On SXSW & Marylène Levesque

This week, we're thrilled to announce that Modern Whore, our short film based on the book about my lived experience as a sex worker, will enjoy its World Premiere at SXSW 2020! Hurray!

Another thing happened this week. I was invited to speak about Modern Whore on local live talk radio, but mostly in response to a now-viral exchange between Canadian NDP MP Laurel Collins and Conservative MP Arnold Vierson. In the clip, Ms. Collins asks the MP to consider "listening to the voices of sex workers." Mr. Vierson responds by asking if she's ever "considered" sex work, and if that would be "appropriate."

While the awkward exchange inspired ire and a lame apology from the Conservative MP, what didn't go viral was the context: Ms. Collins was condemning a recent decision made by the Parole Board of Canada to grant a convicted woman-killer day parole to meet with women to satisfy his "sexual needs." This negligence led to the murder of a 22-year-old escort named Marylène Levesque in Quebec City last month. 

In my interview with Jim Richards on NewsTalk1010, neither of us discussed Marylène. I did, however, talk about the necessity of sex work decriminalization as the only true way to fight sex trafficking and exploitation. That a sex worker isn't going to report crimes perpetrated against her or anyone else if she's also afraid of being arrested, or outed, or discriminated against herself. That only when the consensual exchange of sexual services for money is no longer a crime, can we fully address exploitation in the sex industry. 

But I didn't talk about Marylène.

Listen to the conversation here: 

This week, I'm reflecting on the fact that I got to speak out and tell my story because a young sex worker was murdered. Hell, I'm even going to a prestigious film festival in Austin, Texas to share my story on screen with a wide, receptive audience.

Marylène Levesque will never have that opportunity.

The justice system that allowed a woman-killer day parole to specifically satisfy his sexual needs is misogynist and whorephobic to its core. The Parole Board of Canada, and by extension, the Canadian government, has deemed sex worker lives expendable targets of male violence. 

We need to listen to the voices of sex workers now -- before we write their eulogies.