera Hollander. In that book, Ms. Hollander, spoke about her life as a high priced call girl. She spoke of her experiences earning lots of money, traveling the world, having sex with the upper class, and being beaten and battered by johns. In her closing summary of the book she said, and I quote, “It’s a dog’s life.” Ms. Hollander was referring to the lifestyle not to herself. She was saying that the lifestyle is dehumanizing, demoralizing, degrading, humiliating, and very traumatic. That is the statement I used the night of the play and I used it the same way Ms. Hollander used it in her novel. Even though Ms. Hollander didn’t denounce the life or say she was through with it, she called it for what it was – a horrific existence.
With regards to the alleged physical altercation, I did in fact rebuke Ms. Doogan in the name of Jesus. I was rebuking the spirit behind Ms. Doogan. The steal, kill, and destroy spirit that sent her to the play in the first place – the same spirit that drives women to the streets – the same spirit that has serial killers cutting up those women and putting them in garbage dumpsters. I walked along side Ms. Doogan to door rebuking the spirit behind her and telling her she would not stop this work to which she responded. “Yes, I will!” When we got to the door, Ms. Doogan raised her arm and pushed me telling me to get out of her face at which time I caught her arm and restrained her. Her associated ran up screaming loudly, “Get your hands off her” making it appear to those not in eyesight that I was trying to assault her. Trick no good! You were seen pushing me Ms. Doogan. I immediately saw what their entire motive was from the beginning. They came to the event to insight an altercation and when it didn’t work, Ms. Doogan pushed me while her friend laid back waiting to run up screaming assault. Ms. Doogan’s intention was to discredit the play and the work that is being done. Well, Ms. Doogan I said it once and I’ll say it again. The Lord Jesus Christ rebukes you. You will not stop this work. Women and girls will be freed from the clutches of that devastating lifestyle.
I work with prostituted women and have for the last seven years. I help women reprogram the negative unconscious scripts that were written for them in their childhood. The women I work with are now in college, taking care of the families, and gainfully employed in legal occupations. I am a true QUEEN. Since leaving the streets I have completed two degrees Summa Cum Laude. I am currently working on my MBA maintaining straight As. I have my children back in my life. I am a mother, a friend, a daughter, a mentor, a career woman, an author, an activist, and a Daughter of Zion.
To Ms. Doogan I would like to say, I have nothing against you. You are not my enemy. The spirit controlling you is my enemy. One wise man once said, “It’s a terrible thing to have a spirit trapped in a body with a mind that doesn’t care about it.” Maxine Doogan I know deep in your TRUE spirit, which is locked up by the lower spirit controlling you, you desire to be free from that satanic script you are living. You are being controlled by a force whose ultimate agenda is to destroy you. I will pray for your deliverance but make no mistake about it – this is spiritual warfare and I’ve been equipped for the fight. I have spiritual weapon that you couldn’t possible understand or compete with – you got the wrong one here baby. I guess you thought you were coming up against some weak willed, unprepared, unconditioned punks. Sorry sister. I spent 15 years with a crew we will call “The Dog Pound” in Detroit. I know the spirits controlling you on first name basis and I’m not afraid of them or you. I support One New Earth and My Real Name and their advocacy work. The truth will always win out in the end.
The night of the play I approached Ms. Doogan and stated that one of the stories she was calling untrue was my personal experience and she had no right to call my hell “unreal.” Ms. Doogan lied when she said I called prostitutes dogs. Why would I refer to myself as a dog? I worked as a prostitute for 15 years. I’m a QUEEN! If Ms. Doogan is such a fan of the sex industry she would have recognized the quote I used from the 1975 book entitled, The Happy Hooker by Xaviera Hollander. In that book, Ms. Hollander, spoke about her life as a high priced call girl. She spoke of her experiences earning lots of money, traveling the world, having sex with the upper class, and being beaten and battered by johns. In her closing summary of the book she said, and I quote, “It’s a dog’s life.” Ms. Hollander was referring to the lifestyle not to herself. She was saying that the lifestyle is dehumanizing, demoralizing, degrading, humiliating, and very traumatic. That is the statement I used the night of the play and I used it the same way Ms. Hollander used it in her novel. Even though Ms. Hollander didn’t denounce the life or say she was through with it, she called it for what it was – a horrific existence.
With regards to the alleged physical altercation, I did in fact rebuke Ms. Doogan in the name of Jesus. I was rebuking the spirit behind Ms. Doogan. The steal, kill, and destroy spirit that sent her to the play in the first place – the same spirit that drives women to the streets – the same spirit that has serial killers cutting up those women and putting them in garbage dumpsters. I walked along side Ms. Doogan to door rebuking the spirit behind her and telling her she would not stop this work to which she responded. “Yes, I will!” When we got to the door, Ms. Doogan raised her arm and pushed me telling me to get out of her face at which time I caught her arm and restrained her. Her associated ran up screaming loudly, “Get your hands off her” making it appear to those not in eyesight that I was trying to assault her. Trick no good! You were seen pushing me Ms. Doogan. I immediately saw what their entire motive was from the beginning. They came to the event to insight an altercation and when it didn’t work, Ms. Doogan pushed me while her friend laid back waiting to run up screaming assault. Ms. Doogan’s intention was to discredit the play and the work that is being done. Well, Ms. Doogan I said it once and I’ll say it again. The Lord Jesus Christ rebukes you. You will not stop this work. Women and girls will be freed from the clutches of that devastating lifestyle.
I work with prostituted women and have for the last seven years. I help women reprogram the negative unconscious scripts that were written for them in their childhood. The women I work with are now in college, taking care of the families, and gainfully employed in legal occupations. I am a true QUEEN. Since leaving the streets I have completed two degrees Summa Cum Laude. I am currently working on my MBA maintaining straight As. I have my children back in my life. I am a mother, a friend, a daughter, a mentor, a career woman, an author, an activist, and a Daughter of Zion.
To Ms. Doogan I would like to say, I have nothing against you. You are not my enemy. The spirit controlling you is my enemy. One wise man once said, “It’s a terrible thing to have a spirit trapped in a body with a mind that doesn’t care about it.” Maxine Doogan I know deep in your TRUE spirit, which is locked up by the lower spirit controlling you, you desire to be free from that satanic script you are living. You are being controlled by a force whose ultimate agenda is to destroy you. I will pray for your deliverance but make no mistake about it – this is spiritual warfare and I’ve been equipped for the fight. I have spiritual weapon that you couldn’t possible understand or compete with – you got the wrong one here baby. I guess you thought you were coming up against some weak willed, unprepared, unconditioned punks. Sorry sister. I spent 15 years with a crew we will call “The Dog Pound” in Detroit. I know the spirits controlling you on first name basis and I’m not afraid of them or you. I support One New Earth and My Real Name and their advocacy work. The truth will always win out in the end.
I personally was honored to be part of the play "My Real Name Is."
It isn't a comfortable piece. It's not meant to be. And yes, some of the scenes were accounts of what actually happened the women that Carol interviewed and based the pieces on. I think real art, at least art made to affect and change society, inspires fiery discussion. And I'm glad that there were such strong opinons about the piece...it means that the play is doing what it is meant to do.
And yes, I do believe that there should be an open an frank discussion about both side of the sex trafficking work. If you feel like prostitution has empowered you in some way, shape, or form...then go produce your own play, and tell your own story, instead of trying to stop other people from telling theirs. I personally know people that feel like they have grown and benefited from sex work...and I also know people that did it because they felt like it was the only thing that they could do, or knew how to do. I think it is a personal choice and issue myself and each person has to really take a close look at the reasons they do what they do...whether it is a consious choice in the moment, or an unconsious one as Ms. Freeman stated.
As for the "assault," I would recommend that the people reading these opinions take a look at who the authors of these "news" pieces are. I was getting dressed backstage, so I don't know the whole story, but I do remember that three women were shouting derrogatory remarks as they were ushered out of the building and Carol had to wait inside waiting for a police escort because the women were waiting for her outside the building.
It isn't a comfortable piece. It's not meant to be. And yes, some of the scenes were accounts of what actually happened the women that Carol interviewed and based the pieces on. I think real art, at least art made to affect and change society, inspires fiery discussion. And I'm glad that there were such strong opinons about the piece...it means that the play is doing what it is meant to do.
And yes, I do believe that there should be an open an frank discussion about both side of the sex trafficking work. If you feel like prostitution has empowered you in some way, shape, or form...then go produce your own play, and tell your own story, instead of trying to stop other people from telling theirs. I personally know people that feel like they have grown and benefited from sex work...and I also know people that did it because they felt like it was the only thing that they could do, or knew how to do. I think it is a personal choice and issue myself and each person has to really take a close look at the reasons they do what they do...whether it is a consious choice in the moment, or an unconsious one as Ms. Freeman stated.
As for the "assault," I would recommend that the people reading these opinions take a look at who the authors of these "news" pieces are. I was getting dressed backstage, so I don't know the whole story, but I do remember that three women were shouting derrogatory remarks as they were ushered out of the building and Carol had to wait inside waiting for a police escort because the women were waiting for her outside the building.
For more information:
http://www.giovannie.com
Street based , people of color and transgender workers of our industry suffer the most under criminalization. The use of art that promotes a stereotype and stigma that in turn gives anti-prostitution forces the fodder to keep us all criminalized and thus continue in the cycle of violence and police abuse and corruption is a very, very bad idea.
For more information:
http://espu-ca.org/wp/
I was in the audience and I agree with the survivor that posted the comment. I am a black woman who has been through the same things shown in the play. May be the sex workers do not care about that, but the play was truth to a lot of women. I think the women who made a scene, attacking one of the survivors was proof of how dieased these sex workers are. Why don't you attack the pimps and tricks like that? Luckily, the director and the survivor more than held their own. That's what is pissing you all off. Your cause is as weak as you are. Those stories had hope. When I heard the survivor that wrote you say she's doing her thing in school, man made me feel like I need to to step it up. You all are just some envious haters.
Maxine Doogan seems to have appointed herself head spokeswoman for all sex workers. Anyone who talks about sex work in a way that Maxine doesn't like gets verbally and sometimes physically assault. Why she thinks she is the only one who knows anything about sex work is a mystery. Why she thinks verbally assaulting people will get them to shut up is also a mystery. A group of people who have survived the worst abusers you can imagine are not threatened by a crazy white woman who is trying to set herself up as head of a ridiculous non-existant union for sex workers. We will not be silenced by anyone, male or female, who tells us how to tell our own story.
By the way, the completely fictional story originally posted by Doogan demonstrates that she is either out of touch with reality, or more likely, is willing to write a totally backward account of an event (a pure lie in other words) just to make for better propaganda. Propoganda always backfires because the truth always comes out.
By the way, the completely fictional story originally posted by Doogan demonstrates that she is either out of touch with reality, or more likely, is willing to write a totally backward account of an event (a pure lie in other words) just to make for better propaganda. Propoganda always backfires because the truth always comes out.
I'm Jill Brenneman, Project Coordinator for SWOP East. I am also a prostitution survivor. I had a very difficult time in my first years in the sex industry due to a violent pimp among other things. My experiences probably are similar to many of the depictions of the play. I don't know. I haven't seen this play and am basing my thoughts on what I have read. For many years I was an outspoken activist on the anti prostitution side. I left that movement in 2003 and despite being a survivor am a sex worker rights activists and project coordinator for SWOP East based in Raleigh/Durham.
I've read the accounts of this event from both sides. Again, I wasn't there so I can only base my opinion on what I have read. As someone who has spoken as a survivor dozens of times I recognize the emotionally difficult and charged feelings that come out at these events and beyond. Here are my thoughts.
Sex worker rights activists have a place being there. Many sex worker rights activists are themselves survivors. I am one, many others are. There isn't a monopoly on suffering violence unilateral to one side of the political debate. The sex worker rights movement is as committed to ending violence against sex workers as the anti prostitution side. Methodology differs, ideology differs but the the goal of ending violence is similar.
Not all sex work is human slavery. There is slavery in aspects of the sex industry just as there is in many other industries. Fighting human slavery is a fight for the rights of many, those in the sex industry and many others. We all share that goal. Consenting sex work is not sexual slavery. The sex worker rights movement seeks to end violence for both. Consenting sex workers and those in sexual slavery. Sexual slavery should be abolished just as violence against sex workers should be abolished. That requires a lot more work toward social justice, human, civil and labor rights for a large number of people worldwide. Sex worker rights activists and the sex worker rights movement is not the enemy. The perpetrators of violence are. I have never known a sex worker rights activist that supported incest, rape, dv, economic disparity, homelessness, drug addiction etc, while I have known many that have been effected by those, I know absolutely no one that supports them. It is absurd to think that the sex worker rights movement is pro violence, pro trafficking, or diseased. We aren't.
To the survivor who followed Maxine rebuking spirits. Legally by your own definition what you described as your actions would be assault in North Carolina. Making physical contact with Maxine is battery. I don't believe rebuking spirits was in the best interest of anyone and was a poor methodology of disagreement.
I believe also that where this event was promoted by SAGE, knowing that this play would undoubtedly bring out very strong feelings in the performers and the audience, that a better job should have been done to have trained counselors in place to assist anyone from either side who was struggling from this event.
I"ve known Maxine for three years. Maxine is a strong activist, she is outspoken and strong willed. Many of us are. I am notorious for those qualities also. I have never known her to present herself as the expert on sex work. Maxine presents a strong valuable viewpoint. That is far different than what an accusation of presenting herself as the expert would be. Rebuking spirits behind her which essentially is an allegation that she is being driven by demonic forces is absolutely a horrendous accusation to make at anyone and would very likely immediately escalate any situation. It was a poor choice to make the accusation. Agree or disagree with her, I have always believed and do believe that she has very good intentions and goals for social change. Maxine and sex worker rights activists are not the enemy. Perpetrators of violence and sexual slavery are. Let's not lose focus on who we should be fighting.
It is not the sex worker rights movement.
peace
I've read the accounts of this event from both sides. Again, I wasn't there so I can only base my opinion on what I have read. As someone who has spoken as a survivor dozens of times I recognize the emotionally difficult and charged feelings that come out at these events and beyond. Here are my thoughts.
Sex worker rights activists have a place being there. Many sex worker rights activists are themselves survivors. I am one, many others are. There isn't a monopoly on suffering violence unilateral to one side of the political debate. The sex worker rights movement is as committed to ending violence against sex workers as the anti prostitution side. Methodology differs, ideology differs but the the goal of ending violence is similar.
Not all sex work is human slavery. There is slavery in aspects of the sex industry just as there is in many other industries. Fighting human slavery is a fight for the rights of many, those in the sex industry and many others. We all share that goal. Consenting sex work is not sexual slavery. The sex worker rights movement seeks to end violence for both. Consenting sex workers and those in sexual slavery. Sexual slavery should be abolished just as violence against sex workers should be abolished. That requires a lot more work toward social justice, human, civil and labor rights for a large number of people worldwide. Sex worker rights activists and the sex worker rights movement is not the enemy. The perpetrators of violence are. I have never known a sex worker rights activist that supported incest, rape, dv, economic disparity, homelessness, drug addiction etc, while I have known many that have been effected by those, I know absolutely no one that supports them. It is absurd to think that the sex worker rights movement is pro violence, pro trafficking, or diseased. We aren't.
To the survivor who followed Maxine rebuking spirits. Legally by your own definition what you described as your actions would be assault in North Carolina. Making physical contact with Maxine is battery. I don't believe rebuking spirits was in the best interest of anyone and was a poor methodology of disagreement.
I believe also that where this event was promoted by SAGE, knowing that this play would undoubtedly bring out very strong feelings in the performers and the audience, that a better job should have been done to have trained counselors in place to assist anyone from either side who was struggling from this event.
I"ve known Maxine for three years. Maxine is a strong activist, she is outspoken and strong willed. Many of us are. I am notorious for those qualities also. I have never known her to present herself as the expert on sex work. Maxine presents a strong valuable viewpoint. That is far different than what an accusation of presenting herself as the expert would be. Rebuking spirits behind her which essentially is an allegation that she is being driven by demonic forces is absolutely a horrendous accusation to make at anyone and would very likely immediately escalate any situation. It was a poor choice to make the accusation. Agree or disagree with her, I have always believed and do believe that she has very good intentions and goals for social change. Maxine and sex worker rights activists are not the enemy. Perpetrators of violence and sexual slavery are. Let's not lose focus on who we should be fighting.
It is not the sex worker rights movement.
peace
For more information:
http://www.myspace.com/jillbrenneman
I don’t believe in the criminalization of prostitution. I don’t believe that criminalizing sex work benefits anyone except those who wish to harm sex workers. I consider myself a feminist. I believe that choice is always better then none. I believe that our bodies are our own and that no one should be able to tell us what we can do with them. Although I am willing to agree that some sex workers are in the wrong profession for all the wrong reasons. I also agree that no matter how awful the situation may be for any one particular sex worker criminalizing the act will only further harm them and all other sex workers.
That said...I was at the exhibit the night of the incident. I attended the event because I was under the impression that it was an exhibit about human trafficking. I became aware of the performance that night at the exhibit. I thought that the piece was intended to tie together human trafficking and prostitution. I wanted to see what arguments would be used to do this because I haven’t heard any that show the criminalization of prostitution as preventing human trafficking.
The performance was not about trafficking. It made no attempt, other then the producers introduction, to tie human trafficking with the street based prostitutes the performance portrayed. It wasn’t that I disagreed with the argument. The problem was that it didn’t make an argument at all. The performance was very graphic both with its monologues and visual images. It also had more to do with incest, childhood sexual abuse, poverty, and drug addiction then it did prostitution. Even more so, the monologues used stereotyping of men, women, and sex workers to make blanket statements about them. Not all sex workers were raped as children. Not all men will fuck a dog. Not all pimps are violent. I understand that these were the thoughts, feelings, and memories of specific street based prostitutes and pimps. I am not attempting to deny their stories or the suffering they lived. What I am saying is that criminalizing prostitution only makes them (and other sex workers) more susceptible to the abuses they endured. Is that really what they want for other women? Do they want other sex workers to be raped, beaten, and robbed without any recourse from the police? Or worse yet, from the police? If we take away the criminalization of the sex work we can then begin to address these women’s real problems such as drug addiction, sexual abuse, and poverty and not just simply incarcerate them and continue the cycle of abuse.
I also witnessed the incident that followed the performance. The producer did tell the audience that the performance was supposed to be interactive, it wasn’t. She also said that there would be discussion following the performance, there wasn’t. I was standing on the opposite side of the room when Lisa Roelling approached the producer. There were also several other women standing around the producer making a semi circle around Lisa. Once the producer began yelling at Lisa, Maxine Doogan crossed the room to stand next to Lisa and support her. The producer began yelling that she doesn’t believe in the “comodification” of our bodies. The producer also mentioned being in a refugee camp (I have no idea what this had to do with anything). Maxine responded by saying “Oh, then this is really about you, not us.” At which point the producer began screaming “you are fucking right this is about me” over and over while throwing her arms in the air. At that point another woman entered the room through another door. She began yelling at Lisa and Maxine that all prostitutes are “dogs”. Lisa attempted to explain that she herself was “on the street”. At that point, the producer called Lisa, Maxine, and I “white privileged” whores who “suck the dick of corporate America”. I still have no idea why any of this was even directed at me as I never said anything to anyone throughout the entire altercation. Lisa then showed the producer her tattoo of Che Guevara to again show them that they had mis-named her. The producer responded by telling Lisa that Che Guevara wouldn’t allow her (Lisa) to suck his (Che Guevara’s) dick...even if he paid her.” At this point Maxine, Lisa and I begin trying to walk out the door. Maxine called the group of women near “Poverty Pimps”. Which resulted in the woman who had emerged from the other door (the one who said all prostitutes are dogs) following Maxine and berating her with religious epithets. She got so close to Maxine’s face that I could see her spit hit Maxine’s cheek. At one of the doorways the women began pulling on Maxine and preventing her from walking through the door. Lisa had to get the woman off of Maxine.
When we finally got outside the UC Berkeley guards detained us. When we attempted to tell them what had happened they refused to take any formal statements. They asked each of us for ID. I asked if they would be obtaining the ID of everyone still inside the exhibit. I was told that they would. They lied to me and instead issued Maxine, Lisa and I a citation to stay off the campus for seven days. The only reason provided by the guards for the citation was that we had “crashed” the event. This isn’t any more logical now then it was then. We paid admittance for a public show. And, one of the shows sponsors, Annie Fukishima, asked us specifically to attend the performance. The producer verbally assaulted me when I didn’t say a word to anyone throughout the entire incident. The officers refused to do anything about it and they also refused to do anything about the battery that was done to Maxine.
The show was titled “My Real Name”. To quote One New Earth, “People of all walks of life often feel they are labeled/named by others. Rarely are we allowed to label/name who we are.” If the point of the show was to allow sex workers the freedom to name themselves then why didn’t the producer allow Lisa and Maxine to name themselves? Why did she create all sorts of names for them? Why did she attempt to name me even though I wasn’t engaging with her at all? If the supporters of anti prostitution want to share real stories of sex workers then why don’t they want to hear what Maxine and Lisa have to say? I think the point of the show is great, let people name themselves. Unfortunately the producer and other show supporters don’t seem to believe or live by their own message.
I want to make a few things clear. I don’t believe in violence. I didn’t say or do anything to anyone the night of the performance. Yet, the producers and show supporters told the police that I did, and the police believed them. This is called “collective punishment” and it was used in Nazi Germany. This is an oppressive act. For those who claim that they are attempting to end violence they are using the tools of other oppressors to do so. It leads one to ask, can you end violence with violence? The other issue I would like to make very clear to anyone who is reading this blog is that I was told when I paid to enter the performance that the money would be directed to SAGE. I noticed that Norma Hotling, the Founder and director of SAGE has said on this blog that she doesn’t support this show and never received funds from it. Either I was lied to at the door when I paid or Norma is lying now. Norma also denies receiving money from ICE. What she doesn’t deny is receiving money from the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office of San Francisco. Although I agree that women who wish to transition out of prostitution should absolutely receive support in doing so, I don’t think that anyone should be mandated to attend SAGE because they have been arrested. It creates a parasitic relationship between the service providers and the criminalization of the prostitute. In essence, Norma needs prostitution to be a crime in order to traffic women into her program and bill the City & County of SF for each so called service the women receive. She is making money off prostitution…it begs the question, who is the real pimp here?
Jill - I couldn't agree with you more. If the goals of those for anti prostitution are only to end violence against sex workers then they are in line with sex worker activists who want to decriminalize.
That said...I was at the exhibit the night of the incident. I attended the event because I was under the impression that it was an exhibit about human trafficking. I became aware of the performance that night at the exhibit. I thought that the piece was intended to tie together human trafficking and prostitution. I wanted to see what arguments would be used to do this because I haven’t heard any that show the criminalization of prostitution as preventing human trafficking.
The performance was not about trafficking. It made no attempt, other then the producers introduction, to tie human trafficking with the street based prostitutes the performance portrayed. It wasn’t that I disagreed with the argument. The problem was that it didn’t make an argument at all. The performance was very graphic both with its monologues and visual images. It also had more to do with incest, childhood sexual abuse, poverty, and drug addiction then it did prostitution. Even more so, the monologues used stereotyping of men, women, and sex workers to make blanket statements about them. Not all sex workers were raped as children. Not all men will fuck a dog. Not all pimps are violent. I understand that these were the thoughts, feelings, and memories of specific street based prostitutes and pimps. I am not attempting to deny their stories or the suffering they lived. What I am saying is that criminalizing prostitution only makes them (and other sex workers) more susceptible to the abuses they endured. Is that really what they want for other women? Do they want other sex workers to be raped, beaten, and robbed without any recourse from the police? Or worse yet, from the police? If we take away the criminalization of the sex work we can then begin to address these women’s real problems such as drug addiction, sexual abuse, and poverty and not just simply incarcerate them and continue the cycle of abuse.
I also witnessed the incident that followed the performance. The producer did tell the audience that the performance was supposed to be interactive, it wasn’t. She also said that there would be discussion following the performance, there wasn’t. I was standing on the opposite side of the room when Lisa Roelling approached the producer. There were also several other women standing around the producer making a semi circle around Lisa. Once the producer began yelling at Lisa, Maxine Doogan crossed the room to stand next to Lisa and support her. The producer began yelling that she doesn’t believe in the “comodification” of our bodies. The producer also mentioned being in a refugee camp (I have no idea what this had to do with anything). Maxine responded by saying “Oh, then this is really about you, not us.” At which point the producer began screaming “you are fucking right this is about me” over and over while throwing her arms in the air. At that point another woman entered the room through another door. She began yelling at Lisa and Maxine that all prostitutes are “dogs”. Lisa attempted to explain that she herself was “on the street”. At that point, the producer called Lisa, Maxine, and I “white privileged” whores who “suck the dick of corporate America”. I still have no idea why any of this was even directed at me as I never said anything to anyone throughout the entire altercation. Lisa then showed the producer her tattoo of Che Guevara to again show them that they had mis-named her. The producer responded by telling Lisa that Che Guevara wouldn’t allow her (Lisa) to suck his (Che Guevara’s) dick...even if he paid her.” At this point Maxine, Lisa and I begin trying to walk out the door. Maxine called the group of women near “Poverty Pimps”. Which resulted in the woman who had emerged from the other door (the one who said all prostitutes are dogs) following Maxine and berating her with religious epithets. She got so close to Maxine’s face that I could see her spit hit Maxine’s cheek. At one of the doorways the women began pulling on Maxine and preventing her from walking through the door. Lisa had to get the woman off of Maxine.
When we finally got outside the UC Berkeley guards detained us. When we attempted to tell them what had happened they refused to take any formal statements. They asked each of us for ID. I asked if they would be obtaining the ID of everyone still inside the exhibit. I was told that they would. They lied to me and instead issued Maxine, Lisa and I a citation to stay off the campus for seven days. The only reason provided by the guards for the citation was that we had “crashed” the event. This isn’t any more logical now then it was then. We paid admittance for a public show. And, one of the shows sponsors, Annie Fukishima, asked us specifically to attend the performance. The producer verbally assaulted me when I didn’t say a word to anyone throughout the entire incident. The officers refused to do anything about it and they also refused to do anything about the battery that was done to Maxine.
The show was titled “My Real Name”. To quote One New Earth, “People of all walks of life often feel they are labeled/named by others. Rarely are we allowed to label/name who we are.” If the point of the show was to allow sex workers the freedom to name themselves then why didn’t the producer allow Lisa and Maxine to name themselves? Why did she create all sorts of names for them? Why did she attempt to name me even though I wasn’t engaging with her at all? If the supporters of anti prostitution want to share real stories of sex workers then why don’t they want to hear what Maxine and Lisa have to say? I think the point of the show is great, let people name themselves. Unfortunately the producer and other show supporters don’t seem to believe or live by their own message.
I want to make a few things clear. I don’t believe in violence. I didn’t say or do anything to anyone the night of the performance. Yet, the producers and show supporters told the police that I did, and the police believed them. This is called “collective punishment” and it was used in Nazi Germany. This is an oppressive act. For those who claim that they are attempting to end violence they are using the tools of other oppressors to do so. It leads one to ask, can you end violence with violence? The other issue I would like to make very clear to anyone who is reading this blog is that I was told when I paid to enter the performance that the money would be directed to SAGE. I noticed that Norma Hotling, the Founder and director of SAGE has said on this blog that she doesn’t support this show and never received funds from it. Either I was lied to at the door when I paid or Norma is lying now. Norma also denies receiving money from ICE. What she doesn’t deny is receiving money from the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office of San Francisco. Although I agree that women who wish to transition out of prostitution should absolutely receive support in doing so, I don’t think that anyone should be mandated to attend SAGE because they have been arrested. It creates a parasitic relationship between the service providers and the criminalization of the prostitute. In essence, Norma needs prostitution to be a crime in order to traffic women into her program and bill the City & County of SF for each so called service the women receive. She is making money off prostitution…it begs the question, who is the real pimp here?
Jill - I couldn't agree with you more. If the goals of those for anti prostitution are only to end violence against sex workers then they are in line with sex worker activists who want to decriminalize.
I'm Jill Brenneman, Project Coordinator for SWOP East. I am also a prostitution survivor. I had a very difficult time in my first years in the sex industry due to a violent pimp among other things. My experiences probably are similar to many of the depictions of the play. I don't know. I haven't seen this play and am basing my thoughts on what I have read. For many years I was an outspoken activist on the anti prostitution side. I left that movement in 2003 and despite being a survivor am a sex worker rights activists and project coordinator for SWOP East based in Raleigh/Durham.
I've read the accounts of this event from both sides. Again, I wasn't there so I can only base my opinion on what I have read. As someone who has spoken as a survivor dozens of times I recognize the emotionally difficult and charged feelings that come out at these events and beyond. Here are my thoughts.
Sex worker rights activists have a place being there. Many sex worker rights activists are themselves survivors. I am one, many others are. There isn't a monopoly on suffering violence unilateral to one side of the political debate. The sex worker rights movement is as committed to ending violence against sex workers as the anti prostitution side. Methodology differs, ideology differs but the the goal of ending violence is similar.
Not all sex work is human slavery. There is slavery in aspects of the sex industry just as there is in many other industries. Fighting human slavery is a fight for the rights of many, those in the sex industry and many others. We all share that goal. Consenting sex work is not sexual slavery. The sex worker rights movement seeks to end violence for both. Consenting sex workers and those in sexual slavery. Sexual slavery should be abolished just as violence against sex workers should be abolished. That requires a lot more work toward social justice, human, civil and labor rights for a large number of people worldwide. Sex worker rights activists and the sex worker rights movement is not the enemy. The perpetrators of violence are. I have never known a sex worker rights activist that supported incest, rape, dv, economic disparity, homelessness, drug addiction etc, while I have known many that have been effected by those, I know absolutely no one that supports them. It is absurd to think that the sex worker rights movement is pro violence, pro trafficking, or diseased. We aren't.
To the survivor who followed Maxine rebuking spirits. Legally by your own definition what you described as your actions would be assault in North Carolina. Making physical contact with Maxine is battery. I don't believe rebuking spirits was in the best interest of anyone and was a poor methodology of disagreement.
I believe also that where this event was promoted by SAGE, knowing that this play would undoubtedly bring out very strong feelings in the performers and the audience, that a better job should have been done to have trained counselors in place to assist anyone from either side who was struggling from this event.
I"ve known Maxine for three years. Maxine is a strong activist, she is outspoken and strong willed. Many of us are. I am notorious for those qualities also. I have never known her to present herself as the expert on sex work. Maxine presents a strong valuable viewpoint. That is far different than what an accusation of presenting herself as the expert would be. Rebuking spirits behind her which essentially is an allegation that she is being driven by demonic forces is absolutely a horrendous accusation to make at anyone and would very likely immediately escalate any situation. It was a poor choice to make the accusation. Agree or disagree with her, I have always believed and do believe that she has very good intentions and goals for social change. Maxine and sex worker rights activists are not the enemy. Perpetrators of violence and sexual slavery are. Let's not lose focus on who we should be fighting.
It is not the sex worker rights movement.
peace
I've read the accounts of this event from both sides. Again, I wasn't there so I can only base my opinion on what I have read. As someone who has spoken as a survivor dozens of times I recognize the emotionally difficult and charged feelings that come out at these events and beyond. Here are my thoughts.
Sex worker rights activists have a place being there. Many sex worker rights activists are themselves survivors. I am one, many others are. There isn't a monopoly on suffering violence unilateral to one side of the political debate. The sex worker rights movement is as committed to ending violence against sex workers as the anti prostitution side. Methodology differs, ideology differs but the the goal of ending violence is similar.
Not all sex work is human slavery. There is slavery in aspects of the sex industry just as there is in many other industries. Fighting human slavery is a fight for the rights of many, those in the sex industry and many others. We all share that goal. Consenting sex work is not sexual slavery. The sex worker rights movement seeks to end violence for both. Consenting sex workers and those in sexual slavery. Sexual slavery should be abolished just as violence against sex workers should be abolished. That requires a lot more work toward social justice, human, civil and labor rights for a large number of people worldwide. Sex worker rights activists and the sex worker rights movement is not the enemy. The perpetrators of violence are. I have never known a sex worker rights activist that supported incest, rape, dv, economic disparity, homelessness, drug addiction etc, while I have known many that have been effected by those, I know absolutely no one that supports them. It is absurd to think that the sex worker rights movement is pro violence, pro trafficking, or diseased. We aren't.
To the survivor who followed Maxine rebuking spirits. Legally by your own definition what you described as your actions would be assault in North Carolina. Making physical contact with Maxine is battery. I don't believe rebuking spirits was in the best interest of anyone and was a poor methodology of disagreement.
I believe also that where this event was promoted by SAGE, knowing that this play would undoubtedly bring out very strong feelings in the performers and the audience, that a better job should have been done to have trained counselors in place to assist anyone from either side who was struggling from this event.
I"ve known Maxine for three years. Maxine is a strong activist, she is outspoken and strong willed. Many of us are. I am notorious for those qualities also. I have never known her to present herself as the expert on sex work. Maxine presents a strong valuable viewpoint. That is far different than what an accusation of presenting herself as the expert would be. Rebuking spirits behind her which essentially is an allegation that she is being driven by demonic forces is absolutely a horrendous accusation to make at anyone and would very likely immediately escalate any situation. It was a poor choice to make the accusation. Agree or disagree with her, I have always believed and do believe that she has very good intentions and goals for social change. Maxine and sex worker rights activists are not the enemy. Perpetrators of violence and sexual slavery are. Let's not lose focus on who we should be fighting.
It is not the sex worker rights movement.
peace
For more information:
http://www.myspace.com/jillbrenneman
I also was a cast member of MY REAL NAME. First, I want to address the allegations against Anneshia Freeman. I came to the altercation somewhat late and missed some of the incident. I only met her that night and felt she had a sense of class that I had not seen in some time. I find it difficult to believe she committed battery against anyone. Lastly, I do not appreciate the sex workers who came to further their agenda. They should have come to hear our stories out and not to incite violence, either verbal or physical, by pushing the emotional buttons of our producer. This play was our truth, and they should have respected that.
Edward Guting, I was under the impression that the only former sex worker involved in the production was Ms. Freeman. You were an actor playing out a role in a play not a prostitute. How could any of it become now "your truth." Please. Also, what agenda are you refering to Edward? You claim that we showed up to your play to further our agenda and also you claim to incite violence. Frankly, I did not know what to expect from the play. If the play had been an "honest" attempt from an outsider that included such things as the violence done to us as criminalized workers by the police. Yes, that is right Edward. Rape, robbery and assault from law enforcement and why are they able to get away with rape,robbery and assault, Edward? Because we are easy prey as criminalized workers. The play also did not address that we do not report rape, robbery and assault when we are victims of these crimes and why is that Edward? We are criminalized workers. We have no recourse when we are victims of violence due to our criminal status.
The play portrayed all prostitutes as either victims or perpatrators themselves. Yeah, whore on whore crime. Sure, there were some women who would rip you off. Just like your workplace, Edward or anyone else's. But most of the women I worked with through the years in the sex industry and especially when I worked the streets, we looked after one another and watched each others back because no body else was going to do that for us. Ask Ms. Freeman, she will tell you because she knows that is the truth. The relationships I had with other women in the sex industry I have never had with women outside the industry. That was completely left out of the play entirely. And you know I was pretty low key when I arrived to the play, Edward. Pretty low key. Hardly in the mood to incite violence (which I didn't) Getting back to my agenda, don't you really mean your agenda, Edward?...We don't need your liberation through incarceration. We don't need you to save us. We don't want your rescue, your pity or for that matter we don't need any more bullshit (the play) that is going to keep us stigmatized and keep us oppressed as workers and as women. We don't want to be victims of violence and with no recourse. We do not want to be arrested anymore. We don't want to have our children taken away from us anymore. We want to pay our rent,feed our children and go home at the end of the day safely, just like anybody else.
And by the way, since I did work the streets I feel qualified to state, I worked for some "pimps" who were actually pretty decent men. And because I worked the sex industry for over two decades I am also qualified to add that most of the clients I saw through the years were decent men as well.
Lisa Roellig
The play portrayed all prostitutes as either victims or perpatrators themselves. Yeah, whore on whore crime. Sure, there were some women who would rip you off. Just like your workplace, Edward or anyone else's. But most of the women I worked with through the years in the sex industry and especially when I worked the streets, we looked after one another and watched each others back because no body else was going to do that for us. Ask Ms. Freeman, she will tell you because she knows that is the truth. The relationships I had with other women in the sex industry I have never had with women outside the industry. That was completely left out of the play entirely. And you know I was pretty low key when I arrived to the play, Edward. Pretty low key. Hardly in the mood to incite violence (which I didn't) Getting back to my agenda, don't you really mean your agenda, Edward?...We don't need your liberation through incarceration. We don't need you to save us. We don't want your rescue, your pity or for that matter we don't need any more bullshit (the play) that is going to keep us stigmatized and keep us oppressed as workers and as women. We don't want to be victims of violence and with no recourse. We do not want to be arrested anymore. We don't want to have our children taken away from us anymore. We want to pay our rent,feed our children and go home at the end of the day safely, just like anybody else.
And by the way, since I did work the streets I feel qualified to state, I worked for some "pimps" who were actually pretty decent men. And because I worked the sex industry for over two decades I am also qualified to add that most of the clients I saw through the years were decent men as well.
Lisa Roellig
I attended this play in Toledo, OH at the Prostitution Conference at the University of Toledo. I did not experience it as a propaganda piece at all. Instead it was an artful depiction of the lives of those who have survived a traumatic experience, namely those that had survived sex trafficking. It was tasteful and well done, and especially powerful because it did use the stories of real people. I applaud those that created it, and double the credibility of those that would lie to make a point.
Correction on my previous entry. "I DOUBT the credibility of those who would lie to make a point."
This has been very interesting reading. I am not surprised that an altercation would occur when there is religious fundamentalism involved. From my experience, fundamentalists need things to be very black and white - you are either right or wrong, in the box or out of the box. Unfortunately, the occupation of prostitution gets put in the "bad" box with other things like violence and economic disparity, whch really are the problem.
I try to remind myself that these folks are doing the best they can, and that any kind of subtlety or ambiguity is very difficult for them. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking can lead to the belief that it is OK to assault people, using the larger meaning of assault. This could be anything from following someone out of a room to standing on a corner telling people they are going to hell, or in the extreme case, bombing other countries. In each case, these actions are justified to "save" others. I think religious judgement is divisive, and it should be left for others more qualified (meaning God). For the record, I am a man who thinks women should be able to decide for themselves what they do with their bodies, whom to love, and what they should do for a living.
I try to remind myself that these folks are doing the best they can, and that any kind of subtlety or ambiguity is very difficult for them. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking can lead to the belief that it is OK to assault people, using the larger meaning of assault. This could be anything from following someone out of a room to standing on a corner telling people they are going to hell, or in the extreme case, bombing other countries. In each case, these actions are justified to "save" others. I think religious judgement is divisive, and it should be left for others more qualified (meaning God). For the record, I am a man who thinks women should be able to decide for themselves what they do with their bodies, whom to love, and what they should do for a living.
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$110.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network