Feminists? Survivors? Lovers? Allies? Are you out there? Are you listening? Are you not mad as hell?
Ren’s previous post referenced Judge Deni’s infamous quote, but I really do not think that it can be reiterated enough: ” . . . [this case] minimizes true rape cases and demeans women who are really raped.”
Now, I’ll ask again, beloved partners in defense of women’s rights, supporters of sexual freedom, revolutionaries waiting for the reverberating call to action, are you listening?
Because I don’t think you are, and it pains me. Unlike Ren, I am still shocked by the deafening silence over this case. I know people are talking, but why isn’t anyone outside of the sex worker community screaming?!?!?!
We could really use allied forces right now. We don’t even have to engage in the ‘sex work debate’. We can unite as sisters and brothers in arms against sexual violence.
Everyone, especially the revolutionaries whom so many of us call friends and lovers, should be alarmed by Judge Deni’s ruling. It sets a dangerous legal precedent and suggests that serial rapists can prey on sex workers with impunity.
You must ask yourselves, ‘Is there a category of person for whom rape is part of the job description?’
Rape is a crime of violence in all cases, and should be prosecuted accordingly. Judge Deni, instead, has trivialized the crime of rape herself by refusing to acknowledge the bodily integrity of this survivor.
Filed under: Announcements | Tagged: Activism, Allies, Judge Deni, Philadelphia, Rape, Sex work |
Bound, Not Gagged 
The outrage over this case is definitely out there, and we’ve seen it spread over the last few days. We tried to do our part by writing about this on our blog yesterday:
Rape is Not an Occupational Hazard
The call for action has spread across myspace and through email, especially to people in the Philly area. This was also posted about several times on the Bust magazine forums (once by us), and we’ve also seen support on a bunch of other blogs and forums. Maybe they’re not all speaking out here today, but allies are definitely out there, and hopefully they’ll also be out in Philadelphia voting tomorrow.
I so agree Jessica. Where is the outcry? So very few outside the sex worker rights have made their presence known. Why is that?
For those outside the sex worker rights movement that have or will join us. Thank you! Please try to bring more!
This isn’t just a sex worker issue, this is a women’s issue, this is an issue of humanity important to all.
I’ve noted the relative silence as well.
I wrote about this case after reading the “From Matilda At…” post. I decided to write it from my standpoint as a survivor of sexual assault. I’m trying to think about how I could also approach this from the perspective of being a woman with disabilities.
This is a time for those who claim to care about “class woman” to stand up and be counted.
Just to let you know, the radical feminist over at genderberg.com are concerned about this case too and have a post about it on their board.
That is awesome! It is important that this issue be taken up by as many people as possible.
Its too bad some wouldn’t come here. It would be a nice show of solidarity in a fight that we all have in common.
I’ve seen the story on Feministe and Feministing, and I put it up when it first happened on a community board not even associated with feminism, to get the word out, and I let them know about the rally.
I wish we heard more of it, but some of us are screaming…
I’m with you!! Thanks to many of you for working hard on this. I’ve contacted and called everyone in Philly I can think of and find phone #’s or email addresses for… I’m glad organizations like NOW can at least come support us in cases like these. Perhaps someday they’ll come all the way to our side!
Is there anything those of us outside Philly can do to help?
Sorry I couldn’t get back to you last night–my computer pooped out! Being the point person for this I can say that there has been a lot of outrage across the board from people outside Philadelphia, not just from sex workers. Sex workers have definitely been the best at maintaining the beating drum over the internet (thank you!) Being a retired sex worker and a sex worker activist, most of my writing on the topic has been very pro-sex work and I really haven’t received any negative responses about that.
There is definitely local outrage as well but I don’t have a clear sense of how many voters we are reaching. Mostly because the people who approach me to help keep coming from the same circles. We have had phenomenal local press and three of the highest turnout wards recommending “no” votes on all their lit as well as AFSCME DC 47, the ADA, and NOW.
And, btw, it’s Philadelphia NOW that has been so supportive, I haven’t heard anything about national NOW. Philly NOW is very progressive.
If you are outside Philly, please just keep circulating the bulletins everywhere you can on the internet today. Join new blogs, join new networking sites. The bulletins are bound to reach someone in Philly. There is one posted a few posts down or you can write your own.
And if she wins, there will be a lot more to do so keep checking!
I am really upset… my internet was out all night last night, so I couldn’t be here at the rally! 😦 I’ll be playing catch-up today whenever I get free moments at work, reading through everything and leaving comments, and hopefully I will have time to do a post on my own blog. I know you ladies absolutely kicked ass with your liveblogging, and I wish I could have been there for it.
I am glad that there is awareness in feminist communities, but I still fail to see the solidarity. I see them talking to themselves, and the people who listen to their outlets specifically, but I don’t see them talking to, or even acknowledging, sex workers as a political movement. So many of us still feel unwelcome in those circles, and for good reason.
How can we band together in this cause if we can’t even have a real conversation?
I thank those of you who visited during the Live Blog event last night, both those who posted, and those who were reading quietly.
We welcome you!
We want to work together to fight for the end of violence–be it sexual, mental, emotional, or physical–that effects everyone, including sex workers!
I apologize for not making it online last night. I was doubled over popping ibuprofen and couldn’t sit up straight. *le sigh*
Hey all, something weird is happening w/ the blog right now. No matter what I click, it takes me to this post. For example, right now the URL is https://deepthroated.wordpress.com/2007/11/05/gretchen-asked-me-to-post-this-on-her-behalf/, but I’m here.
???
I’ve written about it, mostly links w/excerpts to people who blogged more substantially
Not seeing a genderberg post/article on this.
[…] Where are you? […]
[…] And speak up. As inspiring as these voices in the blogosphere have been, there has also been a deafening silence from the rest of the blogosphere, not to mention the mainstream media. As far as I’ve seen, […]
belledame222 Said:
“Not seeing a genderberg post/article on this.”
That’s because the majority of genderberg’s forums aren’t public – Sam closed the majority of it off and “tightened security” some months ago.
uhh, well, that’s kind of not terribly useful wrt anyone else then is it?
i mean, not that heaven forfend i want yet another dwama of “leakage”, Maud knows, but y’know, a simple “We stand with the survivor; vote Judge Deni out” with a link to the Philly article or something would’ve sufficed, really.
Today is the first day I have heard of this problem.
As a feminist and fellow human being, I fully support people from being raped. Your profession should not be used as an excuse by the courts to further abuse the survivor of rape.