Porcelain Victoria, 26, has written an open letter to politicians opposing the Prostitution (Crime and Aid) (Scotland) Bill.
Source: Dailyrecord.co.uk
UK – SCOTLAND – A dominatrix has warned that
sex workers will lose their “basic survival skills” if a proposed bill on prostitution in Scotland is passed.
Porcelain Victoria, 26, wrote an open letter to politicians opposing the
Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill , saying the legislation would put women at risk and expose them to violence.
Independent MP Ash Regan ‘s radical proposals could lead to people who pay for sex facing fines of up to £10,000 and even prison sentences. The bill aims to criminalize the purchase of sex, while decriminalizing its sale.
A crucial vote will take place at Holyrood next month.
Porcelain, a mother of one, said the laws will prevent sex workers from taking basic security measures, such as checking clients’ IDs or taking down license plates, because people who buy sex will be discouraged from sharing their identities,
In her open letter, Porcelain, who lives in Fife, wrote: “I write this to you as I tremble and fear for the future, not only for myself, but for my child. If Regan’s bill passes , workers like me will no longer have the basic survival skills we have now, such as screening customers by asking for ID, a bank transfer, or even taking a car registration.”
We will have to take on dangerous clients, which could lead to serious injury and even death. That’s why it’s so important to look at the evidence from academics and other governments, such as Northern Ireland, who argue that this would increase violence against us; against people whose arguments are based solely on their own moral convictions.
Porcelain, who has worked in the sex industry for eight years, added: “Sex work is very much about poverty and the dire crisis surrounding the high cost of living.
“Ash Regan focuses on vulnerable people in society who are trying to make ends meet in a challenging economy.”
“If the goal is to reduce the number of sex workers in this country, the focus should be on increasing the amount of social housing, free and flexible childcare, disability benefits, and ensuring people have enough money to live on.”
Regan’s bill would replace existing legislation on offering sexual services with a law prohibiting payment for sexual services . The Scottish MP argues that this framework would protect women and put an end to the fact that most prostitution takes place outside public spaces and is arranged online.
The plan is supported by Police Scotland, and the national police force also supports the decriminalization of the largely female sex workers. A recent opinion poll showed significant public support for her plan.
In response to the open letter, Ash Regan told the Record: “I have listened carefully to the concerns raised in this letter and want to make it absolutely clear that no one should ever have to live in fear of violence, stigma or poverty.
“However, it is important to emphasize that prostitution is violence, primarily against women and girls.”
I want to directly address the repeated claim that ‘screening’ or ‘monitoring’ keeps women safe. Men who buy sex often lie to their partners; they are unlikely to reveal their true identities or intentions to women they consider commodities.
“Ultimately, our goal must be to build a Scotland that rejects the inevitability of human trafficking and prioritizes dignity, safety and real choice for women, rather than perpetuating inequality by normalizing exploitation.”
Last week, 120 sex workers across Scotland signed an open letter urging MPs to oppose Regan’s “unaffordable bill.” They argued that the legislation would expose them to greater risk of violence. The group called for the legislation to be rejected.
