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Hi everyone,
Quick breakdown of why it's such utter bullshit that celebrities like @sethmeyers are promoting the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, (SESTA).
Perhaps the celebrities will learn something from this too, if they're willing to listen to sex workers.
Hi everyone,
Quick breakdown of why it's such utter bullshit that celebrities like @sethmeyers are promoting the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, (SESTA).
Perhaps the celebrities will learn something from this too, if they're willing to listen to sex workers.
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First you should know - since this seems to be a majorly persuasive point for many reasonable people - that the act is backed by Ted Cruz, John McCain, and Marco Rubio.
These are, as you know, not nice people who care about women's autonomy.
First you should know - since this seems to be a majorly persuasive point for many reasonable people - that the act is backed by Ted Cruz, John McCain, and Marco Rubio.
These are, as you know, not nice people who care about women's autonomy.
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Second, you should know that #SESTA is OPPOSED by most freedom of speech/information groups.
And even groups that you might be surprised were defending sex workers' rights, like the National Organization for Women.
That's because it threatens internet freedom.
Second, you should know that #SESTA is OPPOSED by most freedom of speech/information groups.
And even groups that you might be surprised were defending sex workers' rights, like the National Organization for Women.
That's because it threatens internet freedom.
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Most important to me, of course, is that #SESTA threatens the lives of sex workers. But I want you to know that there are many, many reasons to oppose SESTA (which is now known as FOSTA-SESTA - Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act).
Most important to me, of course, is that #SESTA threatens the lives of sex workers. But I want you to know that there are many, many reasons to oppose SESTA (which is now known as FOSTA-SESTA - Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act).
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The most obvious reason FOSTA-SESTA is such an issue is that it cuts off many sex workers' access to money by limiting their access to clients.
It purports to "crack down on websites that promote sex trafficking"
But in our country, all sex work is conflated with trafficking.
The most obvious reason FOSTA-SESTA is such an issue is that it cuts off many sex workers' access to money by limiting their access to clients.
It purports to "crack down on websites that promote sex trafficking"
But in our country, all sex work is conflated with trafficking.
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That means that, by and large, this act will affect people who are engaged in consensual sex work.
Why?
Because any site that is thought to be connected to sex trafficking can be spied on, taken down, fined, and people involved in it can be subject to criminal investigation.
That means that, by and large, this act will affect people who are engaged in consensual sex work.
Why?
Because any site that is thought to be connected to sex trafficking can be spied on, taken down, fined, and people involved in it can be subject to criminal investigation.
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So let's state that again: ANY SITE THAT IS THOUGHT TO BE RELATED TO SEX TRAFFICKING in a country that increasingly conflates trafficking with consensual sex work - which comprises the majority of sex work - can be shut down.
So let's state that again: ANY SITE THAT IS THOUGHT TO BE RELATED TO SEX TRAFFICKING in a country that increasingly conflates trafficking with consensual sex work - which comprises the majority of sex work - can be shut down.
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That includes porn sites, by the way.
If there's suspicion that any performer has been trafficked or is on another site that is thought to enable trafficking.
That includes porn sites, by the way.
If there's suspicion that any performer has been trafficked or is on another site that is thought to enable trafficking.
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That definitely includes cam sites.
It definitely includes escorting sites.
That definitely includes cam sites.
It definitely includes escorting sites.
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For sex workers, this is about our access to making a living.
But for everyone, this is also about supporting a free internet.
Which is why so many tech companies oppose it.
For once, these tech companies, with their overlaying financial interests, are in the right.
For sex workers, this is about our access to making a living.
But for everyone, this is also about supporting a free internet.
Which is why so many tech companies oppose it.
For once, these tech companies, with their overlaying financial interests, are in the right.
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When sex workers don't have easy access to a variety of clients, it is harder for them to turn down or screen clients or to have in-community discussions about what clients are safe.
This results - as is confirmed by Amnesty International - in violence against sex workers.
When sex workers don't have easy access to a variety of clients, it is harder for them to turn down or screen clients or to have in-community discussions about what clients are safe.
This results - as is confirmed by Amnesty International - in violence against sex workers.
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And there are already ample laws in place to combat human trafficking specifically, without overreach. And if the laws need refinement, they can be refined without all this baggage, brought to the table by Republicans.
And there are already ample laws in place to combat human trafficking specifically, without overreach. And if the laws need refinement, they can be refined without all this baggage, brought to the table by Republicans.
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You should also know that this is an attempt by Republicans to target tech-heavy cities because they are sanctuary cities for immigrants.
Cities that harbor immigrants against ICE, etc, have tech-dependent economies which the government wants to gain power over.
You should also know that this is an attempt by Republicans to target tech-heavy cities because they are sanctuary cities for immigrants.
Cities that harbor immigrants against ICE, etc, have tech-dependent economies which the government wants to gain power over.
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These cities - however complicated their internal politics are - represent internet freedom and freedom for immigrants to the federal government.
FOSTA-SESTA means immigration will be framed as trafficking, punishable by attacking a city's economic foundation.
These cities - however complicated their internal politics are - represent internet freedom and freedom for immigrants to the federal government.
FOSTA-SESTA means immigration will be framed as trafficking, punishable by attacking a city's economic foundation.
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In short, here's what FOSTA-SESTA does:
• endangers sex workers' lives, (read: women's lives) particularly people with LGBT identities
• curtails internet freedom
• threatens pornography
• threatens immigrants
• empowers the GOP
In short, here's what FOSTA-SESTA does:
• endangers sex workers' lives, (read: women's lives) particularly people with LGBT identities
• curtails internet freedom
• threatens pornography
• threatens immigrants
• empowers the GOP
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So resist #StopFOSTA #NoSESTA. Don't listen to people like @sethmeyers, who is either blatantly anti-sex worker or genuinely uninformed.
Listen to sex workers, @Amnesty, @apacsocial, @melissagira @ENBrown, @NationalNOW, @fscarmy, @FreedomofPress and more.
Resist this insanity.
So resist #StopFOSTA #NoSESTA. Don't listen to people like @sethmeyers, who is either blatantly anti-sex worker or genuinely uninformed.
Listen to sex workers, @Amnesty, @apacsocial, @melissagira @ENBrown, @NationalNOW, @fscarmy, @FreedomofPress and more.
Resist this insanity.
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Here's how: Go here. Fill out the form.
Two minutes.
You're done.
act.eff.org/action/stop-fo…
And also, share this thread if you think it will help.
Here's how: Go here. Fill out the form.
Two minutes.
You're done.
act.eff.org/action/stop-fo…
And also, share this thread if you think it will help.
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