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Harm Reduction in a Pandemic--What We've Always Been Doing, Anyway
When I began having sex for money, I immediately accepted the sex worker identity, delighted to be a
BY ALEX
whore. And I have never shied away from drugs, loving the magical experiences they provided me and not feeling at all guilty about my use.
But there’s another side to me. I believe in science. I believe in risk management. I believe in emergency preparedness. In fact, my husband and I were something like preppers for a while, without the conservative bullshit and class privilege the name implies. I use condoms with clients. Whenever I can, I have at least some savings stored up. I weigh out my molly so that I don’t use more than is safe for my brain at one time, and I wait patiently for three months so I can roll again--I like to avoid neurotoxicity and I want to keep the magic. We certainly didn't invent sex work--risk is here to stay Photo credit: wikimedia
When the pandemic began ramping up in the U.S., but before it presented a real threat to me and my community, I found myself very torn. I wanted to do the
I have always been willing to take risks to feel alive. It’s a
right thing, to protect the people around me. I knew the
part of my identity. Way back when, I was a couchsurfer,
guilt would be enormous if someone died because of my
staying on strangers’ couches all over Europe and
irresponsibility. Formerly homeless, I had recently
welcoming large groups of people I’d just met at a pool
become secure in my housing situation and I wanted to
in Palm Springs into my home. One year, I hosted seven
leverage it: I realized that, from my newly privileged
handsome Austrians who took up the entire available
position, I would have the ability to make safety choices
floor space in my small SF apartment. My roommate
not everyone else would. I also am very used to not
baked them a cake covered in sprinkles.
trusting scare tactics--DARE and the entire drug war have taught me that official government sources do not
When my husband asked for an open relationship, I was excited to have a new alternative identity to embrace. Later, in a triad with two lesbians, one of my favorite parts was going to the grocery store together, out and proud in public.
effectively communicate actual facts about risk. I don’t want to think of myself as the first person who slams the door shut to the world in the face of danger.
