RED Magazine #41

RED

Translations included: (Simplified Chinese) ภาษาไทย (Thai) (Korean)

简体中⽂

한국어

RED Magazine is produced in Victoria by RhED to create a resource for sex workers, and a platform to elevate the voices of sex workers and their lived experiences.

RED magazine is the result of community collaboration.

Views and contributions within RED are those of the contributors and independent authors alone and are not necessarily shared by RhED.

Who is RhED? Resourcing health & Education (RhED) is a service for the sex industry in Victoria. RhED is committed to respecting and reflecting the needs of the sex industry, and actively promoting the rights of sex workers. Our team reflects a mix of current and past sex workers, volunteers, and other professionals.

Services available Advocacy | Education | Information | Support | Referral | Interpreters | Translated Materials RhED works with all genders and sexes and defines sex work as including, but not limited to: full-service in a brothel, street, private, and escort environment, stripping and showgirls, camming, pornography, topless waiting, and erotic massage.

All services are free and confidential and operate between Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Phone: 1800 458 752 Email: sexworker@sexworker.org.au Website: sexworker.org.au Text: 0400 674 217 COVER IMAGE Photography: Kristen Augeard Behind the Scenes for Holly Bates’ House of Whoreship EDITOR/DESIGNER Emma Rose

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEXT ISSUE OF RED? CONTACT: erose@bhn.org.au or sexworker@sexworker.org.au

RhED as a program of Better Health Network acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government

Printed in Melbourne by Highlight Printing

WRITER & ARTIST CONTRIBUTORS Lauren (Silk Lab photography) Holly Bates Cookie Vaylira Victoria Liss Marie Celeste TRANSLATIONS Shuky

Issue no. 41: November 2023 Registered by Australia Post, Print Post Approval Publication #PP 343396/00004 | ABN 74 711 038 580 | ARBN A0028274C Copyright: Better Health Network (BHN) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the copyright owner.

Views expressed in RED Magazine are those of respective contributors and do not necessarily represent those shared by RhED or BHN.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

We acknowledge sovereignty has never been ceded and that this always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

CONTENTS 6

Editor’s Letter

8

Co-ordinator Update

16

DIY Photoshoots on a Budget

24

34 36 38

42 49

50 56

62 74

86 98

Emma Rose

Catriona Larkin & Stina Boro

Lauren - Silk Lab Photography Holly Bates - House of Whoreship Holly Bates Artwork (3D render) Cookie (@Shooksgaze) Incalls

Artwork Vaylira Herpes Deep Dive Victoria Sex work Businesses

The Naked Therapist Liss Marie Article Celeste Simplified Chinese Translations ( )

简体中⽂

Thai Translations (ภาษาไทย) Korean Translations ( )

한국어

Listings

Arrest Referral Program

DO YOU HAVE LEGAL MATTERS? IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW? WE CAN HELP!

CONTACT EMMA 0422 401 037 sexworker@sexworker.org.au

Find you a lawyer Support you at court

We can:

Liaise with police Advocate for you

Where can I be tested? www.staystifree.org.au Request a SHIP (Sexual Health in Practice) when booking your appointment or book online.

They offer a full range of sexual health clinical services, including: · Routine STI check ups · Testing and treatment for people with sexually transmissible infections · Onsite treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and genital warts · Prescriptions for PEP and PrEP to prevent HIV All GP practices are sex worker friendly and can offer a certificate if requested.

Some GP practices charge fees, please check their website for details.

This service is part of a Victorian government initiative to increase sexual health services across Victoria. All GP Practices located on Stay STI Free are being supported by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. The doctors and nurses have had extensive sexual health training with Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and RhED. RhED is a proud stakeholder in this initiative.

HUSTLING 2 HEALTH IS AT ST KILDA GATEHOUSE EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT H2H is now at St Kilda Gatehouse every Friday from 5pm-9pm Different location, same service!

Drop in for some food, chats, clothes, make-up, safer sex supplies, Ugly Mugs reports, naloxone, injecting equipment, or a shower.

H2H staff offer a variety of support including referrals to legal assistance, case management, sexual health and allied health services.

Hello again!

I can’t believe it’s been 6 months already since the last RED magazine. I hope the last half year has brought you what you were hoping for and needing.

editor’s Letter

In this issue, I’m excited to bring you a mix of sex worker art, industry relevant articles, important decriminalisation information, and an interview with the director of my new favourite short film ‘House of Whoreship’. I couldn’t resist placing one of the behind-the-scenes photos by Kristen Augeard on the cover of this magazine. I hope this image feels comforting or nostalgic for many of you.

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The RhED team have been keeping busy pulling together important information for the upcoming decriminalisation changes! Some information is included in this issue. Some of the major changes coming into effect on December 1 include the removal of criminal offences related to providing incall services, changes to liquor licensing restrictions for brothels, and changes to planning and licensing requirements for brothels and other sex work businesses. In case you missed it, last year some sex work decriminalisation changes came into effect including discrimination protections for sex workers, removal of mandatory quarterly STI testing, changes to advertising restrictions, and removal of SWA numbers, as well as the abolishment of the register of independent escorts. If you have any questions about the changes you can get in touch, or you can visit Vixen’s decrim hub at https://vixen.org.au/infohub/ Slowly there are more and more community events and spaces popping up which is exciting! I feel so lucky to be a part of this incredibly creative, generous, and smart community. There have been some fun explicit nights such as Show Us Ya Tips, and Smut. Harlot shop has opened in Richmond to supply you with work clothes, comfy clothes, and good vibes. We have Bigger Sister Channel running industry related workshops. There is the Vixen drop in space which is in Brunswick open from Tuesday-Friday. I’m sure there have been many more things lately that I just haven’t been in the loop with! If you’re ever having a rough patch with work, or even things outside of work, my main advice is always lean into your community! No one does community like we do. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for sex work community events at Midsumma carnival and deep into 2024.

On top of what I’ve already mentioned above, in this issue we also have an amazing contribution from Lauren from Silk Lab that will take your home-made photoshoots to the next level. We also have an article on everything you ever wanted to know about the highly stigmatised but oh-so common herpes simplex virus. Lastly, we have two articles written by current and former strippers that focus on what they have gained from their time working in the sex industry.

I hope you enjoy this issue! As always, please get in touch if you have any feedback or contributions. You can reach me at erose@bhn.org.au or through the sexworker@sexworker.org.au inbox.

See you in the next issue!

Emma

Emma Rose Peer Health educator

Have some ideas you want to share with your community?

Got a creative itch that needs scratching?

Have time to kill at the broth?

Contribute to RED Mag! We’re always looking for stories, art, poems, photographs, reflections to publish so please get in touch at sexworker@sexworker.org.au.

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Update Co-ordinator

Dear RED readers, Welcome to the 41st edition of your RED magazine!

RhED is working hard with a variety of different stakeholders as the final stages of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 are implemented. We are looking forward to December when we can finally say goodbye to the Sex Work Act for good and for good reason!

We continue, in the lead up to this significant reform our advocacy and education work. We commit to advocating for further progressive law reform and societal change to end the ongoing stigma and discrimination attached to the sex industry. We also want to acknowledge the work that Vixen, Victoria’s peer only sex worker organisation has done since receiving funding in the wake of the decriminalisation reform announcement to deliver the services they have provided for many years unfunded to the sex worker community. You can read more about Vixen’s work here: https://vixen.org.au/ In terms of staffing updates for the RhED program, we wish to pay a special tribute to our brilliant Health Educator Gabby who after many, many years has decided to move on from RhED. Gabby has been with RhED since its inception and hails from the Prostitutes Collective of Victoria (PCV) days. Gabby has seen many changes throughout her time at RhED and has built incredible relationships over the years with many of you working in the industry. Gabby has also been responsible in the past for putting this magazine together and has long been regarded as the guru of RhED in terms of her knowledge and awareness of the history of the program and the sex industry in Victoria. Thank you, Gabby, for your commitment to the sex industry and for your work with RhED. You will be missed and fondly remembered by many!

In terms of other RhED updates, we farewelled our case manager Wendy and our Young Person’s Support Worker Sammy who has left us temporarily to welcome a beautiful baby girl into our folds. We are very lucky to have the support of Shea who has again joined us to replace Sammy whilst she is on parental leave.

We also welcomed Anastasia as our newest Health Educator.

Better Health Network (the organisation RhED is a program of) is continuing its voluntary amalgamation process with two other community health organisations. You can read more about our new organisation here: https://bhn.org.au/ RhED is working hard with a variety of different stakeholders as the final stages of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 are implemented. We are looking forward to December when we can finally say goodbye to the Sex Work Act for good and for good reason!

We continue, in the lead up to this significant reform our advocacy and education work. We commit to advocating for further progressive law reform and societal change to end the ongoing stigma and discrimination attached to the sex ind We are working hard to ensure more opportunities for sex workers to receive sex worker affirmative services through our new community health organisation into the future and at RhED take our responsibility in this area very seriously.

Here at RhED we love to connect with community! We had a great time at the Oz Kinkfest Fetish Expo in October. RhED will be attending several events this summer and throughout the year including Midsumma Carnival, Pride march and ChillOut Festival.

Come and say hi!

RhED has solidified its Sex Worker Affirmative Practice training package and continues to roll this out across a number of different organisations including health, mental health, alcohol and other drug, family violence, legal and other settings. RhED has recently committed to some partnership work with Victoria Police to support members to develop affirmative practice when working with sex workers. This work is historically significant with the shift for Victoria Police from a regulatory and enforcement role and we acknowledge the work we need to do in this space. We want to make special mention of the work we have done with the Sex Industry Coordination Unit (SICU) in this space as this team winds down for Victoria Police and for their willingness to drive this work and support Victoria Police members build affirmative relationships with sex workers. We all know we have a long way to go in this area, but we are deeply committed to this work.

We know many of us are affected physically, mentally, emotionally and financially by much that is going on in the world– please remember that social connections with your community are so important to continue to maintain. The RhED program is available to support you, so please get in touch – we are passionate bunch of people with wide ranging and diverse professional experiences and we love to hear from you!

To connect with us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at sexworker@sexworker.org.au, 1800 458 752 or https://www.facebook.com/rhedsexworker You can also find us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/rhedvictoria and our peer run socials page on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/virtual_backroom/ We also have a variety of resources that you can find online in relation to working in Victoria via our website, and we continue to create new ones based on trends and feedback from within the industry. We will have a range of resources post December to work on to support the industry adapt to the changes and we know there will be gaps! Reach out to us if there’s something you think is missing! We encourage you to stay tuned to our socials and our website for all the details in relation to future program activities and updates.

You can also sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with our work.

As always, if you have any feedback about improving the magazine, or any of RhED’s services, please let us know! Thank you for your continued support of our program. It is through your support that we are able to be in a process of continual improvement and working towards being the best that we can be for the Victorian sex industry.

Stay safe, well and connected with your incredibly diverse, mobilised, resilient and powerful community.

In solidarity,

Catriona Larkin Support and Advocacy Coordinator Stina Boro Pathways Coordinator

PATHWAYS PROGRAM

What is Case Management?

The RhED Pathways Program involves a RhED worker (case manager) supporting past or present sex workers to reach their goals. The support period is for a maximum of 12 months.

SEX WORKER SUPPORT Navigating the sex industry Providing support towards business goals Advocacy support for sex worker rights

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING Providing care team support between health professionals using a sex work affirmative lens Referral pathways to sex worker friendly mental health practitioners Psychosocial support towards life goals Support with alcohol and drug use, using a harm reduction approach

LEGAL Support navigating the legal system Referrals to sex worker friendly lawyers Assisting clients to court Providing support with planning post release from prison

HOUSING Referrals to housing providers Assisting clients to navigate the public housing system Support with private rental goals Providing support for people who are experiencing homelessness or who are sleeping rough

FINANCIAL Referral pathways to budgeting and financial literacy courses Providing sex worker friendly referrals to accountants & financial planners Supporting sex workers who are experiencing financial difficulty to access the right supports in the community

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS Building confidence to access community Psychosocial support to those who are experiencing isolation Support for persons who have limited to no social supports Providing information for sex workers to build their networks in the industry

For a confidential chat about your goals or support needs please call 1800 458 752 or send an email to sexworker@sexworker.org.au For more information visit our website www.sexworker.org.au

They say that

“sex work is work”, but honestly I think

“sex workers are workers” is a more appropriate slogan for legitimising the industry:

the labour does not validate sex work as a job, the humanity of the sex worker does.

Addis Fouche - Writer and Sex Worker

Did you know incalls are legal in Victoria from December 1 2023?

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You can now see clients at home, in a hotel room you have booked, or in an Airbnb booked under your name without fear of criminalisation.* Get in touch with us if you have any questions about this change, or any other changes from the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022. *While sex workers can't be criminalised for providing incalls, hotels and Airbnb hosts might still try to discriminate against sex workers due to pervasive sex work stigma in society. If this happens to you and you want to debrief, or support to follow this up, get in touch with us.

DIY photoshoots on a Budget: A Recipe for SelfPortrait Photoshoots for Sex Workers In a world driven by visuals, where every scroll, click, and tap leads to an endless stream of images, the power of a single photograph is undeniable. This is especially true when you're in the realm of sex work. Think about it – you want to grab a potential client's attention with just one pic that makes them stop, read your profile, and maybe even shoot you a message.

That one image is your chance to make them curious enough to take the plunge, learn more, and more importantly - make a booking!

Whether you're just starting out or it’s just time to update your photos to something more recent, you've probably realised that getting a pro photoshoot can rack up quite the bill.

Don't get me wrong, professional photoshoots defintiely have their perks – they’re great quality, they make clients feel like they can trust you, and they give your brand an air of “legitimacy” and overall have a great return on investment. Plus, you can get a bunch of outfits and poses done in no time. But sometimes, it can be bit like the chicken-and-egg situation you need photos to bring in that income, but you need funds available already to book a shoot. That’s where a DIY selfportrait session comes in handy.

With a bit of creativity, a sprinkle of confidence, and the right techniques, you can craft captivating self-portraits that exude both sensuality and personality. I'm a firm believer that you only need three killer photos to start your online profile (you can add more pics overtime if needed). And guess what? You don't need to be a pro photographer to get them.

In this article, I'm diving into a bunch of tips and tricks to help you snap your own self-portraits using just your phone camera.

If you're ready to get your new profile up without breaking the bank, read on for my budget friendly DIY Self-Portrait Recipe.

Written by Lauren AKA Silk Lab Photography 19

Essential Ingredients for a Photoshoot A location you love with lots of natural light At least 1 outfit you love and feel confident in Hair Styling Makeup (Optional - if you blur your face you can skip this if you like!)

A Smartphone to take the snaps Some spare time to actually do the shoot!

Free Editing Apps

Method Pre Shoot - Step 1: Choose a location Locations can really make or break a shoot. I find that something that has an abundance of natural light works best. Here’s a list of location suggestions: Your bedroom, house or apartment (or a generous friend’s place) - FREE! The easiest, most accessible and free option with zero time constraints for you to shoot in and experiment with is your own space. When shooting in your own space I recommend taking the time to tidy the space and keep clutter to a minimum. Take out anything unnecessary or clunky in the background like a tissue box or backpack, whatever. Simple is always better, and will help keep the focus of the image and attention on you.

Natural lighting can work wonders, so experiment with different times of day and window angles to cast beautiful light and shadows. Hot Tip: Sheer curtains will give a beautiful soft light that looks great on skin.

If you have privacy concerns about shooting in your own space, I would recommend shooting in an area that has no elements that would easily identify the space as yours. This could be as simple as shooting your photos up against a white wall with only you in the frame, or removing any personal items or furniture from the shots that are unique to you.

If privacy and anonymity is of high priority to you, and you’re unable to remove personal items from the background then I would recommend you reconsider shooting in your own home at all.

Outdoors - Free!

There are so many great outdoor options you can choose - and clothed photos can work just as well as lingerie, underwear, implied and/or outright nude shots. For this option you may need the assistance of a good friend or basic phone tripod (check out Amazon or Kmart).

Here’s a few ideas: Out in the park, a cute casual look On the beach or by a pool - throw on your favourite swimmers Out and about getting brunch, coffee, or maybe some cocktails in your favourite evening wear.

Get physical and put on some activewear, an internet favourite look for sure

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Method

A brothel, massage parlour, strip club, or other establishment - FREE! If you’re already working within an establishment that has rooms or areas for you to take selfies in then I say make the most of it! Especially if you’re wanting to use the photos to promote that you work in that particular place.

This option can be a bit trickier as you’ll generally not have access to natural light, and will be dealing with whatever artificial available light the space has. However, you can get creative with rearranging the positions of lamps in the room, or moving yourself around the space until you find a spot that has flattering or interesting light that you’d like to use.

You could also experiment with using the flash on you phone, or having a friend turn on their phone torch and holding it above you at different angles whilst you take the photos on your phone.

A Hotel Room or Airbnb If you do have a bit of a budget to play around with, then you can look into booking a hotel room or Airbnb specifically for your personal photoshoot. Or if you’re currently working and find yourself in a suitable outcall location, make the most of being there and experiment with taking a few snaps! www.dayuse.com Prices range from $100-$300 for between 6-10 hours during daytime hours Hot Tip! Make sure to cross check the name of the room type on the Day use website with the photos of the room with the same name on either the direct hotel website or www.booking.com - I have found that dayuse often posts photos of all of their rooms and it can be hard to tell which room you will actually get on the day of the booking. www.booking.com or www.airbnb.com Prices vary - Overnight stays Hot Tip! Be mindful of check in and check out times. Sometimes in the winter you will only have a small window of natural light time between check in time and sunset. In this case I recommend planning to do a morning photoshoot before check out time so you are un rushed Another Hot Tip! Find a friend who also wants to do a selfie photoshoot to share the room with, and share the cost with.

And another Hot Tip! I find booking.com great for searching for hotels within your city/area, but double check with the hotel directly first before booking as you may get a cheaper price directly.

Method Pre Shoot - Step 2: Choose an Outfit You don't need an extensive wardrobe to create a captivating self portrait. Raid your closet for pieces that make you feel beautiful and confident. Don't hesitate to borrow from friends; they might have hidden treasures that can add variety to your shots. Keep it simple, especially if you're new to self-portraiture. Start with one outfit that reflects your personality and style.

Your location choice might dictate your outfit choice, or vice versa. Have fun with it, this is where you get to be creative.

On the Day - Step 3: Hair Styling Styling your hair for your DIY photoshoot might just be the secret ingredient that takes your self portraits from ordinary to extraordinary. Your hair is a versatile accessory that can amplify the mood and aesthetics of your shots and can be a prop in and of itself. If you blur your face for your profile it can also be a helpful tool to obscure your face in certain shots to avoid blurring. It frames your face (even when blurred), adds dimension to your poses, and complements your wardrobe choices, enhancing the overall cohesiveness of your images.

If you’re confident in styling your own hair, then do what you normally do!

If you’re not so confident or you want to do a whole day of different looks, then booking in a blow wave or styling session for around $50-$70 can take the stress out of getting ready for your selfie shoot, and can really elevate the finished look.

On the Day - Step 4: Makeup Makeup? It's your call for boudoir shoots, especially if you blur your face for shots. If makeup's your thing, stick to your regular routine – you could even dial it up a bit to make your features really pop. But hey, this is all about your personal taste and what makes you feel your best and comfortable in your own skin.

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Method On the Day - Step 5: Do the shoot!

By this stage you’ve arrived at your location, you’ve got your hair and makeup done, you’ve put on your favourite outfit and you’re ready to shoot! Now it’s time to grab your phone and start taking photos non stop until you think you’ve got the shots or you’ve run out of steam.

Below are are some tips for how to squeeze the most out of your shoot.

Tools to help you Modern mobile phones are armed with powerful cameras that can deliver impressive results. They are your pocket-sized tools to capturing sultry and empowering self-portraits. To make the most of them, consider adding one of these low-cost tools to your arsenal: A mini phone tripod Prop up your phone on items you have around the room available on items you have laying around. Get creative - you can use a coffee cup to put your phone in to stand up, a sneaker also works great, or a stack of books on a chair.

If you want more control, order a phone case that helps you stick it to walls, mirrors and other surfaces. Search for “suction phone case” or “nano sticky phone case”. Other DIY options include painters tape or gaffer tape - both of which don’t leave a sticky residue A Bluetooth trigger / remote shutter. You can grab these for as cheap as $2 online, some $2 shops also sell them. Some mobile tripods also have remote triggers included for your phone.

Bonus: A second phone can also be used as a remote trigger with the app “Remote Shutter”.

This turns one phone into the camera, and the other phone into a remote shutter AND viewfinder which can be incredibly helpful for taking selfies Shooting Tips Experiment and have fun with lighting – it's like your secret ingredient for kicking your selfportraits up a notch. Try playing around with your camera's angle and where the light's coming from. When the light direction matches the position and direction of your camera, you'll get this even, all-over lighting that will always look nice. If you shift the camera about between 45 90 degrees to the side, the light will introduce some shadows to your body from the side. That's when the magic happens – those shadows start showing off, giving your body some amazing depth and shape turning your selfies go from "nice" to "wow" in no time!

Play with angles - The beauty of self-portraits lies in the freedom to explore different angles and perspectives. Experiment with various camera heights, and don't hesitate to play with unconventional compositions. Remember that body parts and features that are closer the the camera will appear bigger, and parts and features that are further away will seem smaller. This is helpful when deciding what you’d like to accentuate and what you’d like to minimise.

Poses - you know your body best, so help guide yourself with mirrors and practicing poses.

Interval Timer - Make use of phone apps that us an interval timer (ie it take a photo every 0.5s, 1s, 2s, or however long you want the interval to be. This means you can pose freely without having to continually trigger the phone to take a new photo. Another option is to set the phone to record, and just move your body slowly into new poses, you can then review the video, pause and take a screen shot of poses that you like! Lens Buddy is a free app.

Alternatively you can also use Procamera with it’s ProTimer feature to do the same, this app also allows you to shoot your photos in Raw if your phone model allows this capability.

Overcoming Self-Consciousness:

Even experienced models face self-consciousness. It's crucial to remember that every stunning image you see online is the result of multiple attempts. Embrace the process, and don't be discouraged by "imperfect" shots. Confidence is cultivated over time. The more you practice and experiment, the more comfortable you'll become in front of the camera.

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Method Step 6 - Review The Photos & Edit if needed / wanted.

♥

Take the time so flag and your favourite photos. You may have done such an amazing job that you don’t feel the need to edit the photos. However if you feel the need to edit your pics, there are a number of options: Native photo app on your phone: use this to play with sharpness, contrast, colours, exposure, and cropping to refine your images Lightroom - subscription based app but a 7 day trial is available that you can make use of. This app is great for all of the above mentioned editing tools, as well as patching and basic retouching for blemishes.

Facetune - Paid and free options. This has more options for skin retouching, but go easy as it’s easy to go over the top!

Photoshop Express - subscription based app but a 7 day trial is available that you can make use of. Great for face blurring as well as lots of the same editing tools in Lightroom Procreate Pocket - once off fee $5.99. This is a bit more clunky and is made primarily for digital illustrations, but it has the ability to do blemish retouching as well as face blurring with layers. It is a steeper learning curve than Facetune, Lightroom Mobile or Photoshop express but the low once off price is in my opinion worth it.

Step 7 - Enjoy your photos and post them to your online profile!

And if all else fails, take the time to save a small amount of money and book in a shoot with a professional photographer. I pride myself on making my services as accessible as possible for all budgets, and specialise in photography for sex workers.

If you haven’t seen my work before, you can check it out on my website www.silklab.photography - and maybe even get some inspiration for poses for your DIY self portrait shoot.

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Happy snapping!

Written by Lauren AKA Silk Lab Photography

Holly

House of 26

Bates

If you haven’t heard of House of Whoreship, it’s the post-rom com short film you didn’t know was missing from your life. Holly Bates is an artist, brothel-based sex worker, and the director of the film that captures a moment in time depicting queer Melbourne’s brothel culture. House of Whoreship is the antidote to the plague of voyeuristic and unidimensional hot-takes on sex worker protagonists who feature in shallow films created by civvies looking to make a quick buck. I was keen to hear about Holly’s life and the experiences that inspired, what to me, feels like a documentary of so many contemporary sex workers’ lives. Holly and I caught up right after she was back in Melbourne following the world premier of House of Whoreship at queer film festival, Inside Out, in Toronto.

Whoreship

STILL FROM 'HOUSE OF WHORESHIP', HOLLY BATES, 2022

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So, what’s your star sign?

Tell me about how this film came to be.

I’m a Leo sun, Scorpio Rising and Capricorn Moon!

Sex work had always creeped it’s way into my visual art practice before film, in whatever way I could gesture to it without outing myself. When I started doing brothel work it was a cultural shock to see how warm and community based this sector was, compared to how I had been conditioned to view it from the media (as well as the whorephobic narrative about brothels and FSSW from my strip-club experience). The experiences I had at work vastly contrasted what I had seen in film and TV, or weren’t out there at all- and as I hustled at the brothel to move down to Melbourne, the desire and hunger for real sex worker representation grew. It’s strange, because realistically I wouldn’t have been able to do my Masters or fund my film without sex work. In a way, my film-making career has been intimately tied to my full service career from the start.

What’s your sex work origin story?

I have been working through different areas of the industry for about 10 years.

When I was 18 I started out doing random sugar baby gigs, and then when I was 20 my partner at the time got in a car crash (in my car) with an expired licence, resulting in hectic debt that had a deadline. In order to pay it off they started stripping and after a month or so suggested I join them (they said my titties would be sure to bring in the bucks). I did that for a year and it wasn’t for me (the titties did not bring in the big bucks). Stripping wasn’t my forte. At the time I was incredibly shy- which I’ll admit stripping taught me to mask- but I also was exposing myself in my hometown of Brisbane. The constant threat of being outed loomed over my head, as well as the toxic management, the strip club fines and the rampant whorephobia against FSSW. Working alongside my ex-partner who would earn double what I did in the same shift was also a mental toll for young insecure me. In the end I developed so much anxiety that the little money I was making just wasn’t worth it. I think I always knew that stripping wasn’t for me and that full service always was. I knew I performed better behind closed doors.

I continued to do the sugar baby thing on and off, which was essentially escorting. The difference was having to navigate the clients pretending it wasn’t [escorting], which resulted in irritatingly high levels of emotional labour. Years later I finally got into full service through brothel work. In early 2019, I went through a 5-year relationship breakdown, unshakable creative block and a quarter life crisis that led to some life re-evaluation. This led to the decision to move to Melbourne to do my Masters in Film & TV, but my hospo job at the time had reduced shifts which meant living week to week with no savings in sight. So, on a whim, I went to the nearest brothel, got a tour, got my health certificate, and started days later. As soon as I started doing [brothel work] I felt like I must’ve done it in a past life. It opened a door to a room inside my psyche that had been sitting there dormant, but present, waiting to be opened. There is something about brothel and full service sex work that feels totally instinctual to me, so in a weird way it felt like I’d finally arrived home. And I’ve been doing it ever since!

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But the most interesting part of being a sex worker isn’t the clients, or how we dress or how we work- it’s the relationships and care we keep within the community The original script I wrote was actually based on a priest that came into my Brisbane brothel who confessed to me during a booking that he was struggling with his celibacy, hence the name, ‘House of Whoreship’. I received feedback that the behind the scenes worker interactions in the script were far more interesting than any of the client interactions I had written. I racked my brain trying to think of a way to show only the community and behind the scenes aspects of the workplace that would engagingly build suspense for a narrative format, while also challenging the toxic whore tropes that are exhausted in film. I had recently gone through a break-up with another worker, and with the Melbourne sex worker scene being as queer as it is- I decided that this was the perfect story device- a romantic break-up in the workplace. My break-up was bad and unresolved, which will forever haunt me- however making this film was comforting in that it was a completely different story that had a happy ending.

But the behind the scenes, banal work tasks, community components of the story- that all felt really true to life for me.

To me the film is a documentary, which I know is not how you’d describe it…

I can totally see that! That’s interesting, I’ll come back to that.

It’s cool how the film is about everyone’s relationships, rather than our actual work or clients. I think people don’t realise how benign and boring the work of sex work can be.

Exactly. If you work regularly it can get to a point (especially if you’re near the burnout stage) where bookings have the same mental stimulation as putting groceries through a check out (as someone who's done both). Sure, you get the occasional oddball and funny story that you can’t wait to share with workers in the backrooms, but at the end of the day, when I think about the shift, I barely remember the dudes or the bookings.

Clients will come in to see you after some time, it could be a week or months, and say ‘Can you do what you did last time?’ and you’ll be like ‘ Um you’ll have to remind me honey..’ because you literally might not even recognise the man. At least you might not until the health check..

But the most interesting part of being a sex worker isn’t the clients, or how we dress or how we work- it’s the relationships and care we keep within the community. I hate that as soon as you open up or come out as a sex worker, you become one-dimensional to civvies. You’re literally tramp-stamped. All they want to ask you about is the experiences with clients on the job. I’m honestly sick of talking about it. Clients just aren’t that interesting, sorry. We are more than our job, most of us have lives outside of the job because it is just THAT, a job. Don’t interrogate us about it, and if we want to share our thoughts and experiences with it- consider yourself lucky?

What has the reaction to the film been like from civvies?

I have only heard a little bit. Inside Out Festival in Toronto was the most recent experience in which I was able to engage with civvies after watching the film. The most common reaction I got was that they thought it was really wholesome. Which, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone describe a film depicting sex work in that way- so that was really, really surprising in the best way.

When I screened the final cut to my fellow Masters classmates, they said that it felt real and that the world felt real. So, I think that there’s an authenticity there felt by people who haven’t stepped into our world- and that’s probably because it’s actually a sex worker behind this sex worker story...

ON SET FOR 'HOUSE OF WHORESHIP'. PHOTOS BY KRISTEN AUGEARD

...Not a john. No-one seemed to miss the fact that there were almost no client interactions on screen. A classmate said to me that they could feel the clients’ presence regardless of their absence- their energy was felt in the background. You know the job’s there- but the focus is on the workers.

I think all the time that sometimes I wish people could have a fly-on-thewall experience, there’s so much humanity in this job and workers can be so beautiful and supportive with one another. When I go into the backroom and see a worker braiding another worker’s hair, or similar gestures of care, I’m always just like ‘Ahh, my heart!’ Sex work is its own little world, and it exists on its own little plane.

Sex workers often have this immediate bond right? It’s really interesting.

Yeah! It is. For me personally I felt more love, solidarity and community when I entered the sex work community versus like when I came out [as queer]. When I came out I was 19 in 2014/2015... so a long time ago now, well… it’s not that long ago but it was different.

The femme invisibility was pretty brutal and I felt like I had to fight my way in sometimes. The sex work community is so diverse in so many ways, but the embracing of queer femmes especially meant I felt like I had found where I belonged.

So, I never thought I’d see a bloodsoaked sponge on film, but I’m so glad that I now have. I know lots of sex workers have sponge horror stories, so I need to ask - was that scene inspired by real life?

Ah yes, that scene is inspired by real life- it’s just not from the brothel. It’s based on my ex who I dated for 5 years and have been exes with for 4 years. We thankfully became best friends after our break-up. I haven’t had someone get my sponge out before- not to say it hasn’t gotten stuck, or I haven’t injured myself during my short-lived acrylic stages.

I had an IUD put in not too long after I started brothel work and about an hour later I started bleeding heavy..

Like really heavy. I was filling up a night-time maxi pad every 15 minutes, as well as birthing all these blood clots.

STILL FROM 'HOUSE OF WHORESHIP', HOLLY BATES, 2022

The doctor had given me her number just in case, and when I called her to tell her what was happening, she told me to go to the hospital. I had already been messaging photos of my blood clots to a group chat with my friends- which my ex was still a part of. I told them what the doctor said, and my ex chimed in and said they’d take me.

They were also the only one who could drive… and even though I was feeling emotional as hell, I was relieved. As soon as I got in their ute I started bawling my eyes out, but they were super calm and despite the weirdness of the situation, grounding.

They stayed the entire hospital visit.

Again- weird, but their presence was comforting. I was put in an adult diaper, given medication to stop the bleeding, and my ex called my family to let them know I was okay. I didn’t have to ask, they just knew what to do. Afterwards we had a chat. I told them I thought they didn’t care about me anymore, they responded that they did care, they had just needed some space. I had been the dumper in this situation. Years later it’s an absurd story we still laugh over, and I wanted to bring that kind of warmth and unconventionality to the film. So, I made the brothel version.

HOLLY ON SET FOR 'HOUSE OF WHORESHIP'.

PHOTO BY KRISTEN AUGEARD That scene is so good, when I saw the actual sponge, I was like ‘no way!’

That’s what I love about sex work workspaces as well, the boundaries are so different. I was trying to capture the subtleties and odd tools we use, because as you know things get normalized very quickly. Our idea of workplace social norms is very different to most industries. I feel like people aren’t as open minded or caring [outside the industry]. This isn’t to say everyone is like this, there are absolutely closed minded and self-involved sex workers as well, but even they empathise with you because of the work that you do, the label that you share.

Was House of Whoreship filmed at the old Number 100?

Yes! The heavily haunted 100.

Was it!?

Oh yeah. The 100 definitely was the most intense ghost experience I’ve ever had. The building had been on the market for about 8 months and it was mostly empty; it only had bed fit outs, old curtains, and the stock standard cumscented pink soap dispensers. The building was in quite bad shape because it was old and had been broken into a couple of times since going on the market. The real estate agent was super hesitant to rent it to us, but because of the break-ins and lack of market interest- the owners agreed to rent it to us so they could get some cash to go towards repairs. I rented it for a month, one week shooting, and 3 weeks of preproduction. We repaired quite a bit, and repainted the vanity rooms and kitchen. Anyway because the building had been empty for 8 months, us coming in must have felt quite abrupt to the local inhabitant. It really did feel like we were disturbing the space. I was completely terrified in the beginning, but in the end she felt like my secret guardian angel. I talked to her nearly every day of that rental month. I felt sad to leave her behind.

Was it still set up like a brothel on the inside?

They had no furniture, but the bed bases were there, built in like the stone beds of the flintstones. There were stickers on the walls, and of course the soap, but it was otherwise completely empty. It was only the little artifacts left behind.

You could feel the previous workers though, there were scuff marks from pleasers on the floor, notes on the wall. It felt super special to film there. I’m still grateful for it, replicating a brothel would have been too costly for me. You need the showers in the rooms, locker room, smoking areas, intro rooms- I probably would have had to use multiple locations to film. The 100 was my saving grace, it was everything we needed.

And there was the ghost?

Yes, she’s known as Sophie or Stephanie from the information I was able to gather. The night before I had my proper first experience with her, I had a dream that I took a single light bulb into the 100 building and asked the bulb to flash if there were spirits there. The bulb went OFF. I woke up and packed some garden sage knowing that the dream confirmed my gut feeling of the energy I had felt there. The few crew members that had popped by the space didn’t want to be in the building without me, so I knew they felt it too. That day I got a couple of friends to help me move some couches into the old intro room. When my friends went to get something from the car, I took a photo of the newly positioned couches. As I did, a white orb appeared from the other end of the room and flew past my left eye, and at the same time- every single dust particle in the room whooshed at me super quickly. There was no breeze. I let out a ‘ WHOA’’ and my friend coming back heard me and asked what was happening. I told them it was nothing but they knew by my tone and face. I stayed back saging the building alone, only able to whimper the words ‘good vibes only’ (lol) as I was too terrified to say anything else. When I got out of the building it was night-time, and when I got home I was still so terrified I had to take 3 valiums to calm down. I knew the sage had done nothing but confirm the building's smoke alarms were DEFINITELY expired.

STILL FROM 'HOUSE OF WHORESHIP', HOLLY BATES, 2022

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I reached out to community channels and asked if anyone reached out or to information community channels and asked if anyone hadIexperiences about a potential spirit at had experiences about a potential the 100, and got tensorofinformation messages from workers whospirit had. at 100, andIgot tensout of messages from workers who had.

Thatthe was when found about Sophie/Stephanie.

Most That had was positive when I found out about Sophie/Stephanie.

Most workers and empathetic things to say about had positive to say about her. workers They mentioned thatand sheempathetic could be a things bit spicy, would her. They fuck mentioned that she be a(bit spicy, occasionally with people on could the stairs which I would occasionally with people on the ( which I vaguely includedfuck in my safety model forstairs uni), but vaguely included in my safety model for uni), but This ultimately that she loved workers, and hated clients. ultimately she she loved workers, and hated clients.

This made sense asthat to why had flown at me in the old intro made sense as to why she had flown at me in the old room- it was a client space. I enquired about how she intro room- it was a client space. I enquired about how she appeared, and was told in photos, by moving drink cans in appeared, and was told in photos, by moving drink cans in the girls room, dropping towels, changing the water the girls room, dropping towels, changing the water temperature etc. Most stories I received were accounts of temperature etc. Most stories I received were accounts of her protecting the workers from bad clients. So ultimately I her protecting the workers from bad clients. So ultimately I knew I had to go back there and let her know who I was, knew I had to go back there and let her know who I was, and my intention for the space. and my intention for the space.

The The nextnext dayday I bought a bunch of flowers and took it to the I bought a bunch of flowers and took it to the room she she supposedly looked over, which was room 4 (4we room supposedly looked over, which was room ( we filmed the the shower scene in this room) and satsat onon thethe filmed shower scene in this room) and mattress I had brought in the dayday before.

I apologised forfor mattress I had brought in the before.

I apologised the sage, explained my my intentions, and read herher thethe script. the sage, explained intentions, and read script.

The The firstfirst couple of times I spoke to her, I would look and couple of times I spoke to her, I would look and talk talk to the bunch of flowers placed in front of the shower. to the bunch of flowers placed in front of the shower.

When I leftI left the the room thethe second time, I checked whether When room second time, I checked whether the shower fan fan waswas on, on, because both times thethe airair in in front the shower because both times front of the flowers looked likelike it was vibrating and movinglike of the flowers looked it was vibrating and movinglike a mirage.

It was off, off, andand thethe next time before I spoke to to her a mirage.

It was next time before I spoke her I checked again justjust in case.

This time thethe airair was I checked again in case.

This time was completely before I decided I must have completely still,still, andand justjust before I decided I must have imagined it the all, the door to the room swung back and forth, imagined it all, door to the room swung back and forth, I thought ‘ THERE very few windows were andand I thought ‘ THERE youyou are’.are’.

TheThe very few windows were barricaded there breeze.

She kept barricaded andand there waswas no no breeze.

She kept meme onon mymy toes!toes!

In the three weeks of pre-production I spent a lot time In the three weeks of pre-production I spent a lot of of time there alone, staying some nights until witches hour there alone, staying some nights until thethe witches hour (3am).

I wanted to get to know and trust before (3am).

I wanted her her to get to know and trust meme before everyone arrived, I also needed to face own everyone elseelse arrived, andand I also needed to face mymy own of her.

I only a couple of people, being fearsfears of her.

I only toldtold a couple of people, mymy 1st1st ADAD being one of them, and we decided not to tell the cast and crew one of them, and we decided not to tell the cast and crew so it didn’t create an environment of fear and paranoia. In so it didn’t create an environment of fear and paranoia. In the end I just told people that any weird energy was the end I just told people that any weird energy was because the building was old, and carried 40 years of client because the building was old, and carried 40 years of client energy with it. The day I said goodbye to her and handed energy with it. The day I said goodbye to her and handed the keys back to the real estate agent, my bedroom lights the keys back to the real estate agent, my bedroom lights started flashing just like my dream. They flashed on and started flashing just like my dream. They flashed on and off, at random, in different erratic rhythms for about 4 off, at random, in different erratic rhythms for about 4 months before stopping. I thought my dream was perhaps months stopping. the I thought my dream was perhaps frombefore binge watching last season of Stranger Things, frombut binge the last season of Stranger Things, this watching weirdly tied the whole experience together and but deepened this weirdly tied the experience together and my love forwhole her. The 100’s fiercest protector. deepened my love for her. The 100’s fiercest protector.

Also we’ve just been exploited, stigmatized and Also we’ve just been exploited, discriminated against enough… stigmatized and discriminated against enough…

So much! It’s always the voyeuristic view. The way we’re So much!stigmatized It’s always the voyeuristic view. The waydirectly we’re exploited, and discriminated against exploited, stigmatized and directly reflects what people think ofdiscriminated us- and whatagainst they think of us, reflects what of usanddocumentaries what they think of us, comes from thepeople media.think Clearly civvy aren’t comes from the media.

Clearly civvy documentaries aren’t shedding tangible truth about our lives. shedding tangible truth about our lives.

Yeah that’s what I love about House of Whoreship. I know Yeah that’s what I love about House Whoreship. know you describe it as post-Rom Com but of yeah it’s kind Iof you describe it as post-Rom Com but to me, it’s kind of almost a documentary but without being exploitative. almost a documentary but without being exploitative.

Thank god!

Thank god!

So since the release of House of Whoreship, you’ve been So since the release of House of Whoreship, you’ve been totally out as a sex worker right? What’s that been like for totally out as a sex worker right? What’s that been like for you so far? you so far?

It’sIt’s been aa mixed been mixedexperience. experience.On Onone onehand, hand,IIdidn’t didn’t expect expect my my family to take it so well.

I knew from my parent’s upbringings, family to take it so well. I knew from my parent’s upbringings, and the fact we and the fact wehave havelittle littleto tono nofamily familyin inAustraliaAustralia- they they wouldn’t disown wouldn’t disownme. me.However HoweverI Idefinitely definitelyexpected expected some some level ofof distaste level distasteororpushback... pushback...In Inhindsight hindsightIIguess guess II was was training them training themfor forthis thismoment momentfor foryears, years,especially especially if if you you look look atat the progression the progressionofofmy myart artpractice. practice.Not Nothaving having to to lie lie to to them anymore, them anymore,and andlive liveaadouble doublelifelife-it’s it’staken taken aa massive massive weight offoff my weight myshoulders. shoulders.I Iknow knowI’m I’mbeyond beyondlucky, lucky, because because most sex workers most sex workersdon’t don’tget getaaresponse responselike likethat that from from their their family. family.

On the otherhand, hand,it’s it’sbeen beenaalittle littlebit bitexhausting. exhausting. Whenever Whenever On the other my film comesup upininconversation, conversation,people peopletake take it it as as an an open my film comes invitation interrogateme meabout aboutbeing beingaasex sex worker… worker… when invitation totointerrogate the whole pointofofmaking makingaafilm filmwas wasso soIIdidn’t didn’t have have to to the whole point explain there’snot notmany many‘out’ ‘out’sex sexworkers, workers, civvies civvies rely rely explain it.it.

AsAsthere’s you theirsole solesource sourceof ofinformation informationabout about the the onon you toto bebetheir industry. industry.

I feel obligationtotodo domy mycommunity communityand andindustry industry a a I feel anan obligation service and dothe thelabour labourofofinforming informingcivvies, civvies, but but it’s it’s so so service and do draining. An acquaintance said to me the other day ‘ Oh you’ll draining.

An acquaintance said to me the other day ‘ Oh you’ll like this person because you’re a sex worker.. They’re really like this person because you’re a sex worker.. They’re really into all of that’ , as if being a sex worker is now my entire into all of that’ , as if being a sex worker is now my entire personality. There’s so much more to me than being a sex personality. There’s so much more to me than being a sex worker. I don’t pigeon hole my friends into an identity worker. I don’t pigeon hole my friends into an identity because that’s how they put food on the table. But people because that’s how they put food on the table. But people have no problem or second thoughts with doing that for us. have no problem or second thoughts with doing that for us.

We’re all just trying to survive under capitalism.

We’re all just trying to survive under capitalism.

Yes, first I contacted a few brothels that weren’t 24/7 to Yes,enquire first I contacted a few brothels that weren’t to never about shooting in their closed hours. I24/7 would enquire about in their closed hours.Shooting I would never shoot in an shooting establishment while it’s open. during shoot in an establishment it’s open.

Shooting during open hours comes withwhile the danger of exposing and outing open hoursworkers, comes with the danger of exposing and outing clients, or management. clients, workers, or management.

So many people in film school don’t get that. During my time there I was continually askedget “why aren’t you my just So many people in film school don’t that.

During in documentary if you want depiction timeworking there I was continually asked “whytrue aren’t you justof sex work?”, and I was like well, of] being outworking in documentary if youthere’s want [the true issue depiction of sex andand the complicated repercussions that come with outthat. work?”, I was like well, there’s [the issue of] being promise documentary participants while andYou the can complicated repercussions that come safety with that. but what about after?

Where’s the aftercare Youshooting, can promise documentary participants safety while and protection once about you’re after? out there?

There’s the editshooting, but what Where’s thealso aftercare and documentary has power in that because it’s ‘real’ footage, protection once you’re out there? There’s also the editpeople take it as truthin even it’s been it’s edited documentary has power thatifbecause ‘real’and footage, manipulated.

It justeven doesn’t feel likeedited a safe medium for sex people take it as truth if it’s been and workers. manipulated. It just doesn’t feel like a safe medium for sex

My whole position in coming out as a sex worker, has been My whole position inneed coming out as a sex worker, hasand been that sex work films to be made by sex workers, so I that sex work films need to be made by sex workers, and wanted to lead by example… because if I didnt, how long so I wanted lead example… because didnt, longI’ve could Ito wait forby someone else to do it?ifI Ihave nohow regrets, could I wait for someone else docommunity it? I have no regrets, I’ve never felt more connected toto my and motivated never felt more connected to my community and motivated in standing up against how we are represented. Contributing into standing up against how we arefeels represented.

Contributing that representation on screen like a fulfilling life’s tomission that representation on screen feels likesometimes. a fulfilling life’s to me. It can just be exhausting mission to me. It can just be exhausting sometimes.

House of Whoreship’s US premiere was at CineKink film House of Whoreship’s festival, could you go?US premiere was at CineKink film festival, could you go?

I legally couldn’t because I’m out, which was a consequence I knew I’d have tobecause face. America doesn’t if you haveI I legally couldn’t I’m out, whichallow was aentry consequence any history work in the past 10 years. knew I’d haveoftosex face.

America doesn’t allowFunnily entry ifenough you have though I did get work stuckin inthe the past states I was recently any history of sex 10twice years.when Funnily enough flying in and out of Canada.

Both oftwice my flights though I did get stuck in the states whenwere I wascancelled recently untilin the following day, so IBoth was booked into a were hotelcancelled near the flying and out of Canada. of my flights airport a temporary transit I feltinto like Iacheated thethe until the on following day, so I wasvisa. booked hotel near system got in! Before coming to Australia, I spent airport onand a temporary transit visa. back I felt like I cheated the a full day in San Francisco flight, which wasI special system and got in!

Before before comingmy back to Australia, spent a and bittersweet.

I had been there I went full day in San Francisco before myyears flight,earlier, whichand wassospecial to all my favourite spots one last time saidand goodbye and bittersweet.

I had been there yearsand earlier, so I went it felt like a rare opportunity to do so. tomentallyall my favourite spots one last time and said goodbye

workers.

mentally- it felt like a rare opportunity to do so.

Did you look at filming anywhere else?

Did you look at filming anywhere else?

I reached out to community channels and asked if anyone Also we’ve just been exploited, stigmatized and Right - or a very unfortunate consequence being had experiences information about a potential of spirit at out. discriminated against enough…

Because often sex workers who aren’t face-out, can the 100, and got tens of messages from workers who had. get into the US… as long as they are strict about not That was when I found out about Sophie/Stephanie. Most So much! It’s always the voyeuristic view. The way we’re taking certain things in their luggage… workers had positive and empathetic things to say about exploited, stigmatized and discriminated against directly her. They mentioned that she could be a bit spicy, would reflects what people think of us- and what they think of us, Oh! That reminds me! So the first night I attended occasionally fuck with people on the stairs ( which I comes from the media. Clearly civvy documentaries aren’t Inside Out in Toronto, I met director Alex Conetto who vaguely included in my safety model for uni), but shedding tangible truth about our lives. made a short film called Safe Word. His film was about ultimately that she loved workers, and hated clients. This a sub and domme relationship. He asked me if I was made sense as to why she had flown at me in the old intro Yeah that’s what I love about House of Whoreship. I know going to show in America. I was like ‘I hope so!’ He room- it was a client space.

I enquired about how she asked me if I was going to attend if I did, and I told him you describe it as post-Rom Com but yeah it’s kind of appeared,about and was told in photos, byhe moving drink almost a documentary but without being exploitative. their entry laws, and was like ‘Oh cans can’t in you the girls room, dropping towels, the water just say...’ and I was like changing ‘No, no, I CAN’T… They won’t let temperature stories I received were accounts of Thank god! me etc. in.’ IMost told him all about it, you know, how they her protecting from bad clients. ultimately I [don’tthe let workers sex workers in] search yourSo socials, use facial knew I had to go backand there and let her know who So since the release of House of Whoreship, you’ve been recognition, search your luggage whenI was, you get and my intention for the space. there, how if they find a matching set of lingerie that’s totally out as a sex worker right? What’s that been like for you so far? reason enough for them to believe that you’re going The next day I bought a bunch of he flowers and tookititwasn’t to thelike there to work…

Anyway, was shocked, room she he supposedly looked which room 4 ( we It’s been a mixed experience. On one hand, I didn’t expect my didn’t believe me,over, he was justwas shocked. filmed the shower scene in this room) and sat on the family to take it so well. I knew from my parent’s upbringings, mattress IHe had brought before.coming I apologised for went back in to the the day US before back to Toronto and the fact we have little to no family in Australia- they for the closing party. I ran and into read him at the party, and he wouldn’t disown me. However I definitely expected some the sage, explained my intentions, her the script. was like happened to Ime, you look wereand right!’ I’d The first couple of ‘OMG, times it I spoke to her, would level of distaste or pushback... In hindsight I guess I was about it, the placed sex work civvie talk to theheard bunch of flowers inlaws, frontaffecting of the shower. training them for this moment for years, especially if you look actors as well, whentime, he went back towhether the States When I left the room thebut second I checked at the progression of my art practice. Not having to lie to apparently border security like; the shower fan was on, because bothwere times the air in front them anymore, and live a double life- it’s taken a massive of the flowers looked like it was vibrating and moving- like weight off my shoulders. I know I’m beyond lucky, because ‘What youthe doing Canada?’ a mirage. It was were off, and nextintime before I spoke to her most sex workers don’t get a response like that from their saidjust - ‘Oh was at a film festival,’ I checked he again inIcase.

This time the air was family. they were ‘Oh for Iyour film Safe Word??????’ completely still, andlike just- before decided I must have was like - ‘How didroom you know that?’ imagined he it all, the door to the swung back and forth, On the other hand, it’s been a little bit exhausting. Whenever and they were like ‘We’re the US government, we and I thought ‘ THERE you are’. The very few windows were my film comes up in conversation, people take it as an open know everything.’ barricaded and there was no breeze. She kept me on my invitation to interrogate me about being a sex worker… when toes! the whole point of making a film was so I didn’t have to *Gasp* OH MY GOD. explain it. As there’s not many ‘out’ sex workers, civvies rely In the three weeks of pre-production I spent a lot of time on you to be their sole source of information about the YEAH. He was like ‘Um okay…’ and they let him there alone, staying some nights until the witches hour industry. through. ‘Safe Word’ does center around a sector of sex (3am). I wanted her to get to know and trust me before work because it involves a transactional sub and everyone else arrived, and I also needed to face my own I feel an obligation to do my community and industry a domme relationship, and yeah I was thinking ‘I’m not fears of her. I only told a couple of people, my 1st AD being service and do the labour of informing civvies, but it’s so happy you had that experience, but I’m a little bit glad. one of them, and we decided not to tell the cast and crew So that, you know I’m like not making this shit up, this draining. An acquaintance said to me the other day ‘ Oh you’ll so it didn’tiscreate like this person because you’re a sex worker.. They’re really real.’ an environment of fear and paranoia. In the end I just told people that any weird energy was into all of that’ , as if being a sex worker is now my entire ON SET FOR 'HOUSE OF WHORESHIP'. PHOTOS BY KRISTEN AUGEARD because the building was old, and carried 40 years of client personality. There’s so much more to me than being a sex energy with it. The day I said goodbye to her and handed worker. I don’t pigeon hole my friends into an identity heard sex workers that But entering the the keys back to the real estate agent, my bedroom lights because I’ve that’s howfrom theymany put food on the table. people US hasn’tor been an issue, but I’ve also heard of for people started flashing just like my dream. They flashed on and have no problem second thoughts with doing that us. interrogated atunder the border.

Usually people who off, at random, in different erratic rhythms for about 4 We’re allbeing just trying to survive capitalism. aren’t face-out get away with it but it’s just tricky… months before stopping. I thought my dream was perhaps from binge watching the last season of Stranger Things, My whole position in coming out as a sex worker, has been Exactly andneed there’s Selling sexso onI but this weirdly tied the whole experience together and that sex work films to different be madecategories. by sex workers, and screen is okay in America, as long as you don’t do it deepened my love for her. The 100’s fiercest protector. wanted to lead by example… because if I didnt, how long in realfor life.someone Angela White seems have no coming could I wait else to do it?toI have no issue regrets, I’ve and forth because a porn star, and neither never feltback more connected to myshe’s community and motivated Did you look at filming anywhere else? do so many OF stars. What is this legal and societal in standing up against how we are represented. Contributing difference between what’s on screen and what’s to that representation on screen feels like a fulfilling life’s Yes, first I contacted a few brothels that weren’t 24/7 to happening behind closed doors? It baffles me. mission to me. It can just be exhausting sometimes. enquire about shooting in their closed hours. I would never shoot in an establishment while it’s open. Shooting during I’m curious - what’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten open hours comes with the danger of exposing and outing House of Whoreship’s US premiere was at CineKink film from the backroom? clients, workers, or management. festival, could you go?

So many people in film school don’t get that. During my time there I was continually asked “why aren’t you just working in documentary if you want true depiction of sex work?”, and I was like well, there’s [the issue of] being outand the complicated repercussions that come with that.

You can promise documentary participants safety while shooting, but what about after? Where’s the aftercare and protection once you’re out there? There’s also the editdocumentary has power in that because it’s ‘real’ footage, people take it as truth even if it’s been edited and manipulated. It just doesn’t feel like a safe medium for sex workers.

A worker once said to me ‘ Never grit your teeth I legally couldn’t because I’m out, which was a consequence I through a booking’ - and that’s advice that really stuck. knew I’d When have to face.grown America allow entryheteroif you have you’ve up doesn’t with a dominating any history of sex work in the past 10 years.

Funnily enough normative patriarchal narrative, you’re not really though Iconditioned did get stuck in the states twice when I was recently to be able to stand up to men or assert flying in and of Canada.

Boththe of opposite. my flightsI were your out boundariesrather foundcancelled when I until thewas following so I Iwas booked into a hotel the a babyday, worker let clients get away with near things airport on a temporary transit visa.

I felt like I cheated the just because they had paid me- and navigating system and got in!what Before coming to Australia, I spent a between was the jobback and what was a boundary full day in San Francisco before my flight, which special crossed was a fine line to tow.

Clients willwas always try and bittersweet. there earlier, and so Isake wentof shit, but I had don’tbeen silence myyears own comfort for the to all mytheirs favourite spots This one advice last time and goodbye anymore. was keysaid to that. mentally- it felt like a rare opportunity to do so.

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I think it’s really important for mainstream audiences to see sex worker stories to inspire empathy and education.

Showing how we share a community has the biggest potential to do this I think.

Are there other aspects of sex work that you wish you could share with the civvy community?

This comes straight off the bat of a conversation I had with the House of Whoreship writers in our weekly workshop which is leading up to a web-series. We were discussing what aspects of sex work we’d like to see represented on screen, and the first thing that came up was money. In terms of the generalised viewpoint people think, either you’re doing sex work because there must be really amazing money, or it’s because you’re really desperate and have no money and there’s no kind of grasp of any space in between. Especially in a brothel environment, there’s very very different perspectives in terms of earning. No one is getting equally paid by the hour, and a lot of workers charge different extras based on their own boundaries or personal situation. Everyone is working against each other, but somehow there is a unified sense of solidarity and community despite that.

Some brothels are of course cattier than others, and there will always be a Regina George that passes through trying to social climb in the backroom by gossiping or shaming- but she never seems to last long from my experience. I think in the wider community there are issues around representations and discussions of ‘ the high earner’ vs. ‘the low earner’. Low earners can get interrogated by civvies and high earners about why they do sex work in the first place. This issue is highly ableist and whorephobic and would be really important to cover, so we can get rid of this response dichotomy where people either think ‘you’re disgusting,’ or ‘good on you, you’re making bank. But sorry, you still don’t have any rights…’

Yeah, people refuse to see sex work as a job or think about the reasons that people get other jobs [and apply it to sex work]. It could be that it’s flexible, the hours suit them, the location is good, they like the work, which is always overlooked… Rarely is it actually acceptable to say ‘oh I actually enjoy doing the work of sex work’ without having to explain yourself.

Yeah and even if you don’t enjoy it, that’s okay too. When clients ask me if I’m going to do this forever, or when am I going to get a real job, I’m like ‘well this is the best job I’ve ever had!’ and you know I’m not shitting on any other job, but I have worked in hospo and retail my entire life as well, and being your own boss and not working for a big company while getting paid minimum wage per hour, having older gross customers flirt with you for free… That doesn’t feel any more empowering than doing sex work.

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But back to what to share with the civvy community. I think it’s really important for mainstream audiences to see sex worker stories to inspire empathy and education.

Showing how we share a community has the biggest potential to do this I think. The issues of the whorearchy would be important to cover. I’d really love to show the nuances of queerness and performativity in the industry, as well as explore how ritualistic and magical workers can be. So many workers have different rituals that get us in the space for work, and then to get us out of that space after.

There is something a bit ethereal about that I really love. But honestly there’s so much I’m not saying here, because we are so under or misrepresented I really wish we could show them everything sometimes ( without revealing too many secrets).

What is the web series you mentioned going to look like?

We’ve only just loosely started talking about it.

There’s about 15 writers who are interested in contributing and the reason I wanted to get more writers involved is because I think that collaborative work is so much stronger. Also, in the wake of writing my film I’ve thought a lot about the diversity in sex work. It’s such a melting pot, and there are so many different identities and experiences of it. As a white ciswoman, I can only speak for a fraction of the sex work experience, so more writers means more representation, which is desperately needed. The plan is to have 4-5 episodes and centre the stories in the brothel, as it was mutually agreed this is the best environment to explore the nuances of the experience we don’t see on screen. It’ll be a brand new story, so it won’t be a follow on from my film, but it will have the same context, which is an Australian, brothel context. When I went to Toronto and spoke to both Americans and Canadians they were like ‘Oh brothels exist?

That’s still around!?’

Sounds like you’ve been working so hard!

I have been. Honestly most days I wonder if the labour is going anywhere or having any effect whatsoever- but it just takes one gesture of support from another worker to know it’s worthwhile. I’m a privileged sex worker- I’m cis, white, out and not abandoned by family or friends. I have resources now and I feel a burning obligation to put that privilege to use. I want better treatment for my community. It makes me so angry and sad to know what my colleagues experience outside of the job sometimes BECAUSE of the endless misrepresentation by film bros. And if anyone can fight the film bros, it’s me ;)

STILL FROM 'HOUSE OF WHORESHIP', HOLLY BATES, 2022

Incalls As of December 1 2023, all changes to the sex industry introduced by the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 will be in effect. This includes the removal of most criminal offences attached to sex work, including incalls.

What is an incall?

What was the previous legislation?

An incall is when you see a client in your home, or at a hotel room, Airbnb, or other accommodation booked under your name. This is as opposed to an outcall - when you visit a client in their home or at accommodation the client has organised themselves.

Under the Sex Work Act 1994, it was a criminal offence to provide incall services as a sex worker. Providing incall services were effectively treated as running an illegal brothel.

Incalls allow sex workers to work from home, or other accommodation you have organised, as many other workers from other industries do.

Do I need a license or permit?

The passing of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 initiated the repeal of the Sex Work Act 1994 and sought to recognise sex work as work, and treat sex work the same as other Victorian industries.

WORKING FROM HOME

You don’t need a specific license to provide sexual services from home (as the old sex work licensing system has been abolished), however sex workers wanting to work from home will have to comply with their local councils ‘home-based business’ requirements, which sometimes require a permit.

At time of publishing, we do not have a clear answer as to whether under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 sex workers need to register their home-based business with their local council. We recommend keeping an eye on our website https://sexworker.org.au/sex-workers/information-for-sex-workers-3/ for up-to-date information.

What is a home-based business?

Many small businesses, sole traders, and start-ups operate from home. If you use your home as your base for work, or a space where you see clients, or where you provide other services such as online content creation, this is a homebased business.

What are council home-based business regulations?

Different councils have different requirements when it comes to planning and permits for home-based businesses.

As each council has their own home-based business requirements, you will need to consult with your local council. Usually, the requirements for home-based businesses are set out in a council’s Planning Scheme. You could try searching the name of your council and ‘home based business,’ or you could find your local councils Planning Scheme and search the document for the section on home-based businesses. If you can’t find the relevant information, you can get in touch with us for help.

Often, the requirements for home-based businesses set out in the Planning Scheme relate to; The relationship between the dwelling and the person conducting business (i.e. it must be their principal place of residence), How many non-residents can work at the home-based business, Impact on the amenity of neighbourhood, Floor space, Use of utilities, The selling, and collection, of goods.

What if I am providing BDSM services?

Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, you must register with your local council if you are conducting a home-based business that involves skin penetration (as well as other services such as hairdressing, personal care, and beauty therapies). If you are a sex worker who provides services that involve possible skin penetration, you should consult the Department of Health Infection prevention and control guidelines for hair, beauty, tattooing and skin penetration industries.

There will be initial eligibility criteria you will have to satisfy to gain registration, as well as ongoing requirements in relation to cleanliness, inspection of premises, and general safeguarding regarding the health of clients.

Do I need Insurance?

That’s up to you.

Many sole traders and business owners decide to take out insurance depending on their business’ needs. Some independent sex workers choose to take out Individual Liability Cover in case of claims taken out against them by clients or third parties for injury or property damage.

Many insurance policies explicitly exclude people working in the sex industry so make sure to read the terms and conditions of any policy you are considering taking out.

WORKING FROM HOME I’m living in a rental, will this impact my tenancy?

It depends. It is likely that there is a clause in your rental agreement that states you can’t do anything that would invalidate the landlord’s insurance policy on the property, which running a home-based business might do. Similarly, some rental agreements also mention that a tenant can’t use the property for anything other than residential purposes without the landlord’s consent.

What about if I live in a share house?

If you live in a share house, most housemates would probably expect you to have a conversation with them before you begin providing incalls from home, and to consider their thoughts and feelings towards this. As outlined above, you might be risking your tenancy if you work from home without your landlord’s permission, so it is important to consult all other tenants who might be impacted by your decision to provide incalls from home.

It’s not necessarily advisable to ask your landlord for permission to provide incall services, due to the stigma and discrimination that sex workers experience. However, it is important to know that providing incalls without your landlord’s permission might violate your rental agreement and risk your tenancy.

WORKING FROM HOTELS Can a hotel kick me out for providing incalls?

What about accommodation platforms (such as Airbnb)?

No, this is discrimination and is illegal.

Similarly to hotels, all other accommodation providers and platforms in Victoria need to comply with antidiscrimination laws, and cannot kick you out specifically for participating in lawful sexual activity which includes sex work. A host may however have policies prohibiting visitors, which they might kick you out for violating.

Changes have been made to the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010, including the addition of ‘professional, trade, or occupation,’ as a protected attribute. This means someone cannot be discriminated against in an area of public life on the basis of their work e.g. being a sex worker.

Furthermore, it is illegal to discriminate against someone due to their engagement in lawful sexual activity, including sex work.

Some accommodation platforms are known to cancel sex worker’s accounts despite this being a discriminatory practice. It is a good idea to review the policies of the platform if using the accommodation for work.

If you experience discrimination due to your sex work, you are able to follow this up with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC). We can support you in this process by either providing you information and support, or through advocacy throughout your dispute resolution process.

Accommodation platforms may cancel sex worker’s accounts on the basis of them being a sex worker, so it is not advisable to disclose sex work, even though this would be considered illegal discrimination if it occurred in Victoria.

FURTHER RESOURCES https://business.vic.gov.au/business-information/start-a-business/choose-a-location-and-set-up-premises/start-ahome-based-business https://ablis.business.gov.au/service/vic/home-based-business-requirements/38999 https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/guides-and-resources/guides/all-guides/decriminalisation-of-sex-work-in-victoria https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/sex-work https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/static/bb9bc7cd2bf5f934b039d89d0f0baab6/ResourceSex_work_discrimination-Guideline-English-May_2023-2.pdf https://content.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-06/sti-and-bbv-prevention-for-the-sex-industry-pdf.pdf

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Vaylira Dying in the Revolution

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This year RhED has travelled around Victoria to bust sex work stigma and myths, connect with the sex work community, and educate the broader community about decriminalisation, sex worker rights, and spread the message that sex work is work!

We attended ChillOut Festival in Daylesford on Dja Dja Wurrung country, OzKink Fest in Collingwood on Wurundjeri country, the Centre of Excellence in Rural Sexual Health (CERSH) SexRurality Conference in Creswick on Dja Dja Wurrung country, and did some day trips out to services in Bendigo (Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung country) and Geelong (Wadawurrung country).

Herpes

Deep Dive 44

No doubt you’ve heard of herpes simplex virus, known as herpes or HSV, which is a usually mild skin condition cohabitating with a huge proportion of the world’s population. You’ve probably also heard plenty of myths about herpes that contribute to the unwarranted stigma that accompanies the condition. In this article we are going to explore some cold hard facts so that you can help stop the spread of herpes myths, and hysteria.

Did you know that you can get herpes in your nose, your eyes and even on your finger!? Neither. So if you’re between clients, reality TV shows, or meals please take a trip down the herpes rabbit hole with me.

What is HSV? Herpes Simplex Virus is a common and treatable viral infection transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. You might have heard of other herpes type viruses such as Varicella-Zoster, which causes Chickenpox and Shingles, and EpsteinBarr, which causes Glandular Fever.

Herpes viruses aren’t curable, however spend a lot of time lying dormant in the body. In fact, according to the World Health Organisation most people with HSV have no symptoms, or very mild symptoms. This is one of the key pillars of the herpes virus’ success; it often goes undetected which has enabled it to spread between unwitting hosts for the last 7 million years (at least).

Cold sores vs Genital herpes?

There are two types of HSV and they are not actually divided by symptom location (e.g. oral vs genital). Rather they are differentiated by strains; HSV1 and HSV2.

HSV1 is more common, with most adults throughout the world having the infection whether they know it or not. HSV1 is usually associated with less severe and less frequent outbreaks, and is more commonly spread via oral contact with sores inside the mouth on around the lips (cold sores). HSV1 can also cause genital and anal herpes and be spread through genital skin to skin contact.

HSV2 is less common, however is still present in 12% of the Australian adult population. HSV2 typically causes more severe and frequent outbreaks and most commonly genital outbreaks. Oral HSV2 shedding does occur, however it is uncommon.

For both types of HSV, the first outbreak is usually the most severe and most likely to be painful, with subsequent outbreaks usually being less severe. Initial outbreaks can also be accompanied by a fever, sore throat, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes and while it generally takes 4-7 days after exposure for the first HSV symptoms to appear, it can take months or even years after exposure for an initial outbreak to occur.

This is one of the key pillars of the herpes virus’ success; it often goes undetected which has enabled it to spread between unwitting hosts for the last 7 million years (at least).

For those who do experience symptoms, they can expect to have (sometimes painful) blisters and ulcers, commonly known as an ‘outbreak.’

Some of those who are symptomatic can expect to have recurrent outbreaks throughout the year, while others might have one every few years or less.

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Some Context There aren’t many more divisive topics among full service sex workers than the issue of working with, and disclosure of, herpes (well, maybe BBBJs). It seems opinions are pretty split on this one. I had a read of a herpes related article and the resulting comments on the sex worker online journal Tits and Sass that went like this; Dear Ms. Harm Reduction, About six months ago I had my first ever genital herpes outbreak. I am a cis female and a full service provider. I don’t do bareback, but I do still continue to work. I am on herbal suppressive therapy (lysine, other immune boosters and stress management) and haven’t had an outbreak since the first one. I know it’s controversial, but I love my job and I don’t want to do any other type of work. I just want to know how to be as safe as possible. Also how big of a risk is this? Am I totally fucked up for working? For the record I would never work during an outbreak, but outside of that, is it ok? I was also wondering if internal condoms (female condoms) offer more protection because they cover external surface area?

Best, Sexy Or Risky? Escort Comments from Camp One Chill out. Take some antivirals and don’t work during an outbreak.

Comments from Camp Two If you don’t tell everyone you have sexual contact with that you have herpes, you’re a criminal.

Are you confused at how to feel? You’re not alone. Many workers seek help from others to navigate this ethical dilemma and, spoiler alert… there’s no right answer. It’s important you weigh up your options (ideally with help from a sex work positive GP or sexual health nurse), and do what’s best for you. Hopefully this article helps you consider as much as you can about this common infection and make the best choice for you, and encourages you to let others do the same for themselves.

Prevalence As mentioned, HSV is common among adults around the world. In 2006 the seroprevalence (amount in the population as evidenced by blood serum) of HSV2 in Australian adults was 12% while in 2023 the seroprevalence of HSV1 in Australian adults was found to be 80%, higher than the level reported in Europe (74%), the USA (58%), and Canada (51%). There are significant differences within the population, with those with vaginas twice as likely to have HSV2 than those with penises (16% vs 8%). This is due to the mucosa membranes of the vagina being more sensitive and prone to tears.

The epidemiological landscape of HSV in Australia and around the world is shifting over time. One study which looked at genital HSV infection rates (so both HSV1 and HSV2) in Melbourne between 1980 and 2003, found that percentage of genital HSV infections caused by HSV1 (as opposed to HSV2) increased from 15.8% to 34.9% respectively.

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A study from this year echoed that finding, reporting that the proportion of genital HSV infections that were found to be HSV1 was increasing year on year, with HSV2 progressively causing less of the genital herpes infections (72%) across the Australian population. One of the reasons posited for this is that HSV1 is no longer as frequently being transmitted orally in childhood, and instead is being increasingly acquired genitally among youth.

Now you might be wondering; what about finger herpes? Well, what I’ve dubbed ‘finger herpes’ is actually called ‘herpetic whitlow’ and while I unfortunately couldn’t find the prevalence of this, the incidence (the proportion of people who develop the condition in a specific time period) is said to be 2.4 cases per 100,000 people per year. In other words, it’s very rare. In the past, you were more likely to get it if you worked in healthcare (think dentist), however now you are at highest risk if you are a 20-something year old via contact with someone’s genitals, or if you are an infant who sucks their thumb. Again however, very rare.

Unfortunately, most of the data available on HSV prevalence is based on cis-gendered and heterosexual folk. However, one study that looked specifically at men who have sex with men (MSM), found that prevalence of HSV1 and HSV2 was significantly associated with increasing age, higher lifetime number of sexual partners (of any gender) and rating anal intercourse as an important part of their sexual behaviour. Some of these findings were echoed in a New Zealand based study which found that up until at least age 32, the older you are the more likely you are to have HSV2.

Transmission Most genital herpes cases are contracted from a partner that doesn’t know they have it.

As mentioned earlier, HSV transmission occurs via skin-to-skin contact with an area infected with the virus. This can be via kissing, oral sex, sharing a lip balm, and penetrative vaginal or anal sex. HSV is most often spread when there is an ‘outbreak,’ or visible sores, however it can be transmitted asymptomatically too.

In those with genital HSV2, the risk of viral shedding is twice as high in those with symptomatic vs asymptomatic cases, however viral shedding is still thought to occur on 10% of days in asymptomatic cases.

Importantly though; this is not guaranteed to result in transmission.

Shedding is also thought to be higher in the first year after infection and declines as time after infection increases.

Transmission can be impacted by various factors such as condom use.

While condom use isn’t as effective at preventing HSV infection compared to most other STIs, it still reduces the likelihood of transmission by 65% 96% depending on the genitals you and your partner have.

Herpes Stigma Around 1730 French sex workers were under medical surveillance because, well, of course they were. It was during this time that herpes specific to the genitals was first written about.

Much later in 1883, despite likely widespread infection of the general public, genital herpes was described by one physician as a ‘vocational disease,’ said to be ‘one of the most benign of affections both to the [sex worker] and her public.’

While sex work stigma was alive and well during this time, interestingly there didn’t seem to be much stigma attached to this relatively newly described genital herpes.

It’s difficult to conceive of a time where herpes didn’t have Scarlet Letter status, however you’d only have to go back 50 years to reach a time where herpes was largely ignored by both the medical and general population. If you’d contracted genital herpes in the early 1970s, you’d likely be told you had a mild skin condition, not to worry about it too much, and be sent on your merry way. As recently as 1975, the common textbook for gynaecology and obstetrics nursing didn’t even have the word herpes in its index, despite the condition being named in Ancient Greek times.

Now days, herpes stigma is everywhere. It haunts ex sexual partners who are literally sued for transmitting the skin infection.

Perhaps most famously, Usher was sued in 2017 by an individual named Laura Helm for 20 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS after she claimed the singer knowingly transmitted the virus to her. Usher was later sued by more individuals (some of whom don’t even have HSV) who claimed to be past sexual partners, after he settled with Helm for an undisclosed amount.

Usher argued that Helm chose to have unprotected sex, which carries a widely known risk of STI transmission, signaling she was comfortable with, and chose to take that risk.

The medical world has largely ignored herpes with little improvement on testing, and no development of a vaccine so far. While this is partly because HSV vaccines have been notoriously difficult to develop, it’s also because it really, just isn’t that big of a deal. From a medical perspective. Psychologically it’s obviously a big deal for many, however only because of cultural stigma. So while HSV outbreaks can be annoying, wouldn’t it be better to focus on reducing cultural stigma to improve the general wellbeing of people with HSV, rather than spending millions of dollars on R&D on a vaccine for a really mild skin condition?

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The Law Thanks to decades of advocacy work by Victorian sex workers and their allies, which culminated in the passing of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022, it is no longer a criminal offence to work as a sex worker in Victoria with an STI. Many STIs that are not curable are treatable and manageable, meaning that if you are taking active steps to avoid transmission, and haven’t been advised by a medical practitioner that you can’t have sex, you can still work.

Everyone in Victoria with a diagnosed STI has a responsibility to take reasonable steps in preventing passing the infection to others. Not doing so could result in various charges under the Crimes Act 1958 such as intentionally causing serious injury (s16).

The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act (2008) outlines in Section 111. Principles applying to Part 8; (…) (b) a person at risk of contracting an infectious disease should take all reasonable precautions to avoid contracting the infectious disease; (c) a person who has, or suspects that they may have, an infectious disease should; (i) ascertain whether he or she has an infectious disease and what precautions he or she should take to prevent any other person from contracting the infectious disease; and (ii) take all reasonable steps to eliminate or reduce the risk of any other person contracting infectious disease.

Consent So, this is the tricky part. Do you have to tell every sexual partner that you have genital HSV? Does this mean you also should be telling every sexual partner you have oral HSV (as this can be transmitted while giving oral sex)? And is the rule the same for your partners in your personal life and your clients?

Well, thankfully, there is no rule. However for some this actually makes the decision more complicated. If someone is worried that they will transmit HSV to a partner, they might decide to tell them, so that they’re aware they might contract HSV from them. Conversely, if someone had an initial outbreak five years ago and hasn't had another since, they might decide not to but decide to use barrier protection or suppressive therapy. Someone with oral HSV might decide not to tell a sexual partner they have oral HSV and abstain from kissing and giving oral sex during an outbreak, or they might decide to tell their partner.

The New Zealand Herpes Foundation states that around 75% of herpes cases are contracted from a partner who does not know they have it.

This statistic suggests that if you really don’t want to get or transmit HSV, your best bet is abstaining from sex, as most people pass it on unknowingly. Many people think it is most ethical to disclose genital HSV to a partner prior to having sex, but probably don’t expect someone to disclose they had a cold sore when they were 7 years old, even though this is a symptomatic sign of HSV and could lead to an oral or genital infection. It’s the same virus, potentially even the same strain, that causes the same skin condition, but just in a different location. Yet how we react, feel, and treat these infections differs so greatly due to their location.

So what if this ‘partner’ is a client? I personally have worked in the industry for a decent chunk of my adult life, and I am yet to have a client tell me they have HSV. I’ve seen that they have HSV a handful of times, but never have I had a client say ‘just so you know, I have HSV.’ I’m not sure how many clients I’ve stayed with over the years but to make things easy let’s go with 2000.

Statistically, I’ve provided sexual services to 1,600 clients who did not tell me they have HSV1 when they did, and 240 clients who did not tell me they had HSV2. While many of them wouldn’t have known they have HSV, at least 400 would’ve known they had HSV1, and 60 would’ve known they had HSV2.

Reflecting on the above statistics, makes me realise that I’ve been exposed to HSV a lot through my work. I know I’ve been exposed in my personal life too. I have symptomatic oral HSV (I don’t know what strain), however have never had any genital HSV symptoms, but could very well be asymptomatic.

The other thing exposed by the above statistics, is that 100% of clients don’t tell sex workers they have HSV. I’m joking, obviously you can’t make a statistic off one person’s experience, however I think if I actually surveyed other fullservice workers, they would have similar experiences to me which is worth considering.

Mary Spongberg wrote a feminist historical book in the 1990s called Feminizing Veneral Disease: The Body of the Prostitute (sic) in Nineteenth-Century Medical Discourse. In this book she outlines how centuries ago, doctors and surgeons decided that for STIs such as gonorrhoea (presenting as discharge in those with penises), that the cause and origin (you read that right) of such diseases must be vaginal discharge.

By the 1830s some medical authorities were claiming that all vaginal discharge was potentially poisonous. Yes, those with vaginas were responsible for the spread of STIs, vaginal discharge was ‘poisonous,’ and ‘women of ill virtue’ were more poisonous. In fact, nineteenth century men were seen as mere sufferers of the disease.

Spongberg goes on to write that; Prostitutes (sic) were especially shown to be a source of infection and throughout the nineteenth century doctors became more convinced that the body of the prostitute (sic) was in some way the organic cause of disease.

Which is kind of a tangent, but what I am trying to show is that sex workers have been blamed for the spread of STIs for a long while, despite many of us representing the gold standard of sexual health literacy and behaviour. If you have HSV and don’t work while you have symptoms and especially if you use barrier methods while working, I don’t think you need to feel bad about not telling clients you have HSV, and I think you are still doing your part to reduce transmission (re-read the transmission numbers above if you’re not convinced). I also think this is interesting when considering that none of my clients have ever told me that they have HSV. They often eyeroll when I do a health check and insist they’re ‘clean,’ while anxiously ask me if I am - as if sexual health isn't a two way responsibility.

There is no question that were someone to intentionally transmit HSV to another person, this would be an aggravated, malicious, and abusive act. But if you’re living with a dormant and pretty benign virus that is less likely transmitted asymptomatically, I’m not sure there needs to be a witch hunt if you don’t tell your sexual partners that you have HSV. I usually forget to tell mine I’ve had a few cold sores in my life unless I actively have one as they are so few and far between for me (many years).

Compared to other STIs, which can cause ectopic pregnancy, infertility, flu-like illnesses, organ damage, and even death; it’s interesting that our culture is so hung up on HSV.

In reality a very small percentage of sex workers are telling every single one of their clients that they are HSV positive, and a very small percentage of clients are telling sex workers they are HSV positive.

There are also a huge majority of sex workers and clients having sex with each other without knowing the other has HSV. This might sound reckless, and maybe even insensitive, however the reality is most people have one strain of HSV, it shouldn’t matter the location, it probably won’t cause you any serious problems, and if you’re doing you’re best not to pass it on, you’re doing great. I can only dream of a world where literally everyone has genital HSV so we can all get on with our lives. I think it's pretty clear that this enduring virus that has survived millennia, is not going to be eradicated without a vaccine, and we should just see HSV as a human right of passage like childhood chicken pox.

A Final Note Neonatal HSV is a rare but serious condition that can be passed on to a baby during pregnancy and delivery. It can be cause by both HSV1 and HSV2, however is uncommon, with between 0.2% and 0.39% of people shedding HSV in the genital tract around the time of delivery. If you have been diagnosed with either strain of HSV or suspect you have it, you should mention this to your midwife or obstetrician. Don’t worry too much though, millions of people have given birth to healthy babies without even knowing they have HSV.

Sex workers have been blamed for the spread of STIs for a long while, despite... us representing the gold standard of sexual health literacy and behaviour.

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References AlMukdad, S., Harfouche, M., Farooqui, U. S., Aldos, L., & Abu-Raddad, L. J. (2023). Epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 and genital herpes in Australia and New Zealand: Systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions. Epidemiology & Infection, 1-23.

Cunningham, A. L., Taylor, R., Taylor, J., Marks, C., Shaw, J., & Mindel, A. (2006). Prevalence of infection with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in Australia: a nationwide population based survey. Sexually transmitted infections, 82(2), 164-168.

Crimes Act 1958 (Vic).

Dickson, N., van Roode, T., Herbison, P., Taylor, J., Cunningham, A., & Paul, C. (2007). Risk of herpes simplex virus type 2 acquisition increases over early adulthood: Evidence from a cohort study.

Sexually transmitted infections, 83(2), 87-90.

Jin, F., Prestage, G. P., Mao, L., Kippax, S. C., Pell, C. M., Donovan, B., ... & Grulich, A. E. (2006). Transmission of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in a prospective cohort of HIV-negative gay men: the health in men study. The Journal of infectious diseases, 194(5), 561-570.

Magaret, A. S., Mujugira, A., Hughes, J. P., Lingappa, J., Bukusi, E. A., DeBruyn, G., ... & Mugo, N. R. (2016).

Effect of condom use on per-act HSV-2 transmission risk in HIV-1, HSV-2-discordant couples. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 62(4), 456-461.

Phipps, W., Saracino, M., Magaret, A., Selke, S., Remington, M., Huang, M. L., ... & Wald, A. (2011).

Persistent genital herpes simplex virus-2 shedding years following the first clinical episode. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 203(2), 180-187.

Pinninti, S. G., & Kimberlin, D. W. (2014). Management of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection and exposure. Archives of Disease in Childhood-Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 99(3), F240-F244.

Roizman, B., & Whitley, R. J. (2001). The nine ages of herpes simplex virus. HERPES-CAMBRIDGE-, 8(1), 23-26.

Spongberg, M. (1997). Feminizing Venereal Disease: The Body of the Prostitute in Nineteenth-Century Medical Discourse. NYU Press.

Tran, T., Druce, J. D., Catton, M. C., Kelly, H., & Birch, C. J. (2004). Changing epidemiology of genital herpes simplex virus infection in Melbourne, Australia, between 1980 and 2003. Sexually transmitted infections, 80(4), 277-279.

Tronstein, E., Johnston, C., Huang, M. L., Selke, S., Magaret, A., Warren, T., ... & Wald, A. (2011). Genital shedding of herpes simplex virus among symptomatic and asymptomatic persons with HSV-2 infection. Jama, 305(14), 1441-1449.

Wald, A., Ericsson, M., Krantz, E., Selke, S., & Corey, L. (2004). Oral shedding of herpes simplex virus type 2. Sexually transmitted infections, 80(4), 272-276.

Wu, I. B., & Schwartz, R. A. (2007). Herpetic whitlow. Cutis, 79(3), 193-6.

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What does the repeal of the Sex Work Act 1994 mean for sex work businesses?

Liquor control From December 1 2023, it is no longer a criminal offence for a sex work service provider to sell, supply, or consume liquor at a brothel or to allow liquor to be sold, supplies, or consumed at a brothel.

This means that sex work services can apply for a liquor licence permit from December 2023.

You’ll need to complete an on-premises liquor licence application kit which can be found on the Victorian Government’s website at www.vic.gov.au/explore-all-liquor-applications-and-forms.

In your application, you’ll need; local council planning permission confirmation of trading hours compliance with required training red line plan patron capacity declaration declaration of right to occupy premises. copy of newspaper advertisement.

Before completing your application, you’ll need to get in touch with your local council about their planning requirements relating to the sale, supply and consumption of liquor.

If your premises intends to offer sexually explicit entertainment, you may also need to complete a ‘Sexually Explicit Entertainment on Licensed Premises’ form. If you are unsure, you can get in contact with Liquor Control Victoria to discuss your businesses needs.

Licensing The licensing system administered by the BLA will cease from December 2023. From this date, sex work service providers and businesses are no longer required to be licensed and licenses will not be required to act as a brothel manager.

Planning Controls on Brothels Brothel specific planning controls outlined in Part 4 of the Sex Work Act 1994 no longer apply, and Amendment VC217 to the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) and All Planning Schemes comes into effect in December 2023.

From December 2023, Brothels will become known as a sex services premises, and will be treated the same as other businesses that provide personal services such as hairdressers. Unless explicitly excluded, references to shops or retail premises in planning schemes will include sex services premises.

You can read Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Planning Advisory Note 79 for more detailed information.

Get in touch with us if you would like more information on the above.

The naked therapist: how the strip club is helping prepare me to work in mental health

Liss Marie She/her Strip club dancer

When I applied to study a degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, I had to confront my fears of discrimination and deliberate about whether to disclose my last six years of dancing at strip clubs as part of my application.

As many of us will have experienced, the ‘civilian’ world carries many misconceptions about the sex industry. Stigma and prejudice run rife. In my case, I was applying to an educational institution that is known for its progressive values, so I took the risk of sharing my experiences of dancing and cited the reasons I explore in this article as to why I believed it would help me become a great therapist. Close to two years into my degree now, I stand by those reasons more than ever and can say with a level of certainty that being a dancer can equip a budding mental health professional with many of the tools needed in the work.

Explaining the nature of stripping to ‘civvies’, I tend to describe strip club dancing as a commissiononly sales job where the service we sell is sexual validation.

According to the job title, it’s physical work; you could say it’s an art form involving the hypnotic movements of the female body to seduce people who - ideally watch on, raptured by fantasy. On the surface, it’s a completely different line of work to that of a therapist, who sits opposite their client in a strictly non-sexual manner and encourages their client to share their mental health issues through discussion.

What, then, are the parallels between the two professions?

Entering the circus of the strip club floor at the beginning of a shift, we dancers survey the landscape and absorb what’s happening in the room. On a Friday or Saturday night, when the club is often already ripe with opportunities, there are a myriad of faces to scan and willing prey to choose from amidst the ‘I’mjust-here-for-the-boys’ types and the ‘I’m-just-here-for-a-free-look’ time-wasters. How do we identify the people who will give us our next paycheck? Well, just like therapists, in order to do our job well we must learn to read body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice as if it’s a science.

Whether we are consciously aware of it or not, when we approach a customer, we measure their level of comfort and take in their hesitation (‘resistance’ in therapy-speak) or enthusiasm (‘openness’). We gently probe to see what kind of experience they are looking for here. Are they here for a fun night to escape their problems (‘symptom reduction’), or do they want to really connect with another human?

Allegedly Carl Jung’s patients said that he made such a good therapist because he was able to become what they needed him to be in that moment.

Likewise, a good dancer will transform into the various stripper archetypes the ‘party girl’, the ‘girlfriend’ type, the ‘seductress’ - depending on what the customer is looking for, in order to give him the night he wants and herself the financial benefits. Some men just want to see a fit body, others want to have banter, and still others want to be held because they’re having a rough day/ week/ year.

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Which brings me to my next point - a lot of the time, customers come to the club under the veil of seeing tits ‘n’ ass, when what they’re really desiring is nurturing feminine energy. I’ve always thought of the strip club (and likely brothels, and private escort bookings too) as a therapist’s office in disguise, where men come to seek emotional support without having to trade in traditional masculinity tropes. It’s more socially accepted to go to the strippers than see a therapist, right? Yet in both professions, the work is emotional labour. We are financially incentivised to hold space for, and find something positive in our clients - even if they have a bad attitude or a big ego. In the strip club this translates to charming our customers, often by complimenting them; they’ve come to feel desired and validated. In therapy this means holding our patients with ‘unconditional positive regard’ and validating their emotional experiences. The work is effective if we make our client feel good albeit, in dancing this is a very short-term kind of gratification for the customer, while therapy aims to remove obstacles to happiness and fulfilment in the longer-term. However in both domains, our attention is the commodity and the means.

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Finally, the two occupations mirror each other in that we have people come to confess their deepest, darkest secrets to us.

Whether it’s a confession of having committed violence, going through heartbreak, experiencing traumatic events, or simply admitting to taboo kinks we hear it all. Because the underlying motivation that brings people to the strip club, and to therapy, is the desire for intimacy.

Sex work provides a form of physical intimacy, but what often goes unacknowledged is the psychological and emotional intimacy that accompanies it. It functions due to the same premise as psychotherapy: that all humans have a need to be heard, seen, and understood.

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About Blair Belrose Hi, my name is Blair, I am a female exsex worker and sex worker assistant based in Melbourne.

After 13 years in the adult industry I have retired and I’m now working in social media and marketing both in and out of the adult industry.

As a social media assistant, my goal is to help sex workers manage and grow their businesses. I understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with working in this industry.

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Celeste She/her Ex-Stripper

I moved to London in the middle of the Global Financial Crisis when I was 29 years old. I had previously been working as a Legal Secretary in Melbourne but I’d always loved dancing. In London at that time no one was hiring, a lot of professionals including lawyers were out of work so it was proving difficult to find work. It had crossed my mind a few times to start stripping for cash and one day I eventually plucked up the courage to go into Spearmint Rhino and ask for an audition.

They sat me down told me the general ins and outs and the following week I had an audition. I had no idea what to do with the pole as I only had podium dancing experience. I was told much later by management that I used a lot of fast hand gestures to which I was the brunt of many jokes. The manager told me to “slow it down and make it sexier”. I didn’t get the job for my seduction skills however the manager was Australian and I think that helped me get the job.

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It was a tough road, the house fee alone was 100 pounds and in the Global Financial Crisis there was not many people coming through the doors. On top of that I was new and lacked the skills I needed to make money. I bought a book that was online it was a selfhelp book for women getting into dancing and it taught me some very valuable tools that I was able to adopt. A beautiful girl also helped to coach me, I think she could see that I was struggling. Within 3 months I went from barely making house fee back to making between 150 to 300 pounds. Back then it seemed like a lot and it meant that I could stay in London for some more time.

However Australian girls would come to Spearmint and tell me how bad it was and would ask me what I am doing there! I had so much shame around dancing that I never thought that I would be able to do it in my home country. Just over a year passed and by the time I was going home I started thinking if it is so good in Australia this could be an avenue that could help me get ahead in life. After all did I really want to go back and be a Legal Secretary again? After the London experience I realized that there is so much more to life.

I could study and travel the world!

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So I did while working at Dreams and Spearmint Rhino in Melbourne I studied Financial Services at R.M.I.T at that point I wasn’t clear what I wanted to do but once I finished it I realized that it wasn’t a profession I was really interested in. While I was studying I was able to travel to different parts of Asia and South America. I learnt Spanish in Boliva and in India and Indonesia I went deeper into spirituality, yoga and then nutrition. Having the space to travel and learn helped me to find what it was that truly had purpose for me which was health orientated I loved the way I felt when my focus was on nourishing my body and movement. I learnt about the origins of Yoga philosophy which lead me to studying Ayruveda. It was then I realized I’d like to study something in Australia that will help me pursue a career in something I’m passionate about and an avenue that can help others too!

So I settled back home in Melbourne and started my Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics).

When I started it I didn’t think I would be able to finish it. I didn’t feel smart enough and Science was not my forte however as time went on the main thing that got me through was just breaking it down by taking one step at a time! It took me 7 years to finish the degree all the while traveling when I could to Darwin and dancing there also. Looking back now I’m 43 years old, the best years of my life have been while dancing and traveling the world. I was also able to journey into myself to find out what it was I wanted to do without society’s pressures. Also as I got into dancing at a later stage of my life it really helped me financially. I was able to travel the world, study and pay off half of a property. I felt so much freedom in those years, I finally stopped in my 40’s but still to this day I do think about all the fond memories I’ve had especially with the girls and managers along the way. I wouldn’t change it because it helped me to experience so much in this lifetime that I would not have been able to if I was stuck doing a 9-5 job.

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Holly

House of

Bates

如果你从来没听说过《House of Whoreship》 （崇拜之所）这部分⼿后喜剧短⽚，那你可真是错 过了⼀部好⽚⼦。 Holly Bates 是⼀位艺术家、在 妓院⼯作的性⼯作者以及影⽚的导演。这部影⽚描 述了墨尔本妓院中的⼀段酷⼉趣事。《House of Whoreship 》是⼀部平⺠拍摄、想要赚快钱的浅 显影⽚，其中讨论⾝为性⼯作者的主⻆遇到的偷 窥常⻅轶事和单⽅视觉等问题。我很有兴趣了解 Holly 的⽣活和体验，它们启发了我。对我⽽⾔， 这就像是⼀部当代性⼯作者⽣活的纪录⽚。我是 在Holly回到墨尔本时⻅到她的，那时她刚参加完 《House of Whoreship》在多伦多的酷⼉电影 节“Inside Out”上的世界⾸映。

《HOUSE OF WHORESHIP》剧照，HOLLY BATES，2022年。

Whoreship

你的星座是什么？

描述⼀下拍摄这部影⽚的初衷。

太阳星座是狮⼦座，上升星座是天蝎座，⽉ 亮星座是摩羯座！

在学习影视业前，性⼯作⼀直都会出现在我的视 觉艺术作品中，以那些⽆需揭露⾃我的⽅法来展 现。当我开始从事妓院⼯作时，看到这个⾏业的 温暖和社区基础，与媒体之前渲染的内容相对⽐ （以及在脱⾐舞俱乐部感受到的对妓院和全⾯性 ⼯作的恐惧描述相对⽐），我感受到了⽂化冲 突。我的⼯作体验与影视作品中看到的内容⼤相 径庭，或者说不完全⼀致，随着我在墨尔本发展 妓院的⼯作，想要反映真正的性⼯作的渴望与⽇ 俱增。这种感觉很奇怪，因为现实就是如果没有 性⼯作，我就没有办法⽀持我的硕⼠学习或资助 我的电影。从某种程度上来说，从⼀开始，我的 影视制作职业就与我全⾯服务的职业密不可分。

你是怎么开始性⼯作的？ 我在这个⾏业的不同领域⼯作了⼤约 10 年。 我从18岁开始偶尔被⼈包养。在我20 岁 时，伴侣的驾照过期⼜发⽣⻋祸（在我 的⻋ 中），这导致了⼀笔⼤额、需要到期 偿还的 债务。为了偿还债务，TA开始跳脱 ⾐舞。 ⼤概⼀个⽉后， TA 建议我加⼊ TA （TA说我 的咪咪肯定能赚钱）。我做了⼀ 年，但却不 是为了⾃⼰（咪咪并不能赚⼤ 钱）。我不擅 ⻓跳脱⾐舞。当时我很害 羞，但我 认跳脱 ⾐舞教会我如何戴上⾯ 具，⽽且我还是在⾃ ⼰的家乡布⾥斯班暴 露⾃⼰的⾝体。经常被 驱逐的威胁⼀直在 我脑海中挥之不去，还有 那些有害的管理 ⽅法、脱⾐舞俱乐部的罚 款、以及普遍存 在的对提供全⾯性服务的性 ⼯作者的恐 惧。我的前伴侣在我旁边⼯作、 和我做⼀ 样的⼯作时段，但收⼊却是我的两 倍，这 对我这个年轻、没有安全感的⼈⽽⾔ 也是 ⼀种精神压⼒。最后，因为赚的钱太 少， 我觉得很焦虑，觉得这么做根本不值 得。 我⼀直知道跳脱⾐舞不适合我，全⾯服 务 才适合我。我知道关上⻔后，我才能表现 的更好。 我仍然不间断的被别⼈包养，基本上就是⼀ 种伴游服务。区别在于如何对待那些假装我 们之间不是（伴游）的客⼾，这会导致很严 重的情感负担。⼏年后，我最终通过妓院的 ⼯作进⼊了全⾯服务状态。在2019年初， 我经历了维系5年的关系破裂、⽆法动摇的 创意空间以及四分之⼀的⽣活危机等事件， 这导致了我对⽣活的⼀些重新思考。于是我 搬到墨尔本去学习影视硕⼠，但当时我的招 待⼯作时间减少，每周都要⽣活，却没有存 款。然后突然间，我去最近的妓院看了⼀ 圈，拿到我的健康证之后⼏天就开始了。我 开始（妓院⼯作）后，就觉得⾃⼰的前⽣好 像就做过这种⼯作。就好像是打开了我内⼼ 中的⼀扇⻔，它⼀直都坐在那⾥等着，但是 现在，等待着被打开。关于妓院⼯作和全⾯ 性⼯作，对我⽽⾔就像是⼀种本能，我觉得 有⼀种很奇怪的感觉，就像是回到了家⼀ 样。此后我⼀直都在做这个⼯作！

但是作为性⼯作者最有趣的部分 并不是客⼾，或者我们如何穿 着、如何⼯作，⽽是我们在社区 中保持的关系和照顾。 我⼀开始写的剧本其实是有关⼀位来到我在布⾥ 斯班的妓院的牧师，牧师在某次⼯作期间向我告 ⽩对于⾃⼰的独⾝感到困扰，因此影⽚就取名 《House of Whoreship》（崇拜之所）。我 收到的反馈意⻅称，在幕后⼯作者与剧本的互动 ⽐以往我写的任何与顾客的互动要有趣的多。我 绞尽脑汁，想要找到⼀个以旁⽩的⽅式吸引观众 只讲述社区以及幕后⼯作场所的场景的⽅法，与 此同时，影⽚中还要极尽挑战那些有关妓 的有 害的⽐喻。我最近刚刚经历与另⼀位⼯作者的分 ⼿，结合墨尔本性⼯作者中⻅到的酷⼉情况，我 觉得在⼯作场所发⽣的分⼿事件是⼀个很好的故 事。我的分⼿很糟糕，⽽且还没有解决，会⼀直 在我的⼼⾥留下阴影，但这部电影是完全不同的 故事，最后是⼀个好的结局，令⼈感到安⼼。但 是在幕后，平庸的⼯作、故事的社区元素，这些 对我⽽⾔都像是真实的⽣活。

我觉得这部电影像是⼀部纪录⽚，但我知道你可 能不会这么描述它…… 我都知道！这很有趣，我之后再来说⼀下。 电影有关每个⼈的关系，⽽不是我们的实际⼯作 或客⼾，这听起来很酷。我想⼈们可能没有意识 到性⼯作是良性⽽⽆聊的。 没错，就是这样。如果你经常⼯作就会达到某⼀ 个点（特别是当你接近崩溃的阶段时），⼯作预 定的精神刺激就好像扫描⽇杂⽤品⼀样（有些⼈ 这两种⼯作都做）。当然你偶尔也会⻅到⼀些古 怪有趣的故事，迫不及待想要与后 的⼯作者分 享，但是在每天⼯作结束后，当你回想当天的⼯ 作，我基本上都不记得⼯作时⻅的⼈或发⽣的事 情了。客⼾有时过⼀段时间会再来⻅你，有可 能⼀个星期或⼏个⽉后，然后说“你还可以做上 次你做的那件事吗？”，然后你就会说“嗯，你需 要提醒我⼀ ，宝⻉。”因为你很有可能已经不 记得那个⼈了。⾄少你在做体检前是不会记得 的…… 但是作为性⼯作者最有趣的部分并不是客⼾，或 者我们如何穿着、如何⼯作，⽽是我们在社区中 保持的关系和照顾。当你敞开⼼扉或透露⾃⼰是 性⼯作者后，在平⺠眼中你就只有⼀个维度了。 你基本上就是被贴上标签了。⼤家想知道的只有 你在⼯作中与客⼾的体验。⽼实说，我⾮常抗拒 谈论这些。客⼾根本没有那么有趣，抱歉。我们 除了⼯作⼤多数⼈还有⾃⼰的⽣活，因为那只是 ⼀个⼯作。不要审问我们，如果我们想要分享⾃ ⼰的想法和经验，应该觉得是你运⽓好？ 平⺠对影⽚的反应是什么？ 我只听到⼀些。多伦多的 "Inside Out" 电影节 是最近发⽣的事情，观看完影⽚后我能够与平 ⺠ 互动。我听到的最多的反应是，他们觉得很 有 益。我从来没有听过谁⽤这样的⽅法来描述 影⽚ 中的性⼯作，所以它以⼀种的好的⽅式让 ⼈觉得 惊讶。 当我向⾃⼰硕⼠班的同学播放最后剪辑时，他们 说觉得影⽚很真实，这个世界觉得很真实。因 此，我觉得影⽚有让那些未曾进⼊我们世界的⼈ 觉得那是真实的，那是因为这确实是⼀个性⼯作 者讲述的性⼯作者的故事……

《HOUSE OF WHORESHIP》演员就位摄影师 KRISTEN AUGEARD

……没有借口, 似乎没有人注意到屏幕上几

女性的隐形感觉相当残酷，有时我觉得

医生给了我她的电话号码，以防万一，

乎没有客户互动。一个同学对我说，无论

自己不得不努力争取一席之地。性工作

当我打电话告诉她发生了什么事情时，

客户是否缺席，他们都能感受到客户的存

社区在很多方面都非常多元化，但特别

她告诉我去医院。我已经把我的血块照

在——他们的能量在背景中被感受到。你

是对酷儿女性的包容让我感觉到我找到

片发给了一个与朋友的群聊，我的前任

知道工作在那里——但焦点是在工作者身

了自己的归属。

仍然在其中。我告诉TA医生说了什么，

上。我总是在想有时候我希望人们能够成

所以，我从没想过会在电影中看到⾎迹 斑斑的海绵，但我很⾼兴现在看到了。 我知道很多性⼯作者都有海绵的恐怖故 事，所以我得问⼀下——那个场景是受 现实⽣活启发的吗？

我的前任说TA会来接我。TA也是唯一能

一个独立的世界，存在于自己独特的层

啊，是的，那个场景确实是受现实生活

TA陪伴我整个去医院的过程。再一次

面。

启发的——只是并非来自妓院。它是基

——很奇怪，但TA的存在让我感到安

性⼯作者通常会有这种即刻的联 系，对吧？这真的很有趣。

于我和前任交往了5年，分手4年后成为

慰。我提供了成人尿布，服用了止血

了感情上的好朋友。幸运的是，我们在

药，我的前任打电话给我的家人告诉他

分手后成了最好的朋友。我以前从没遇

们我没事。我没必要开口，TA就知道该

到过有人为我取出海绵的情况——不是

怎么做。之后我们聊了一会。我告诉TA

说海绵没有卡住过，或者我在临时尝试

我以为TA不再在乎我了，TA回答说TA是

丙烯酸钉时没有受伤。我开始在妓院工

在乎的，只是需要一些空间。在这段关

作后没多久就放置了子宫内节育器，大

系中，我是提出分手的那个人。多年

约一个小时后我就开始大出血……真的

后，这仍然是一个荒谬的故事，我们仍

很多。我每15分钟就要换一个夜用最大

然因此而大笑，并且我想把那种温暖和

号卫生巾，还有许多血块。

不拘一格带到这部电影里。所以，我制

为墙上的一只苍蝇，这份工作中有太多的 人性，工作者之间可以是如此美好和支持 彼此。当我走进后台看到一个工作者给另 一个工作者编发，或类似的关怀举动时， 我总是会感叹‘啊，我的心！’性工作是

是的！对我个人来说，当我进入性工作社 区时，我感到更多的爱、团结和共同体， 而不是当我出柜[作为酷儿]时。我是在 2014/2015年19岁时出柜的……所以现在 已经很久了，嗯……并不是很久，但那时 候的情况确实不同了。

开车的人……虽然我当时情绪非常激 动，但我感到如释重负。我一上TA的皮 卡车就开始放声大哭，但TA却非常镇 定，尽管情况很奇怪，但让我感到踏 实。

作了妓院的版本。

《HOUSE OF WHORESHIP》剧照，HOLLY BATES，2022年。

《HOUSE OF WHORESHIP》中HOLLY就位摄影师 那个场景太好了，当我看到现实的海绵时，我的感觉就是“太棒了！”

KRISTEN AUGEARD

这也是我热爱性⼯作场所的原因，边界如此不同。我在试图捕捉我们 使⽤的⼀些细致和奇怪⼯具，因为你也知道⼈们很快就会将事情归⼀ 看待。我们的⼯作场所的社交常规与⼤多数⾏业⾮常不同。我觉得 （在⾏业外）⼈们没有那么愿意分享或照顾他⼈。这并不是说每个⼈ 都是这样，也有不愿分享和⾃⼰解决问题的性⼯作者，但他们会因为 你做的⼯作、同样背负的标签⽽同情你。 《House of Whoreship》是在 100号⽼宅拍摄的吗？ 是的！⼗分诡异的 100号。 真的吗！？ 是的。100号真的是我⻅过的最诡异的⻤屋。那栋建筑在市场上挂了 8个⽉，⼤部分是闲置的；它只有床、旧窗帘、和标准的精液味道似 的粉⾊洗⼿液盒。建筑的外观很差，因为太旧，上市后多次有损坏。 房地产中介⾮常不愿意将它租给我们，但由于多次遭窃以及缺乏市场 兴趣，业主同意将它租给我们，这样他们就能获得⼀些现⾦来进⾏维 修。我租了⼀个⽉，⼀周时间拍摄，三周做拍摄前期。我们修了不少 东西，并重新粉刷了浴室和厨房。不管怎么说，那栋建筑闲置了8个 ⽉，我们进去⼯作让本地居⺠感到很突然。那确实感觉像是我们闯⼊ 了那个空间。⼀开始我觉得很惊恐，但最后那⾥就像是我们的秘密守 护天使。在租房的那⼀个⽉，我⼏乎每天都和她说 。离开的时候我 觉得很难过。

⾥⾯的设置仍然像是妓院吗？ 他们没有家具，但床基还在，就像⽯头族的内置⽯头似的。墙上有 贴纸，当然还有⾹皂，除此之外基本上的空的。⾥⾯只有⼀些⼩ 件物品。你能感觉到之前在那的⼯作者，地上有取悦者留下的磨损 痕迹，墙上有笔记。在那拍摄觉得⾮常特别。我仍然很感激有这样 ⼀个地⽅，复制妓院场景对我来说太昂贵了。你需要房间⾥的淋浴 间、上锁的房间、吸烟区、前戏房间，我可能需要很多个地⽅来拍 摄。100号帮我省了很多钱，其中有所有我们需要的东西。 真的有⻤吗？ 是的，据我所知，她叫Sophie或Stephanie。第⼀次和她正⾯接 触的前⼀晚，我梦到⾃⼰将⼀个灯泡带进100号⽼宅，我告诉灯 泡，如果⾥⾯有⻤魂就闪⼀闪。灯泡就灭了。我醒了，装了⼀些⿏ 尾草，梦境证实了我对那⾥的 觉。到那⾥短期⼯作的⼀些⼯作 ⼈ 员在我不在场的时候都不愿意进去，所以我知道他们也有同感。 当 天我就叫⼀些朋友帮我将⼀些沙发搬进那个旧的前戏房。当我朋 友 去⻋上拿东西时，我给刚放好的沙发拍照。我这么做的时候⼀团 ⽩ ⾊的东西从房间的另⼀个地⽅出现并从我的左眼前⻜过，与此同 时 房间⾥的每⼀粒灰尘都⻜快地朝我冲过来。当时没有⻛。我⼤叫 “ 哇”，我的朋友 到了都回来问我怎么了。我告诉他们没什么，但 他们通过我的语调和表情就知道了什么。后来我⼀个⼈留在那⾥ ⽤⿏尾草熏房⼦，唯⼀能嘀咕的就是“不要害怕”（天啊），我太慌 了，都说不出其它的词。当我从房⼦⾥出来时已经是 上，我回到 家仍然很害怕，要吃3粒安定⽚才冷静下来。我知道⿏尾草起了⼀ 些作⽤，但也知道了建筑的烟雾报警器绝对过期了。

《HOUSE OF WHORESHIP》剧照， HOLLY BATES， 2022年。

我向⼀些社区渠道求助，询问有没有知道100号⽼宅可能闹⻤的 事，结果有类似经历的⼯作者发来了⼏⼗条信息。我就是这样知道 Sophie/Stephanie的。⼤多数⼯作者对她的评价都是正⾯和同情 的。他们提到她可能脾⽓有点 爆，偶尔会和别⼈在楼梯上做爱 （我在⼤学的安全模式中也依稀会有），但最终她喜爱⼯作者，讨 厌客⼾。这就说得通了，在旧的前戏房⾥，她朝我⻜过来，那⾥是 个客⼾的空间。我问⼤家是怎么知道她出现的，然后⼤家说在照⽚ ⾥、移动⼥孩房间⾥的饮料罐、让⽑⼱掉下来、改变⽔温等等。我 听到的⼤多数 事是她保护⼯作者免受坏客⼾的伤害。最后，我知 道我要回去那⾥，让她知道我是谁，我到那⾥去的 的。 第⼆天，我带了⼀束花回去，摆在她照看的那个4号房（我们在那 ⾥拍摄淋浴的场景）。我坐在前⼀天带去的床垫上。我对⿏尾草 的 事表⽰歉意，解释了我的 的，并给她读剧本。刚开始和她说 话的 前⼏次，我会看着淋浴房前摆着的花说话。当我第⼆次离开 房间 时，我看了下抽⻛机是否打开，因为那两次花朵前的空⽓让 花看起 来像在振动，像幻象⼀般。抽⻛机没有开，下⼀次我和她 说话时再 次确认⼜看了⼀次。这次空⽓完全静⽌，就当我想⾃⼰ 之前肯定是 想多了的时候，房间的⻔开始前后摆动，那时我就 想“你来了”。屋 ⾥仅有的⼏扇窗⼦都打不开，⽽且当时没有⻛。 她让我很警觉！ 在制作前期的三周⾥，我花了很多时间⼀个⼈留在那⾥，有时⼀直 到半夜三更（凌晨3点）。我想让她在所有⼈到来前了解我和信任 我，⽽且我也要⾯对⾃⼰对她的恐惧。我只告诉了⼏个⼈，其中⼀ 个是我的第⼀副导演，然后我们决定不要告诉剧组和⼯作⼈员，以 避免制造恐慌和妄想。最后，我只是告诉⼤家那⾥有点奇怪因为建 筑太旧了，承载了40年的客⼾能量。在我和她说再⻅把钥匙交回 给房地产中介的那⼀天，我卧室的灯光就像梦境中⼀样开始闪烁。 灯光时亮时灭，毫⽆规则，很奇怪地闪了4个⽉才停。我以为我的 梦境可能是因为看了太多最后⼀季的《Stranger Things》（怪奇 物语），但这种奇怪的感觉⼀直贯穿了整个过程，还加深了我对她 的爱。100号⽼宅最严厉的保护者。 你有考虑过在其它地⽅拍摄吗？

⽽且，我们被剥削、污名、歧视的已经够多的了…… 太多了！⼈们总是有⼀种偷窥的想法。我们被剥削、污名和歧视直接 反映了⼈们对我们的 法，⼈们对我们的 法来⾃于媒体。很明显， 平⺠纪录⽚⽆法真实还原我们的⽣活。 对，这就是我喜爱《House of Whoreship》的原因。我知道你将 影 ⽚描述为分⼿后的喜剧⽚，但它也有点像纪录⽚，只是没有剥削的 成分。 感谢上帝！ 《 House of Whoreship 》发布后，你的性⼯作者的⾝份完全公开 了？截⾄⽬前，对你有什么影响？ 各种感觉。⼀⽅⾯来说，我预计我的家⼈不会好受。我知道⽗⺟的教 养以及我们在澳洲基本没有亲戚，他们不会和我断绝关系。但我肯定 会碰到⼀些厌恶和对抗的情绪…… 现在回想，我已经为这⼀刻让他 们 ⼼⾥有准备了多年，尤其你从我的艺术作品的变化也能看出来。 但是 不⽤再向他们撒谎以及过双重⽣活，让我肩膀上的负担轻了不 少。我 知道我已经很幸运了，因为⼤多数性⼯作者不会从他们家⼈ 那⾥得到 这样的回应。 从另⼀⽅⾯来说，这有点让⼈精疲⼒竭。当我的电影成为对话主题的 时候，⼈们总是将它视为⼀个审问我是⼀名性⼯作者的机会……制作 影⽚的主要⽬的是有关性⼯作者，我就不⽤再解释了。因为“公开⾝ 份的”性⼯作者并不多，平⺠都会将你视为获得这⼀⾏业信息的唯⼀ 来源。 我觉得有义务为社区和⾏业服务，帮助向平⺠提供信息，但这样做很 累。某⼀天⼀个熟⼈对我说：“噢，你肯定会喜欢这个⼈，因为你是 ⼀名性⼯作者。” 他们真的会那么做，就好像性⼯作者就是我唯⼀的 特点了。除了性⼯作者的⾝份外，我的⽣活中还有其它元素。我不会 因为我的朋友如何在餐桌上摆放⻝物⽽将他们定格在某种⾝份中。但 对我们，⼈们却不认为这么做有问题或者毫不犹豫就会这么做。我们 只不过都是想在资本化之下⽣存的⼈。

有，⼀开始问过⼀些不是7天24⼩时营业的妓院，问他们能否在不 我公开性⼯作者⾝份是因为性⼯作影⽚需要由性⼯作者制作，因 营业时拍摄。我绝不会在场所开⻔时拍摄。在营业时间拍摄会暴 此 我想以⾝作则…… 因为如果我不做，我需要等多久才会有其他 ⼈愿意 做？我不后悔，我从来没有像现在这样与我的社区紧密相 露 客⼾、⼯作者或管理层，让他们有所避忌。 连并且愿意 站出来为我们的形象发声。在荧幕上为改善我们的形 很多影视学校的⼈都不理解这个问题。我在那期间，⼀直有⼈ 象⽽做贡献，让 我觉得这是在完成⽣命中的使命。有时会觉得很 问 我： “ 如果你想真实反应性⼯作，为什么不拍纪录⽚呢？ ” 我 精疲⼒竭。 想说， 要考虑出柜以及相关的后果等问题。在拍摄纪录⽚期间 《House of Whoreship 》在美国的⾸映是在CineKink电影节期 你可以保证 参与者的安全，但之后怎么办？你出柜后，谁来照 间， 顾和保护你？还 有编辑过的纪录⽚也有影响⼒，因为那是 “ 真 你能去吗？法律上来说我不能去，因为我公开了⾝份，这就是我必须 实”的影⽚，即使被编 辑重整，⼈们还会认为那是真的。对性⼯ 要⾯对的⼀个后果。如果你在过去10年从 过性⼯作，美国就不会 作者⽽⾔，那不像是⼀种 安全的媒介。 让你⼊境。滑稽的是最近我⻜进和⻜出加拿⼤的时候曾经两次被困在 美国。我乘坐的两趟航班都被取消了，要等到第⼆天，因此要通过临 时过境签证，预定在机场附近的酒店。我觉得⾃⼰欺骗了签证系统， ⼊境了！在登上回澳⼤利亚的⻜机前，我在旧⾦⼭⼀整天，那种感觉 很特别，苦中带甜。我早⼏年前去过那⾥，因此我再去了⼀次那些我 喜欢的地⽅，并且在精神上说再⻅，那种感觉就像是⼀种很特别的机 会。

感觉太怪了！通常如果性⼯作者不公开⾝份，就能进⼊美国…… 只要他们严格按照规定不在⾏李中携带特定物品…… 噢！这提醒了我！我在多伦多参加"Inside Out"电影节的第⼀ 个 晚上遇⻅了导演Alex Conetto，他拍摄了⼀个名叫《Safe Word 》（安全世界）的短⽚。他的影⽚讲述的是⼀段⾂服与 ⽀配的 关系。他问我会不会去美国。我想说“我希望可以！” 他 问我是 否会去参加，然后我说了他 的⼊境法规，他就说“那你 不能只 是说……”，我说“不⾏，我不能这么说……他 不会让我⼊ 境 的。” 我告诉他所有的事情，你知道吗，他 （不会让性⼯作 者 ⼊境的），当你抵达的时候，他 会搜查你的社交媒体、使 ⽤ ⾯部识别、搜查你的⾏李，当找到⼀套配套的内⾐时，他 就 ⾜以认为你是要去那⾥⼯作……不管怎么说，他很震惊，并不 是说他不相信我，他只是很震惊。 在参加多伦多的闭幕聚会前他回了⼀趟美国。我在聚会上⻅到 他，他说“天哪，这些事情也发⽣在我⾝上了，你之前说的是 真 的！” 我听说过性⼯作法案也会影响平⺠演员，当他回到美 国 时，边检是这样问他的：

你去加拿⼤⼲什么？” 他说："哦，我去 加电影节。" 他们 说：“是为了你的电影《Safe Word》吗？” 他说：“你怎么知道 的？” 然后他们说：“我们是美国政府，我们什么都知道。” “

叹⽓* 我的天。 对。他说：“嗯，好吧……”，然后他 就让他进去了。 《SafeWord》确实是性⼯作的核⼼，因为它涉及交易性的⾂ 服和⽀配关系，我想：“你有那样的体验让⼈难过，但是我有 点⾼兴。所以，你知道吗，我没有胡编乱造，这是真的。”被 审问。如果没有公开⾝份通常就能过，但很⿇烦…… *

《HOUSE OF WHORESHIP》就位摄影师 KRISTEN AUGEARD 我听过很多性⼯作者说⼊境美国没有问题，但也有⼈说在边境 确实如此，⽽且有不同的类别。在美国，可以在屏幕上出售性 ⼯作，但不能在现实⽣活中这么做。 Angela White 似乎可以 出⼊⾃由，因为她是⾊情影星，很多OnlyFans影星也没有这 些问题。在屏幕上的内容和关⻔后发⽣的事情，它们在法律和 社会上的影响有什么不同？我觉得很困惑。 我很好奇，你从后房获得的最佳建议会是什么呢？ ⼀位⼯作者曾经对我说“不要咬紧⽛关完成⼀ ⼯作”，这真的 是⼀ 很好的建议。当你是在异性恋为主导、⽗权制的环境 下 ⻓⼤，真的很难会去反对男性或强调⾃⼰的边界，你常常 处于 另外⼀边。我发现⾃⼰初⼊⾏时会被客⼾牵着⾛，因为 他们向 我付费了，我在探索什么是⼯作，什么是边界，在哪 ⾥划出界 限。客⼾会⼀直尝试试探底线，但我不再会为了他 们⽽保持沉 默了。这就是那条建议的关键。

我认为让主流观众了解性⼯作者的故事来激发他们的同情⼼和提供教 育真的很重要。 我认为，展⽰我们如何分享社区将最有可能引起这种共鸣。 你还希望与平⺠社区分享性⼯作的哪些⽅⾯？ 我与《House of Whoreship》的作者在每周的 ⼯作坊中对话后就有了这些内容，后来还有⼀些 ⽹ 站上的系列⽂章。我们讨论希望在屏幕上能看 到 哪些 表性⼯作的内容，我们想到的第⼀件事 就是 ⾦钱。⼈们持有的普遍观点就是，你是因为 收⼊太 好⽽做性⼯作，或者因为你⾛投⽆路没有 钱才会去 做性⼯作，这两者之间没有其它的选 择。尤其是在 妓院环境中，关于收⼊的问题，⼤ 家也有很⼤的分 歧。⼤家每⼩时的收⼊都不⼀ 样，许多⼯作者根据 ⾃⾝的边界和个⼈情况收取 不同的额外费⽤。每个 ⼈都是独⽴⼯作的，但⼤ 家都有⼀种团结⼀致和社 区分享的感觉。某些妓 院确实会⽐较刻薄，⽽且后 房总会有⼀个⼋卦或 诋毁他⼈的 Regina George 想 要通过社交往上 爬，但根据我的经验她的存在不会 ⻓久。我想在 更⼴泛的社区中，也有关于“⾼收⼊” 和“低收⼊”的 形象问题和讨论。平⺠会质问低收⼊ 者，⽽⾼收 ⼊者会被问为什么⼀开始做性⼯作。这 个问题很 有残障歧视和恐娼的意味，讨论这个问题 很重 要，这样我们才能消除“ 你很恶⼼” 或“ 你好棒， 赚 了好多钱” 的两个极端反映。但是抱歉，你仍然没 有任何权利…… 对，⼈们拒绝将性⼯作视为⼀种⼯作，也不考虑 ⼈ 们找其它⼯作的原因（并将这些原因运⽤到性 ⼯作 上）。有可能这个⼯作很灵活、⼯作时间适 合他 们、⼯作地点很好、他们喜欢这个⼯作，这 些总会 被⼈们忽略 …… ⼈们基本上不太可能接受 别⼈不做解 释就说 “ 哦，我真的就是喜欢性⼯ 作”。 是的，即使你不喜欢，也不要紧。当客⼾问我是 否 会⼀直做这个⼯作或者什么时候去找⼀份真正 的⼯ 作时，我会说： “ 这是我做过的最好的⼯作 了！”我 并没有做砸其它⼯作，我也曾在招待和零 售业做过 很⻓时间，但是⾃⼰做⽼板、不是为⼤ 公司⼯作、 每⼩时只是拿着最低时薪、⼜⽼⼜恶 ⼼的顾客免费 和你调情 …… 与性⼯作相⽐，更加 ⾝不由⼰。

再说回与平⺠社区的分享问题。我认为让主流观 众 了解性⼯作者的故事来激发他们的同情⼼和提 供教 育真的很重要。我认为，展⽰我们如何分享 社区将 最有可能引起这种共鸣。娼妓的等级问题 有必要说 ⼀下。我想要展⽰⼀下⾏业内酷⼉和性 别表现性的 细微差别，以及探索⼯作者仪式感和 美妙⼯作。许 多⼯作者有不同的仪式进⼊⼯作环 境，然后让我们 再从那个环境中出来。有些东西 有点空灵，我很喜 欢。但⽼实说，我不会在这⾥ 说很多，因为我们的 形象被低估和错误地表现， 有时我真的很希望能向 他们展⽰所有的东西（但 ⼜不会透露太多秘密）。 你提到的⽹站系列⽂章是怎么样的？ 我们才刚开始稍微讨论这个问题。⼤约有 15 名作 者 有兴趣投稿，我希望更多⼈参与进来，集体努 ⼒的 ⼒量会更强。⽽且在撰写电影剧本时，我对 性⼯作 的多样性也思考了很多。在这样⼀个熔炉 ⾥，有许 多不同⾝份和体验。作为⼀名顺性别⼥ 性，我只能 讲述性⼯作中⼀⼩部分的体验，所以 更多作者就会 有更多形象表述，我们⾮常需要这 些内容。我们的 计划是开展4-5期，在妓院中展⽰ 这些故事，因为我 们都认同这⾥是探索屏幕上看 不到的那些体验的细 微差别的最佳环境。这将是 全新的故事，不会是我 的影⽚的后续，但是情境 ⼀样，也是发⽣在澳⼤利 亚的妓院中。当我在多 伦多与美国⼈和加拿⼤⼈聊 天时，他们会说“噢， 真的有妓院？现在还有吗？” 听起来你⼯作很努⼒！ 是的。实话说，⼤多数时候我都在想如果⼯作中 其 它地⽅或者有些 么影响，但只需要另⼀名⼯ 作者 ⼀个⽀持的表⽰就知道那是值得的。我是⼀ 名有特 权的性⼯作者 —— 我是顺性别、⽩⼈、公 开了⾝份 ⽽且没有被亲友抛弃。我现在有资源 了，我觉得有 ⼀种强烈的义务要使⽤这种特权。 我希望⼈们能更 好地对待我的社区。当我听到同 事在⼯作外因为⽆ 穷尽的影视错误形象⽽有不好 的经历时，我觉得很 ⽣⽓和难过。如果有谁能对 抗这种影视形象，那个 ⼈就是我。

HOUSE OF WHORESHIP》剧照，HOLLY BATES，2022年。

您是否知道从2023年12⽉1⽇起，上⻔服务开始合法？ 现在您可以在家中、在酒店预订的客房中、或者在您名下预定的 Airbnb中接⻅客⼾也⽆需担⼼刑事犯罪。* 如果您对这⼀改变有任何疑问，或者对《2022年性⼯作⾮罪化法 案》（Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022）相关的其它改 变有疑问，请与我们联系。 *虽然性⼯作者不会因为提供上⻔服务⽽被定罪，但是酒店和 Airbnb⽅⾯仍可能会因为社会上⼴泛存在的对性⼯作者的污名⽽ 歧视性⼯作者。如果这发⽣在您⾝上，您想要找⼈倾诉⼀下、寻 求⽀持或者跟进这件事，请与我们联系。

《1994年性⼯作法案》（Sex Work Act 1994）的废除对性⼯作⾏业⽽⾔意味着什么？ 酒类控制 从2023年12⽉1⽇起，性⼯作服务提供者在妓院出售、提供、或消费酒类或者允许酒类在妓院出售、提 供、或消费，都不再是违法⾏为。 这意味着从2023年12⽉起性⼯作服务机构可以申请酒类许可执照。 您将需要完成⼀份场内酒类执照申请表，这份表格可以在维多利亚州政府⽹站 https://www.vic.gov.au/explore-all-liquor-applications-and-forms上查阅。 在您的申请表中，您将需要： ●本地市议会的规划许可； ●关于营业时间的明确说明； ●遵守所需培训的证明； ●红线计划； ●客⼈容纳⼈数声明； ●有权利使⽤场地的声明； ●报纸⼴告的副本。 填写申请前，您需要与本地市议会联系，了解他们对于销售、提供和消费酒类的规划要求。 如果您的⼯作场所计划提供⾊情娱乐，您可能还需要填写⼀份《有执照场所提供⾊情娱乐表》 （Sexually Explicit Entertainment on Licensed Premise）。如果您不确定，可以与维多利亚州酒 类控制局联系以讨论您的营业需求。

营业执照

营业执照管理局（Business Licensing Authority）管理的执照系统将从2023年12⽉起终⽌使⽤。从 该⽇期起，性⼯作服务提供者以及企业将不再需要获取营业执照以及担任妓院经理⽆需执照。

妓院的规划控制

《1994年性⼯作法案》（Sex Work Act 1994）第4部分列出的妓院特别规划控制不再适⽤，《维多利 亚州规划管理暂⾏条例》（Victoria Planning Provisions）的《修订案VC217》和所有规划计划都在 2023年12⽉⽣效。 从2023年12⽉起，妓院将称为性服务场所，与其它提供例如美发等个⼈服务的企业⼀样同样对待。除 ⾮有特别排除说明，否则规划计划中的商铺或零售场所将包含性服务场所。 有关更多信息，您可以查阅环境、⼟地、⽔务和规划部的《第79项规划建议》。

如果您想了解有关上述内容的更多信息，请与我们联系。

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บ้​้านของ 76

เบตส์​์

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ฉากในภาพยนตร์​์ ‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’ โดยฮอลลี่​่� เบตส์​์ ปี​ี 2022

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แต่​่สิ่​่ง� ที่​่น่ � ่ าสนใจมากที่​่สุ� ด ุ ในการเป็​็ นผู้​้� ขายบริ​ิการทางเพศนั้​้�นไม่​่ใช่​่ลู​ูกค้​้า หรื​ือการแต่​่งตั​ัวของเรา หรื​ือการ ทำำ�งานของเรา แต่​่สิ่​่ง� ที่​่น่ � ่ าสนใจมาก ที่​่สุ� ดนั้​้ ุ น � คื​ือ ความสั​ัมพั​ันธ์​์และการเอื้​้�อ อาทรซึ่​่�งกั​ันและกั​ันภายในชุ​ุมชนของ เรา บทภาพยนตร์​์ที่ฉั ่� น ั เขี​ียนในตอนแรกนั้​้�นมาจากเรื่​่อ� งจริ​ิง เกี่​่ย� วกั​ับบาทหลวงคนหนึ่​่�งที่​่ม � าใช้​้บริก ิ ารที่​่ซ่ � อ ่ งในบริ​ิสเบน ที่​่ฉั � น ั ทำำ�งานอยู่​่� เขาสารภาพกั​ับฉั​ันตอนขอรั​ับบริก ิ ารว่​่า เขาต่​่อสู้​้อ� ย่​่างหนั​ักกั​ับการรั​ักษาศี​ีลพรหมจรรย์​์เป็​็ นอย่​่าง มาก นี่​่�จึงึ เป็​็ นที่​่ม � าของชื่​่อ � ภาพยนตร์​์ว่า่ ‘House of Whoreship’ ฉั​ันได้​้รับั เสี​ียงตอบรั​ับว่​่า บทภาพยนตร์​์ที่​่� เกี่​่ย� วกั​ับปฏิสัิ มั พั​ันธ์​์เบื้​้�องหลั​ังระหว่​่างเหล่​่าผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการนั้​้�น น่​่ าสนใจกว่​่าบทที่​่เ� กี่​่ย� วกั​ับปฏิสัิ มั พั​ันธ์​์กับลู​ู ั กค้​้าที่​่ฉั � น ั ได้​้ เขี​ียนไปเสี​ียอี​ีก ฉั​ันพยายามเค้​้นสมองหาทางแสดงให้​้เห็​็น แง่​่มุม ุ ต่​่าง ๆ เกี่​่ย� วกั​ับชุ​ุมชนและฉากเบื้​้�องหลั​ังในสถานที่​่� ทำำ�งาน ซึ่​่�งเป็​็ นการปู​ูทางที่​่ชว � นให้​้คนติ​ิดตามสำำ�หรั​ับรู​ูป แบบในการเล่​่าเรื่​่อ� ง ในขณะเดี​ียวกั​ัน ก็​็ท้า้ ทายเนื้​้�อหาน่​่ า รั​ังเกี​ียจเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับโสเภณี​ีที่​่พ � บเห็​็นดาษดื่​่น � ในภาพยนตร์​์ ตอนนั้​้�น ฉั​ันเพิ่​่�งแยกทางกั​ับเพื่​่อ� นร่​่วมงาน และวิ​ิถี​ีของผู้​้� ขายบริ​ิการทางเพศในเมลเบิ​ิร์​์นนั้​้�นก็​็มี​ีความหลากหลาย ทางเพศ ฉั​ันก็​็เลยตั​ัดสิน ิ ใจว่​่า เรื่​่อ� งนี้​้�น่​่าจะเป็​็ นเครื่​่อ� งมื​ือเล่​่า เรื่​่อ� งที่​่ล� งตั​ัวที่สุ ่� ด ุ — เรื่​่อ� งอกหั​ักรั​ักสลายในสถานที่​่ทำ � �ำ งาน การเลิ​ิกราครั้​้ง� นั้​้�นมั​ันแย่​่มาก แล้​้วก็​็ค้า้ งคาในใจฉั​ันตลอด มา แต่​่การที่​่ไ� ด้​้สร้า้ งภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ� งนี้​้�มัน ั ช่​่วยทำำ�ให้​้รู้​้ �สึก ึ ดี​ี เพราะตอนจบเรื่​่อ� งมั​ันแตกต่​่างไปโดยสิ้​้�นเชิ​ิง เป็​็ นการจบ แบบมี​ีความสุ​ุข แต่​่เรื่​่อ� งราวเบื้​้�องหลั​ังการทำำ�งาน ตั​ัวงานที่​่� ซ้ำำ�ซ � ากจำำ�เจน่​่ าเบื่​่อ� รวมถึ​ึงองค์​์ประกอบของชุ​ุมชนในเนื้​้�อ เรื่​่อ� งนั้​้�น ตรงกั​ับชี​ีวิ​ิตจริ​ิงมาก ๆ สำำ�หรั​ับฉั​ัน

สำำ�หรั​ับฉั​ัน ภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�ถื​ือว่​่าเป็​็ นสารคดี​ี ซึ่​่�งฉั​ันก็​็รู้ว่้ � า่ มั​ันก็​็ไม่​่ใช่​่แบบที่​่คุ � ณกำ ุ �ำ หนด... ฉั​ันเข้​้าใจเลยที​ีเดี​ียว น่​่ าสนใจ เดี๋​๋�ยวเราค่​่อยกลั​ับมาคุ​ุยกั​ัน เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�อี​ีกที​ี เจ๋​๋งดี​ีนะที่​่ภ � าพยนตร์​์นี้​้�มี​ีเนื้​้�อหาเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับความสั​ัมพั​ันธ์​์ของ คน มากกว่​่าตั​ัวเนื้​้�องานหรื​ือตั​ัวลู​ูกค้​้า ฉั​ันคิ​ิดว่​่าคนไม่​่รู้​้ � หรอกว่​่า งานบริ​ิการทางเพศเนี่​่�ยมั​ันไม่​่ได้​้อัน ั ตรายน่​่ า หวาดเสี​ียวอะไร แล้​้วมัน ั ก็​็น่​่าเบื่​่อ � มาก ใช่​่เลย ถ้​้าคุ​ุณทำ�ำ งานเป็​็ นประจำำ� มั​ันจะถึ​ึงจุ​ุดที่​่� (โดยเฉพาะ เมื่​่อ � คุ​ุณใกล้​้ถึงึ ช่​่วงหมดไฟ) งานที่​่ไ� ด้​้รับมั ั น ั ตื่​่น � เต้​้นเร้​้าใจ พอ ๆ กั​ับการวางของชำำ�บนเคาน์​์เตอร์​์เพื่​่อ � ชำำ�ระเงิ​ิน (ใน ฐานะคนที่​่เ� คยทำำ�มาแล้​้วทั้​้ง� สองอย่​่าง) แน่​่ นอนว่​่า บางครั้​้ง� คุ​ุณก็​็เจอคนที่​่มี​ี � พฤติ​ิกรรมแปลก ๆ และเรื่​่อ � งขำำ� ๆ ที่​่คุ � ณ ุ อยากเอาไปเล่​่าสู่​่�ให้​้เพื่​่อ � นร่​่วมงานฟั​ัง ในห้​้องพั​ัก แต่​่จริ​ิง ๆ แล้​้ว เมื่​่อ � ฉั​ันคิ​ิดถึ​ึงช่​่วงเวลาทำำ�งาน ฉั​ันแทบจะจำำ�ลู​ูกค้​้าหรื​ือ การนั​ัดหมายงานไม่​่ได้​้เลย จะมี​ีลู​ูกค้​้ามาหาเราหลั​ังจากที่​่� หายไปพั​ักนึ​ึง ซึ่​่�งอาจจะเป็​็ นสั​ัปดาห์​์หรื​ือเป็​็ นเดื​ือนก็​็ได้​้ และก็​็ถามว่​่า “คุ​ุณทำ�ำ อย่​่างที่​่คุ � ณทำ ุ �ำ ครั้​้ง� ที่​่แ � ล้​้วได้​้ไหม” แล้​้ว เราก็​็จะ “เอ้​้อ... ที่​่รั� กั คะ คุ​ุณช่ว่ ยเตื​ือนความทรงจำำ�หน่​่ อย เถิ​ิดค่ะ่ ” เพราะว่​่าจริ​ิง ๆ แล้​้ว เราอาจจะจำำ�หน้​้าผู้​้�ชายคน นั้​้�นไม่​่ได้​้ด้ว้ ยซ้ำำ�� ไป อย่​่างน้​้อย เราอาจจะจำำ�ไม่​่ได้​้จน กระทั่​่�งถึ​ึงตอนตรวจสุ​ุขภาพ... แต่​่สิ่​่ง� ที่​่น่ � ่ าสนใจมากที่​่สุ� ด ุ ในการเป็​็ นผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศ นั้​้�น ไม่​่ใช่​่ลู​ูกค้​้า หรื​ือการแต่​่งตั​ัวของเรา หรื​ือการทำำ�งาน ของเรา แต่​่สิ่​่ง� ที่​่น่ � ่ าสนใจมากที่​่สุ� ดนั้​้ ุ น � คื​ือ ความสั​ัมพั​ันธ์​์และ ความเอื้​้�ออาทรซึ่​่�งกั​ันและกั​ันภายในชุ​ุมชนของเรา ฉั​ัน เกลี​ียดมากเลยที่​่พ � อเราเปิ​ิ ดเผยออกมาว่​่าเราเป็​็ นผู้​้ข � าย บริ​ิการทางเพศ เราก็​็จะกลายเป็​็ นคนมิ​ิติเิ ดี​ียว สำำ�หรั​ับ คนนอกวงการ เรี​ียกว่​่าคุ​ุณถู​ูกตี​ีตราว่​่าเป็​็ นผู้​้ห � ญิ​ิงแพศยา คนพวกนั้​้�นอยากจะถามแต่​่ว่า่ ประสบการณ์​์ กับลู​ู ั กค้​้าใน การทำำ�งานเป็​็ นอย่​่างไร ฉั​ันเบื่​่อ � มากจริ​ิง ๆ เลยที่​่จ� ะพู​ูดเรื่​่อ � ง พวกนั้​้�น ขอโทษที​ีเถอะ ลู​ูกค้​้าไม่​่ได้​้น่​่าสนใจมากสั​ักเท่​่าไร หรอกนะ ตั​ัวตนเรานั้​้�นมั​ันมี​ีมากกว่​่างาน พวกเราส่​่วนใหญ่​่ มี​ีชี​ีวิ​ิตนอกเหนื​ือการทำำ�งาน เพราะว่​่าสิ่​่�งนี้​้�มัน ั ก็​็แค่​่นั้​้น � แหละ เป็​็ นแค่​่งาน อย่​่ามาถามเราเรื่​่อ � งนี้​้� ถ้​้าเราอยากจะ บอกเล่​่าความคิ​ิดและประสบการณ์​์ ของเรา ก็​็ขอให้​้ถื​ือว่​่า คุ​ุณโชคดี​ี คนนอกวงการมี​ีปฏิ​ิกิริ​ิ ยิ าอย่​่างไรกั​ับภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้� ฉั​ันได้​้ยิน ิ มาแค่​่นิ​ิดหน่​่ อยเท่​่านั้​้�น เทศกาล Inside Out ที่​่� โทรอนโต เป็​็ นประสบการณ์​์ ล่า่ สุ​ุดที่ฉั ่� น ั ได้​้พบปะกั​ับ คนนอกวงการหลั​ังจากชมภาพยนตร์​์ เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้� ปฏิ​ิกิริ​ิ ยิ าส่​่วน ใหญ่​่ที่ฉั ่� น ั ได้​้รับก็ ั ็คื​ือ พวกเขาคิ​ิดว่​่า ภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�มี​ี ประโยชน์​์ ซึ่​่�งฉั​ันคิ​ิดว่​่า ฉั​ันไม่​่เคยได้​้ยิน ิ ใครพู​ูดถึ​ึง ภาพยนตร์​์ที่ห ่� ยิ​ิบยกเรื่​่อ � งงานบริ​ิการทางเพศในลั​ักษณะนี้​้� มาก่​่อน ซึ่​่�งถื​ือว่​่าเป็​็ นเรื่​่อ � งที่​่น่ � ่ าแปลกใจมาก ๆ เป็​็ นเรื่​่อ � งน่​่ า แปลกใจในทางที่​่ดี​ี � มาก ๆ ตอนที่​่ฉั � น ั ฉายภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�หลั​ังตั​ัดต่อ ่ เสร็​็จให้​้เพื่​่อ � น ร่​่วมชั้​้�นที่​่เ� รี​ียนปริ​ิญญาโทด้​้วยกั​ันดู​ู เขาบอกว่​่า มั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ สมจริ​ิงมาก แล้​้วก็​็ดู​ูเป็​็ นโลกที่​่แ � ท้​้จริ​ิง ฉั​ันคิ​ิดว่​่า มั​ันมี​ีความ สมจริ​ิงอยู่​่�ในภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�ที่ค ่� นซึ่​่�งไม่​่เคยเข้​้ามาอยู่​่�ใน โลกของเรานั้​้�นสามารถรู้​้ �สึก ึ ได้​้ ซึ่​่�งอาจเป็​็ นเพราะว่​่า จริ​ิง ๆ แล้​้ว มี​ีผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศอยู่​่�เบื้​้�องหลั​ังเรื่​่อ � งราวเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับผู้​้� ขายบริ​ิการทางเพศเรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�...

ฉากหนึ่​่�งจากภาพยนตร์​์ House of Whoreship ภาพถ่​่ายโดย KRISTEN AUGEARD

…not a john ดู​ูเหมื​ือนว่​่า ไม่​่มี​ีใครสั​ังเกตเห็​็นว่​่า แทบจะไม่​่มี​ี ปฏิ​ิสัมั พั​ันธ์​์กับลู​ู ั กค้​้าเลยในภาพยนตร์​์ เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้� เพื่​่อ � นร่​่วมชั้​้�นคนหนึ่​่�งบอกกั​ับฉั​ันว่​่า เขารู้​้ �สึก ึ ว่​่ามี​ีลู​ูกค้​้าอยู่​่�ในฉากแม้​้ว่า่ จะไม่​่เห็​็นตั​ัวลู​ูกค้​้าก็​็ตาม เหมื​ือนกั​ับว่​่ามี​ีพลั​ังงานของลู​ูกค้​้าอยู่​่�ในแบ็​็กกราวนด์​์ คุ​ุณรู้ว่้ � า่ มั​ันมี​ีงานอยู่​่�ตรงนั้​้�น แต่​่จุ​ุดเน้​้นอยู่​่�ที่​่ตั � วั คน ทำำ�งาน ฉั​ันคิ​ิดมาตลอดว่​่า บางครั้​้ง� ก็​็อยากให้​้คนอื่​่น � ได้​้รับปร ั ะสบการณ์​์ เหมื​ือนเป็​็ นแมลงวั​ันเกาะกำำ�แพง ห้​้องแอบดู​ูพวกเราอยู่​่� เพราะว่​่าในวงการงานของเรา นี้​้� มี​ีความรั​ักมี​ีน้ำำ��ใจกั​ันมากเลย และผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการต่​่าง ก็​็น่​่ารั​ักและช่​่วยเหลื​ือดู​ูแลซึ่​่�งกั​ันและกั​ัน เมื่​่อ � ฉั​ันไปที่​่� ห้​้องพั​ัก และเห็​็นคนหนึ่​่�งถั​ักผมให้​้อี​ีกคนหนึ่​่�ง หรื​ือทำำ� อะไรคล้​้าย ๆ แบบนี้​้�ที่แ ่� สดงถึ​ึงความเอื้​้�ออาทรกั​ัน ฉั​ัน จะรู้​้ �สึก ึ เสมอเลยว่​่า “โอ้​้ ช่​่างงดงามอะไรอย่​่างนี้​้�” งาน บริ​ิการทางเพศนั้​้�นอยู่​่�ในโลกใบเล็​็ก ๆ ของมั​ันเอง และมั​ันก็​็อยู่​่�ในมิ​ิติเิ ล็​็ก ๆ ของมั​ันเอง ผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศมั​ักจะมี​ีความรู้​้ �สึก ึ ผู​ูกพั​ันอย่​่างนี้​้� ทั​ันที​ีเลยใช่​่ไหม น่​่ าสนใจมากจริ​ิง ๆ ใช่​่เลย! ใช่​่จริ​ิง ๆ ส่​่วนตั​ัวสำ�ำ หรั​ับฉั​ันแล้​้ว ฉั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ ถึ​ึง ความรั​ัก ความเป็​็ นน้ำำ�� หนึ่​่�งใจเดี​ียวกั​ัน และความเป็​็ น ชุ​ุมชน เมื่​่อ � ฉั​ันเข้​้ามาอยู่​่�ในชุ​ุมชนผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทาง เพศมากกว่​่าเที​ียบกั​ับเมื่​่อ � ตอนที่​่ฉั � น ั ออกมาประกาศว่​่า ตั​ัวเองเป็​็ นเควี​ียร์​์ (ผู้​้ไ� ม่​่ปิ​ิดกั้​้�นทางเพศ) เมื่​่อ � ฉั​ันเปิ​ิ ด เผยว่​่าตั​ัวเองเป็​็ นเควี​ียร์​์ ฉั​ันอายุ​ุ 19 ในปี​ี 2014 หรื​ือ 2015 ซึ่​่�งก็​็นานมาแล้​้วล่ะ่ อื​ือม... มั​ันก็​็ไม่​่นานสั​ัก เท่​่าไร แต่​่ก็​็ต่า่ งกั​ันนะ

การที่​่ค � นไม่​่เห็​็นว่​่าฉั​ันเป็​็ นเควี​ียร์​์ที่แ ่� ต่​่งหญิ​ิง มั​ันทำำ�ให้​้ ฉั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ อึ​ึดอัดั มาก ๆ และฉั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ เหมื​ือนว่​่า บางครั้​้ง� ฉั​ันต้​้องต่​่อสู้​้เ� พื่​่อ � ที่​่จ� ะเข้​้าไปอยู่​่�ในกลุ่​่�มของผู้​้�มี​ีความ หลากหลายทางเพศ ชุ​ุมชนงานบริ​ิการทางเพศมี​ีความ หลากหลายในหลายด้​้าน แต่​่การ ยอมรั​ับเควี​ียร์​์ที่แ ่� ต่​่งหญิ​ิงนั้​้�นทำำ�ให้​้ฉัน ั รู้​้ �สึก ึ เหมื​ือนว่​่า ฉั​ันได้​้พบที่​่ที่ � ฉั ่� น ั อยู่​่�แล้​้วสบายใจ ฉั​ันไม่​่เคยคิ​ิดว่​่าจะเจอฟองน้ำำ��โชกเลื​ือดในภาพยนตร์​์ แต่​่ฉัน ั ก็​็ดี​ีใจนะว่​่าตอนนี้​้�ได้​้เจอแล้​้ว ฉั​ันทราบว่​่า ผู้​้� ขายบริ​ิการทางเพศจำำ�นวนมากมี​ีเรื่​่อ � งเล่​่าน่​่ าสยอง เกี่​่ย� วกั​ับฟองน้ำำ�� แต่​่ฉัน ั ก็​็ต้อ ้ งขอถามล่​่ะว่​่า ฉากนั้​้�นเนี่​่� ยมั​ันมาจากชี​ีวิ​ิตจริ​ิงหรื​ือ อ๋​๋อใช่​่ ฉากนั้​้�นมาจากชี​ีวิ​ิตจริ​ิง — แต่​่มัน ั ไม่​่ได้​้แค่​่มา จากซ่​่องเท่​่านั้​้�นนะ ฉากนั้​้�นมั​ันมาจากเรื่​่อ � งจริ​ิงของ แฟนเก่​่าที่​่ฉั � น ั คบหาอยู่​่� 5 ปี​ี และตอนนี้​้� ก็​็แยกทางกั​ัน ไปแล้​้ว 4 ปี​ี โชคดี​ีที่​่ห � ลั​ังจากที่​่เ� ราเลิ​ิกกั​ันแล้​้ว เราก็​็ กลายเป็​็ นเพื่​่อ � นที่​่ดี​ีต่ � อ ่ กั​ัน ฉั​ันยั​ังไม่​่เคยต้​้องขอให้​้ใคร ช่​่วยเอาฟองน้ำำ��ออก — ไม่​่ใช่​่ว่า่ มั​ันไม่​่เคยติ​ิดอยู่​่�ข้​้าง ในหรอกนะ แล้​้วก็​็ไม่​่ได้​้หมายความว่​่า ฉั​ันจะไม่​่เคย สร้​้างแผลให้​้ตัวั เองในช่​่วงสั้​้�น ๆ ที่​่ช � อบต่​่อเล็​็บปลอม หลั​ังจากที่​่เ� ริ่​่�มทำำ�งานที่​่ซ่ � อ ่ งไม่​่นาน ฉั​ันก็​็ไปหาหมอใส่​่ ห่​่วงคุ​ุมกำำ�เนิ​ิด และประมาณหนึ่​่�งชั่​่�วโมงหลั​ังจากใส่​่ ฉั​ันก็​็เริ่​่�มมี​ีเลื​ือดออกมาเยอะมาก แบบว่​่า... เยอะมาก ๆ ฉั​ันต้​้องเปลี่​่ย� นผ้​้าอนามั​ัยสำำ�หรั​ับกลางคื​ืนแบบยาว พิ​ิเศษทุ​ุก 15 นาที​ี นอกจากนี้​้�ก็​็ยังั มี​ีลิ่​่�มเลื​ือดออกมาอี​ีก ด้​้วย

ฉากในภาพยนตร์​์ ‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’ โดยฮอลลี่​่� เบตส์​์ ปี​ี 2022

หมอให้​้เบอร์​์โทรศั​ัพท์​์กับั ฉั​ันไว้​้เผื่​่อ � กรณี​ีฉุ​ุ กเฉิ​ิน และ เมื่​่อ � ฉั​ันโทรไปหาหมอ บอกว่​่าเกิ​ิดอะไรขึ้​้�น หมอก็​็ บอกให้​้ฉัน ั ไปโรงพยาบาล ตอนนั้​้�นฉั​ันก็​็ได้​้ส่ง่ รู​ูปลิ่​่�ม เลื​ือดของฉั​ันไปในกลุ่​่�มแชทกั​ับเพื่​่อ � น ๆ ซึ่​่�งแฟนเก่​่า ของฉั​ันก็​็อยู่​่�ในกลุ่​่�มนี้​้�ด้ว้ ย ฉั​ันบอกเพื่​่อ � น ๆ ว่​่า หมอบ อกว่​่ายั​ังไง แล้​้วแฟนเก่​่าฉั​ันก็​็เข้​้ามาบอกว่​่า เขาจะพา ฉั​ันไปโรงพยาบาล แฟนเก่​่าฉั​ันก็​็เป็​็ นคนเดี​ียวที่​่ขั � บรถ ั ได้​้ ถึ​ึงแม้​้ว่า่ ตอนนั้​้�นฉั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ อารมณ์​์ พลุ่​่�งพล่​่านมาก แต่​่ฉัน ั ก็​็รู้​้ �สึก ึ โล่​่งใจที​ีเดี​ียว ทั​ันที​ีที่​่ฉั � น ั ขึ้​้�นรถ ฉั​ันก็​็ ร้​้องไห้​้ใหญ่​่โต แต่​่แฟนเก่​่าฉั​ันนั้​้�นเยื​ือกเย็​็นมาก แล้​้ว ท่​่าทางไม่​่สะดุ้​้�งสะเทื​ือนอะไรแม้​้ว่า่ สถานการณ์​์ มัน ั ประหลาดมาก เขาอยู่​่�กั​ับฉั​ันตลอดเวลาที่​่อ� ยู่​่�โรงพยาบาล ก็​็อี​ีกนั่​่�น แหละ รู้​้ �สึก ึ ประหลาด แต่​่การที่​่เ� ขาอยู่​่�ด้ว้ ยมั​ันทำำ�ให้​้ รู้​้ �สึก ึ อุ่​่�นใจดี​ี ทางโรงพยาบาลให้​้ฉัน ั ใส่​่ผ้า้ อ้​้อมสำำ�หรั​ับ ผู้​้ใ� หญ่​่ ให้​้ยาเพื่​่อ � หยุ​ุดการตกเลื​ือด และแฟนเก่​่าของ ฉั​ันก็​็โทรบอกครอบครั​ัวฉั​ันให้​้พวกเขารู้​้ว่� า่ ฉั​ันไม่​่ เป็​็ นไร ฉั​ันไม่​่ต้อ ้ งบอก แต่​่เขาก็​็รู้ว่้ � า่ ต้​้องทำำ�อะไรบ้​้าง หลั​ังจากนั้​้�น เราก็​็คุยุ กั​ัน ฉั​ันบอกเขาว่​่า ฉั​ันคิ​ิดว่​่าเขา ไม่​่แคร์​์ฉัน ั แล้​้วเสี​ียอี​ีก เขาตอบว่​่าเขาแคร์​์นะ แต่​่เขา แค่​่ต้อ ้ งการพื้​้�นที่​่ส่� ว่ นตั​ัวบ้​้างเท่​่านั้​้�น กลายเป็​็ นว่​่า ใน สถานการณ์​์ นี้​้�ฉัน ั เป็​็ นคนที่​่ท � อดทิ้​้�งเขา หลายปี​ีต่​่อมา เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�ก็​็กลายเป็​็ นเรื่​่อ � งไร้​้สาระที่​่เ� ราสองคนมานั่​่�งขำำ� กั​ัน ฉั​ันอยากเอาความอบอุ่​่�นและอะไรที่​่มั � น ั ไม่​่ใช่​่ เรื่​่อ � งปกติ​ิธรรมดาแบบนี้​้�มาใส่​่ในภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้� ฉั​ันก็​็เลยสร้​้างหนั​ังเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับซ่​่องโสเภณี​ี

ฮอลลี่​่ใ� นฉากหนึ่​่�งจากภาพยนตร์​์ House of Whoreship ภาพถ่​่าย โดย KRISTEN AUGEARD ฉากนั้​้�นเยี่​่ย� มมาก ตอนที่​่ฉั � น ั เห็​็นฟองน้ำำ�� ฉั​ันอุ​ุทานในใจ ‘ไม่​่มี​ีทาง!’ นั่​่�นคื​ือสิ่​่�งที่​่ฉั � น ั ชอบเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับสถานที่​่ทำ � �ำ งานด้​้านการบริ​ิการทางเพศ ขอบเขต ต่​่าง ๆ นั้​้�นต่​่างจากที่​่อื่� น ่� มากเลย ฉั​ันพยายามนำำ�เสนอรายละเอี​ียดเล็​็ก ๆ น้​้อย ๆ แต่​่ สำำ�คัญ ั แล้​้วก็​็อุป ุ กรณ์​์ แปลก ๆ ที่​่พ � วกเราใช้​้ เพราะคุ​ุณก็​็รู้ว่้ � า่ อะไร ๆ แป๊​๊ บเดี​ียวก็​็ กลายเป็​็ นเรื่​่อ � งธรรมดา แต่​่สำ�คั ำ ญ ั แล้​้วก็​็อุป ุ กรณ์​์ แปลก ๆ ที่​่พ � วกเราใช้​้ เพราะคุ​ุณก็​็รู้​้ � ว่​่า อะไร ๆ แป๊​๊ บเดี​ียวก็​็กลายเป็​็ นเรื่​่อ � งธรรมดา มุ​ุมมองของเราเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับบรรทัดั ฐาน ทางสั​ังคมในที่​่ทำ � �ำ งานนั้​้�นแตกต่​่างจากงานประเภทอื่​่น � ส่​่วนใหญ่​่ ฉั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ ว่​่าคนเราไม่​่ ค่​่อยเปิ​ิ ดใจกว้​้าง แล้​้วก็​็ไม่​่ค่อ ่ ยเอื้​้�ออาทรสั​ักเท่​่าไร [พวกที่​่อ� ยู่​่�นอกวงการงานบริ​ิการ ทางเพศนี้​้�] แต่​่ก็​็ไม่​่ได้​้หมายความว่​่าทุ​ุกคนจะเป็​็ นแบบนี้​้�หมดนะ มี​ีผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทาง เพศที่​่ค � วามคิ​ิดคับั แคบ แล้​้วก็​็คิด ิ ถึ​ึงแต่​่ตัวั เองเหมื​ือนกั​ัน แต่​่ถึงึ อย่​่างนั้​้�น คนเหล่​่านี้​้�ก็​็ ยั​ังเห็​็นใจคุ​ุณเพราะงานที่​่คุ � ณทำ ุ �ำ แล้​้วเราก็​็ต่า่ งถู​ูกตี​ีตราเหมื​ือนกั​ัน ภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � ง House of Whoreship ถ่​่ายทำำ�ที่อ ่� าคารเลขที่​่� 100 หรื​ือเปล่​่า ใช่​่! เลขที่​่� 100 ที่​่มี​ีผี​ีสิ � งิ นั่​่�นแหละ จริ​ิงหรื​ือ จริ​ิง ฉั​ันมี​ีประสบการณ์​์ เจอผี​ีแบบสุ​ุด ๆ ก็​็ที่ตึ ่� ก ึ เลขที่​่� 100 นี่​่�แหละ ตอนนั้​้�น ตึ​ึกติ​ิด ประกาศขายมา 8 เดื​ือนแล้​้ว ไม่​่มี​ีอะไรมาก มี​ีแค่​่เตี​ียง ม่​่านเก่​่า ๆ แล้​้วก็​็ที่ใ่� ส่​่สบู่​่�เหลว สี​ีชมพู​ูแบบที่​่เ� ราเห็​็น ๆ กั​ัน สภาพตึ​ึกแย่​่มากเพราะว่​่าเก่​่า แล้​้วก็​็มี​ีคนบุ​ุกรุ​ุกเข้​้าไป 2-3 ครั้​้ง� ตั้​้�งแต่​่ประกาศขาย นายหน้​้าขายตึ​ึกลั​ังเลมาก ๆ เลยที่​่จ� ะปล่​่อยเช่​่าให้​้เรา แต่​่ เพราะว่​่ามี​ีเรื่​่อ � งที่​่ค � นบุ​ุกรุ​ุกเข้​้าไป แล้​้วก็​็ไม่​่เป็​็ นที่​่ส� นใจของตลาด เจ้​้าของเลยยอมให้​้ เราเช่​่าเพื่​่อ � จะได้​้มี​ีเงิ​ินไปซ่​่อมตึ​ึก ฉั​ันเช่​่าตึ​ึกอยู่​่�เดื​ือนนึ​ึง สั​ัปดาห์​์หนึ่​่�งสำำ�หรั​ับการถ่​่าย ทำำ� และอี​ีก 3 สั​ัปดาห์​์สำ�ำ หรั​ับการเตรี​ียมการก่​่อนการถ่​่ายทำำ� เราต้​้องซ่​่อมแซมพอ สมควร ต้​้องทาสี​ีห้​้องแต่​่งตั​ัวและห้​้องครั​ัวใหม่​่ เพราะว่​่าตึ​ึกร้​้างมา 8 เดื​ือน เมื่​่อ � เรา เข้​้าไปใช้​้ ก็​็อาจจะดู​ูปุ​ุบปับ ั มากสำำ�หรั​ับผู้​้�ที่อ ่� ยู่​่�ที่​่นั่​่ � � น ดู​ูเหมื​ือนว่​่าเราไปรบกวนสถานที่​่� ตอนแรกฉั​ันกลั​ัวมาก ๆ เลย แต่​่ตอนหลั​ัง ฉั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ เหมื​ือนว่​่า เธอคื​ือเทวดาผู้​้�คุ้​้�มครอง ของฉั​ันที่​่ไ� ม่​่มี​ีใครรู้​้ � ตลอดเดื​ือนที่​่ฉั � น ั เช่​่าตึ​ึกนั้​้�น ฉั​ันคุ​ุยกั​ับเธอเกื​ือบทุ​ุกวั​ันเลย ฉั​ัน รู้​้ �สึก ึ เศร้​้ามากที่​่จ� ะต้​้องจากเธอไป

สภาพภายในยั​ังตกแต่​่งเหมื​ือนกั​ับซ่​่องหรื​ือเปล่​่า มั​ันไม่​่มี​ีเฟอร์​์นิ​ิเจอร์​์อะไร มี​ีแค่​่เตี​ียงเปล่​่า ๆ ที่​่เ� หมื​ือนเตี​ียงหิ​ินในการ์​์ตู​ูน ฟลิ้​้�นท์​์สโตนนั่​่�นแหละ มี​ีสติ๊​๊�กเกอร์​์ติดผนั ิ งั แล้​้วก็​็มี​ีสบู่​่� นอกนั้​้�นก็​็ไม่​่มี​ีอะไรเลย ทั้​้�ง ตึ​ึกก็​็มี​ีแค่​่นั้​้น � แหละ แต่​่เราสามารถรู้​้ �สึก ึ ถึ​ึงคนที่​่เ� คยทำำ�งานที่​่นี่ � ่� บนพื้​้�นมี​ีรอยขี​ีด ข่​่วนจากรองเท้​้า บนผนั​ังก็​็มี​ีโน้​้ตติ​ิดอยู่​่� รู้​้ �สึก ึ ว่​่าเป็​็ นสิ่​่�งพิ​ิเศษมาก ๆ เลยที่​่ไ� ด้​้ถ่า่ ยทำำ� ภาพยนตร์​์ที่นั่​่ ่� � น ฉั​ันยั​ังคงรู้​้ �สึก ึ ขอบคุ​ุณที่ไ่� ด้​้ถ่า่ ยทำำ�ที่นั่​่ ่� � น การสร้​้างฉากซ่​่องขึ้​้�นมา ใหม่​่จะใช้​้เงิ​ินมากเกิ​ินไปสำำ�หรั​ับฉั​ัน เราต้​้องมี​ีห้​้องอาบน้ำำ��ในห้​้อง ห้​้องล็​็อกเกอร์​์ บริ​ิเวณสำำ�หรั​ับสู​ูบบุห ุ รี่​่� ห้​้องรั​ับแขก — ซึ่​่�งถ้​้าไม่​่ได้​้ตึก ึ นั่​่�น ฉั​ันอาจจะต้​้องไปถ่​่าย ทำำ�ในหลายสถานที่​่ที​ี � เดี​ียว ตึ​ึกเลขที่​่� 100 นี้​้�เลยช่​่วยฉั​ันได้​้มากที​ีเดี​ียว มี​ีทุ​ุกอย่​่างที่​่� เราต้​้องการ แล้​้วก็​็มี​ีผี​ีด้​้วย จากข้​้อมู​ูลที่​่ฉั � น ั หามาได้​้ เธอชื่​่อ � โซฟี​ี หรื​ือสเตฟานี​ีอะไรนี่​่�แหละ คื​ืนก่​่อนหน้​้าที่​่ฉั � น ั จะได้​้เจอเธอเป็​็ นครั้​้ง� แรกนั้​้�น ฉั​ันฝั​ันไปว่​่าฉั​ันถื​ือหลอดไฟเข้​้าไปในตึ​ึกเลขที่​่� 100 แล้​้วก็​็ขอให้​้หลอดไฟนั้​้�นกระพริ​ิบสว่​่าง หากมี​ีผี​ีอยู่​่�ที่​่นั่​่ � � น หลอดไฟสว่​่างโร่​่เลย ฉั​ัน ตื่​่น � ขึ้​้�นมา แล้​้วก็​็หยิ​ิบใบเสจ 2-3 ใบใส่​่กระเป๋​๋ า เพราะรู้​้ว่� า่ ความฝั​ันครั้​้ง� นี้​้�มัน ั ยื​ืนยั​ัน ความรู้​้ �สึก ึ ของฉั​ันว่​่ามี​ีพลั​ังงานอยู่​่�ที่​่ตึ � ก ึ นี้​้� คนในกองถ่​่าย 2-3 คนที่​่แ � วะไปที่​่ตึ � ก ึ นั้​้�น ไม่​่อยากอยู่​่�ในตึ​ึกโดยที่​่ฉั � น ั ไม่​่อยู่​่�ด้ว้ ย ฉั​ันก็​็เลยรู้​้ว่� า่ พวกเขาก็​็คงรู้​้ �สึก ึ เหมื​ือนกั​ัน วั​ัน นั้​้�น ฉั​ันหาเพื่​่อ � น 2-3 คนมาช่​่วยย้​้ายโซฟาเข้​้าไปไว้​้ในห้​้องรั​ับแขก เมื่​่อ � เพื่​่อ � นออก ไปเอาของที่​่รถ � ฉั​ันก็​็ถ่า่ ยรู​ูปโซฟาที่​่เ� พิ่​่�งจั​ัดวางใหม่​่ ขณะที่​่ฉั � น ั ถ่​่ายรู​ูป ก็​็มี​ีวงแสงสี​ี ขาวปรากฏขึ้​้�นที่​่มุ � ม ุ ห้​้องฝั่​่�ง ตรงข้​้าม แล้​้วก็​็วู​ูบผ่า่ นด้​้านหางตาซ้​้ายของฉั​ัน และใน เวลาเดี​ียวกั​ัน ฝุ่​่� นผงในห้​้องก็​็ฟุ้​้� งปลิ​ิวใส่​่ฉัน ั อย่​่างรวดเร็​็ว ซึ่​่�งไม่​่มี​ีลมพั​ัดเลยแม้​้แต่​่ น้​้อย ฉั​ันอุ​ุทานออกมา และเพื่​่อ � นที่​่เ� ดิ​ินกลั​ับเข้​้ามาได้​้ยิน ิ เสี​ียงฉั​ัน ก็​็ถามว่​่าเกิ​ิด อะไรขึ้​้�น ฉั​ันบอกเพื่​่อ � นว่​่าไม่​่มี​ีอะไรหรอก แต่​่เพื่​่อ � นก็​็รู้จ้ � ากน้ำำ��เสี​ียงและสี​ีหน้​้าของ ฉั​ัน เมื่​่อ � ทุ​ุกคนกลั​ับไปหมดแล้​้ว ฉั​ันก็​็เผาใบเสจรมควั​ันตึ​ึกอยู่​่�คนเดี​ียวและทำำ�ได้​้ แค่​่พึม ึ พำำ�ว่​่า “ขอให้​้มี​ีแต่​่พลั​ังดี​ี ๆ เท่​่านั้​้�นนะ” (หั​ัวเราะ) เพราะฉั​ันขวั​ัญหนี​ีดี​ีฝ่​่อ เกิ​ินกว่​่าจะพู​ูดอะไรอย่​่างอื่​่น � ได้​้ ตอนที่​่ฉั � น ั ออกจากตึ​ึก ก็​็มื​ืดแล้​้ว และเมื่​่อ � ถึ​ึงบ้​้าน ฉั​ันก็​็ยังั อกสั่​่�นขวั​ัญแขวนอยู่​่�มาก เลยต้​้องกิ​ินแวเลี​ียมไป 3 เม็​็ดเพื่​่อ � ระงั​ับสติ​ิ อารมณ์​์ ฉั​ันรู้​้ว่� า่ ใบเสจนั้​้�นไม่​่ได้​้ผลอะไรหรอก แต่​่มัน ั เป็​็ นการยื​ืนยั​ันว่​่า อุ​ุปกรณ์​์ ตรวจจั​ับควั​ันไฟของตึ​ึกนั้​้�นใช้​้งานไม่​่ได้​้แล้​้วแน่​่ ๆ

ฉากในภาพยนตร์​์ ‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’ โดยฮอลลี่​่� เบตส์​์ ปี​ี 2022

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ฉั​ันเข้​้าไปถามในช่​่องทางสื่​่อ � สารของชุ​ุมชนคนในวงการ ว่​่ามี​ีใครเคยมี​ี ประสบการณ์​์ หรื​ือข้​้อมู​ูลเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับผี​ีที่ตึ ่� ก ึ เลขที่​่� 100 นี้​้�บ้า้ งไหม แล้​้วก็​็ได้​้รับข้ ั อ ้ ความ เป็​็ นสิ​ิบ ๆ จากผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการที่​่เ� คยเจอ นั่​่�นคื​ือตอนที่​่ฉั � น ั ได้​้ข้อ ้ มู​ูลเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับโซฟี​ี /สเต ฟานี​ี ผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการส่​่วนใหญ่​่พู​ูดถึ​ึงเธอในแง่​่บวกและแสดงความเห็​็นใจ พวกเขา บอกว่​่า เธออาจจะแรงนิ​ิด ๆ และบางครั้​้ง� ก็​็อาจจะก่​่อกวนคนตรงบั​ันได (ซึ่​่�งฉั​ัน รวมประเด็​็นนี้​้�ลงไปในแม่​่แบบด้​้านความปลอดภั​ัยสำำ�หรั​ับมหาวิ​ิทยาลั​ัย) แต่​่โดย รวมแล้​้ว เธอรั​ักผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการและเกลี​ียดลู​ูกค้​้า ข้​้อมู​ูลนี้​้�ฟังั ดู​ูแล้​้วมี​ีเหตุ​ุมี​ีผลว่​่าทำำ�ไม เธอถึ​ึงได้​้วู​ูบเข้​้าหาฉั​ัน ในห้​้องรอรั​ับบริก ิ ารเก่​่าห้​้องนั้​้�น — เพราะว่​่ามั​ันเป็​็ นพื้​้�นที่​่� สำำ�หรั​ับลู​ูกค้​้า ฉั​ันถามว่​่าเธอปรากฏกายอย่​่างไร แล้​้วก็​็ได้​้รับคำ ั �บ ำ อกเล่​่าด้​้วย รู​ูปภาพวาดว่​่า เธอจะย้​้ายกระป๋​๋ องเครื่​่อ � งดื่​่ม � ในห้​้องของสาว ๆ ทำำ�ผ้า้ เช็​็ดตัวั ตก และเปลี่​่ย� นอุ​ุณหภู​ูมิ​ิน้ำำ�� เป็​็ นต้​้น เรื่​่อ � งเล่​่าส่​่วนใหญ่​่ที่ฉั ่� น ั ได้​้ฟังั มาเป็​็ นเรื่​่อ � งเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับ เธอปกป้​้ องผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการจากลู​ูกค้​้าที่​่นิ � ิสัยั ไม่​่ดี​ี ท้​้ายที่​่สุ� ด ุ ฉั​ันก็​็รู้ว่้ � า่ ฉั​ันต้​้องกลั​ับไปที่​่� ตึ​ึกนั้​้�น แล้​้วบอกให้​้เธอรู้​้ว่� า่ ฉั​ันเป็​็ นใคร และเจตนาของฉั​ันในการใช้​้สถานที่​่คื​ื � อ อะไร วั​ันรุ่​่�งขึ้​้�น ฉั​ันก็​็ซื้​้�อดอกไม้​้ช่อ ่ หนึ่​่�ง แล้​้วก็​็ไปเอาไปที่​่ห้ � อ ้ งที่​่เ� ขาบอกกั​ันว่​่าเธอจะสิ​ิง อยู่​่� ซึ่​่�งคื​ือห้​้องหมายเลข 4 (เราถ่​่ายทำำ�ฉากห้​้องอาบน้ำำ��ในห้​้องนี้​้�) แล้​้ววางช่​่อ ดอกไม้​้บนฟู​ูกที่​่ฉั � น ั ซื้​้�อมาเมื่​่อ � วั​ันก่​่อน ฉั​ันขอโทษที่​่ใ� ช้​้ใบเสจมารมควั​ันตึ​ึก แล้​้วก็​็ อธิ​ิบายเจตนาของฉั​ัน พร้​้อมทั้​้�งอ่​่านบทภาพยนตร์​์ให้​้เธอฟั​ัง สองครั้​้ง� แรกที่​่ฉั � น ั พู​ูด กั​ับเธอ ฉั​ันจะมองและพู​ูดกั​ับช่อ ่ ดอกไม้​้ที่ว่� างเอาไว้​้หน้​้าห้​้องน้ำำ�� เมื่​่อ � เดิ​ินออกจาก ห้​้องนั้​้�นเป็​็ นครั้​้ง� ที่​่� 2 ฉั​ันเช็​็คดู​ูว่​่าพั​ัดลมห้​้องน้ำำ��เปิ​ิ ดอยู่​่�หรื​ือเปล่​่า เพราะว่​่าทั้​้�งสอง ครั้​้ง� ที่​่ฉั � น ั ไปห้​้องนั้​้�น ฉั​ันเห็​็นเหมื​ือนมี​ีลมพั​ัดดอกไม้​้ไหว ๆ — คล้​้ายภาพลวงตา ตอนนั้​้�น พั​ัดลมปิ​ิ ดอยู่​่� และครั้​้ง� ต่​่อมา ก่​่อนที่​่ฉั � น ั จะคุ​ุยกั​ับเธอ ฉั​ันก็​็เช็​็คอี​ีก เผื่​่อ � ว่​่า มั​ันเปิ​ิ ดอยู่​่� ครั้​้ง� นี้​้� ลมสงบมาก และก่​่อนที่​่ฉั � น ั จะเชื่​่อ � ว่​่าตั​ัวเองคงจะตาฝาดไปเอง ประตู​ูห้​้องก็​็เปิ​ิ ดแกว่​่งไปแกว่​่งมา ฉั​ันคิ​ิดว่​่า “เธออยู่​่�ที่​่นี่ � ่�จริ​ิง ๆ ด้​้วย” หน้​้าต่​่างไม่​่กี่​่� บานในห้​้องมี​ีลู​ูกกรงกั้​้�น และก็​็ไม่​่มี​ีลมพั​ัด เธอทำำ�ให้​้ฉัน ั ตื่​่น � กลั​ัวได้​้ตลอดเวลาจริ​ิง ๆ! ในช่​่วงเวลา 3 สั​ัปดาห์​์ระหว่​่างการเตรี​ียมการก่​่อนถ่​่ายทำำ�ภาพยนตร์​์ ฉั​ันใช้​้เวลา อยู่​่�ที่​่ตึ � ก ึ นั้​้�นเพี​ียงลำำ�พังั เยอะมาก บางคื​ืน ก็​็อยู่​่�จนดึ​ึกดื่​่น � (ตี​ี 3) ฉั​ันอยากให้​้เธอรู้​้ �จักั ฉั​ันและไว้​้ใจฉั​ันก่​่อนที่​่ค � นอื่​่น � ๆ จะมา และฉั​ันก็​็อยากจะเผชิ​ิญความกลั​ัวของฉั​ัน เองด้​้วย ฉั​ันบอกคนอื่​่น � แค่​่ 2 คน หนึ่​่�งในนั้​้�นก็​็คื​ือผู้​้�ช่ว่ ยของฉั​ัน และเราตั​ัดสิน ิ ใจ ว่​่าจะไม่​่บอกนั​ักแสดงและที​ีมงานเพื่​่อ � เลี่​่ย� งบรรยากาศแห่​่งความกลั​ัวและความตื่​่น � ตระหนก ในที่​่สุ� ด ุ ฉั​ันก็​็บอกคนอื่​่น � ๆ ว่​่า พลั​ังงานแปลก ๆ ที่​่เ� จอนั้​้�นเป็​็ นเพราะว่​่า ตึ​ึกมั​ันเก่​่า แล้​้วก็​็มี​ีพลั​ังงานของลู​ูกค้​้าสะสมอยู่​่� 40 ปี​ี วั​ันที่​่ฉั � น ั บอกลาเธอ และคื​ืน กุ​ุญแจให้​้กับั พนั​ักงานของบริ​ิษัท ั นายหน้​้าขายและให้​้เช่​่าบ้​้านและที่​่ดิ � น ิ ไฟในห้​้อง นอนของฉั​ันก็​็เริ่​่�มเปิ​ิ ด ๆ ปิ​ิ ด ๆ เหมื​ือนกั​ับในความฝั​ันของฉั​ันเลย ไฟเปิ​ิ ด ๆ ปิ​ิ ด ๆ เป็​็ นครั้​้ง� คราว และเป็​็ นจั​ังหวะไม่​่แน่​่ นอนแตกต่​่างกั​ันไปเป็​็ นเวลา 4 เดื​ือนก่​่อน ที่​่จ� ะหยุ​ุดไป ความฝั​ันของฉั​ันบางที​ีอาจมาจากการที่​่ดู​ู � หนั​ังเรื่​่อ � ง Stranger � นี้​้�ทำ�ำ ให้​้ประสบการณ์​์ ทั้​้ง� หมดผู​ูกเป็​็ นเรื่​่อ Things ปี​ีสุ​ุดท้า้ ยมากไป แต่​่สิ่​่ง� ที่​่เ� กิ​ิดขึ้​้น � ง เดี​ียวกั​ันอย่​่างประหลาด และทำำ�ให้​้ฉัน ั รั​ักเธอมากขึ้​้�น ผู้​้�พิทั ิ กั ษ์​์ อาคารเลขที่​่� 100 ที่​่� ดุ​ุที่สุ ่� ด ุ

โดนเยอะจริ​ิงๆ! มั​ันเป็​็ นทั​ัศนคติ​ิแบบถ้ำำ�� มองตลอดแหละ ลั​ักษณะที่​่เ� ราถู​ูกเอาเปรี​ียบ ถู​ูกตี​ีตรา ถู​ูกเลื​ือกปฏิ​ิบัติั ิ เป็​็ นการสะท้​้อนโดยตรงถึ​ึงสิ่​่�งที่​่ค � นอื่​่น � คิ​ิดเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับเรา และ สิ่​่�งที่​่เ� ขาคิ​ิดเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับเรานั้​้�นก็​็มาจากสื่​่อ � ต่​่าง ๆ นั่​่�นเอง เห็​็นได้​้ชัดั ว่​่าสารคดี​ีที่​่ผลิ � ต ิ โดย คนนอกวงการนั้​้�น ไม่​่ได้​้สะท้​้อนความจริ​ิงเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับชี​ีวิ​ิตของเราเลย ใช่​่ ๆ ๆ นี่​่�แหละคื​ือสิ่​่�งที่​่ฉั � น ั ชอบเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � ง House of Whoreship ฉั​ันทราบว่​่าคุ​ุณนิ​ิยามภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�ว่า่ เป็​็ นภาพยนตร์​์ยุค ุ หลั​ัง แนวรั​ักตลกโดยแสดงถึ​ึงโลกที่​่เ� ป็​็ นจริ​ิง แต่​่จริ​ิง ๆ แล้​้วมัน ั เกื​ือบจะเหมื​ือนสารคดี​ี เพี​ียงแต่​่ไม่​่มี​ีการแสวงประโยชน์​์ ขอบคุ​ุณพระเจ้​้า! ตั้​้�งแต่​่มี​ีการฉายภาพยนตร์​์เรื่​่อ � ง House of Whoreship คุ​ุณก็​็เปิ​ิ ดเผยเต็​็มที่​่ว่� า่ เป็​็ นผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศใช่​่ไหม ชี​ีวิ​ิตคุ​ุณเป็​็ นยั​ังไงบ้​้างหลั​ังจากนั้​้�น มั​ันเป็​็ นประสบการณ์​์ ที่มี​ี ่� หลายอย่​่างปะปนกั​ันพอสมควร ใจหนึ่​่�ง ฉั​ันก็​็ไม่​่ได้​้คาดหวั​ัง ว่​่าครอบครั​ัวฉั​ันจะทำำ�ใจยอมรั​ับได้​้ง่า่ ย ๆ ลั​ักษณะที่​่พ่ � อ ่ แม่​่ฉัน ั ได้​้รับั การเลี้​้�ยงดู​ูมา รวมถึ​ึงการที่​่เ� ราแทบไม่​่มี​ีญาติ​ิพี่​่น้ � ้องอะไรเลยในออสเตรเลี​ีย ฉั​ันรู้​้ว่� า่ อย่​่างไรเสี​ีย พ่​่อแม่​่ก็​็ไม่​่ทอดทิ้​้�งฉั​ัน ถึ​ึงยั​ังงั้​้น � ฉั​ันก็​็คาดว่​่าพ่​่อแม่​่คงจะรั​ังเกี​ียจหรื​ือไม่​่พอใจบ้​้าง... เมื่​่อ � มองย้​้อนหลั​ังไป ฉั​ันคิ​ิดว่​่าฉั​ันได้​้ให้​้เวลาพ่​่อแม่​่ทำ�ำ ใจมาหลายปี​ี เพื่​่อ � เตรี​ียมพร้​้อม สำำ�หรั​ับช่ว่ งเวลานี้​้� โดยเฉพาะถ้​้าดู​ูพั​ัฒนาการงานศิ​ิลปะของฉั​ัน การที่​่ฉั � น ั ไม่​่ต้อ ้ ง โกหกพ่​่อแม่​่อี​ีกต่​่อไป และไม่​่ต้อ ้ งใช้​้ชี​ีวิ​ิต สองหน้​้า มั​ันเหมื​ือนกั​ับยกภู​ูเขาออกจาก อกที​ีเดี​ียว ฉั​ันยิ่​่�งกว่​่าโชคดี​ี เพราะผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศส่​่วนใหญ่​่ไม่​่ได้​้รับั การ ยอมรั​ับแบบนั้​้�นจากครอบครั​ัวของพวกเขา แต่​่อี​ีกด้​้านหนึ่​่�ง มั​ันค่​่อนข้​้างเหนื่​่�อยล้​้าจริ​ิง ๆ ทุ​ุกครั้​้ง� ที่​่มี​ี � การพู​ูดถึ​ึงภาพยนตร์​์ของฉั​ัน ในบทสนทนา คนก็​็มักั จะถื​ือว่​่าเป็​็ นการเชื้​้�อเชิ​ิญให้​้สอบถามฉั​ันเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับการเป็​็ นผู้​้� ขายบริ​ิการทางเพศ… ทั้​้�ง ๆ ที่​่จุ� ุดมุ่​่�งหมายหลั​ักของการสร้​้างภาพยนตร์​์ก็​็คื​ือ ฉั​ันไม่​่ จำำ�เป็​็ นจะต้​้องอธิ​ิบายอะไร เนื่​่�องจากไม่​่มี​ีผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศที่​่อ� อกมาเปิ​ิ ดตั​ัวมาก นั​ัก คนนอกวงการก็​็จะมองว่​่าคุ​ุณคนเดี​ียวเป็​็ นแหล่​่งข้​้อมู​ูลเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับวงการนี้​้� ฉั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ ว่​่าตั​ัวเองมี​ีหน้​้าที่​่รั� บั ใช้​้ชุ​ุมชนและวงการการทำำ�งานของฉั​ัน และทำำ�หน้​้าที่​่ใ� ห้​้ ข้​้อมู​ูลกั​ับคนนอกวงการ แต่​่มัน ั เหนื่​่�อยมาก วั​ันก่​่อน มี​ีคนรู้​้ �จักั คนนึ​ึงพู​ูดกั​ับฉั​ันว่​่า “เธอจะชอบคน ๆ นี้​้�เพราะว่​่าเธอทำำ�งานขายบริ​ิการทางเพศ... เขาสนใจเรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�มาก” ราวกั​ับว่​่าการเป็​็ นผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศเป็​็ นตั​ัวตนทั้​้�งหมดของฉั​ัน ตั​ัวตนของฉั​ันมั​ันมี​ี อะไรมากกว่​่าการเป็​็ นผู้​้ห � ญิ​ิงขายตั​ัวนะ ฉั​ันไม่​่ตี​ีตราเพื่​่อ � นของฉั​ันว่​่ามี​ีตั​ัวตนแบบ ไหน เพราะว่​่านี่​่�เป็​็ นวิ​ิถี​ีทางหาเงิ​ินเพื่​่อ � เลี้​้�ยงปากเลี้​้�ยงท้​้องของเขา แต่​่คนทั่​่�วไปไม่​่เห็​็น ปั​ัญหาหรื​ือจะหยุ​ุดคิดทบทว ิ นที่​่จ� ะทำำ�แบบนั้​้�นกั​ับเรา พวกเราทุ​ุกคนล้​้วนแต่​่พยายาม เอาชี​ีวิ​ิตรอดภายใต้​้ระบบทุ​ุนนิ​ิยม

ตอนนั้​้�น คุ​ุณมองหาสถานที่​่อื่� น ่� สำำ�หรั​ับถ่า่ ยทำำ�หรื​ือไม่​่

จุ​ุดยื​ืนตลอดเวลาของฉั​ันในการเปิ​ิ ดเผยว่​่าเป็​็ นผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศ คื​ือ ภาพยนตร์​์ที่​่� เกี่​่ย� วกั​ับงานบริ​ิการทางเพศควรจะสร้​้างโดยผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศ ฉั​ันจึ​ึงต้​้องการ

ก็​็มองหาอยู่​่� ตอนแรกฉั​ันติ​ิดต่อ ่ ซ่​่อง 2-3 แห่​่งที่​่ไ� ม่​่ได้​้เปิ​ิ ดทำำ�การตลอด 24 ชั่​่�วโมง เพื่​่อ � ถามว่​่าจะขอถ่​่ายทำำ�ในช่​่วง ช่​่วงนอกเวลาทำำ�การได้​้หรื​ือไม่​่ ฉั​ันจะไม่​่ถ่า่ ยทำำ� ในสถานที่​่ใ� ดในขณะที่​่เ� ปิ​ิ ดบริ​ิการอยู่​่� การถ่​่ายทำำ�ในช่​่วงทำำ�การนั้​้�น จะมี​ีความเสี่​่ย� ง ว่​่าจะเปิ​ิ ดเผยตั​ัวตนของลู​ูกค้​้า ผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการ หรื​ือฝ่​่ ายบริ​ิหาร

ทำำ�ตัวั เป็​็ นแบบอย่​่าง เพราะถ้​้าฉั​ันไม่​่ทำ�ำ แล้​้ว ฉั​ันต้​้องคอยอี​ีกนานเท่​่าไรกว่​่าคนอื่​่น � จะ ลงมื​ือทำำ� ฉั​ันไม่​่เสี​ียใจนะ ฉั​ันไม่​่เคยรู้​้ �สึก ึ ผู​ูกพั​ันกั​ับชุ​ุมชนของฉั​ันมากเท่​่านี้​้�มาก่​่อน และมี​ีแรงบั​ันดาลใจในการที่​่ลุ� ุกขึ้​้�นมาต่​่อสู้​้�กับสิ่​่ ั ง� ที่​่ค � นอื่​่น � มองเรา สำำ�หรั​ับฉั​ัน การมี​ี ส่​่วนช่​่วยนำำ�ภาพลั​ักษณ์​์ นั้​้น � ขึ้​้�นบนจอภาพยนตร์​์รู้​้ �สึก ึ เหมื​ือนกั​ับได้​้บรรลุ​ุถึงึ ภารกิ​ิจของ ชี​ีวิ​ิต บางที​ี มั​ันก็​็เหนื่​่�อยมากจริ​ิง ๆ

คนจำำ�นวนมากที่​่วิ� ท ิ ยาลั​ัยสอนการถ่​่ายทำำ�ภาพยนตร์​์ไม่​่เข้​้าใจเรื่​่อ � งนี้​้� ในช่​่วงที่​่ฉั � น ั เรี​ียนอยู่​่�นั่​่�น มี​ีคนถามฉั​ันอยู่​่�เรื่​่อ � ย ๆ ว่​่า “ทำำ�ไมไม่​่ทำ�ส ำ ารคดี​ีไปเลยล่​่ะ ถ้​้าเธออยาก จะนำำ�เสนอ ภาพจริ​ิงของงานขายบริ​ิการ” และฉั​ันก็​็ได้​้แต่​่... เอ่​่อ... มั​ันก็​็มี​ี [ประเด็​็นปั​ัญหาเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับ] การเปิ​ิ ดเผยตั​ัวตนของผู้​้ค � น — และผลกระทบ ซั​ับซ้อ ้ นที่​่ต � ามมา คุ​ุณอาจจะสามารถสั​ัญญากั​ับผู้​้�ที่มี​ีส่ ่� ว่ นร่​่วมในการถ่​่ายทำำ�สารคดี​ี ว่​่าจะมี​ีความปลอดภั​ัยในขณะที่​่ถ่ � า่ ยทำำ� แต่​่ผลที่​่ต � ามมาหลั​ังจากนั้​้�นล่​่ะ การดู​ูแล และการปกป้​้ องอยู่​่�ที่​่ไ� หนล่​่ะหลั​ังจากที่​่คุ � ณถู​ู ุ กเผยตั​ัวตนแล้​้ว ยั​ังมี​ีสารคดี​ีที่​่มี​ี � การตั​ัด ต่​่ออี​ีกด้​้วย ซึ่​่�งมี​ีอิ​ิทธิพ ิ ลมากเพราะว่​่านี่​่�คื​ือภาพถ่​่าย “เหตุ​ุการณ์​์ จริ​ิง” ผู้​้�ชมก็​็จะ ถื​ือว่​่าเป็​็ นเรื่​่อ � งจริ​ิง แม้​้ว่า่ จะมี​ีการตั​ัดต่อ ่ และปรั​ับแต่​่งข้​้อมู​ูล ฉั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ ว่​่ามั​ันไม่​่ใช่​่ สื่​่อ � ที่​่ป � ลอดภั​ัยสำำ�หรั​ับผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศ

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นอกจากนี้​้�แล้​้ว เรายั​ังถู​ูกเอาเปรี​ียบ ถู​ูกตี​ีตรา ถู​ูกเลื​ือกปฏิ​ิบัติั .ิ ..

House of Whoreship ฉายรอบปฐมทั​ัศน์​์ในสหรั​ัฐอเมริ​ิกา ในงานเทศกาล ภาพยนตร์​์ CineKink film คุ​ุณไปได้​้ไหม ตามกฎหมายแล้​้ว ฉั​ันไปไม่​่ได้​้ เพราะว่​่าฉั​ันเปิ​ิ ดเผยตั​ัวแล้​้ว ซึ่​่�งเป็​็ นผลที่​่ฉั � น ั รู้​้อ� ยู่​่�แล้​้ว ว่​่าฉั​ันต้​้องเจอ สหรั​ัฐอเมริ​ิกาไม่​่อนุ​ุญาตให้​้บุค ุ คลเข้​้าประเทศ หากมี​ีประวั​ัติว่ิ า่ ทำำ�งาน ขายบริ​ิการทางเพศในช่​่วง 10 ปี​ีที่​่ผ่ � า่ นมา ที่​่น่ � ่ าขั​ันก็​็คื​ือ ฉั​ันติ​ิดอยู่​่�ในสหรั​ัฐฯ สองครั้​้ง� ตอนที่​่ฉั � น ั บิ​ินเข้​้าบิ​ินออกจากแคนาดา เที่​่ย� วบิ​ินทั้​้�งสองครั้​้ง� นั้​้�นถู​ูกยกเลิ​ิกจนกว่​่าวั​ันรุ่​่�ง ขึ้​้�น เขาก็​็เลยให้​้ฉัน ั เข้​้าไปพั​ักที่​่โ� รงแรมใกล้​้สนามบิ​ิน โดยใช้​้วี​ีซ่​่าเดิ​ินทางผ่​่าน ประเทศชั่​่�วคราว ฉั​ันรู้​้ �สึก ึ เหมื​ือนว่​่าฉั​ันโกงระบบ แล้​้วก็​็แอบเข้​้าประเทศไป! ก่​่อน กลั​ับมาออสเตรเลี​ีย ฉั​ันอยู่​่�ในซานฟรานกิ​ิจซิ​ิสโกหนึ่​่�งวั​ันเต็​็ม ๆ ก่​่อนบิ​ินกลั​ับ ซึ่​่�งเป็​็ น เหตุ​ุการณ์​์ ที่พิ ่� เิ ศษแบบหวานอมขมกลื​ืน หลายปี​ีก่​่อน ฉั​ันเคยไปซานฟรานซิ​ิสโก เพราะฉะนั้​้�นคราวนี้​้� ฉั​ันจึ​ึงไปตามสถานที่​่โ� ปรดของฉั​ันเป็​็ นครั้​้ง� สุ​ุดท้า้ ย ในใจก็​็กล่​่าว คำำ�อำ�ำ ลา รู้​้ �สึก ึ เหมื​ือนเป็​็ นโอกาสที่​่ห � ายากที่​่จ� ะได้​้ทำ�ำ แบบนั้​้�น

สุ​ุดยอดจริ​ิง ๆ! เพราะว่​่าบ่​่อยครั้​้ง� ที่​่ผู้ � ข ้� ายบริ​ิการทางเพศที่​่ไ� ม่​่ได้​้เปิ​ิ ดเผยตั​ัวตน สามารถเข้​้าสหรั​ัฐอเมริ​ิกาได้​้ ตราบเท่​่าที่​่ร� ะวั​ังไม่​่เอาของบางอย่​่างใส่​่ไปใน กระเป๋​๋ าเดิ​ินทาง โอ! ทำำ�ให้​้ฉัน ั นึ​ึกอะไรได้​้! คื​ืนแรกที่​่ฉั � น ั ไปร่​่วมงาน Inside Out ในเมื​ือง โทรอนโต ฉั​ันได้​้พบ Alex Conetto ผู้​้�กำ�กั ำ บั ภาพยนตร์​์ที่สร้ ่� า้ งภาพยนตร์​์สั้​้น � ชื่​่อ � Safe Word ภาพยนตร์​์ของเขาเป็​็ นเรื่​่อ � งเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับความสั​ัมพั​ันธ์​์ ประเภทที่​่� มี​ีการสวมบทบาทระหว่​่างผู้​้�มี​ีอำ�ำ นาจและผู้​้ย� อมจำำ�นน (sub-dom) เขาถามฉั​ัน ว่​่าฉั​ันจะนำำ�ภาพยนตร์​์ของฉั​ันไปฉายที่​่อ� เมริ​ิกาหรื​ือไม่​่ ฉั​ันก็​็... ‘ก็​็หวั​ังอย่​่างงั้​้น � นะ!’ เขาถามว่​่า ถ้​้าฉั​ันนำำ�ภาพยนตร์​์ของฉั​ันไปฉายที่​่อ� เมริ​ิกาแล้​้วฉั​ันจะไป ร่​่วมงานหรื​ือไม่​่ ฉั​ันก็​็เลยบอกเขาเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับกฎหมายการเข้​้าประเทศของ สหรั​ัฐฯ แล้​้วเขาก็​็... ‘เอ่​่อ...คุ​ุณก็​็บอกไปแค่​่นั้​้น � ไม่​่ได้​้เหรอ...’ และฉั​ันก็​็... ‘ไม่​่ ได้​้ ฉั​ันทำำ�ไม่​่ได้​้... เขาไม่​่ให้​้ฉัน ั เข้​้าประเทศหรอก’ ฉั​ันบอกเขาว่​่า เจ้​้าหน้​้าที่​่� [ซึ่​่�งไม่​่อนุ​ุญาตให้​้ผู้ข ้� ายบริ​ิการทางเพศเข้​้าประเทศ] จะตรวจสอบโซเชี​ียลมี​ี เดี​ียของคุ​ุณ ใช้​้เทคโนโลยี​ีการจดจำำ�ใบหน้​้า ค้​้นกระเป๋​๋ าของคุ​ุณเมื่​่อ � คุ​ุณเดิ​ิน ทางไปถึ​ึง และถ้​้าเขาเจอชุ​ุดชั้​้น � ในที่​่เ� ข้​้าชุ​ุดกัน ั ก็​็เป็​็ นเหตุ​ุผลเพี​ียงพอที่​่จ� ะทำำ�ให้​้ เขาเชื่​่อ � ว่​่า คุ​ุณไปสหรั​ัฐฯ เพื่​่อ � ไปทำำ�งาน... ท่​่าทางเขาตกใจมาก เหมื​ือนว่​่าเขา ไม่​่เชื่​่อ � ฉั​ัน เขาตกใจมาก เขากลั​ับสหรั​ัฐฯ ก่​่อนที่​่จ� ะกลั​ับมาโทรอนโตเพื่​่อ � ร่​่วมงานปาร์​์ตี้​้ปิ � ิ ดเทศกาล ฉั​ัน � กั​ับผมล่​่ะ คุ​ุณ เจอเขาที่​่ง� านปาร์​์ตี้​้� แล้​้วเขาก็​็บอกว่​่า ‘พระเจ้​้าช่​่วย มั​ันเกิ​ิดขึ้​้น พู​ูดถู​ูก!’ ฉั​ันเคยได้​้ยิน ิ ว่​่ากฎหมายเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับงานขายบริ​ิการทางเพศ มี​ีผลกระ ทบกั​ับนักั แสดงที่​่เ� ป็​็ นคนนอกวงการงานขายบริ​ิการทางเพศเหมื​ือนกั​ัน ตอนที่​่� เขาเดิ​ินทางกลั​ับสหรั​ัฐฯ เจ้​้าหน้​้าที่​่ต � รวจคนเข้​้าเมื​ืองถามเขาว่​่า ‘คุ​ุณไปทำำ�อะไรที่​่แ � คนาดา’ เขาตอบว่​่า ‘ไปร่​่วมงานเทศกาลภาพยนตร์​์’ เจ้​้าหน้​้าที่​่ก็ � ็พู​ูดว่​่า ‘อ้​้อ ไปเพราะภาพยนตร์​์ของคุ​ุณเรื่​่อ � ง Safe Word น่​่ ะ หรื​ือ??????’ เขาถามว่​่า ‘คุ​ุณทราบได้​้อย่​่างไร’ เจ้​้าหน้​้าที่​่ก็ � ็ตอบว่​่า ‘เราคื​ือรั​ัฐบาลสหรั​ัฐฯ เรารู้​้ �ทุก ุ อย่​่าง’ *อ้​้าปากค้​้าง * พระเจ้​้าช่​่วย ช่​่าย เขาก็​็... ‘เอ้​้อ... โอเค...’ แล้​้วเจ้​้าหน้​้าที่​่ก็ � ็ปล่อ ่ ยให้​้เขาผ่​่านไป ภาพยนตร์​์ เรื่​่อ � ง ‘Safe Word’ ไม่​่ได้​้เน้​้นเรื่​่อ � งในงานด้​้านการค้​้าบริ​ิการทางเพศ เพราะ เป็​็ นภาพยนตร์​์ที่เ่� กี่​่ย� วกั​ับความสั​ัมพั​ันธ์​์แบบ sub-dom ฉั​ันนึ​ึกอยู่​่�ในใจว่​่า ‘เสี​ียใจด้​้วยที่​่คุ � ณมี​ีปร ุ ะสบการณ์​์ แบบนั้​้�น แต่​่ก็​็แอบดี​ีใจหน่​่ อย ๆ เพราะคราวนี้​้� � มาเอง นี่​่�มัน คุ​ุณก็​็รู้แ ้ � ล้​้วว่​่า ฉั​ันไม่​่ได้​้กุเุ รื่​่อ � งงี่​่เ� ง่​่านี้​้�ขึ้​้น ั เรื่​่อ � งจริ​ิง’

ฉากหนึ่​่�งจากภาพยนตร์​์ House of Whoreship ภาพถ่​่ายโดย KRISTEN AUGEARD ฉั​ันได้​้ยิน ิ จากผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศหลายคนว่​่าไม่​่มี​ีปัญ ั หา เข้​้าประเทศสหรั​ัฐฯ แต่​่ฉัน ั ก็​็ได้​้ยิน ิ เรื่​่อ � งคนถู​ูกสอบสวนที่​่พ � รมแดน ปกติ​ิแล้​้ว คนที่​่ไ� ม่​่ได้​้เปิ​ิ ดตั​ัวมักั จะรอดไป แต่​่ก็​็จะยากหน่​่ อย ใช่​่เลย แล้​้วก็​็มี​ีการแยกเป็​็ นประเภทต่​่าง ๆ การขายเรื่​่อ � งทางเพศบนจอภาพ ยนตร์​์ไม่​่มี​ีปัญ ั หาในอเมริ​ิกาตราบเท่​่าที่​่คุ � ณ ุ ไม่​่ได้​้ทำ�ำ ในชี​ีวิ​ิตจริ​ิง Angela White เหมื​ือนจะไม่​่มี​ีปัญ ั หาเรื่​่อ � งการเดิ​ินทางไปมา เพราะเธอเป็​็ นดารา ภาพยนตร์​์เร้​้ากามารมณ์​์ ดาราแสดงภาพยนตร์​์ OF คนอื่​่น � ๆ ก็​็ไม่​่มี​ีปัญ ั หา เหมื​ือนกั​ัน อะไรคื​ือความแตกต่​่างทางกฎหมายและทางสั​ังคม ระหว่​่างสิ่​่�งที่​่อ� ยู่​่� � ในที่​่ร� โหฐาน ฉั​ันเองก็​็งงเหมื​ือนกั​ัน บนจอและสิ่​่�งที่​่เ� กิ​ิดขึ้​้น ฉั​ันอยากรู้​้ว่� า่ — คำำ�แนะนำำ�ที่ดี​ีที่ ่� สุ ่� ดที่ ุ คุ ่� ณ ุ เคยได้​้จากห้​้องพั​ักผ่​่อนคื​ืออะไร ครั้​้ง� หนึ่​่�ง คนขายบริ​ิการคนหนึ่​่�งบอกกั​ับฉั​ันว่​่า ‘อย่​่ากั​ัดฟั​ัน ปิ​ิ ดปากเงี​ียบใน ระหว่​่างทำำ�งาน’ และนั่​่�นคื​ือคำำ�แนะนำำ�ที่ติ ่� ด ิ อยู่​่�ในใจฉั​ันมาตลอด เมื่​่อ � เราเติ​ิบโต มาในสภาพแวดล้​้อมสั​ังคมที่​่ฝ่ � ่ ายชายมี​ีอำำ�นาจและแนวคิ​ิดหลั​ักกำำ�หนดว่​่า ความสั​ัมพั​ันธ์​์ทางเพศระหว่​่างเพศตรงกั​ันข้​้ามเป็​็ นสิ่​่�งปกติ​ิ เราก็​็มักั จะไม่​่ชิน ิ กั​ับการลุ​ุกขึ้​้�นมาโต้​้แย้​้งกั​ับผู้​้�ชายหรื​ือยื​ืนยั​ันขอบเขตที่​่ท � างของเรา — แต่​่ชิน ิ กั​ับการทำำ�ตรงกั​ันข้​้าม ตอนที่​่ยั� งั เป็​็ นเด็​็กใหม่​่ ฉั​ันปล่​่อยให้​้ลู​ูกค้​้าทำำ�อะไรตามใจ เพี​ียงเพราะว่​่าพวกเขาจ่​่ายเงิ​ินให้​้ฉัน ั แนวทางที่​่เ� หมาะสม ในพิ​ิจารณาว่​่าอะไรคื​ือเนื้​้�องานกั​ับอะไรคื​ือการกระทำำ�ที่เ่� กิ​ินขอบเขตนั้​้�นเป็​็ น เส้​้นบาง ๆ ที่​่พ � ร่​่ามั​ัว ลู​ูกค้​้าจะพยายามลองทำำ�อะไรแย่​่ ๆ แต่​่ฉัน ั ไม่​่ปิ​ิดปาก เงี​ียบเพื่​่อ � ตามใจลู​ูกค้​้าอี​ีกต่​่อไป คำำ�แนะนำำ�ครั้​้ง� นั้​้�นคื​ือกุ​ุญแจสำำ�คัญ ั ต่​่อแนวทาง ปฏิ​ิบัติั ข ิ องฉั​ัน

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ฉั​ันคิ​ิดว่​่าเป็​็ นสิ่​่�งสำำ�คัญ ั ที่​่ผู้ � ้�ชมส่​่วนใหญ่​่จะดู​ูเรื่​่อ� งราวของผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศ เพื่​่อ� มี​ีความรู้​้ค � วามเข้​้าใจและความเห็​็นใจ

ฉั​ันคิ​ิดว่​่า การบอกเล่​่าเรื่​่อ� งราวของชุ​ุมชนผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการนี้​้� จะเป็​็ นวิ​ิธี​ีที่ไ่� ด้​้ผลที่​่สุ� ด ุ มี​ีแง่​่มุม ุ อะไรอื่​่น � อี​ีกที่​่เ� กี่​่ย� วกั​ับการทำำ�งานขายบริ​ิการทางเพศที่​่� คุ​ุณอยากจะแบ่​่งปั​ันกั​ับคนนอกวงการบ้​้างไหม เรื่​่อ � งนี้​้�มาจากสิ่​่�งที่​่ฉั � น ั พู​ูดคุ​ุยกั​ับคนเขี​ียนบท House of Whoreship ในช่​่วงประชุ​ุมประจำำ�สัปด ั าห์​์ของเราซึ่​่�งนำำ�ไปสู่​่� การทำำ�ซี​ีรี​ีส์​์ทางเว็​็บ เราปรึ​ึกษากั​ันว่​่ามี​ีแง่​่มุม ุ ใดบ้​้างเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับงาน ขายบริ​ิการทางเพศที่​่เ� ราอยากจะนำำ�เสนอบนจอภาพยนตร์​์ และ สิ่​่�งแรกที่​่เ� ราพู​ูดถึ​ึงกั​ันก็​็คื​ือ เรื่​่อ � งเงิ​ิน ในแง่​่มุม ุ มองทั่​่�วไป คนคิ​ิด ว่​่าเราทำำ�งานขายบริ​ิการทางเพศเพราะว่​่ารายได้​้ดี​ีเอามาก ๆ หรื​ือเราจนตรอกและไม่​่มี​ีเงิ​ิน พวกเขาไม่​่มองว่​่าจะมี​ีอะไรที่​่อ� ยู่​่� ระหว่​่างสองด้​้านนี้​้� โดยเฉพาะในสภาพแวดล้​้อมของซ่​่อง โสเภณี​ี มี​ีมุ​ุมมองแตกต่​่างมากมายเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับรายได้​้ ไม่​่มี​ีใครได้​้ เงิ​ินค่​่าจ้​้างต่​่อชั่​่�วโมงเท่​่ากั​ัน ผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการจำำ�นวนมากจะเรี​ียกค่​่า ธรรมเนี​ียมเพิ่​่�มแตกต่​่างกั​ัน ขึ้​้�นอยู่​่�กั​ับขอบเขตที่​่แ � ต่​่ละคน กำำ�หนดหรื​ือสถานการณ์​์ ส่ว่ นบุ​ุคคลของแต่​่ละคน ทุ​ุกคนทำำ�งาน แข่​่งกั​ัน แต่​่กระนั้​้�น มั​ันก็​็มี​ีความรู้​้ �สึก ึ เป็​็ นน้ำำ�� หนึ่​่�งใจเดี​ียวกั​ัน เป็​็ นคนในชุ​ุมชนเดี​ียวกั​ัน คนในซ่​่องบางแห่​่งก็​็อาจจะร้​้ายกว่​่าที่​่� อื่​่น � จะมี​ีคนที่​่อ� ยากเป็​็ นแบบ Regina George ผ่​่านเข้​้ามาเพื่​่อ � ไต่​่เต้​้าในสั​ังคม ในห้​้องพั​ักผ่​่อนด้​้วยการนิ​ินทาว่​่าร้​้ายคนอื่​่น � แต่​่ จากประสบการณ์​์ ที่ฉั ่� น ั พบเห็​็นมา คนพวกนี้​้�ก็​็อยู่​่�ได้​้ไม่​่นาน ฉั​ัน คิ​ิดว่​่า ในชุ​ุมชนในวงกว้​้าง มี​ีประเด็​็นเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับการเสนอภาพ ของวงการและการพู​ูดเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับ ‘คนหาเงิ​ินได้​้มาก’ เที​ียบกั​ับ ‘คนหาเงิ​ินได้​้น้​้อย’ คนหาเงิ​ินได้​้น้​้อยอาจจะถู​ูกคนนอกวงการ และคนหาเงิ​ินได้​้มากซั​ักถามว่​่า อะไรเป็​็ นจุ​ุดที่ทำ ่� �ำ ให้​้เริ่​่�มทำำ�งาน ขายบริ​ิการ ประเด็​็นนี้​้�เหยี​ียดคนที่​่มี​ี � ความสามารถด้​้อยกว่​่าและ แสดงความรั​ังเกี​ียจโสเภณี​ี และเป็​็ นประเด็​็นสำำ�คัญ ั ที่​่เ� ราต้​้อง กล่​่าวถึ​ึงเพื่​่อ � ที่​่เ� ราจะได้​้ขจั​ัดปฏิกิ ิ ริ​ิ ยิ าการแบ่​่งขั้​้�วเช่​่นนี้​้� ซึ่​่�งคื​ือ ความคิ​ิดแค่​่สองอย่​่าง — ‘เธอน่​่ ารั​ังเกี​ียจมาก’ หรื​ือ ‘ดี​ีจั​ัง เธอทำำ� เงิ​ินได้​้เยอะ แต่​่โทษที​ีเถอะ คุ​ุณก็​็ยังั คงไม่​่มี​ีสิทธิ ิ จิ ะทำำ�อะไรแบบ นั้​้�นนะ…’ ใช่​่ คนเราไม่​่ยอมมองว่​่างานขายบริ​ิการเป็​็ นอาชี​ีพหนึ่​่�ง หรื​ือไม่​่ ยอมคิ​ิดว่​่าคนเรามี​ีเหตุ​ุผลในการเลื​ือกอาชี​ีพอื่​่น � [และใช้​้แนว ความคิ​ิดนี้​้�กับั งานบริ​ิการทางเพศ] เหตุ​ุผลอาจจะเป็​็ นเพราะว่​่า งานนี้​้�มี​ีความยื​ืดหยุ่​่�น ชั่​่�วโมงทำำ�งานเหมาะกั​ับตัวั เอง ที่​่ตั้​้ � ง� ของที่​่� ทำำ�งานเหมาะดี​ี หรื​ือเขาชอบลั​ักษณะงาน ซึ่​่�งเป็​็ นสิ่​่�งที่​่ค � นมั​ักจะ มองข้​้ามไป... อั​ันที่​่จ� ริ​ิงแล้​้ว ไม่​่ค่อ ่ ยมี​ีคนยอมรั​ับหากมี​ีคนพู​ูดว่​่า ‘โอ้​้ ฉั​ันชอบทำำ�งานขายบริ​ิการทางเพศนะ’ โดยที่​่ไ� ม่​่ต้อ ้ งอธิ​ิบาย ว่​่าทำำ�ไมถึ​ึงชอบ ใช่​่แล้​้ว ถึ​ึงคุ​ุณจะไม่​่ชอบงานนี้​้� แต่​่มัน ั ก็​็โอเคนะ เมื่​่อ � ลู​ูกค้​้าถาม ฉั​ันว่​่าฉั​ันจะทำำ�แบบนี้​้�ตลอดไปไหม หรื​ือเมื่​่อ � ไรจะฉั​ันจะหางาน จริ​ิง ๆ จั​ัง ๆ ทำำ� ฉั​ันก็​็ประมาณว่​่า... ‘นี่​่�มัน ั เป็​็ นงานที่​่ดี​ีที่ � สุ ่� ดถ้ ุ า้ ฉั​ัน เคยทำำ�มาเลยนะ!’ ฉั​ันไม่​่ได้​้ว่า่ งานอื่​่น � ไม่​่ดี​ีนะ แต่​่ฉัน ั เคยทำำ�งาน ในอุ​ุตสาหกรรมการให้​้บริก ิ ารและการค้​้าปลี​ีกมาตลอดชี​ีวิ​ิต และการเป็​็ นเจ้​้านายตั​ัวเอง ไม่​่ต้อ ้ งทำำ�งานให้​้บริษั ิ ท ั ใหญ่​่ที่ไ่� ด้​้แค่​่ ค่​่าจ้​้างขั้​้�นต่ำำ��ต่อ ่ ชั่​่�วโมง และมี​ีลู​ูกค้​้ากั​ักขฬะที่​่แ � ก่​่กว่​่าคุ​ุณมา แทะโลมคุ​ุณโดยไม่​่ต้อ ้ งเสี​ียเงิ​ิน... ไม่​่มี​ีงานไหนที่​่จ� ะทำำ�ให้​้เรา รู้​้ �สึก ึ ดี​ีมี​ีพลั​ังอำำ�นาจได้​้มากกว่​่าทำำ�งานบริ​ิการทางเพศ

กลั​ับมาพู​ูดเรื่​่อ � งการแบ่​่งปั​ันข้​้อมู​ูลกั​ับชุ​ุมชนคนนอกวงการ ฉั​ัน คิ​ิดว่​่าเป็​็ นสิ่​่�งสำำ�คัญ ั ที่​่ผู้ � ้�ชมส่​่วนใหญ่​่จะดู​ูเรื่​่อ � งราวของผู้​้ข � าย บริ​ิการทางเพศเพื่​่อ � มี​ีความรู้​้ค � วามเข้​้าใจและความเห็​็นใจ ฉั​ัน คิ​ิดว่​่า การบอกเล่​่าเรื่​่อ � งราวของชุ​ุมชนผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการนี้​้� จะเป็​็ นวิ​ิธี​ี ที่​่ไ� ด้​้ผลที่​่สุ� ด ุ ประเด็​็นว่​่าด้​้วยระบบโสเภณี​ีก็​็เป็​็ นอี​ีกประเด็​็น สำำ�คัญ ั หนึ่​่�งที่​่ค � วรพู​ูดถึ​ึง ฉั​ันอยากจะแสดงให้​้เห็​็นถึ​ึงความแตก ต่​่างเล็​็ก ๆ น้​้อย ๆ ของความแปลกและการแสดงบทบาททาง เพศในวงการขายบริ​ิการทางเพศนี้​้� ตลอดจนนำำ�เสนอว่​่าผู้​้ข � าย บริ​ิการมี​ีธรรมเนี​ียมปฏิ​ิบัติั แ ิ ละมี​ีเสน่​่ ห์​์ลึก ึ ลั​ับได้​้แค่​่ไหน ผู้​้ข � าย บริ​ิการหลายคนมี​ีธรรมเนี​ียมปฏิ​ิบัติั ต่ ิ า่ งกั​ันที่​่จ� ะให้​้เราเข้​้าไปอยู่​่� ในวงการ แล้​้วก็​็พาเราออกจากวงการหลั​ังจากนั้​้�น มี​ีอะไรบาง อย่​่างที่​่สว � ยงามแบบบางที่​่ฉั � น ั ชอบมาก ๆ แต่​่พู​ูดจากใจจริ​ิงแล้​้ว มี​ีหลายสิ่​่�งหลายอย่​่างเลยที่​่ฉั � น ั ไม่​่ได้​้พู​ูดถึ​ึงในที่​่นี้​้ � � เพราะว่​่าภาพที่​่� นำำ�เสนอเกี่​่ย� วกั​ับเรานั้​้�นมั​ันไม่​่มากพอหรื​ือว่​่ามั​ันเสนอมาแบบ ผิ​ิด ๆ จนฉั​ันฝั​ันว่​่า บางที​ี เราจะสามารถนำำ�เสนอทุ​ุกสิ่​่�งทุ​ุกอย่​่าง ออกมาได้​้ (โดยไม่​่เปิ​ิ ดเผยความลั​ับมากไป) ภาพยนตร์​์ซี​ีรี่​่ส์ � ์ทางเว็​็บที่คุ ่� ณ ุ เอ่​่ยถึ​ึงจะออกมาหน้​้าตาเป็​็ นยั​ังไง หรื​ือ เราเพิ่​่�งเริ่​่�มพู​ูดคุ​ุยกั​ันอย่​่างคร่​่าว ๆ เท่​่านั้​้�นเอง ตอนนี้​้�มี​ี นั​ักเขี​ียน 15 คนที่​่ส� นใจจะมาร่​่วมงานด้​้วย และเหตุ​ุผลที่​่ฉั � น ั อยากให้​้มี​ีนักั เขี​ียนมาร่​่วมงานมากขึ้​้�นก็​็เพราะฉั​ันคิ​ิดว่​่า งานที่​่� ร่​่วมคิ​ิดกัน ั หลายฝ่​่ ายนั้​้�นจะทรงพลั​ังกว่​่ามาก นอกจากนี้​้� หลั​ัง จากที่​่เ� ขี​ียนบทภาพยนตร์​์ของฉั​ันเองแล้​้ว ฉั​ันก็​็ครุ่​่�นคิ​ิดมากเกี่​่ย� ว กั​ับความหลากหลายในวงการงานขายบริ​ิการทางเพศ วงการนี้​้� เป็​็ นที่​่รว � มแห่​่งความแตกต่​่าง มี​ีอั​ัตลั​ักษณ์​์ และประสบการณ์​์ นานั​ัปการ ในฐานะที่​่เ� ป็​็ นผู้​้ห � ญิ​ิงผิ​ิวขาวที่​่มี​ี � เพศสถานะสอดคล้​้อง สิ่​่�งที่​่ฉั � น ั พู​ูดก็​็เป็​็ นเพี​ียงแค่​่เสี้​้�ยวหนึ่​่�งของประสบการณ์​์ งาน บริ​ิการทางเพศเท่​่านั้​้�น การที่​่มี​ีนั � กั เขี​ียนมากขึ้​้�นก็​็หมายถึ​ึงการ ถ่​่ายทอดภาพที่​่แ � ท้​้จริ​ิงได้​้มากขึ้​้�น ซึ่​่�งเป็​็ นสิ่​่�งที่​่เ� ป็​็ นที่​่จำ� �ำ เป็​็ นมาก ๆ แผนงานคื​ือ มี​ี 4 - 5 ตอน และเน้​้นเรื่​่อ � งราวในซ่​่อง เพราะเรา มี​ีความเห็​็นพ้​้องกั​ันว่​่า เป็​็ นสภาพแวดล้​้อมที่​่ดี​ีที่ � สุ ่� ด ุ ในการนำำ� เสนอความแตกต่​่างที่​่ล� ะเอี​ียดอ่​่อนของประสบการณ์​์ ที่เ่� ราไม่​่ได้​้ พบเห็​็นในภาพยนตร์​์ เนื้​้�อหาจะเป็​็ นเรื่​่อ � งใหม่​่เลย ไม่​่ใช่​่เป็​็ นภาค สองต่​่อจากภาพยนตร์​์ของฉั​ัน แต่​่ว่า่ จะเป็​็ นบริ​ิบทเดี​ียวกั​ัน ก็​็คื​ือ บริ​ิบทของซ่​่องโสเภณี​ี ในออสเตรเลี​ีย ตอนที่​่ฉั � น ั ไปโทรอนโต และคุ​ุยกั​ับชาวอเมริ​ิกัน ั และชาวแคนาดาพวกเขาก็​็ถามว่​่า ‘อ้​้าว มี​ีซ่​่องด้​้วยหรื​ือ ยั​ังมี​ีซ่​่องอยู่​่�อี​ีกหรื​ือ!?’ ท่​่าทางดู​ูเหมื​ือนคุ​ุณทำ�ำ งานหนั​ักมาก! จริ​ิง ฉั​ันทำำ�งานหนั​ัก พู​ูดจริ​ิง ๆ เกื​ือบทุ​ุกวั​ันเลยฉั​ันสงสั​ัยว่​่า งาน นี้​้�มัน ั มี​ีประโยชน์​์ยังั ไง หรื​ือมั​ันมี​ีผลอะไรต่​่อโลกเราบ้​้าง แต่​่ เพี​ียงแค่​่ท่า่ ทางให้​้กำ�ลั ำ งั ใจจากเพื่​่อ � นร่​่วมงานสั​ักคน ก็​็ทำ�ำ ให้​้ฉัน ั รู้​้ � ว่​่า งานนี้​้�มี​ีค่า่ ฉั​ันถื​ือว่​่าตั​ัวเองเป็​็ นผู้​้ข � ายบริ​ิการทางเพศที่​่มี​ี � � นหนึ่​่�งที​ีเดี​ียว — ฉั​ันเป็​็ นคนขาว มี​ีเพศสถานะ อภิ​ิสิทธิ์​์ ิ ค สอดคล้​้อง เปิ​ิ ดเผยเรื่​่อ � งอาชี​ีพการงาน และไม่​่ถู​ูกครอบครั​ัวหรื​ือ เพื่​่อ � นฝู​ูงทอดทิ้​้�ง ตอนนี้​้� ฉั​ันมี​ีทรั​ัพยากรมากพอควร และรู้​้ �สึก ึ � น ไฟแรงถึ​ึงหน้​้าที่​่ที่ � จ่� ะนำำ�อภิ​ิสิทธิ์​์ ิ นั้​้ � มาใช้​้ให้​้เกิ​ิดประโยชน์​์ ฉั​ัน � ฉั​ันโมโหและ ต้​้องการให้​้ชุ​ุมชนของฉั​ันได้​้รับั การปฏิ​ิบัติั ที่ ิ ดี​ีขึ้​้ ่� น ก็​็เศร้​้ามากเมื่​่อ � รู้​้ว่� า่ ในบางครั้​้ง� เพื่​่อ � นร่​่วมงานของฉั​ันประสบ อะไรนอกสถานที่​่ทำ � �ำ งาน เพราะการนำำ�เสนอภาพชี​ีวิ​ิตที่​่ผิ � ด ิ ๆ อย่​่างไม่​่สิ้​้น � สุ​ุดจากพวกแฟนภาพยนตร์​์เพศชายที่​่อ้� า้ งว่​่าเข้​้าใจ ภาพยนตร์​์ แต่​่จริ​ิง ๆ แล้​้ว เข้​้าใจแค่​่เพี​ียงผิ​ิวเผิ​ิน หากจะมี​ีใคร ลุ​ุกขึ้​้�นมาต่​่อสู้​้�กับั คนกลุ่​่�มนี้​้�แล้​้วล่ะ่ ก็​็... ก็​็ฉัน ั นี่​่�แหละ ;)

ฉากในภาพยนตร์​์ ‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’ โดยฮอลลี่​่� เบตส์​์ ปี​ี 2022

คุณทราบไหมว่า รัฐวิกตอเรียมีกฎหมายอนุญาตการให้ บริการ ณ สถานที�พก ั ตั�งแต่วน ั ที� 1 ธันวาคม ค.ศ. 2023 คุณสามารถต้อนรับลูกค้าได้ที�บา้ นของคุณ ที�โรงแรมที�คณ ุ จองไว้ หรือที� Airbnb ที�จองไว้ในนามของคุณโดยไม่ต้องเกรงว่าจะถูกดําเนินคดีทาง อาญา เชิญติดต่อเราหากคุณมีคําถามใด ๆ เกี�ยวกับการเ�ลี�ยนแ�ลงกฎหมายครัง� นี� หรือการเ�ลี�ยนแ�ลงอื�น ๆ ภายใต้กฎหมายว่าด้วยการทําให้งานบริการ ทางเพศเ��นสิง ู กฎหมาย�� ค.ศ. 2022 (Sex Work � ที�ถก Decriminalisation Act 2022) แม้วา่ ผูข ้ ายบริการทางเพศจะไม่ถก ู ดําเนินคดีอาญาจากการให้บริการ ณ สถานที�พก ั แต่โรงแรมและเจ้าของ Airbnb อาจยังคงพยายามเลือก��ิบต ั ิต่อผูข ้ ายบริการทางเพศเนื�องจากการเหยียด หยามในสังคมทัว� ไ�ที�มต ี ่อการให้บริการทางเพศหากเกิดเหตุการณ�ลัก�ณะ นี�และต้องการคํา�ร�ก�าหรือความช่วยเหลือติดตามกรณีดังกล่าว เชิญ ติดต่อเราได้

การยกเลิกกฎหมายว่าด้วยงานบริการทางเพศ 1994 (Sex Work Act 1994) มีผลอย่างไรต่อ ธุรกิจบริการทางเพศ การควบคุมการขายสุรา ตัง ั ที� 1 ธันวาคม ค.ศ. 2023 เป�นต้นไป ผูใ้ ห้บริการธุรกิจทางเพศสามารถขาย จัดหา หรือดื�มสุราใน � แต่วน สถานบริการทางเพศ (ซ่องโสเภณี) หรืออนุญาตให้มก ี ารขาย จัดหา หรือดื�มสุรา ณ สถานบริการทางเพศ โดย ไม่ถือว่าเป�นความผิดทางอาญา ด้วยเหตุนี� ผูใ้ ห้บริการธุรกิจทางเพศจึงสามารถขอรับใบอนุญาตการขายสุรา ณ สถานบริการได้ตัง � แต่เดือน ธันวาคม ค.ศ. 2023 เป�นต้นไป โดยต้องกรอกใบสมัครขอรับใบอนุญาตการขายสุรา ณ สถานบริการ ซึ�งสามารถเข้าไปดูได้ที�เว�บไซต์ของ รัฐบาลรัฐวิกตอเรีย https://www.vic.gov.au/explore-all-liquor-applications-and-forms ในการยื�นใบสมัคร ต้องมีสง �ิ ต่อไปนี� ใบอนุญาตการวางแผนผังจากเทศบาลท้องถิ�น คํายืนยันช่วงเวลาให้บริการ การป�ิบต ั ิตามแนวทางอบรมตามที�กําหนด ผังแสดงพื�นที�การให้บริการสุรา เอกสารแสดงจํานวนผูร้ บ ั บริการที�สามารถรองรับได้ เอกสารแสดงสิทธิในการใช้พ� น ื ที� สําเนาโฆษณาทางหนังสือพิมพ์ ก่อนจะกรอกใบสมัคร คุณควรจะต้องติดต่อกับเทศบาลท้องถิ�นเพื�อรับทราบข้อกําหนดต่าง ๆ ด้านการ วางแผนผังที�เกี�ยวกับการซื�อการขาย การจัดหา และการบริโภคสุรา หากสถานบริการของท่านมีเจตจํานงให้บริการความบันเทิงที�มเี นื�อหาทางเพศอย่างโจ่งแจ้ง คุณอาจจําเป�น ต้องกรอกแบบฟอร์มการขอใช้สถานที�ในการให้บริการความบันเทิงที�มเี นื�อหาทางเพศอย่างโจ่งแจ้ง (Sexually Explicit Entertainment on Licensed Premises) หากมีขอ ้ สงสัยประการใด โปรดติดต่อ Liquor Control Victoria เพื�อปรึกษาถึงข้อกําหนดต่าง ๆ ที�จาํ เป�นสําหรับธุรกิจของคุณ การออกใบอนุญาต ระบบการออกใบอนุญาตที�ดําเนินงานโดย Business Licensing Authority (BLA) จะยุติการให้บริการ ตัง � แต่เดือนธันวาคม ค.ศ. 2023 โดยหลังจากนัน � ผูใ้ ห้บริการธุรกิจทางเพศและธุรกิจการให้บริการทางเพศไม่ จําเป�นต้องขอใบอนุญาตอีกต่อไป รวมทัง ี วามจําเป�นต้องมีใบอนุญาตสําหรับตําแหน่งผูจ ้ ด ั การบริหาร � ไม่มค สถานให้บริการทางเพศ การควบคุมการวางแผนผังสําหรับสถานให้บริการทางเพศ การควบคุมการวางแผนผังเฉพาะสําหรับสถานให้บริการทางเพศที�กําหนดในส่วนที� 4 ของกฎหมาย Sex Work Act 1994 ไม่มผ ี ลบังคับใช้ต่อไป และบทแก้ไขเพิม � เติม Amendment VC217 ของ Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) และ All Planning Schemes จะมีผลบังคับใช้ในเดือนธันวาคม 2023 ตัง � แต่เดือนธันวาคม 2023 เป�นต้นไป สถานให้บริการทางเพศจะเปลี�ยนคําเรียกหาจาก “ซ่องโสเภณี (Brothel)” เป�น “สถานให้บริการทางเพศ (Sex Services Premises)” และจะถือว่า เป�นสถานที�ให้บริการ ลักษณะเดียวกันกับธุรกิจอื�น ๆ ที�ให้บริการส่วนบุคคล เช่น ร้านทําผม หากไม่มก ี ารระบุยกเว้นอย่างชัดเจน การ กล่าวถึงร้านค้าหรือสถานค้าปลีกต่าง ๆ ในผังการใช้ที�ดิน (planning scheme) จะหมายรวมถึงสถานให้ บริการทางเพศด้วย คุณสามารถรายละเอียดเพิม � เติมได้จากประกาศเรื�องการกําหนดแผนผังเมืองฉบับที� 79 ของกระทรวงสิง � แวดล้อม ที�ดิน แหล่งนํ�า และผังเมือง (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) เชิญติดต่อกับเราหากคุณต้องการข้อมูลเพิม � เติม

홀리

House of 88

베이츠

여러분이 House of Whorship (매춘 하우스)를 들어본 적이 없다면, 이 낭만주의 로맨틱 코메디 단편영화를 인생에서 놓치고 지나간 것이다. 홀리 베이츠는 아티스트이고 성매매 업소 기반 성노동자이며 멜번 성매매 업소의 퀴어 문화를 포착한 순간들을 담아낸 이 영화의 감독이기도 하다. House of Whoreship은 돈벌이에 급급한 일반인들이 만든 얄팍한 영화들이 성 노동자 주인공들을 관음적이고 일차원적인 핫테이크로 표현하는 일종의 전염병에 대한 해독제라고 할 수 있다. 현대를 살아가는 많은 성 노동자들의 삶에 대한 다큐멘터리처럼 느껴지기도 하는 이 영화에 영감을 주었을 홀리의 경험과 삶이 나는 몹시 궁금했다. 토론토에서 열린 퀴어 영화제 ' 인사이드 아웃'에서 House of Whoreship을 전세계에 선보인 후 멜번으로 돌아온 홀리와 나는 바로 만남을 가졌다.

‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’의 장면, 홀리 베이츠, 2022

Whoreship

89

별자리가 어떻게 되세요?

이 영화는 어떻게 만들어지게 되었는지

사람들은 그렇게 표현하지 않겠지만, 저는 이

말씀해주세요.

영화가 다큐멘터리 같아요.

썬은 사자, 라이징은 전갈, 문은 염소자리예요! 성 노동은 어떻게 하게 되었나요?

영화를 만들기 전부터 성노동은 제가 스스로를

왜 그런지 완전히 이해돼요! 흥미롭네요. 나중에

아웃팅 하지 않는 상태에서 다양한 제스쳐를

거기에 대해서 다시 이야기할게요.

통해 항상 저의 시각 예술 활동에 스며들곤 성산업의 다양한 분야에서 일한지는 10년

했어요. 처음 업소에서 일하기 시작했을 때,

이 영화가 성 노동자가 실제로 하는 일이나

정도 되었어요. 열 여덟살 때 슈가 베이비

미디어의 관점에 길들여졌던 것에 비하면 업소

고객에 대한 것이 아니고 사람들의 관계에 대한

일을 하면서 성 노동을시작했고 스무살 때 그

일이 얼마나 따뜻하고 공동체 의식이 튼튼한

것이라는 점이 멋져요. 사람들은 성 노동이

당시 파트너가 말소된 면허로 내 자동차를

분야인가를 깨닫고 문화적 충격을 받았어요.

얼마나 무해하고 지루할 수 있는지 모르는 것

운전하다가 사고를 내서 일정 기간까지

제가 업소에서 경험한 것들은 그동안 영화나

같아요.

갚아야 하는 빚이 생겼었죠. 그 때 업소는

TV 에서 보아왔던 내용과 굉장히 다르거나,

스트리핑을 시작했는데 빚을 갚기 위해서

아예 그런 내용이 없었어요. 그리고 멜번으로

맞아요. 정기적으로 이 일을 하다 보면 특히

약 한 달 후에 저도 합류했어요. (내 가슴이

이사하기 위해서 업소일을 열심히 하는 동안,

번아웃 단계에 가까울수록 고객 응대가 가게에서

틀림없이 돈을 벌게 해줄거라고 하더군요).

성 노동자를 진실되게 표현하고 싶다는 열망이

생필품을 구매하는 과정이나 다름 없는 수준의

그 일을 1년 정도 했는데, 저하고는 맞지

커지기 시작했죠. 신기한 일이었죠. 실제로 제가

정신적 자극을 주는 시점이 올 수 있어요. (두 가지

않았어요. (내 가슴이 큰 돈을 벌게 해주지도

성노동을 하지 않으면 석사 학위를 따거나 영화

일을 다 해본 사람으로서) 물론 백룸에서 동료들과

않았고요) 스트리핑은 제가 잘 할 수 있는

제작을 할 수 없었을테니까요. 어떤 면에서 보면,

빨리 나누고 싶은 괴상하고 재미난 일들도 생기긴

분야기 아니더라고요. 그 당시 저는 정말

시작부터 저의 영화 제작 커리어는 저의 성 노동

하지만, 하루 일이 끝난 뒤 생각해보면 고객들이나

수줍음이 많았는데 스트리핑이 그걸 숨기는

커리어와 밀착되어 있었던거예요.

그들과 보낸 시간은 거의 기억도 안나요. 시간이 좀 지난 뒤, 1주일이나 몇 달 후, 다시 찾아온 고객이 '

법을 가르쳐주긴 했어요. 그렇지만 제 고향 브리즈번에서 제 자신을 노출시키는 일이기도 했죠. 언제 아웃팅 당할지 몰라서 항상 불안했고, 업소 관리부도 엉망이었고, 스트립 클럽에 부과되는 벌금이나 풀 서비스 성노동자에 대한 편견과 공포도 심했어요. 당시 함께 일하던 예전 파트너는 같은 시간에 저보다 두 배를 벌었는데 어리고 불안했던 저에게 그건 굉장한 정신적 스트레스였어요. 불안증이 점점 심해져서 나중에는 내가 버는 작은 돈 따위는 가치 없게 느껴졌죠. 저는

지난번에 해줬던 것처럼 해줄 수 있나요?'라고 물을

그런데 성 노동자의 삶에서 가장 흥미로운 부분은 고객들도 아니고, 우리가 어떤 옷을 입고 어떻게 일하는가도 아니예요. 그건 바로 이 공동체안에서 우리가 맺고 유지하는 애정어린 관계들이예요.

때 저는 '음..내가 뭘했는지 기억을 일깨워주세요' 라고 말하게 되죠. 왜냐하면 심지어 그 고객을 알아보지도 못할 수 있거든요. 적어도 건강 검진을 할 때까지는 말이죠. 그런데 성 노동자의 삶에서 가장 흥미로운 부분은 고객들도 아니고, 우리가 어떤 옷을 입고 어떻게 일하는가도 아니예요. 그건 바로 이 공동체안에서 우리가 맺고 유지하는 애정어린 관계들입니다. 저는 성 노동자라는 사실을 공개하자마자 일반

처음부터 스트리핑이 아니라 풀 서비스 성노동이 저와 맞는다는걸 알고 있었던 것

이 영화의 시나리오 초본은 사실 제가 일하던

시민들에게 일차원적인 존재가 되어버린다는

같아요. 공개되지 않은 공간안에서 더 잘할 수

브리즈번 업소에 찾아온 한 신부의 이야기를

점이 정말 싫습니다. 말그대로 매춘부라는 도장이

있다는걸 알고 있었던거죠.

바탕으로 쓴거예요. 그 신부는 저한테 자신의

찍히잖아요. 사람들은 성 노동 현장에서 겪는

금욕 생활이 힘들다고 고백했었죠. 그래서 영화

고객과의 경험에 대해서만 알고 싶어하죠. 그런

슈가 베이비 일은 계속 하다 말다 했는데, 그건

제목을 'House of Whoreship'로 정했고요. 영화

이야기를 하는 것은 솔직히 지긋지긋합니다.

기본적으로 에스코트 서비스였어요. 다른

대본에서 내부적인 성 노동자들간의 관계가

미안하지만 고객들은 그 정도로 흥미롭지는

점이 있다면 그 일을 하면서도 에스코팅이

제가 썼던 그 어떤 고객에 대한 이야기보다 훨씬

않거든요. 우리는 우리가 하는 일에 국한되는

아닌 척 연기하도록 고객을 이끌어야했는데

더 흥미로웠다는 피드백을 받았어요. 저는 기존

존재들이 아니잖아요. 우리들 대부분은 성 노동을

그건 짜증날 정도로 정신 노동이 들어가는

영화에서 끊임없이 사용되는 매춘부에 대한

제외한 나머지 삶도 살고 있거든요. 성 노동은 단지

일이었어요. 몇 년 후에 성매매 업소를 통해서

해로운 비유에 이의를 제기하는 동시에 오로지

직업일뿐이니까요. 그러니까 그것에 대해 캐묻지

드디어 풀 서비스 성노동을 하게 되었죠. 2019

성 노동자 공동체 그리고 서사 완성에 필요한

않으면 좋겠어요. 혹시 우리의 생각이나 경험을

년 초에 5년 동안 사귀었던 사람과 헤어졌고,

서스펜스를 만들어낼 수 있는 성 노동 현장의

듣게 되는 사람은 운이 좋다고 생각해야 할거예요.

벗어날 수 없는 창작의 슬럼프와 인생 초반기

내부적인 모습들을 보여줄 수 있는 방법을

위기를 겪으면서 저의 삶을 다시 돌아보게

생각해내느라 머리를 쥐어짰어요. 그 때 저는

되었어요. 그리고 멜번으로 이사해서 영화학

한 동료와 헤어지는 과정을 겪었었고, 멜번

석사 과정을 하기로 마음먹었지만 그 당시

성 노동 현장에 퀴어들도 많다보니 현장에서

제가 가졌던 접객업계 일자리도 근무 시간이

일어나는 로맨틱한 만남과 이별이야말로

줄어드는 바람에 저축도 못하고 하루 하루

완벽한 스토리가 될거라고 생각했어요. 저는

근근히 살아가야 했어요. 그러다가 어느

파트너와 안좋게 끝났고 그것 때문에 앞으로도

날 충동적으로 저는 가장 가까운 성매매

항상 힘들어할거예요. 그래도 제가 만든 영화가

업소를 방문해서 둘러본 후, 보건증명서를

현실과는 아주 다르게 해피 엔딩으로 끝난다는

취득하고 며칠 후 일을 시작했죠. 업소 일을

점이 위로가 되었어요. 하지만 이 영화가 담고

시작하자마자 제가 전생에 이 일을 했었다는

있는 비하인드 스토리, 진부한 일상, 그리고 성

느낌이 들었어요. 제 마음 깊숙한 곳에서

노동자 공동체에 대한 부분들은 저한테 전부

언젠가는 열리기를 기다리고 있던 방의

굉장히 현실적으로 느껴졌어요.

일반 시민들은 이 영화에 대한 반응이 어땠나요? 저는 반응의 일부분만 들었어요. 영화를 본 시민들과 소통할 수 있었던 가장 최근 경험은 토론토에서 열렸던 인사이드 아웃 영화제였어요. 제일 많이 접했던 반응은 이 영화가 정말 유익하다는 거였어요. 저는 성 노동을 보여주는 영화를 그런 방식으로 표현하는 경우를 보지 못했기 때문에 그런 반응이 정말 놀랍고 흐뭇했어요. 석사 과정을 함께 했던 학우들에게 영화의 최종

문을 열어주었다고나 할까요. 저에게 성매매

편집본을 보여줬더니 영화 내용과 그쪽 세상이

업소와 풀 서비스 성노동은 순수한 본능으로

현실적으로 느껴졌다고 하더군요. 그래서 저는

느껴지는 부분이 있고, 그래서 좀 이상하게

이쪽 세상에 발을 들여놓은 적이 없는 사람들이

들릴 수도 있지만 마침내 고향으로 돌아온 것

느낀 진정성이 이 영화에 들어있다고 생각해요.

같은 느낌이었죠. 그날 이후 저는 지금까지 이

그건 아마도 이 성 노동자의 서사 뒤에는 실제로 성

일을 하고 있어요!

노동자가 있기 때문일거예요..

90

‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’ 촬영 현장 사진 촬영: KRISTEN AUGEARD

...성 매매 고객이 있는게 아니고요. 사람들은 이 영화에 성 매매 고객에 대한 이야기가 거의 없다는 사실을 아는 것 같았어요. 학교 친구 한 명은 이 영화에 성 매매 고객이 나오지는 않지만 배경에서 그들의 존재감이나 에너지가 느껴졌다고 했어요. 성매매가 이루어지는 건 알지만, 초점은 성 노동자에게 맞춰져 있는거죠. 저는 가끔 이 업계에 얼마나 많은 인류애가 존재하는지, 성 노동자들의 아름다움, 서로에게 힘이 되어주는 모습들을 사람들이 현장에서 직접 엿볼 수 있으면 좋겠다는 생각을 하곤 해요. 백룸에 들어갔을 때 누군가가 다른 동료의 머리를 땋아주고 있거나 그것과 비슷한 애정 어린 행동을 하는 모습을 보면 저는 '아 내 심장!' 하면서 감동을 하죠. 성 노동은 우리만의 세상을 가지고 있고, 그 고유한 기반 위에 존재하고 있어요. 성 노동자들은 종종 즉각적인 유대감을 느끼지 않나요? 그게 정말 흥미롭더라고요. 그럼요! 흥미롭죠. 저의 경우에는 성 노동 공동체에 들어갔을 때 퀴어로 아웃팅 했을 때 보다 더 많은 사랑과 연대와 공동체 의식을 느꼈어요. 제가 아웃팅을 했던 시기는 20142015년이었고 저는 그 때 19세였죠. 이제는 옛날 일이 되었지만..사실 그렇게 오래된 것도 아니지만 그때는 달랐어요.

여성 동성애자들은 잔인할 정도로 무시되었고 저는 종종 세상과 힘들게 싸워야 했어요. 성 노동 업계에는 여러가지 측면에서 다양한 사람들이 존재하지만 특히 여성 동성애자를 포용하는 모습에서 드디어 내가 속할 수 있는 곳을 찾았다는 느낌을 받았어요.

의사가 만약을 대비해서 줬던 번호로 전화해서 상황을 말했더니 병원으로 가라고 하더군요. 그 때 저는 이미 친구들이 있는 그룹채팅방에서 저의 핏덩어리 하혈 사진을 공유하고 있었는데 그 방에는 저의 전 애인도 있었어요. 의사가 했던 말을 채팅방에 올렸더니 전 애인이 나를 병원에 데려다 주겠다고 하더군요. 운전을 할 수 있는 사람은 그 사람 뿐이었고..저는

영화에서 피에 젖은 스폰지를 보는 일은 없을거라고 생각했었는데, 막상 보고 나니 좋기도 한데요. 많은 성 노동자들이 스폰지와 관련된 끔찍한 경험이 있다는걸 알기 때문에 꼭 물어보고 싶은데요. 그 스폰지 장면은 실화를 바탕으로 한건가요?

감정이 복받친 상황이었지만 안심이 되기도 했어요. 차에 올라타자마자 저는 울음을 터뜨렸는데 그 사람은 굉장히 침착했고 괴상한 상황이었음에도 불구하고 든든한 느낌을 주었어요.

아 맞아요. 그 장면은 실화에서 영감을 얻은거예요. 다만 성 매매 업소에서 일어났던 일은 아니고요. 5년 동안 사귀고 헤어진지 4년 되었던 전 애인과의 경험에 바탕을 둔 이야기예요. 감사하게도 결별 이후 우리는 절친이 되었어요. 저는 누구에게 스폰지 제거를 부탁한 적은 없었어요. 물론 꺼내기 어려웠던 경우도 있었고 아크릴을 사용하던 짧은 기간 동안에는 다친 적도 있었지만요. 성매매 업소에서 일하기 시작한 후 얼마 지나지 않아서 IUD 삽입 시술을 했는데 한 시간 정도 지나니 굉장히 심한 하혈이 시작되었어요. 그 정도가 정말 너무 심했어요. 15분마다 취침용 맥시 패드를 갈아야 할 정도였고, 핏덩어리가 계속 나왔어요.

‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’ 영화의 한 장면, 홀리 베이츠, 2022

그리고 제가 입원해 있는 동안 내내 함께 있어주었죠. 그것도 이상한 일이간 했지만 곁에 있다는 것이 위로가 되었어요. 병원은 저에게 성인용 귀저기를 채워줬고 하혈을 막는 약을 주었어요. 전 애인은 저의 가족에게 연락해서 제가 괜찮다는걸 알려줬고요. 제가 부탁하지도 않았는데 뭘 해야 하는지 알더라고요. 그런 다음 우리는 이야기를 나눴어요. 저는 그 사람이 저에게 더이상 관심이 없을거라고 생각했다고 말했어요. 그 사람은 그렇지 않다고 대답했고, 그냥 떨어져 있는 시간이 필요했었다고 말했어요. 제가 그 사람을 찼었거든요. 그 일은 수년이 흐른 뒤 우리가 여전히 웃으면서 회상할 수 있는 우스꽝스러운 사건이었고, 저는 그런 종류의 따뜻함과 의외성을 이 영화에 넣고 싶었어요. 그래서 그 이야기를 성 매매 업소 버전으로 만들었어요.

‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’ 촬영장에 있는 홀리 사진 촬영: KRISTEN AUGEARD 그 장면은 정말 좋았어요. 실제로 스폰지를 봤을 때 저는 '설마!' 하는 심정이었죠. 저도 성 노동 현장의 그런 면을 정말 좋아해요. 이 업계의 한계선들은 상당히 다르잖아요. 저는 그런 미묘한 부분들이나 우리가 사용하는 독특한 도구들을 포착해내고 싶었어요. 아시다시피 모든 것은 굉장히 빨리 일반화되니까요. 우리가 생각하는 성산업의 사회적 규범은 대다수 업계와 많이 다르죠. 성산업 외부의 사람들은 우리만큼 개방적이거나 애정이 있지는 않은 것 같아요. 모든 사람들이 그렇다는 것은 아니예요. 굉장히 편협하고 자아에 도취된 성 노동자들도 있기는 해요. 하지만 그들도 공감은 해주죠. 같은 일을 하고, 같은 사회적 낙인을 경험하니까요. 이 영화는 그 유명한 100번지 빌딩에서 촬영했나요? 네! 귀신이 산다는 그 100번지 맞아요. 귀신이 살던가요? 오, 네. 100번지 집에서 일어난 일은 제 인생에서 귀신과 관련된 가장 강렬한 체험이었어요. 그 빌딩은 8개월 정도 시장에 매물로 나와있었고 거의 늘 비어있었어요. 빌딩 안에는 침대 공간이 마련되어 있었고 오래된 커튼과 업계에서 사용하는 정액향이 나는 핑크색 비누 디스펜서가 있었죠. 그 빌딩은 오래되기도 했고 시장에 나온 후 두 번이나 침입 범죄가 발생해서 상당히 안좋은 상태였어요. 부동산 중개업자는 우리한테 임대해주는 걸 엄청 꺼려했지만 빌딩이 침입 당하고 사겠다는 사람도 없다보니 빌딩 주인은 임대에 동의했어요. 우리한테 받는 현금으로 내부 수리를 할 수 있으니까요. 저는 한 달 동안 그 곳을 빌렸어요. 한 주는 촬영을 했고 3주 동안은 제작 준비 작업을 했죠. 수리도 꽤 많이 했고 화장대가 있는 방과 부억은 페인트를 다시 칠했어요. 어쨌든 빌딩이 8개월 동안 비어있었기 때문에 빌딩안에 살던 존재한테는 우리가 갑자기 들이닥친 상황이 되었을거예요. 그 공간을 우리가 방해하는 듯한 느낌이 실제로 들었거든요. 처음에 저는 완전히 겁에 질려있었지만 나중에는 그 귀신이 저의 비밀 수호천사처럼 느껴졌어요. 임대 기간동안 매일 저는 그 여자 귀신에게 말을 걸었어요. 그녀를 두고 떠나올 때는 슬펐고요.

빌딩 내부는 성매매 업소처럼 꾸며져 있던가요? 가구는 전혀 없었지만 침대 베이스들은 있었어요. 플린스톤에 나오는 돌침대 형식으로 설치되어 있었죠. 벽에는 스티커들이 있었고 당연히 비누는 있었고, 그렇지만 그 이외에는 아무것도 없었어요. 남아있는 유물은 그 작은 소품들 뿐이었죠. 그래도 그 곳에서 일했던 사람들의 흔적은 느낄 수 있었어요. 힐에 긁힌 자국이 있는 바닥이나 벽에 붙어있는 노트 같은걸 통해서 말이죠. 그 곳에서 영화를 촬영하는 건 정말 특별한 경험이었어요. 아직도 그 점을 감사하게 생각하고 있어요. 성매매 업소를 재현하려면 돈이 너무 많이 들었을거예요. 방 마다 샤워실이 있어야 하고, 라커룸, 흡연 공간, 소개실 같은게 있어야 하니까요. 아마 영화 촬영을 하려면 여러 장소를 사용해야 했을거예요. 100번지 빌딩은 저의 구원자였어요. 우리가 필요한 모든게 거기 있었으니까요. 그리고 귀신도 있었고요? 네, 제가 취득한 정보에 의하면 그녀의 이름은 소피 아니면 스테파니였어요. 그녀와 제대로 된 첫 만남을 가지기 전날 밤에 저는 전구 한개를 가지고 100번지 빌딩안으로 들어가는 꿈을 꿨어요. 저는 전구한테 빌딩 안에 영혼들이 있다면 깜박여달라고 주문했죠. 그랬더니 그 전구가 꺼지더군요. 아침에 일어나서 저는 세이지 약초를 챙겼어요. 그 빌딩 안에서 직감적으로 느꼈던 에너지의 실체가 꿈으로 확인된 걸 알았으니까요. 그 공간을 다녀갔던 촬영팀 몇 명은 제가 없으면 그 곳에 있고 싶지 않아했기 때문에 저만 그렇게 느낀 건 아니라는 걸 알았어요. 그 날 저는 친구들한테 소파 몇 개를 소개실로 옮겨달라고 부탁했었어요. 제 친구가 자동차에서 뭘 가져오려고 나갔을 때 저는 옮겨진 소파들의 사진을 찍었어요.

‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’ 영화의 장면, 홀리 베이츠, 2022

그러고 있는데, 하얀 원이 방 저쪽 끝에서 날아오더니 내 왼쪽 눈을 스쳐 지나갔어요. 그 순간 그 방에 있던 모든 먼지 입자들이 순식간에 나를 향해 몰려들었어요. 바람 한 점 없었는데 말이죠. 저는 "어머!' 라고 소리쳤고 나갔던 친구가 돌아오면서 그 소리를 듣더니 무슨 일이냐고 물었어요. 아무일도 아니라고 했지만 친구는 제 음성과 표정을 보고 알아챘어요. 저는 빌딩에 혼자 남아서 세이지 약초를 태우면서 '좋은 에너지만 있어주세요' (웃음) 라고 빌면서 울었어요. 다른 말을 하기가 너무 무서웠거든요. 빌딩 밖으로 나오니까 밤이었고 집에 돌아온 후에도 너무 무서워서 발리움을 세 알이나 먹고 겨우 진정을 했어요. 세이지 약초가 전혀 효과 없었다는 건 알았지만, 그 빌딩에 설치된 화재경보기가 전혀 작동 안한다는 것도 확인되었죠.

저는 커뮤니티 채널을 통해서 100번 빌딩에 상주하고 있을지도 모르는 귀신에 대한 경험이나 정보가 있는 사람이 있는지 물어봤고, 그런 경험이 있다는 동료들로부터 수십개의 메시지를 받았어요. 그렇게 해서 소피/스테파니에 대해 알게 되었던거죠. 대부분의 동료들은 그녀에 대해 긍정적이고 동정심 넘치는 말을 했어요. 그들에 따르면 그녀는 좀 튀는 성격이어서 계단에서 성관계를 갖는 일도 가끔 있었지만 (이건 대학교 과제였던 안전 모델에 제가 애매모호하게 포함시켰던 사항이예요), 궁극적으로는 동료들을 아끼고 고객들을 혐오했던 여성이었어요. 그러고보니 그녀가 오래된 소개실에서 저한테 달려들었던 이유가 이해되더군요. 그 곳은 고객들의 공간이었으니까요. 사람들에게 그녀가 어떤 형상으로 나타났는지 물어봤더니 사진에 나타나거나 여성들의 방에서 음료캔을 움직이거나 수건을 떨어트리거나 물의 온도를 바꾸거나 했다고 하더군요. 제가 들었던 이야기 중에는 그녀의 동료들을 나쁜 고객들로부터 보호하려는 듯한 행위가 가장 많았어요. 그래서 결국 저는 그 곳으로 돌아가서 그녀에게 내가 누군지, 그 공간을 사용하는 의도가 무엇인지를 알려야 한다고 생각했어요.

안그래도 우리는 충분히 착취 당하고, 낙인 찍히고 차별 받고 있잖아요..

다음 날 저는 꽃다발 한개를 사서 그녀가 상주한다고 알려진 4번 방으로 가져갔어요. (우리는 이 방에서 샤워실 장면을 촬영했어요) 그리고 전날 제가 가져다 놓은 매트리스 위에 앉았어요. 저는 세이지 약초 의식에 대해서 사과를 했고, 저의 의도를 설명했고, 영화 대본을 읽어주었어요. 처음 두 번은 샤워실 앞에 놓아 둔 꽃다발을 향해서 말을 했어요. 그 방에서 두 번 째로 나왔을 때, 저는 샤워실 환풍기가 켜있는지 확인했어요. 왜냐하면 두 번 모두 그 꽃다발 앞에 있는 공기가 신기루처럼 진동하면서 움직이는 것처럼 보였거든요. 하지만 환풍기는 꺼져 있었고, 세 번째로 그녀에게 말하기 전에 저는 만약을 위해 다시 확인을 했어요. 이번에는 공기가 완전히 고요했고, 그래서 모든게 그저 내 상상이었다고 생각하려는 순간, 그 방의 문이 확 열렸다 닫혔어요. 저는 '이제 나타났네!'라고 생각했죠. 몇 개 안되는 창문은 모두 철창으로 막혀있었고 바람도 없었어요. 하여튼 그녀는 정말 저를 긴장하게 만들었어요.

좀 복합적인 경험이었어요. 한편으로는 저의 가족이 그렇게 잘 받아들일거라고는 예상하지 못했었어요. 부모님의 성장 과정을 보거나 호주에 살고 있는 가족이 거의 없다는 점에서 가족이 저를 완전히 내칠거라고 생각하지는 않았어요. 그렇지만 어느 정도의 혐오감이나 저를 밀어내려는 행동 같은건 분명히 예상했었죠. 뒤돌아보면 저는 긴 세월 동안 이 순간을 위해서 제 가족을 훈련시켜왔던 것 같아요. 저의 예술 활동이 발전해 나간 과정을 보면 특히 그래요. 가족에게 더 이상 거짓말을 하지 않아도 된다는 것, 그리고 이중 생활을 하지 않아도 된다는 것이 저를 짓누르고 있던 엄청난 부담을 덜어주었어요. 저는 제가 넘치게 운이 좋다는 걸 알아요. 대부분의 성 노동자들은 가족들로부터 그런 대우를 받지 못하거든요.

제작 준비 작업을 하던 2주 동안 저는 그곳에서 혼자 많은 시간을 보냈고 어떤 날은 새벽 세시까지 머물기도 했어요. 저는 다른 사람들이 도착하기 전에 그녀가 저에 대해 알아가고 신뢰하게 되기를 바랬고, 저도 그녀에 대한 저의 두려움을 마주할 필요를 느꼈어요. 여기에 대해서 저는 조감독을 포함한 두 명에게만 말을 했고, 우리는 두렵고 공포스러운 환경을 조성하지 않기 위해서 배우들이나 촬영팀에는 알리지 않기로 했어요. 나중에 저는 사람들에게 우리가 이상한 에너지를 느꼈다면 그건 빌딩이 오래되었고 40년동안 드나들었던 고객들의 에너지를 간직하고 있기 때문이라고 말했어요. 그녀에게 작별 인사를 하고 부동산 중개소에 빌딩 열쇠를 돌려주던 날, 저의 침실 전등이 제가 꾸었던 꿈에서 그랬던 것처럼 깜박이더군요. 전등은 약 4개월 정도 무작위로 켜졌다 꺼지곤 했어요. 그리고는 멈추었어요. 저는 Stranger things라는 드라마 시리즈를 몰아봤기 때문에 그런 꿈을 꾼게 아닌가 생각했지만, 그 꿈은 이상하게도 그녀와 관련된 체험을 완성시켜 주었고 그녀에 대한 저의 애정도 더 깊어졌어요. 그녀는 100번 빌딩을 매섭게 사수하는 보호자였던 거예요. 다른 곳에서 촬영을 할 생각도 해봤나요? 네, 처음에는 주 7일 24시간 운영하지 않는 몇 군데 업소에 연락을 했었어요. 영업을 하지 않는 동안 촬영을 할 수 있는지 문의하려고요. 영업 중인 업소에서는 절대 촬영하지 않았을거예요. 영업시간 중에 촬영을 하면 고객, 성노동자 또는 관리자들을 노출시킬 위험이 있으니까요. 영화 학교에서 이 점을 이해하지 못하는 사람들이 많았어요. 학교에 다니는 동안 저는 '성 노동을 진정성 있게 표현하고 싶으면 왜 다큐멘터리를 찍지 않느냐'는 질문을 계속 받았어요. 그러면 저는 노출 문제가 있고, 노출과 더불어 발생하는 복잡한 결과들이 있다고 말했죠. 촬영을 하는 동안에는 다큐에 참여하는 사람들에게 약속을 할 수 있겠죠. 하지만 그 이후에는요? 일단 대중에게 노출이 되고 난 후에 생길 결과나 보호의 문제는 어떻게 할건가요? 그리고 편집의 문제도 있어요. 다큐는 '실제' 영상이기 때문에 편집이나 조작을 하더라도 사람들은 그걸 진실로 받아들여요. 그래서 성 노동자들의 경우 안전한 매체로 느껴지지 않는거죠.

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너무 많이요! 우리에 대한 관음적 시선이 항상 존재하죠. 우리가 착취 당하고 낙인 찍히고 차별 받는 방식들은 사람들이 우리를 어떻게 생각하는지를 직접적으로 반영합니다. 그리고 그런 사고 방식은 미디어로부터 오는거죠. 일반인들이 만든 다큐는 우리의 삶에 대한 가시적 진실을 전달하지 않아요. 네, 그런 점에서 저는 House of Whoreship이 너무 좋아요. 이 영화를 낭만주의 로맨틱 코메디로 묘사하셨지만, 저에게는 착취적인 요소가 없는 일종의 다큐멘터리 같기도 해요. 그렇다면 너무 다행이예요! 그러면 House of Whoreship이 개봉된 이후, 감독님이 성 노동자라는 사실은 완전히 공개되었던거죠? 공개 후 지금까지 어떤 경험을 하셨나요?

다른 한편으로는, 모든게 좀 피곤했어요. 대화 중에 내가 만든 영화 이야기가 나오면 사람들은 그걸 저에게 성 노동자의 삶에 대해 캐물을 수 있는 절호의 기회로 받아들여요. 이 영화를 만든 핵심적인 이유가 바로 그런 질문에 대해 일일이 설명하지 않기 위해서였는데 말이죠. 자신을 공개한 성 노동자들이 많지 않기 때문에, 일반인들은 저를 성산업에 대한 정보를 줄 수 있는 유일한 대상으로 삼아요. 저는 저의 동료들과 업계를 대신한다는 의무감으로 일반인들에게 성심껏 정보를 전달하지만, 그건 굉장히 피곤한 일이예요. 저번에는 지인이 저한테 이렇게 말하더군요. '아, 너는 성 노동자니까 이 사람이 마음에 들거야.. 이 사람은 그런 것들을 진짜 좋아하거든'. 마치 성 노동자로 일하는 것이 저의 성격 전체를 규정하는 것 처럼요. 성 노동자로 일하는 것은 제 정체성의 일부분일 뿐이예요. 저는 친구들이 생활비를 버는 방법 한가지만으로 그들의 정체성을 규정하지 않아요. 하지만 사람들은 우리를 규정할 때 아무 문제 없이, 두 번 생각할 것도 없이 그렇게 하죠. 우리 모두는 자본주의 체제 아래에서 생존하려고 애쓸 뿐인데 말이죠. 성 노동자라는 걸 공개할 당시 저의 입장은, 성 노동에 대한 영화는 성 노동자들이 만들어야 한다는 것이었고 그래서 저는 그 모범을 보이고 싶었어요. 그렇게 하지 않으면, 다른 누군가가 그렇게 할 때까지 얼마나 오래 기다려야 했을까요? 저는 아무것도 후회하지 않고, 지금 저는 그 어느 때보다도 성 노동 공동체와 깊은 유대감을 느끼고 있고 우리가 표현되는 방식에 도전하겠다는 강한 의욕을 가지고 있어요. 스크린을 통해 성 노동자들을 제대로 표현하는 데 보탬이 되었다는 것은 저에게 삶의 목표를 달성한 것 같은 성취감을 줍니다. 다만 때로 좀 지칠 뿐이죠.

House of Whoreship은 CineKink 영화제를 통해 미국에 공개되었는데요, 미국에 가실 수는 있었나요? 제 자신이 공개되었기 때문에 법적으로는 갈 수 없었죠. 그런 결과를 감당해야 한다는 건 이미 알고 있었고요. 미국은 지난 10년 안에 성 노동을 한 경력이 있는 사람에게는 입국을 허용하지 않아요. 웃긴 것은 최근에 제가 캐나다에 입국하고 출국했을 때 미국에 두 번이나 체류할 수 밖에 없었어요. 두 번 모두 비행기가 취소되어서 그 다음 날 타야 했기 때문에 임시 경유 비자로 공항 근처의 호텔에 묵게 되었거든요. 마치 제가 시스템을 잘 속여서 몰래 입국한 듯한 느낌이었어요. 호주로 돌아오기 전에, 비행기 탑승을 앞두고 저는 샌프란시스코에서 온 종일 시간을 보냈는데 그건 정말 특별하고 달콤 씁쓸한 경험이었어요. 수년전에 그 곳에 간 적이 있었기 때문에 제가 좋아했던 장소들을 마지막으로 다시 한번 둘러보면서 마음속으로 작별을 고했죠. 그렇게 할 수 있는 기회는 정말 드물테니까요.

너무 심한데요! 왜냐햐면 얼굴이 공개되지 않은 성 노동자들은 종종 미국에 입국할 수 있거든요. 가방 속에 특정한 물건들을 넣어가지 않도록 아주 조심만 한다면 말이죠. 오? 그 말을 들으니 생각이 났어요! 토론토 인사이드 아웃 영화제에 참석했던 첫 날 저녁에 저는 Safe Word 라는 단편 영화를 만든 알렉스 코네토 감독을 만났어요. 그 분의 영화는 지배와 종속 관계에 대한 거였어요. 저한테 미국에서 영화를 선보일거냐고 묻더군요. 저는 '그럴 수 있으면 좋겠네요!' 라고 말했어요. 미국 영화제에 참석할 수 있냐고 물어보길래 저는 미국의 입국 규정에 대해서 알려줬죠. 그랬더니 '오 그래도 대충 말하면 되지 않나요?' 하길래 '아니요, 아니요, 그렇게 할 수 없어요.. 저를 입국시키지 않을거예요'라고 했어요. 저는 미국이 성 노동자 입국을 금지시키기 위해 소셜 미디어를 검색하고, 안면 인식을 사용하고, 도착하면 짐을 뒤진다는 걸 전부 알려줬어요. 짐 속에서 란제리 한 세트만 발견해도 미국에 성 노동하러 온 걸로 믿어버린다고요. 그랬더니 충격을 받더라고요. 그 감독이 저를 믿지 않았던게 아니라, 그냥 너무 놀랐던거에요. 그 감독은 미국으로 돌아갔다가 토론토로 다시 와서 폐막식 파티에 참석했어요. 그 파티에서 다시 만났는데, 그가 그러더군요. '하느님 맙소사, 나도 겪었어요, 당신 말이 맞았어요!' 성 노동 법이 일반 배우들에게도 영향을 준다는 이야기는 저도 들어본 적이 있었지만, 그가 미국으로 돌아갔을 때 국경 보안팀이 이런 질문을 했다는거예요. '캐나다에서는 뭘 하셨나요?' 그는 '아, 영화제에 갔었어요'라고 대답했고요. 그랬더니 '아, 당신이 만든 영화 Safe Word 때문에요?'라고 했대요. 그는 '그걸 어떻게 아셨죠?' 라고 물었고 그들은 '우리는 미국 정부예요. 그래서 다 알아요.'라고 했대요. *헉* 하느님 맙소사. 그러게요. 그 감독은 '음.. 그렇군요...' 라고 했고, 그들은 감독을 통과시켜 주었어요. ‘Safe Word’ 는 지배와 종속의 거래 관계에 대한 것이기 때문에 성 노동의 한 분야를 다루고 있어요. 그래서 저는 ' 당신이 그런 경험을 하게 된 것은 안타깝지만, 한편으로는 조금 반갑기도 하네요'라고 생각했어요. 이제 내가 하는 이야기가 뻥이 아니라는 것, 이게 정말 현실이라는 걸 알았을테니까요.

‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’ 촬영장 사진 촬영: KRISTEN AUGEARD 미국을 방문한 많은 성 노동자들한테서 입국에 문제가 없었다는 말은 들었지만, 국경에서 심문을 받았다는 사람들도 있다는 말도 들었어요. 얼굴이 공개되지 않은 사람들은 그냥 넘어가는 경우도 많긴 하지만, 결코 쉬운 일은 아니죠.. 맞아요. 그리고 다양한 유형들이 존재해요. 미국은 현실에서 그렇게 하지만 않는다면, 스크린에서 섹스를 파는건 문제가 없어요. Angela White는 포르노 스타이기 때문에 미국을 문제 없이 왕래해요. 다른 OF 스타들도 마찬가지고요. 스크린에서 일어나는 일과 잠긴 문 뒤에서 일어나는 일 사이에는 어떤 법률적, 사회적 차이점이 있는걸까요? 저는 도저히 모르겠어요. 이건 궁금해서 물어보는건데요. 감독님이 백룸에서 얻었던 가장 훌륭한 조언은 무엇이었나요? 언젠가 동료가 저에게 '고객을 상대할 때는 절대 이를 악물지 마라'고 했었는데 그 조언이 가장 기억에 남아요. 이성애자가 정상으로 간주되는 가부장 제도가 지배하는 서사와 함께 성장하는 경우, 남성에게 맞설 수 있거나 자신이 받아들일 수 있는 한계선을 주장하는 환경은 조성되지 않고, 오히려 그 반대의 경우가 되죠. 초보 시절에 저는 고객들이 돈을 지불했다는 이유만으로 그들이 하는대로 그냥 내버려 두었고, 내가 해야하는 일과 한계선을 벗어나는 경우를 구분하는 게 쉽지 않았어요. 고객들은 늘 말도 안되는 것들을 요구하지만, 저는 더 이상 고객을 위해 내 자신의 불편함을 감수하지는 않아요. 그렇게 되기까지 그 조언이 중심적인 역할을 했죠.

저는 일반 관객들이 성 노동자들의 이야기를 보면서 그것을 공감과 교육에 대한 계기로 삼게 되는 것이 정말 중요하다고 생각합니다. 그렇게 하기 위해서는 우리 공동체의 모습을 보여주는 것이 가장 큰 효과가 있다고 생각해요. 일반 대중과 나누고 싶은 성 노동의 다른 면들이 있나요? 이건 House of Whoreship 시나리오 작가들과 웹 시리즈 제작을 위해 매주 가지는 워크숍에서 나눴던 대화에서 나온 이야기인데요. 성 노동의 어떤 면을 스크린에서 보여주고 싶은지에 대해서 의논하고 있었는데, 제일 처음 떠오른 건 돈이었어요. 대중의 일반적인 견해에서 보면, 성 노동을 하는건 떼돈을 벌기 때문이라고 생각하거나 아니면 너무 절박하고 돈이 없기 때문이라고 생각해요. 그 중간의 경우들도 있다는 인식이 아예 없어요. 특히 성매매 업소 환경에서는 소득과 관련해서 아주 다양한 견해들이 존재하죠. 아무도 똑같은 시급을 받지 않고, 많은 성 노동자들은 자신이 정한 한계선이나 개인적인 상황에 따라서 다양한 추가 요금을 부과해요. 모두가 서로 경쟁하면서 일하지만, 그럼에도 불구하고 우리가 하나라는 연대 의식과 공동체 의식은 어떤 식으로든 존재해요. 물론 다른 업소들보다 더 경쟁적인 업소들도 있고, 영화 주인공 레지나 조지처럼 백룸에서 뒷담화를 하거나 모욕을 주면서 자신의 사회적 위치를 높이려는 사람들도 항상 있을 거에요. 하지만 제 경험상 그런 사람들은 오래 가지 못하더군요. 저는 '고소득자' 대 '저소득자' 에 대한 표현이나 논의를 둘러싼 문제들이 더 넓은 일반 사회에 존재한다고 생각해요. 저소득자들은 일반인들한테 심문을 당할 수 있고, 고소득자들은 돈이 많은데 왜 성노동을 하냐는 질문을 받아요. 이 문제는 능력주의와 매춘 공포증에 기반을 두고 있기 때문에 우리가 다루어야 할 굉장히 중요한 문제라고 생각해요. 그래야 사람들의 이분법적인 대응을 없앨 수 있을테니까요. 사람들의 사고방식은 두 가지거든요. '너는 더러워', 그게 아니면 '너는 좋겠네, 돈을 많이 벌어서. 하지만 미안한데 너는 여전히 아무 권리가 없어.' 네. 사람들은 성 노동을 직업으로 보기를 거부하거나, 사람들이 특정한 직업을 갖는 이유들을 생각해보고 그걸 성 노동에도 적용하기를 거부하죠. 그 이유가 유연성이 있어서, 근무 시간이 나와 맞아서, 업소 위치가 좋아서, 그리고 이건 항상 간과되는 이유지만 그냥 일 자체가 좋아서일 수도 있잖아요. 왜 그런지 설명할 필요 없이 '오, 나는 실제로 성 노동이 즐거워요'라고 말하는 것이 용인되는 경우는 실제로 거의 없죠. 네, 그리고 설사 즐겁지 않다고 해도 괜찮아요. 고객들이 저한테 이 일을 영원히 계속 할건지, 언제 제대로 된 직업을 구할건지 물어볼 때 저는 '이건 제가 했던 일 중에 최고의 직업이예요'라고 말해요. 뭐 제가 다른 직업을 비하하는건 아니지만, 저는 평생 접객업계와 소매 업계에서도 일을 해봤잖아요. 자영업자가 되고 보니 큰 기업에서 최저 시급을 받으면서 공짜로 추파를 던지는 나이든 흉한 고객들을 상대하며 일할 필요가 없지요. 그런 일이 성노동보다 자존감에 더 도움이 된다고 생각하지도 않아요.

일반 대중과 나누고 싶은 것들에 대해 다시 이야기 해볼게요. 저는 일반 관객들이 성 노동자들의 이야기를 보면서 그것을 공감과 교육에 대한 계기로 삼게 되는 것이 정말 중요하다고 생각합니다. 그렇게 하기 위해서는 우리 공동체의 모습을 보여주는 것이 가장 큰 효과가 있다고 생각해요. 성 노동자의 계급 구조 문제도 다룰만한 중요한 주제예요. 저는 이 업계에 존재하는 동성애적 뉘앙스와 수행성을 보여주고 싶고, 성 노동자들에게 의식을 즐기는 마술사 같은 면이 있다는 것도 탐구해보고 싶어요. 많은 동료들은 일하는 공간에 들어가기 전에 행하는 의식과 그 공간을 나온 후에 행하는 의식이 달라요. 그런 의식이 주는 이 세상 것이 아닌 것 같은 그 느낌을 저는 정말 좋아해요. 솔직히 우리에 대한 표현들이 너무 왜곡되어 있기 때문에 제가 여기서 말할 수 없는 내용들도 굉장히 많아요. 가끔은 모든걸 속시원하게 보여줄 수 있으면 좋겠다는 생각을 하기도 해요 (너무 많은 비밀을 누설하지 않으면서). 아까 언급한 웹 시리즈는 어떤 내용인가요? 그것에 대해서는 이제 막 이야기를 나누기 시작했어요. 참여를 원하는 작가들이 15명 정도 있는데 더 많은 작가들을 참여시키고 싶었던 이유는 협동작업이 더 강력한 결과를 낳는다고 생각하기 때문이예요. 이 영화 대본을 쓰는 과정에서 저는 성 산업내에 존재하는 다양성에 대해서 많이 생각했어요. 수많은 정체성과 그와 관련된 다양한 경험들이 모두 뒤섞여 있는 용광로라고나 할까요. 백인 시스젠더 여성으로서 저는 성 노동 경험의 지극히 작은 부분에 대해서만 말할 수 있어요. 따라서 더 많은 작가들이 참여한다면 더 다양한 표현들이 가능해지고, 그건 우리에게 정말 필요한 부분이예요. 우리가 세운 계획은 성매매 업소에서 일어나는 이야기를 중심으로 4-5개의 에피소드를 제작하는 거예요. 성매매 업소가 스크린에서는 볼 수 없는 경험의 뉘앙스를 탐구할 수 는 최상의 환경이라는 데 모두 동의했거든요. 완전히 새로운 스토리가 될거고, 제 영화의 후속편이 되지는 않겠지만 배경은 똑같이 호주 성매매 업소가 될거예요. 제가 토론토에서 미국인, 캐나다인들과 이야기를 나눴을 때, 모두 그러더군요. ' 오, 성매매업소가 존재한다고요? 그게 아직도 있어요!?’ 정말 열심히 일하고 있군요! 열심히 하고 있어요. 솔직히 거의 매일 저는 이 모든 노동이 결실을 맺을지, 조금이라도 영향을 끼칠지에 대해 고민하곤 해요. 하지만 동료의 작은 응원 메시지 하나가 이 모든 것이 가치있는 일이라는 걸 깨닫게 해주죠. 저는 축복 받은 성 노동자예요. 시스젠더이고 백인이고, 아웃팅을 했고, 가족이나 친구에게 버림 받지도 않았어요. 저는 자원을 가지고 있고, 그 축복받은 자원을 잘 활용해야 한다는 강한 의무감을 느껴요. 저는 우리 공동체가 더 나은 대우를 받았으면 좋겠어요. 영화들이 자행하는 성 노동자에 대한 끝임 없는 왜곡 때문에 제 동료들이 업계 외부에서 종종 당하게 되는 일을 알게 될 때마다 정말 화가 나고 슬퍼요. 그런 영화들에 맞서 싸울 수 있는 사람이 있다면, 그건 바로 저예요. ;)

‘HOUSE OF WHORESHIP’의 장면, 홀리 베이츠, 2022

년 12월 1일부터 인콜 (incall) 서비스가 빅토리아주 에서 합법화 된다는 것을 알고 계셨습니까?

2023

이에 따라 여러분은 처벌에 대한 두려움* 없이 집에서, 예약된 호텔 객 실에서, 또는 여러분의 이름으로 예약한 에 비앤비에서 고객과 만날 수 있게 됩니다. 이 변화 또는 성노동 비범죄화법 2022에 따른 기타 다른 변화에 대한 질문이 있으시면 저희에게 연락해주십시오. *인콜 서비스 제공은 범죄로 규정될 수 없지만, 호텔이나 에 비앤비 호스트들은 사회에 만연한 성노동에 대한 혐오로 인해 성노동자들을 차별하려고 시도할 수 있습니다. 이런 경험을 겪은 뒤 이에 대해 알리고 싶거나 후속 조치를 위한 지원이 필요하다면 저희에게

성노동법 1994 의 폐지는 성노동 사업체에 어떤 의미가 있습니까? 주류 규제 2023년 12월 1일부터 성매매 서비스 업체가 성매매 업소에서 주류를 판매, 공급, 소비하거나 성매매 업소에서 주류가 판매, 공급, 소비되도록 허용하는 행위는 더 이상 범죄로 규정되지 않습니다. 이는 성매매 서비스 업체가 2023년 12월 부터 주류 판매 면허를 신청할 수 있다는 의미입니다. 면허 신청을 하려면 빅토리아주 웹사이트 https://www.vic.gov.au/explore-all-liquor-applicationsand-forms에서 제공하는 사업장 주류 면허 신청 양식을 작성해야 합니다. 신청 시 다음이 필요합니다. 지역 카운슬 플래닝 허가증 영업 시간 확인서 훈련 요건 충족 주류 판매 구역 지정 (red line plan) 최대 수용 인원 확인서 사업장 점유 권리 확인서 신문 광고 사본 신청서를 작성하기 전에, 해당 지역 카운슬에 연락하여 주류 판매, 공급 및 소비와 관련된 플래닝 요건에 대해 문 의해야 합니다. 사업장에서 음란물 엔터 인먼트를 제공할 경우, ‘Sexually Explicit Entertainment on Licensed Premises(유면허 사업장 음란물 엔터 인먼트)' 양식도 작성해야 할 수 있습니다. 잘 모르는 부 이 있다면 Liquor Control Victoria(빅토리아주 주류 규제 기관)에 연락하여 사업체의 필요사항에 대해 문의하십시오.

면허 발급 사업체 면허발급 기관, BLA)이 주관하던 면허 발급 제도는 2023년 12월 부 터 중단됩니다 이 시점 이후 부터 성매매 서비스 제공자 및 업체들은 면허를 발급 받을 필요가 없으며 성매매 업 소 매니저로 일하기 위한 면허도 필요하지 않게 됩니다.

Business Licensing Authority ( .

플래닝 규정 및 성매매 업소 성노동법 1994 제 4조에 명시된 성매매 업소 관련 플레닝 규정은 더 이상 적용되지 않으며, Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) 및 All Planning Schemes에 적용되는 개정사항 VC217이 2023년 12월에 발 효됩니다.

2023년 12월 부터 성매매 업소(brothel)는 성 서비스 업체(sex services premises)로 알려지게 되며, 미용 실 등과 같이 개인적인 서비스를 제공하는 기타 서비스들과 동일하게 취급될 것입니다. 명확하게 제외되는 경우 가 아니라면, 플래닝 체계에서 언급되는 가게나 소매점에 성 서비스 업체도 포함될 것입니다. 더 자세한 정보는 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning(환경, 토지, 수자원 및 플래 닝 부)의 Planning Advisory Note 79 에서 확인할 수 있습니다.

위에 대한 추가 정보를 원하시면 저희에게 연락해 주십시오.

LISTINGS AUSTRALIAN SEX WORKER ORGANISATIONS NATIONAL Scarlet Alliance Australian Sex Workers Assn, 203/1 Erskineville Road, Newtown, NSW 2042 (02) 9517 2577 info@scarletalliance.org.au scarletalliance.org.au ACT SWOP (ACT) Havelock House 85 Northbourne Ave Turner ACT 2612 (02) 6247 3443 meridianact.org.au/swop

Respect Inc Gold Coast Office Level 1/3 Davenport St, Southport, QLD (07) 5564 0929 info@respectqld.org.au Respect Inc Cairns Office 7/24 Florence Street, Cairns QLD 4870 07 4051 5009 info@respectqld.org.au SOUTH AUSTRALIA SA SIN 220 South Road Mile End SA 5031 (08) 8351 7626 info@sin.org.au sin.org.au

TASMANIA Scarlet Alliance Tasmanian Sex NEW SOUTH WALES Worker Project SWOP NSW Outreach Project 319 Liverpool St Hobart 7/110 Botany Rd, Alexandria (03) 6169 9437 NSW 2015 Outreach: 0411 987 417 (02) 9184 9466 Coordinator: 0451 835 897 outreachtas@scarletalliance.org.au SWOP Hunter C/- ACON Hunter VICTORIA 129 Maitland Road RhED PO Box 220 Islington NSW 22-28 Fitzroy St, St Kilda 3182 2296 Free Call: 1800 458 752 hunter@acon.org.au sexworker@sexworker.org.au sexworker.org.au

NORTHERN TERRITORY NT Aids and Hepatitis Council VIXEN 46 Woods Street Corner of Merrifield St & Boase St DARWIN NT 0800 Brunswick 3056 (08) 8944 7777 (03) 9070 9050 1800 624 794 vixen.org.au ntahc.org.au Sex Work Law Reform VIC SWOP NT, Main office PO Box 3071, South Melbourne 46 Woods St, Darwin NT 0801 3205 GPO Box 2826 Darwin NT 0801 Contact@swlrv.org.au (08) 8944 7777 sexworklawreformvictoria.org.au info@ntahc.org.au ntahc.org.au WESTERN AUSTRALIA Centralian office Shop 3 Reg Harris Lane, Todd Mall, Alice Springs 0870 (08) 8953 3172 info@ntahc.org.au QUEENSLAND Respect Inc Brisbane Office 28 Mein Street, Spring Hill QLD 4000 (07) 3835 1111 info@respectqld.org.au respectqld.org.au

Magenta 170 Aberdeen Street Northbridge (08) 9328 1387 PO Box 8054 Perth Business Centre WA 6849 admin@magenta.org.au magenta.org.au SWEAR WA Sex Work Education Advocacy and Rights swear.wa@gmail.com sexworkerrightswa.org.au

NEW ZEALAND PROSTITUTES COLLECTIVE AUCKLAND Unit 3, 2 Canada St Newton 1145, Auckland (09) 366 6106 info@nzpc.org.nz nzpc.org.nz CHRISTCHURCH 157 Waltham Rd (03) 365 2595 DUNEDIN 167 Rattray Street,Dunedin (03) 477 6988 WELLINGTON 202 Willis Street (04) 382 8791

FAMILY VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT 1800 RESPECT National Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Counselling Service Freecall 1800 737 732 1800respect.org.au Safe and Equal (03) 8346 5200 https://safeandequal.org.au/ Sexual Assault Crisis Line Freecall 1800 806 292 Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) House (03) 9635 3610 Intouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence (03) 8413 6800 Freecall 1800 755 988. intouch.org.au Safe Steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Freecall 1800 015 188 safesteps.org.au The Orange Door orangedoor.vic.gov.au

These services have expressed interest in working with sex workers.

Their listing should not be interpreted as RhED’s endorsement of these services.

HEALTH Melbourne Sexual Health Centre 580 Swanston St, Carlton VIC 3053 (03) 9341 6200 Sexual Health Victoria L1/94 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne (03) 9660 4700 Freecall 1800 013 952 Clinic hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sexual Health Victoria 901 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill VIC (03) 9257 0100 Freecall 1800 013 952 Clinic hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Albury Dental and Community Health Centre 596 Smollett St PO Box 503 Albury, NSW 2640 1800 450 046 Barkly St Medical Centre 60 Barkly St St Kilda 3182 (03) 9534 0531 Barwon Health Geelong Hospital Level 3, Cnr Ryrie & Bellerine Sts Geelong 3220 (03) 4215 0000 Sexual health nurses Suzanne and Kate Community health @ GV health 121-135 Corio street Shepparton Tel – 1300 222 582 (option 4) Better Health Network GP Service 341 Coventry St, South Melbourne 240 Malvern Rd, Prahran (03) 9525 1300 Harm Reduction Victoria 299-305 Victoria Street Brunswick 3056 (03) 9329 1500 Pharmacotherapy Support PAMS 1800 443 844 Medical One QV L3/23 QV Terrace 292 Swanston St Melbourne 3000 (03) 8663 7000

Want to be included?

Email: sexworker@sexworker.org.au

Northside Clinic 370 St Georges Road Fitzroy North (03) 9485 7700 northsideclinic.net.au

ACCOMODATION

Thorne Harbour Health (formally VAC) 200 Hoddle St Abbotsford 3067 1800 134 840

Frontyard Youth Service 19 King St, Melbourne (03) 9977 0077

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service 186 Nicholson St Fitzroy 3065 (03) 9419 3000

LGBTIQA+ SUPPORT Equinox Gender Diverse Health Service 200 Hoddle St Abbotsford 3067 03 9416 2889 equinox.org.au

Housing Crisis Support 1800 825 955 – 24hr

Tenants Union of Victoria Tenants help line (03) 9416 2577

FREE CONDOMS & NSP Living Room Central Business District 1800 440 188

Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au 1300 292 153

SUPPLIERS TO THE INDUSTRY

WorkSafe 1800 136 089

Dekes Supplies PTY LTD Safe sex supplies, cleaning products Ricky: 0411 120 362

Job Watch Info Service Line 03 9662 1933 Fair Work 13 13 94 Social Security Rights VIC INC (03) 9481 0355 Fitzroy Town Hall, 201 Napier Street, Fitzroy 3065

Health Works Footscray (03) 9448 5511

MULTICULTURAL AND MIGRANT SUPPORT

Transgender Victoria (TGV) 100 Drummond Street Carlton tgv.org.au

Innerspace 4 Johnston St Collingwood VIC (03) 9448 5530

Queerspace 100 Drummond st, Carlton queerspace.org.au (03) 9663 6733

Medically Supervised Injecting Room 23 Lennox St Richmond, VIC 3121 (03) 9418 9811

Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health 134 Cambridge Street Collingwood (03) 9418 0999 info@mcwh.com.au mcwh.com.au

Q Health Alcohol & Drug Counselling & Support Services qhealth@merrihealth.org.au 1300 637 744 merrihealth.org.au

Mobile Health Outreach Service (MHOS) South East Suburbs 7pm-11pm 0419 204 811

Multicultural Health & Support Service (Centre for Culture, Ethnicity, and Health) 23 Lennox Street Richmond VIC 3121 https://www.ceh.org.au/ enquiries@ceh.org.au

Switchboard (QLife) 1800 184 527 3pm -12am daily switchboard.org.au

Salvation Army St Kilda NSP Crisis Contact Centre 29 Grey St, St Kilda 3182 1800 627 727

Language Loop (03) 9280 1941

Victorian Pride Centre 79-81 Fitzroy st, St Kilda 3182 (03) 7035 3592 pridecentre.org.au

Gippsland Southern Health Service Leongatha Hospital 10 Koonwarra Road (03) 5667 5555

Zoe Belle Gender Centre zbgc.org.au 0467 569 635

LEGAL

Families line: 136 150

Southside Justice (03) 7037 3200 Lawyer will see clients at outreach locations and may provide court representation.

Indigenous call centre: 1800 136 380

Positive Women Suite 1/111 Coventry St Southbank positivewomen.org.au (03) 9863 8747

Fitzroy Legal Service fls.org.au (03) 9419 3744

Self service line: 136 240

WIRE (Women’s Information & Referrals) wire.org.au 1300 134 130

Women’s Legal Service womenslegal.org.au admin@womenslegal.org.au 1800 133 302

WOMEN'S SERVICES

CENTRELINK

Four Seasons Condoms and safer sex supplies (02) 8759 7304 0421 769 052 Joshua@australiantherapeutic.c om Sax Health Care Safe sex supplies 0414 744 705 customerservice@saxhealthcare .com.au saxhealthcare.com.au

OWNERS INDUSTRY SUPPORT EROS The Eros Association: national industry association providing services and advocacy to adultsonly businesses.

(03) 9670 7345 admin@eros.org.au eros.org.au W Albon Australian Adult Entertainment Industry (AAEI) PO Box 7076 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 0418 395 633 albonw@bigpond.com

Employment services: 132 850

Multilingual line: 131 202

Disability, sickness & carers line: 132 717 Emergency information line: 180 22 66 Youth and students line: 132 490

These services have expressed interest in working with sex workers.

Their listing should not be interpreted as RhED’s endorsement of these services.

Vaylira

We’ve removed our brothel listings from the magazine due to the changes brought about by the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022.

Historically, RhED has listed licensed brothels in the back of RED magazine, however the abolishment of the licensing system means there are hundreds more businesses in Victoira where sexual services are legally provided (sex services premises).

If you have feedback about this change please get in touch.

If you would like to access a list of sex services premises that we are updating frequently please visit our website. If you would like to let us know about your business please get in touch.

If you would like to arrange paid advertising for your sex industry business in RED magazine please get in touch with us at sexworker@sexworker.org.au