Sex Worker/Teacher Discrimination

It was most upsetting to see the story tonight on the Sex Worker\Teacher. I feel deeply for that poor woman who you let ignorant people paint as a woman of undesirable character, a woman of menace and threat to their children. How absurd!

Unfortunately it may not be newsworthy enough by your standards to report the QLD Dept of Education has breached the QLD Anti Discrimination Act ’91 which clearly states that: Discrimination prohibited by this Act includes discrimination against a person engaging in ‘lawful sexual activity’.

By requesting she cease her sex working activity this is precisely what the QLD Dept of Ed has done. Two of the QLD Parliaments reasons for enacting this Act are:

1. The International Community has long recognized the need to protect and preserve the principles of dignity and equality for everyone.
2. This is reflected in a number of International human rights instruments that the Commonwealth has ratified, including-

• The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political rights.

Your program effectively supports and condones discrimination, victimisation and vilification of a woman engaging in a lawful sexual activity.

What also concerns me is how you are seen to support the clients’ unacceptable behaviour. For a program that builds itself on judgment it is highly inappropriate to place the judgment entirely upon her- particularly with regard to her character and how parents would feel knowing her "secret" occupation - of choice. You showed comments on what parents thought of having one of “those” people in a teaching capacity. I wonder what comments you would receive if you had asked those same parents how they would feel about a male teacher being a client of sex workers. (I hear hysterical parents cry, "Oh, what about the children?" "Paedophile"!) Would he then be referred to by the ignorant as on of “those” people, too? A potential perpetrator of sexual abuse and assault upon minors? However, I wouldn’t support or condone vilification and victimisation of a client either but where is the accountability towards his morally corrupt behaviour?

So, it’s ok to be a client of a sex worker but it’s not ok to be a sex worker?! Or it’s ok to be a sex worker but only if you are not involved with children of any age? To promote these veneer-thin double-standards is appalling. I would ask you to really consider the implications and devastating consequences that such a report could bring. Which, it has.

On a final note, with teachers’ wages the way they are it’s no wonder she took a second job!

For more information:

• Today Tonight Feedback Page link here
• Scarlet Alliance media release on the issue link here
• Susan Booth, Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, comments link here

This review was submitted fo the Scarlet Alliance website from Thomas. Many thanks!