Letters To My Country

July 14, 2012

"The discussions that sex workers have, for example, within the Rose Alliance sex workers’ organization, are neither black nor white as they seem in this House. There is often discussion about the so called ‘whore stigma,’ about why you feel [like] an outsider and why you do get the best treatment when you access the social services. A woman who has children and is a prostitute, and therefore a sex worker, or who is in the porn or stripping business is terrified of seeking help. The first thing that happens is that they say to you: You are a bad mother we are going to start by taking your children away from you."

—

Frederick Federley, May 12, 2011, member of the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament), speaking out in opposition against a bill in the Swedish Riksdag that would double the jail time available for violators under the Swedish Sex Purchase Act. Federley was the only member of the Riksdag to vote against the bill, which passed 282 for, 1 against, 66 absent. Maggie McNeill noted at the time:

[J]ust one year ago a Swedish police press release claimed that the ban had actually increased [sex] trafficking in Sweden by making it a more lucrative market, just as prohibition of drugs makes drug dealing more profitable.

What a surprise.

7:17pm | URL: https://tmblr.co/ZMMjnxPMX6Z2

(Notes: 52)