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[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
AND LOOK: IT'S CLEARLY BEEN A
VERY BUSY WEEK, BECAUSE WE DON'T
EVEN HAVE TIME TO GET INTO THE
FACT THAT KETANJI BROWN JACKSON
BECAME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN
NOMINATED TO THE SUPREME COURT
OR THAT THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS
DECIDED TO TARGET TRANS CHILDREN
AND THEIR PARENTS FOR
NO FUCKING REASON WHATSOEVER.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE TO
BEGIN TONIGHT WITH UKRAINE.
IT'S THE STORY YOU'VE EITHER
BEEN PERSISTENTLY AVOIDING
BECAUSE IT'S STRESSING YOU OUT
OR THAT YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING
OBSESSIVELY FOR THE EXACT SAME
REASON.
AS WE'RE ALL NOW PAINFULLY
AWARE, VLADIMIR PUTIN,
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
AND WORLD WAR III EDGELORD,
BEGAN AN ASSAULT ON
THE SECOND-LARGEST COUNTRY IN
EUROPE, SHELLING SEVERAL CITIES
AND SENDING TROOPS ACROSS THE
BORDER.
IT HAS BEEN HORRIFYING TO WATCH,
AND CNN, DURING ITS COVERAGE
OF AIR RAID SIRENS IN KYIV,
SOMEHOW FOUND A WAY TO MAKE IT
EVEN WORSE, WITH THIS TERRIBLE
TRANSITION TO BREAK.
[AIR RAID SIRENS BLARING]
♪ ♪
>> ♪ A LITTLE BIT OF ♪
♪ CHICKEN FRIED ♪
♪ COLD BEER ON A FRIDAY NIGHT ♪
♪ A PAIR OF JEANS ♪
♪ THAT FIT JUST RIGHT ♪
♪ AND THE RADIO UP ♪
>> GET FIVE BONELESS WINGS WITH
ANY HANDCRAFTED BURGER.
>> John: IT'S NOT GREAT, IS IT?
IT'S NOT JUST THAT IT CUT TO
A COMMERCIAL FOR A RESTAURANT
CHAIN WHOSE FOOD CAN ONLY BE
DESCRIBED AS "SOMETIMES WARM."
IT'S JUST SO AGGRESSIVELY
AMERICAN.
FROM THE COUNTRY SONG THAT
THINKS LISTING FOOD COUNTS AS
LYRICS ALL THE WAY TO THIS HUMAN
BOOT BARN SHAKING HIS
NON-EXISTENT ASS.
APPLEBEE'S ACTUALLY PUT OUT A
STATEMENT AFTERWARD APOLOGIZING,
SAYING, "WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE SITUATION IN
UKRAINE.
THE AD NEVER SHOULD HAVE AIRED,
AND WE ARE DISAPPOINTED IN THE
ACTIONS OF THE NETWORK."
AND THAT'S SOME DEFT
INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY FROM THE
HOME OF BOTH THE GRILLED
"ORIENTAL" CHICKEN SALAD AND THE
"TIPSY" LEPRECHAUN.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN APPLEBEE'S IS
APOLOGIZING FOR INTERRUPTING THE
COVERAGE OF RUSSIA INVADING
UKRAINE, THIS WEEK GOT SERIOUSLY
OUT OF HAND.
CONDEMNATION OF PUTIN'S INVASION
HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD FROM THE
U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL,
THE POPE,
AND EVEN GEORGE W. BUSH, WHO
STATED "I JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY IN CONDEMNING PUTIN'S
UNPROVOKED AND UNJUSTIFIED
INVASION OF UKRAINE."
AND HOLD ON --
NOT FROM YOU.
YOU ARE NOT THE GUY
FOR THIS ONE.
BECAUSE THAT STATEMENT ONLY
WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE IF IT
ENDED WITH "OH, SHIT,
NOW I HEAR IT.
SORRY.
I'LL SHUT THE FUCK UP NOW."
NOW, FOR THE TIME BEING, INSTEAD
OF PUTTING TROOPS ON THE GROUND,
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE
ANNOUNCED A FLURRY OF SANCTIONS
ON RUSSIA.
BUT PUTIN SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN
THAT INTO ACCOUNT, BECAUSE IN
THE EIGHT YEARS SINCE INVADING
CRIMEA, HE'S TAKEN STEPS TO
BLUNT THEIR IMPACT, BY
RESTRUCTURING RUSSIA'S ECONOMY
FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF
WITHSTANDING WESTERN FINANCIAL
PRESSURE.
IT'S JUST ONE OF MANY WAYS IN
WHICH -- AS SHOCKING AS THE
SPEED OF THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
MAY HAVE BEEN -- THEY WERE
ACTUALLY DEPRESSINGLY
PREDICTABLE.
PUTIN'S BEEN LAYING THE
GROUNDWORK FOR THIS FOR YEARS.
STATE MEDIA HAS LONG PUSHED FAKE
STORIES OF UKRAINIAN BRUTALITY,
INCLUDING AT ONE POINT,
ALLEGING THAT THE UKRAINIAN
MILITARY HAD TORTURED AND THEN
CRUCIFIED A THREE-YEAR-OLD,
A CLAIM FOR WHICH NO ONE COULD
TURN UP ANY EVIDENCE.
AND THAT'S JUST ONE INCIDENT OF
MANY.
JUST THIS YEAR, RUSSIAN STATE
MEDIA HAS BEEN AIRING "FALSE
FLAG" VIDEOS TO TRY AND BUILD
A PRETEXT FOR AN INVASION --
SOME OF WHICH WERE PRETTY
SLOPPILY PUT TOGETHER.
>> ON FEBRUARY 18, PRO-RUSSIAN
SEPARATISTS RELEASED A VIDEO
SHOWING A GUN BATTLE IN THE
FOREST.
"ABC NEWS" CONFIRMS IT APPEARS
TO BE CREATED ON FEBRUARY 8,
THAT'S TEN DAYS EARLIER THAN THE
ALLEGED ATTACK.
FURTHER ANALYSIS INDICATES SOME
OF THE EXPLOSIONS IN THE VIDEO
WERE ACTUALLY TAKEN FROM A 2010
DEFENSE FORCES TRAINING VIDEO.
>> John: OH, COME ON, RUSSIA.
YOU'RE STEALING EXPLOSIONS FROM
FINNISH DEFENSE FORCES?
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE
TROUBLE OF FAKING FOOTAGE,
AT LEAST PUT SOME EFFORT IN.
STEAL THE WHOLE THING AND THROW
IN SOME T-REXES IN
FROM JURASSIC PARK TOO.
HAVE FUN WITH YOUR LIES AS
YOU'RE DRAGGING THE CONTINENT
INTO POINTLESS WAR.
THE POINT IS, THIS HAS BEEN IN
THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME.
YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD PUTIN FRAME
THE INVASION AS THE
"DENAZIFICATION" OF UKRAINE,
AND THOUGHT,
"HOLD ON, THAT'S A WEIRD THING
TO SAY."
BUT HE'S BEEN MAKING THAT
BULLSHIT CASE FOR YEARS, DESPITE
THE FACT UKRAINE'S CURRENT
PRESIDENT IS BOTH JEWISH AND
HAD FAMILY MEMBERS DIE IN THE
HOLOCAUST.
AND I DON'T WANT TO PLAY "WHO'S
THE BIGGEST NAZI" HERE BUT
BETWEEN ZELENSKY AND PUTIN,
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WHO IS
MORE LIKE HITLER, I'M GOING TO
GO WITH
THE ETHNO-NATIONALIST
DESPOT INVADING SOVEREIGN
EUROPEAN TERRITORY AND WHO'S
ALSO A TERRIBLE FUCKING PAINTER.
PUTIN HAS DOGGEDLY PURSUED THIS
AND HASN'T SEEMED TO WANT TO
HEAR ANY ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT.
THIS WEEK BEGAN WHEN PUTIN
OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED THESE TWO
REGIONS IN UKRAINE AS
INDEPENDENT, WHICH SET
THE INVASION IN MOTION.
AND IN A SECURITY COUNCIL
MEETING AT THE KREMLIN ON
MONDAY, JUST WATCH HOW HE
DRESSED DOWN HIS OWN SPY CHIEF
AFTER THE MAN SUGGESTED MAYBE
TRYING DIPLOMACY ONE LAST TIME.
>> Interpreter:
>> John: WOW.
PUTIN IS A LOT OF THINGS.
HE'S AN AUTOCRAT, A TYRANT,
A WARMONGER --
BUT HE'S ALSO...
KIND OF A HUGE BITCH.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THAT GUY
HE CLEARLY FORGOT THE BEST
STRATEGY FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING IN
RUSSIA, WHICH IS JUST IMAGINE
THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE IN THEIR
UNDERWEAR AND VLADIMIR PUTIN
POINTING A PISTOL AT YOUR HEAD.
IT REALLY FOCUSES THE MIND.
LOOK, WHAT RUSSIA IS DOING IN
UKRAINE IS COMPLETELY
INDEFENSIBLE.
EVEN PUTIN ALLIES LIKE HUNGARIAN
PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN ARE
COMING OUT AGAINST IT.
YOU CANNOT MAKE A CASE FOR
WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND WHEN YOU EVEN TRY --
AS RUSSIA'S AMBASSADOR
TO IRELAND DID --
IT JUST SOUNDS RIDICULOUS.
>> IT'S NOT OUR CHOICE.
THE MILITARY OPTION IS NOT OUR
CHOICE.
>> SERVER, YOUR FORCES HAVE
INVADED A SOVEREIGN NATION.
IT ABSOLUTELY WAS YOUR CHOICE.
>> IT WAS NOT A PREFERABLE
CHOICE.
>> WHY SHOULD OUR GOVERNMENT AND
ENTERTAIN YOUR PRESENCE HERE?
>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
YOUR GOVERNMENT, IT'S UP TO
THEM.
>> John: WOW.
HE JUST ASKED YOU WHY IRELAND
SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO STAY THERE
AS AN APOLOGIST FOR SLAUGHTER,
AND YOU SAID, "GOOD QUESTION."
THAT REALLY DIDN'T SEEM LIKE A
GOTCHA QUESTION AND YET SOMEHOW,
YOU JUST GOT GOT.
IT'S A GOOD REMINDER THAT
IRELAND, IN ADDITION TO BEING
KNOWN FOR EYE-SHATTERINGLY
BEAUTIFUL MEADOWS AND
FREE-FLOWING SHEEP, IS ALSO
KNOWN FOR TAKING ABSOLUTELY ZERO
SHIT FROM OCCUPYING ARMIES.
BELIEVE ME.
AND IT'S NOTABLE THAT DESPITE
ALL THE ANTI-UKRAINE PROPAGANDA
THAT PUTIN'S PUSHED ON HIS
PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS AND THE
FACT HE SO FIERCELY CRACKS DOWN
ON DISSENT -- THERE HAVE STILL
BEEN MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS
AGAINST THE WAR IN MAJOR RUSSIAN
CITIES THIS WEEK.
AND THE FACT IS THAT FOR MANY
RUSSIANS, THIS IS A
HEARTBREAKING SITUATION.
>> IT HURTS BECAUSE IT'S OUR
FRIENDS, OUR RELATIVES.
>> I'M SORRY.
I JUST CAN'T HELP CRYING.
>> I THINK THAT MOST OF RUSSIANS
DON'T SUPPORT THIS.
IT'S HORRIBLE.
>> Interpreter: I FEEL SORRY
FOR PEOPLE THERE.
I FEEL SORRY FOR US.
>> I DON'T LIKE IT AND I DON'T
WANTED TO BE LIKE THAT AT ALL.
>> DO YOU KNOW PEOPLE IN
UKRAINE?
>> YEAH, I AM ACTUALLY IN LOVE
WITH ONE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
IT'S A TRAGEDY.
>> John: YEAH, IT IS.
THIS WHOLE THING IS A TRAGEDY.
NO LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP
SHOULD HAVE TO END BECAUSE OF
A LAND WAR IN EUROPE.
WE ALL KNOW THEY SHOULD ONLY
END THE WAY ALL LONG-DISTANCE
RELATIONSHIPS DO:
EVENTUALLY.
AS FOR UKRAINIANS, THEY ARE
RESISTING HARD.
VIDEOS HAVE MADE THE ROUNDS LIKE
THIS ONE OF A WOMAN OFFERING
RUSSIAN SOLDIERS
SUNFLOWER SEEDS --
THE SEEDS OF UKRAINE'S
NATIONAL FLOWER.
>> THERE ARE DEEP SIGNS OF
DEFIANCE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNWILLING TO
YIELD.
THIS WOMAN CONFRONTED HEAVILY
ARMED RUSSIAN SOLDIERS.
>> John: GOOD FOR HER.
GOOD FOR HER.
LET'S JUST RECOGNIZE FOR A
SECOND HOW ICE-COLD THAT INSULT
IS.
"TAKE THESE SEEDS AND PUT THEM
IN YOUR POCKET SO SUNFLOWERS
WILL GROW WHEN YOU DIE."
THAT IS FUCKING BRUTAL.
THAT WOMAN BROUGHT SEEDS TO
A GUNFIGHT AND SOMEHOW STILL
COMFORTABLY WON.
SO, LOOK, I KNOW
IN KNOW THAT THIS IS ALL
TOUGH TO WATCH.
AND RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AS
WE'RE TAPING THIS ON SATURDAY,
I HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS THAN
ANSWERS.
QUESTIONS LIKE, "WHAT ARE THE
DAYS AHEAD GOING TO BRING?"
"CAN UKRAINE POSSIBLY SURVIVE
THIS?"
AND "WHAT FORM MIGHT THAT
SURVIVAL EVEN TAKE?"
BUT I WILL SAY: THE ACTS OF
SELFLESSNESS AND BRAVERY ON
DISPLAY THIS WEEK HAVE OFFERED A
SMALL GLIMMER OF HOPE, AS HAS
THE EXTENT OF GLOBAL
CONDEMNATION FOR WHAT PUTIN IS
DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND WHEN YOU PUT IT TOGETHER,
IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU WONDER:
AFTER COMMITTING A BARBARIC
CRIMINAL ACT SUCH AS THIS, HOW
CAN PUTIN POSSIBLY EXPECT THE
WORLD OR THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE,
TO RESPECT OR SUPPORT HIM
EVER AGAIN?
I DON'T KNOW, BUT IF I MAY
PARAPHRASE HIS OWN AMBASSADOR --
IT'S A GOOD FUCKING QUESTION.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW A LOOK
BACK AT NOTABLE MOMENTS IN
HISTORY.
>> TONIGHT I CAN REPORT TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TO THE WORLD
THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS
CONDUCTED AN OPERATION THAT
KILLED OSAMA BIN LADEN.
>> ♪ A LITTLE BIT OF ♪
♪ CHICKEN FRIED ♪
♪ COLD BEER ON A FRIDAY NIGHT ♪
>> FROM DALLAS, TEXAS, THE FLASH
APPARENTLY OFFICIAL.
PRESIDENT KENNEDY DIED AT
1:00 P.M. CENTRAL STANDARD TIME.
>> ♪ A LITTLE BIT OF ♪
♪ CHICKEN FRIED ♪
♪ COLD BEER ON A FRIDAY NIGHT ♪
>> WE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT
O.J. SIMPSON.
>> DIANE OUT PRINCESS OF HAS
DIED.
>> THE HUMANITY!
>> SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE
JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG.
>> ♪ A PAIR OF JEANS ♪
♪ THAT FIT JUST RIGHT ♪
♪ AND THE RADIO UP ♪
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNED
SEX.
THE THING THAT THE CUTE LITTLE
BIRD OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW IS
CONSTANTLY SCREAMING ABOUT.
IT'S TRUE!
IT'S YELLING "SEX, SEX!
I'M HORNY!
WHO WANTS SEX?"
JUST REMEMBER THAT, AS YOUR
GRANDMOTHER'S GAZING PEACEFULLY
AT IT.
SEX IS A TOPIC THAT,
HISTORICALLY, WE'VE NOT BEEN
VERY GOOD AT TALKING ABOUT.
>> YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
>> NO, WHAT.
>> I HAD A WET DREAM LAST NIGHT.
>> WHAT'S THAT?
>> SPERM COMES OUT OF YOUR PENI
PENIS.
>> John: HOLD ON.
YOU ARE NOT HIS BROTHER?
WHAT THE FUCK!
THEN WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
SPERM WITH SOME RANDOM KID?
FEELS LIKE THE MAIN TAKEAWAY
FROM THAT VIDEO SHOULD BE TO
STAY AWAY FROM CREEPY TEENAGERS
WHO LIKE TO CHAT UP NEIGHBORHOOD
TWEENS ABOUT THEIR WET PENIS.
SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT SEX WORK.
AND THE CONCEPT IS SIMPLE.
LET'S SAY YOU HAVE SEX,
ANY KIND --
MISSIONARY, DOGGIE, COWGIRL,
COWBOY, THE EAGLE,
THE WHEELBARROW, THE WILD
CHINCOTEAGUE PONY,
THE JERRY SEINFELD,
THE PICK ME UP,
THE PUT ME DOWN,
MOUTH BUTT, BUTT MOUTH,
MOUTH MOUTH BUTT BUTT,
BUTT BUTT MOUTH BUTT --
WHATEVER.
BUT THEN THAT'S IT.
YOU GO HOME.
IT'S FINE, RIGHT?
IT'S FINE.
BUT LET'S SAY YOU HAVE SEX, BUT
AFTERWARDS, YOU GET MONEY OR A
CHOCOLATE BAR OR ONE OF THOSE
PARTICIPATION TROPHIES.
WAY BETTER, RIGHT?
WELL, TOO BAD, IT'S ILLEGAL.
VERY BASICALLY, SEX WORK IS THE
EXCHANGE OF SEX FOR MONEY OR
GOODS, AND IN THE UNITED STATES,
A COMPLICATED PATCHWORK OF
LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAWS
MAKES THAT ACT ILLEGAL
EVERYWHERE EXCEPT FOR A FEW
COUNTIES IN NEVADA.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING, "WAIT.
HOLD ON.
DIDN'T DONALD SUTHERLAND
AND JULIE CHRISTIE HAVE SEX FOR
REAL IN 'DON'T LOOK NOW' AND
ALSO GET PAID AT LEAST SCALE?
WOULDN'T THAT BE ILLEGAL?"
THE ANSWER IS ONE, YES, I ALSO
BELIEVE THAT RUMOR, GREAT
REFERENCE, AND TWO, THAT'S
ACTUALLY LEGAL BECAUSE OF THE
PRESENCE OF THE CAMERA, MAKING
IT AN ART FILM, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS PORN AND, THUS,
LEGALLY COVERED AS PART OF FREE
SPEECH.
SO BASICALLY, CONSENSUAL SEX
FOR MONEY ON CAMERA IS LEGAL
PORN AND CONSENSUAL SEX FOR
MONEY OFF CAMERA
IS ILLEGAL SEX WORK.
MAKES SENSE, RIGHT?
WRONG?
WELL, EXACTLY.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THE WAY WE
REGULATE SEX WORK IN THIS
COUNTRY IS CONFUSING AND
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT,
IT'S OFTEN EITHER DEMONIZING,
PATRONIZING,
OR JUST PLAIN WRONG.
AND IN SOME CASES,
ALL THREE AT ONCE.
>> IT WAS ONCE CALLED THE
WORLD'S OLDEST PROFESSION.
,, CALL GIRL, HOOKER, WHORE.
MOST ARE REALLY VICTIMS.
PEOPLE BEING TRAFFIC.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THEY'RE
ACTUALLY NOT, FOR REASONS WE'LL
GET INTO LATER.
BUT SETTING THAT ASIDE, IF
YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
SOMEONE, MAYBE DON'T START THE
SENTENCE BY INSULTING THEM.
IT'S LIKE SAYING, "YOU KNOW HIM
AS A DICKHEAD.
A FUCK WEASEL.
A STINGY, UNLIKEABLE BITCH.
AND TODAY, AT HIS FUNERAL,
WE REMEMBER UNCLE TODD."
BECAUSE AS LONG AS SEX WORK HAS
EXISTED, SO HAVE EFFORTS
TO STOP IT.
AND IT COMES IN MANY FORMS, FROM
PEOPLE WHO OBJECT TO IT ON MORAL
GROUNDS, TO THOSE WHO ASSOCIATE
IT WITH CRIME, TO THOSE WHO WANT
THE PRACTICE PERMANENTLY ENDED,
AS THEY BELIEVE ALL SEX WORK IS
EXPLOITATION AND ABSOLUTELY
CANNOT BE DONE CONSENSUALLY.
BUT A HUMAN HISTORY'S WORTH OF
SHITTY LAWS HASN'T CHANGED THE
FACT THAT ONE, SEX WORK HAS
ALWAYS BEEN PART OF SOCIETY,
APPEALING TO EVERY INTEREST AND
EVERY KIND OF CLIENTELE.
AND TWO, SEX WORKERS ARE NOT
A MONOLITH.
PEOPLE FROM A VARIETY OF
BACKGROUNDS DO IT FOR A VARIETY
OF REASONS.
AND THE FACT IS, OUR CURRENT
SYSTEM OF CRIMINALIZING THE
TRADE AND DRIVING EVERYONE
UNDERGROUND IS ACTUALLY ONLY
MAKING LIFE HARDER FOR THE MOST
VULNERABLE INVOLVED.
AND GIVEN THAT SEX WORKERS
ARE -- AND THIS IS TRUE --
PEOPLE WITH THOUGHTS ABOUT
THEIR OWN FUCKING SITUATION,
WE THOUGHT TONIGHT,
WE'D ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THEM.
AND LET'S START WITH THE FACT
THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE
A PIECE ABOUT MORALITY.
YOU MIGHT WELL THINK PEOPLE
SHOULD ONLY HAVE SEX DURING A
FULL MOON, WEARING A THREE-PIECE
SUIT, AND EXCLUSIVELY WITH THEIR
COMMON-LAW HORSE.
THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS.
THIS STORY IS GOING TO BE ABOUT
THE FACT THAT SEX WORK IS,
INARGUABLY, LABOR.
IT IS A JOB.
AND PEOPLE DO IT FOR THE SAME
REASONS PEOPLE DO ANY JOB, AS
THIS ADVOCATE EXPLAINS.
>> 'S EXPERT IS INHERENTLY WORK.
IT'S HOW PEOPLE FEED THEIR
FAMILIES.
IT'S HOW PEOPLE PUT CLOTHES ON
THEIR BACK.
IT'S HOW PEOPLE SURVIVE.
I HAVE BEEN A SEX WORKER.
I HAVE BEEN A LAWYER.
I SERVED SANDWICHES AT SUBWAY.
I FOLDED CLOSE AT ABERCROMBIE.
>> John: YEAH, IT'S ALL WORK.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEX
WORK AND WORKING AT A SUBWAY IS
THAT AT LEAST IN SEX WORK, YOU
ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THE
CUSTOMER'S EATING.
AND YET SOME PEOPLE FEEL HIGHLY
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA THAT
SEX WORK IS LABOR AND SHOULD BE
TREATED AS SUCH.
JUST WATCH A NEW YORK STATE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER STRUGGLE TO EVEN
GET HIS HEAD AROUND IT.
>> WE HAVE GOT HOOKERS ROAMING
THE CAPITAL LOBBYING TO BE
LEGALIZED.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE.
THEY ARE LOBBYING.
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH
INSURANCE, FAIR WAGES.
ALL THE THINGS THAT COME WITH
IT.
THIS IS -- THIS HAS REALLY
GOTTEN OUT OF HAND.
>> John: CAN YOU IMAGINE!
AN ORGANIZED GROUP OF CITIZENS!
LOBBYING THEIR STATE GOVERNMENT
FOR ACCESS TO BASIC HUMAN
RIGHTS!
THIS HAS GOTTEN OUT OF HAND.
NOW IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I HAVE
TO CONTINUE STYLING MY HAIR LIKE
A FAMOUSLY RACIST CARTOON.
NOW, PART OF HIS RELUCTANCE IS
PROBABLY HIS GENERAL DICK VIBE,
BUT IT ALSO POINTS TO SOMETHING
MUCH BIGGER.
AND THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THAT,
AS THAT ANCHOR SAID, "MOST SEX
WORKERS ARE VICTIMS," AND WHAT
THEY NEED IS SOMEONE TO STEP IN
AND SAVE THEM.
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST GROUPS
THAT LOVES TO DO THAT IS THE
POLICE, WHO OFTEN POSITION
THEMSELVES AS SAVIORS FOR SEX
WORKERS, EVEN AS THEY ARE
ARRESTING AND JAILING THEM.
>> I HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS
SURVIVORS THAT SAY IT SAVED
THEIR LIFE, BEING ARRESTED.
WE OPEN THE DOOR FOR HELP AND IF
WE DON'T DO THAT, WHO'S GOING TO
DO IT?
IF I DON'T OFFER THEM HELP, WHO
IS GOING TO?
NO ONE.
>> John: WELL, HOLD ON.
FIRST, IF IT'S TRUE NO ONE ELSE
IS GOING TO HELP THEM, THEN
YOU'RE POINTING AT A GIGANTIC
PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
BECAUSE ARRESTING SOMEONE ISN'T
USUALLY CONSIDERED THE BEST WAY
OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE.
THAT'S WHY THERE ISN'T
A "THANK YOU" SECTION
IN HALLMARK CALLED
"FOR YOUR ARRESTING OFFICER."
BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN ALL
AGREE IF THERE ARE PEOPLE DOING
SEX WORK WHO DON'T WANT TO BE
DOING IT, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY
BE AIDING THEIR TRANSITION OUT
OF THAT SITUATION.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE
DOING THAT RIGHT NOW?
BECAUSE LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF
THE METHODS POLICE USE IN
DEALING WITH SEX WORKERS --
WHICH CAN BE TRAUMATIZING,
INVASIVE, AND OCCASIONALLY
UNBELIEVABLY CRUEL, LIKE THIS
UNDERCOVER STING FROM AN EPISODE
OF "COPS."
>> HOW ABOUT A LITTLE CLOWN
ACTION?
>> SURVEILLANCE UNIT, SHE IS
GETTING IN THE VAN.
YOU?
>> AS A MATTER OF FACT.
>> WE ARE NOT DOING NOTHING.
WE ARE NOT DOING NOTHING.
>> PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR
BACK.
YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK.
>> John: ONLY ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE ENDED UP IN HANDCUFFS AND
IT SOMEHOW WASN'T THE GUY WHO
SAID "HOW ABOUT SOME CLOWN
ACTION"
BEFORE JIZZING SILLY STRING.
AND LISTEN: THIS IS NOT THE
MOST IMPORTANT POINT -- IN
FACT, IT'S ARGUABLY THE LEAST --
BUT THAT'S NOT A CLOWN HAT,
IT'S A "CAT IN THE HAT" HAT.
AND I WILL ADMIT I'M NOT AN
EXPERT ON CLOWN ATTIRE FOR
PROSTITUTION STINGS.
BUT I KNOW A HAT MISTAKE WHEN I
SEE ONE, AND THAT -- LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN -- IS A HAT MISTAKE.
SO IT'S NO WONDER MANY SEX
WORKERS HAVE TROUBLE REGARDING
THE POLICE AS THEIR SAVIORS --
ESPECIALLY AS COPS HAVE A
REPUTATION FOR ACTING VIOLENTLY
OR INAPPROPRIATELY DURING
STINGS.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IN
ARIZONA, FEDERAL AGENTS
ALLEGEDLY ENGAGED IN 17 SEXUAL
ENCOUNTERS WITH WOMEN WORKING IN
MASSAGE PARLORS, AS PART OF AN
INVESTIGATION DISGUSTINGLY
CODENAMED "OPERATION ASIAN
TOUCH."
AND THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON,
BECAUSE IN MANY STATES, IT IS
NOT SPECIFICALLY ILLEGAL FOR
POLICE OFFICERS TO HAVE SEX WITH
WORKERS DURING THE COURSE
OF A STING OPERATION.
AND IN SOME STATES, POLICE HAVE
PROTESTED EFFORTS TO BAN THE
PRACTICE.
WHICH IS BOTH GROTESQUE AND A
BIT IRONIC BECAUSE WHAT THEY ARE
FUNDAMENTALLY ARGUING AS THEY
SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE SEX FOR
THEIR JOBS LEGALLY IN ORDER TO
STOP PEOPLE HAVING SEX FOR THEIR
JOBS.
AND EVEN WITHOUT THAT PROVISION,
THE LAWS POLICE CAN USE TO
ARREST OR INTIMIDATE SEX WORKERS
ARE SHOCKINGLY BROAD.
IF YOU WORK IN THE SEX TRADE,
THE THREAT OF ARREST LOOMS LARGE
OVER YOUR ENTIRE EXISTENCE.
AND THIS IS YET ANOTHER AREA
THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
ONE RECENT INVESTIGATION FOUND
THAT, FROM 2016 TO 2020, ALMOST
EVERYONE ARRESTED BY THE NYPD
FOR BUYING OR SELLING SEX WAS
NON-WHITE.
ONE PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC
LAW IS THE PROHIBITION AGAINST
"LOITERING FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROSTITUTION."
IT'S BASICALLY A STOP-AND-FRISK
POLICY FOR SEX WORKERS.
AND IN NEW YORK, IT'S WRITTEN
SO VAGUELY, THE NYPD HAS USED IT
TO INTERPRET COMPLETELY LEGAL
ACTIVITIES LIKE TALKING TO
PEDESTRIANS OR DRESSING
PROVOCATIVELY AS A BASIS
FOR AN ARREST.
COPS HAVE USED THE LAW TO ARREST
PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WORE "BLACK
COWBOY BOOTS AND BLACK SHORTS,"
AND "A MULTI COLOR SHORT DRESS
AND SANDALS."
AND IN ONE CASE, A WOMAN WAS
ARRESTED BECAUSE HER CLOTHES
EXPOSED "HER BUTTOCKS AND CERVIX
AREA," WHICH ISN'T SO MUCH A
CRIME AS IT IS AN URGENT MEDICAL
EMERGENCY.
MEANWHILE, IN SOME STATES, COPS
HAVE SEIZED CONDOMS AND USED
THEM AS EVIDENCE OF
PROSTITUTION, OR EVEN CHARGED
PEOPLE WITH A MISDEMEANOR CALLED
"POSSESSING AN INSTRUMENT OF
CRIME" FOR CARRYING THEM.
AND CRIMINALIZING CONDOMS HAS
LED SOME SEX WORKERS TO HIDE
THEM OR EVEN GO WITHOUT, AS
THIS WORKER IN QUEENS EXPLAINS.
>> Interpreter: YOU ASK WHERE
WE HIDE OUR CONDOMS.
WE HIDE CONDOMS IN OUR PRIVATE
PARTS WHERE THEY WON'T TOUCH US.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY
CONDOMS TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND
TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE WE ARE
WITH.
THE AUTHORITIES SHOW A REAL LACK
OF INTELLIGENCE WHEN THEY SAY
IT'S A CRIME TO CARRY CONDOMS.
IN THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY,
NOT CARRYING CONDOMS AS A DEATH
WISH.
>> John: THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
PUTTING ASIDE THE FACT "IT'S
A CRIME TO CARRY CONDOMS" SOUNDS
LIKE THE NAME OF A CHRISTIAN BOY
BAND'S SELF-RELEASED ALBUM,
WHICH IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING THERE IS
GENUINELY MAKING SEX WORKERS'
JOBS LESS SAFE.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY OUR
CURRENT POLICIES HARM THOSE THEY
CLAIM TO HELP.
A CRIMINAL RECORD CAN LIMIT
A SEX WORKER'S FUTURE
OPPORTUNITIES SHOULD THEY WANT
TO LEAVE THE FIELD.
BECAUSE WHILE MOST SEX
RELATED CRIMES ARE
CLASSIFIED AS MISDEMEANORS, IN
SOME STATES INCLUDING ALL THESE,
REPEATED ARRESTS CAN RESULT IN
A FELONY CONVICTION AND PRISON
TIME.
AND FOR A WHILE IN LOUISIANA,
SOME OF THOSE ARRESTED FOR DOING
SEX WORK WOUND UP HAVING TO
REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDERS, WHICH
IS PARTICULARLY GALLING.
BECAUSE IF ANYONE YOU'VE SEEN SO
FAR SHOULD BE LABELED A SEX
OFFENDER, IT'S ALL THE COPS
WHO'VE EVER HAD SEX DURING A
STING, AND AGAIN, THAT FUCKING
CLOWN.
AND LOOK: I DON'T WANT TO PAINT
TOO ROSY A PICTURE HERE.
SEX WORK CAN BE DANGEROUS.
AND WE NEED TO BE TALKING
CONSTRUCTIVELY ABOUT HOW TO
MAKE IT SAFER IN EVERY WAY.
BUT A REASON IT'S HARD TO HAVE
THAT CONVERSATION IS THAT SEX
WORK SO OFTEN GETS CONFLATED
WITH SOMETHING ELSE:
THAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND LET ME FIRST SAY THAT OF
COURSE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS
REAL, AND WHEN IT HAPPENS,
IT'S HORRIFIC.
YOU THINK OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN
AND -- AM I LEGALLY ALLOWED
TO SAY PRINCE ANDREW?
I'M NOT?
ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?
TOTALLY SURE?
OKAY.
FORGET I SAID IT THEN.
BUT THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING LOOMS LARGE IN THE
CONVERSATION AROUND SEX WORK.
YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN MASSIVE
NUMBERS GET THROWN AROUND
ONLINE, DESPITE THE FACT EXPERTS
WILL TELL YOU GETTING AN
ACCURATE COUNT ON THOSE
SUBJECTED TO FORCED SEX OR LABOR
HAS ELUDED RESEARCHERS FOR
YEARS.
AND LOOK, ANY NUMBER NORTH OF
ZERO IS CLEARLY TERRIBLE.
BUT FAR TOO OFTEN, ATTEMPTS TO
CRACK DOWN ON SEX TRAFFICKING
WILL CONFLATE IT WITH
CONSENSUAL ADULT SEX WORK.
THE IMPLICIT ASSUMPTION IS THAT
NO SEX WORKER HAS EVER ENTERED
THE TRADE BY CHOICE, EVEN WHEN
THAT IS, BY THEIR OWN TESTIMONY,
NOT THE CASE.
AND SOME STATES HAVE EVEN
WRITTEN THAT INTO LAW.
IN 2012, LAWMAKERS IN ALASKA
AMENDED THEIR LAWS ON "PROMOTING
PROSTITUTION" TO REPLACE THAT
PHRASE WITH "SEX TRAFFICKING,"
RESULTING IN ONE CASE WHERE
A WOMAN WAS CHARGED WITH
TRAFFICKING HERSELF.
WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY ABSURD,
UNLESS, THAT IS, THEY WERE
MAKING A LARGER POINT ABOUT OUR
COLLECTIVE LACK OF FREE WILL
UNDER CAPITALISM.
AND IF IT'S THE LATTER,
I'D SAY, BRO?
BRO, NOT THE TIME.
NOT THE TIME, BRO.
AND THE THING IS, BADLY WRITTEN
LAWS CAN HAVE MASSIVE
CONSEQUENCES.
TAKE FOSTA.
IT'S A FEDERAL LAW THAT WAS
POSITIONED AS A WAY TO CRACK
DOWN ON SEX TRAFFICKING, BY
BANNING ONLINE ADS THAT SOLD
PEOPLE INTO SEX SLAVERY.
WHICH SOUNDS GOOD, RIGHT?
WHAT KIND OF MONSTER WOULD BE
AGAINST THAT?
BUT WHAT IT DID WAS BAN ADS FOR
ALL PAID SEX, WHETHER OR NOT
TRAFFICKING WAS INVOLVED.
IT WAS PART OF A MUCH LARGER
PUSH TO SHUT DOWN SITES WHERE
SEX WAS SOLD, ALONG WITH THE
SHUTTERING OF BACKPAGE AND
CRAIGSLIST'S PERSONALS SECTION.
AND WHILE UNDENIABLY, SOME VERY
BAD THINGS WERE ADVERTISED ON
THOSE SITES, THEY ALSO ENABLED
SEX WORKERS TO FIND CLIENTS AND
COMMUNICATE WITH THEM, WHICH WAS
A MUCH SAFER WAY FOR THEM TO DO
THAT THAN OPERATING ON THE
STREET.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING "WELL,
OKAY, IT'S BAD THAT SEX WORKERS
LOST A WAY TO STAY SAFER BUT AT
LEAST MOVES LIKE THOSE HELPED
LAW ENFORCEMENT CRACK DOWN ON
SEX TRAFFICKING,"
THE THING IS, NOT REALLY.
IN THE THREE YEARS AFTER FOSTA
WAS PASSED,
PROSECUTOR SAID THEY USED IT
ONCE.
AS FOR SHUTTING DOWN BACKPAGE,
THAT ACTUALLY MADE IT EVEN
HARDER TO CATCH SEX TRAFFICKERS.
THE SITE WAS U.S.-BASED AND WAS
OFTEN WILLING TO WORK WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO ROOT OUT THE BAD
ACTORS.
AND WITH IT GONE, LAW
ENFORCEMENT SUDDENLY FOUND
TRACKING THEM DOWN TO BE MUCH
MORE DIFFICULT.
>> WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHERE EVERYBODY IS GOING.
THESE NEW WEBSITES HAVE POPPED
UP, DEAD PAGE, ALMOST AN EXACT
REPLICA OF BACKPAGE.
WE HAVE ONE BACKPAGE.
BASICALLY IT'S ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT WEBSITES THAT WE DON'T
HAVE ANY AGREEMENTS OR SEARCH
TOOLS WITH HIM IT'S KIND OF
SPREAD OUT.
WE DON'T HAVE A CERTAIN LOCATION
TO LOOK FOR THEM ANYMORE.
IT IS KIND OF A CRAPSHOOT.
>> John: THAT'S NOT IDEAL IS
IT?
YEAH, AND OF ALL THE
QUESTIONS THAT RAISES,
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK:
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON
WITH HER CUBICLE DECOR?
BECAUSE IT INVOLVES NOT JUST
THIS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED
"PIMPIN' AVE" STREET SIGN --
WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN WEIRD
ENOUGH ON ITS OWN -- BUT ALSO A
GLASS GOBLET FEATURING
RHINESTONES THAT SPELL OUT THE
PHRASE "HO FO' SHO."
WHICH IS A PRETTY WEIRD TONE TO
STRIKE FOR A WORKPLACE THAT
RESCUES SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS.
THOSE LOOK MORE LIKE THE
DECORATIONS YOU'D FIND AT A
BACHELORETTE PARTY WHERE THE
GUESTS WIND UP VOMIT-CRYING OUT
THE WINDOW OF A SPEEDING PARTY
BUS.
AND OBVIOUSLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT
SHOULD BE PURSUING SEX
TRAFFICKING WHEREVER IT TAKES
PLACE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE POLICE
WILL OFTEN RE-FRAME TRADITIONAL
PROSTITUTION STINGS AS HUMAN
TRAFFICKING ONES.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A LARGE STING
OPERATION A FEW YEARS BACK OF
MULTIPLE MASSAGE PARLORS IN
FLORIDA, IN WHICH ROBERT KRAFT,
THE OWNER OF THE PATRIOTS,
WAS CHARGED WITH SOLICITING
PROSTITUTION.
AND THE INITIAL COMMENTS FROM
LAW ENFORCEMENT STRONGLY
SUGGESTED THAT THE WORKERS AT
THE DAY SPA KRAFT WENT TO WERE
PART OF A SEX TRAFFICKING RING.
THE PROSECUTOR WAS EVEN HAPPY TO
BRAG ABOUT THEIR HUMANITARIAN
MISSION IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE
AFTER THE RAID.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE JUPITER POLICE
DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR
PROFESSIONALISM AND DILIGENCE IN
INVESTIGATING THESE CASES.
YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT OUR
COMMUNITY BY THE WAY IT TREATS
ITS MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS,
AND THAT INCLUDES VICTIMS OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
>> John: HE'S RIGHT.
YOU CAN TELL A LOT
ABOUT A COMMUNITY BY HOW IT
TREATS THE MOST VULNERABLE.
AND YOU SHOULD KNOW MONTHS
LATER, A PROSECUTOR ADMITTED
NO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROSE
FROM THE INVESTIGATION.
AND KRAFT'S MISDEMEANOR CHARGES
WERE LATER DROPPED.
AND YET, THE STATE ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE CONTINUED TO PURSUE CASES
AGAINST THE WOMEN -- YOU KNOW,
THE ONES THEY WERE SUPPOSEDLY
TRYING TO RESCUE.
EVENTUALLY, FOUR WOMEN WHO
WORKED AT THAT SPA WERE
ARRESTED AND JAILED, WITH THREE
FINED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND
ONE ENDING UP IN ICE DETENTION.
AND ALL THAT IS BAD ENOUGH UNTIL
YOU LEARN THAT SOME OF THE
HELP OFFERED TO WORKERS CAUGHT
UP IN THE LARGER STING CONSISTED
OF THIS CARE PACKAGE THAT
INCLUDED BAND-AIDS, MOUTHWASH,
RAZORS, AND A BOOKLET WRITTEN BY
MEGACHURCH PASTOR RICK WARREN
TITLED "WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE
FOR?"
WHICH IS LITERALLY ONLY HELPFUL
IF INSIDE, IT SAYS "TO BE
SCAPEGOATED IN A
GENERATIONS-LONG MORALITY WAR
THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU
AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HOW WE
AS A SOCIETY VIEW SEX, MONEY,
AND POWER."
AND THAT'S HARDLY AN EXCEPTION.
JUST LISTEN TO ANDREW LEWIS --
THE FORMER COORDINATOR FOR THE
GREATER NEW ORLEANS HUMAN
TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE --
TELL THE LOUISIANA HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT ONE STING
OPERATION HE WITNESSED.
>> WHAT I SAW WAS A STANDARD
OPERATION AND IT WAS DEEPLY
TROUBLING.
AGENTS PRETENDING TO BE CLIENTS
SET UP DATES WITH SEX WORKERS.
WHEN A SEX WORKER ARRIVED AT THE
HOTEL ROOM THEY WOULD BE
ARRESTED AND FORCED INTO ANOTHER
COLD ROOM, OFTEN WITH VERY
LITTLE CLOTHING, AND
INTERVIEWED.
THE SAME AGENT THAT HANDCUFFED
THEM WITH THEN ASK THEM IF THEY
HAD BEEN TRAFFIC.
AND NO MATTER THEIR RESPONSE,
THEY WERE ARRESTED AND BOOKED.
AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, THOSE
ARRESTS WERE REPORTED BACK TO ME
AS PROSPECTIVE VICTIMS OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING EITHER WHEN THERE
WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FORCE, FRAUD
OR COERCION.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING DOES OCCUR
LOCALLY MORE THAN WE KNOW ABOUT
BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING THE
MAJORITY OF OUR TIME AND MONEY
ON CRIMINALIZING CONSENSUAL
ADULT SEX WORK WE ARE NOT ABLE
TO HELP THOSE ACTUALLY BEING
FORCED TO WORK IN THE
CONSTRUCTION, AGRICULTURE, AND
YES SEX WORK INDUSTRIES IN
LOUISIANA.
>> John: YEAH, HE'S RIGHT.
WE CLEARLY SHOULDN'T BE WASTING
VALUABLE RESOURCES ON ARRESTING
CONSENSUAL SEX WORKERS.
AND WE CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T BE
INTERVIEWING THEM IN COLD ROOMS
WHILE THEY'RE WEARING VERY
LITTLE CLOTHING.
TURNS OUT, POLICE AREN'T SO MUCH
"RESCUING" PEOPLE AS "LIGHTLY
REFRIGERATING THEM AND THEN
SENDING THEM TO JAIL."
AND WHEN YOU TAKE ALL OF THIS
TOGETHER, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT
MANY WORKERS WHO'VE BEEN ROBBED
OR ABUSED BY CLIENTS REPORT THAT
THEY FEEL THEY CAN'T TURN TO THE
POLICE FOR HELP.
AND IN SOME CASES, THOSE WHO
HAVE TURNED TO THE POLICE SAY
THEY DEEPLY REGRET IT.
>> YEARS AGO I REPORTED A RAPE
FROM A CLIENT I WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE WORKING WITH.
I JUST WOUND UP BEING ARRESTED.
I SPENT A LONG TIME IN JAIL.
FOR TRYING TO REPORT A RAPE AND
YOU JUST LEARN BETTER.
NO WAY I'LL DEAL WITH THE COPS.
I WILL GET RAPED 100 TIMES
BEFORE I DEAL WITH THEM.
>> John: YEAH.
SHE WENT TO REPORT A RAPE
AND ENDED UP IN JAIL.
I'D CALL IT DYSTOPIAN IF IT
WEREN'T SO FUCKING AMERICAN.
SO AT EVERY TURN, WE ARE MAKING
LIFE HARDER BOTH FOR PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO REMAIN IN THE SEX TRADE,
AND FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO
LEAVE IT.
SO HOW DO WE FIX THIS?
WELL, THERE ARE ACTUALLY A FEW
DIFFERENT OPTIONS OPEN TO US.
AND LET'S START WITH THE MOST
RESTRICTIVE.
SOME ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING
CALLED "THE NORDIC MODEL."
WHICH, I KNOW, SOUNDS LIKE THE
ANSWER LEONARDO DICAPRIO WOULD
GIVE TO THE QUESTION, "WHO WOULD
YOU LIKE TO FUCK?"
BUT THE NORDIC MODEL IS THE ONE
THAT INTUITIVELY MIGHT MAKE
SENSE TO YOU.
IT CRIMINALIZES THE BUYING OF
SEX BUT NOT THE SELLING IT.
SO WE'D ARREST THE CLIENTS, BUT
NOT THE WORKERS -- THE ONES
YOU'RE PRESUMABLY CONCERNED FOR.
IT'S BEEN ADOPTED IN MANY
COUNTRIES, INCLUDING SWEDEN,
FINLAND, NORWAY, AND FRANCE.
AND WHILE IT MIGHT SOUND GOOD ON
THE SURFACE, ONE PROBLEM WITH IT
IS THAT SEX BUYERS DON'T WANT TO
BE ARRESTED ANY MORE THAN SEX
WORKERS DO.
MEANING WORKERS STILL HAVE TO
MEET CLIENTS IN THE SHADOWS.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, IT'S STILL
DIFFICULT TO VET THEM ONLINE.
AND IF YOU'RE ON THE STREET, IT
CAN BE EVEN WORSE, AS THIS
SWEDISH SEX WORKER EXPLAINS.
>> FOR WOMEN IN THE STREET THIS
HAS BEEN VERY, VERY BAD.
BEFORE THEY HAVE THIS THING
HANGING IN THE CAR WINDOW,
HAVING THE DISCUSSION.
THIS IS WHAT I'M WILLING TO
SELL.
THIS IS WHAT I'M WILLING TO DO.
THEY DON'T HAVE TIME BECAUSE
CLIENTS ARE JUMPING SO THEY HAVE
TO GET IN THE CAR, DRIVE OFF
THEN NEGOTIATE AND THEN THEY ARE
ALREADY IN THE CAR.
>> John: RIGHT.
YOU CAN'T TELL IN A SPLIT SECOND
OF LOOKING AT A CAR IF IT'S SAFE
TO GET IN.
IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S A BUMPER
STICKER THAT SAYS "MY CHILD IS
AN HONOR ROLL STUDENT AND I'M A
FUCKING SOCIOPATH" TO TIP YOU
OFF.
SO THE TRUTH IS, MANY SEX
WORKERS DON'T LOVE THE NORDIC
MODEL.
ANOTHER OPTION WE COULD GO WITH
IS LEGALIZATION.
THAT'S WHERE WORKERS AND CLIENTS
CAN LEGALLY OPERATE, WITHIN
CERTAIN REGULATIONS.
IT'S THE MODEL EMPLOYED BY
AMSTERDAM AND SOME COUNTIES IN
NEVADA.
THERE, SEX WORKERS ARE LIMITED
TO WORKING AS INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS AND MUST DO SO IN
REGULATED BROTHELS, TYPICALLY
EARNING FORTY TO FIFTY PERCENT
OF WHAT THEY BRING IN BY
SERVICING CUSTOMERS, WITH THE
REMAINDER GOING TO THE BROTHEL.
AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY
THOSE BROTHELS GET TO TAKE SO
MUCH, IT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY
CAN -- NEVADA ESSENTIALLY GIVES
THEM A MONOPOLY.
THAT'S JUST ONE REASON WHY SEX
WORKERS TEND NOT TO BE KEEN ON
THE HEAVILY-REGULATED
LEGALIZATION OPTION EITHER.
INSTEAD, WHAT MANY OF THEM
ADVOCATE FOR IS SOMETHING CALLED
DECRIMINALIZATION, WHICH VERY
SIMPLY REMOVES ALL CRIMINAL
PENALTIES FOR THE BUYING AND
SELLING OF CONSENSUAL SEX.
IT'S A MODEL CURRENTLY EMPLOYED
BY NEW ZEALAND, A COUNTRY THAT
DOES SEEM TO MAKE A LOT OF SMART
CHOICES -- WITH THE GLARING
EXCEPTION, OF COURSE, OF
"CHOOSING A NATIONAL BIRD."
BECAUSE WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH
THE KIWI?
IT'S AN INCORRECT DUCK.
IT'S WHAT YOU'D GET IF A FIRST
GRADER WAS ASSIGNED TO DRAW A
BIRD AND THEN JUST FORGOT.
MY POINT HERE IS:
IN NEW ZEALAND'S
SYSTEM, ANY SEX WORKER CAN
LEGALLY WORK FOR THEMSELVES
OR IN A BROTHEL.
AND BROTHEL OWNERS HAVE TO HAVE
SPECIAL CERTIFICATES AND VERIFY
THEIR WORKERS ARE OVER 18 AND
USE SAFE SEX PRACTICES.
BUT CRUCIALLY, THIS SYSTEM MEANS
THAT SEX WORKERS HAVE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, FROM BEING
ABLE TO ACCESS UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS, TO HEALTHCARE, TO
BEING COVERED BY WORKPLACE
PROTECTIONS.
SEX WORKERS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY
SUED OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT THEY
EXPERIENCED IN A BROTHEL.
AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO THE
POLICE -- IN FACT, LAST YEAR, A
MAN WAS CONVICTED FOR RAPE IN A
"STEALTHING" CASE AFTER HE
REMOVED A CONDOM WITHOUT
A SEX WORKER'S CONSENT.
IT'S A HUMAN-RIGHTS-CENTERED
APPROACH THAT SEEMS TO BE
WORKING.
AND A SEX WORKER IN NEW ZEALAND
GIVES CREDIT FOR THIS TO THE
FACT THAT THE PEOPLE WRITING THE
LAWS DID ONE KEY THING.
>> NEW ZEALAND SEEMS TO BE ONLY
COUNTRY THAT'S GOT IT RIGHT AND
THAT'S BECAUSE THEY CONSULTED
SEX WORKERS.
ANY OTHER COUNTRY DOESN'T TALK
TO SEX WORKERS.
THEY MAKE PLANS AND LAWS FOR
THEM WITHOUT DISCUSSING WITH
THEM OR CARING ABOUT WHAT THEY
SAY.
>> John: EXACTLY.
AND IT'S SAD THAT THAT'S SO
SURPRISING.
BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, IT SEEMS
MOST COUNTRIES' LAWS TREAT SEX
WORKERS THE EXACT SAME WAY WE
TREAT CATS ON HALLOWEEN.
THAT IS, SQUEEZING THEM INTO BAD
SITUATIONS WITHOUT THEIR INPUT
OR CONSENT AND REFUSING TO TAKE
THEIR FEELINGS INTO
CONSIDERATION WHEN THEY'RE
CLEARLY NOT THAT HAPPY.
AND LOOK -- I'M NOT SAYING THE
NEW ZEALAND MODEL IS PERFECT.
THAT WOMAN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
AND THERE ARE GOOD-FAITH
DISAGREEMENTS TO BE HAD OVER THE
FINER POINTS OF A
DECRIMINALIZATION POLICY.
BUT IF WE BASICALLY AGREE, AS I
HOPE WE DO, THAT MAKING SEX WORK
SAFER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DO IT
IS A PRIORITY, IT'S THE
DIRECTION TO STRIVE TOWARD.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING SOME
SLOW STEPS IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
NEW YORK RECENTLY REPEALED ITS
LOITERING LAW, AND CALIFORNIA
SEEMS POISED TO DO THE SAME.
MEANWHILE, PROSECUTORS AROUND
THE COUNTRY HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY
WON'T PURSUE CERTAIN
PROSTITUTION CASES AND WILL
DISMISS THOUSANDS OF PENDING
ONES, WHICH IS GREAT.
AND LOOK, TO THOSE WHO ARE STILL
UNCOMFORTABLE, OUT OF A CONCERN
THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO FEEL
ECONOMICALLY FORCED INTO SEX
WORK, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.
THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.
BUT THE FACT IS, OUR CURRENT
LAWS ARE NOT ADDRESSING THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, THAT'S A
MUCH BIGGER CONVERSATION.
BECAUSE FUNDAMENTALLY, THE ONLY
WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
HAVE A CHOICE IN THE WAY THEY
EARN MONEY IS TO MAKE HOUSING
AFFORDABLE, HEALTHCARE
ACCESSIBLE, AND TO NOT BURDEN
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE WITH
CRIMINAL RECORDS THAT LEAD TO A
CYCLE OF JOBLESSNESS,
HOMELESSNESS, AND DESPERATION.
BUT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE HAVE
THAT CONVERSATION --
AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
SOMETHING ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE
ITCHING TO HAVE RIGHT NOW --
WE NEED TO STOP PURSUING
POLICIES THAT HARASS, ENDANGER,
AND OCCASIONALLY REFRIGERATE
SEX WORKERS AND INSTEAD, START
LISTENING TO WHAT THEY ACTUALLY
WANT.
BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, IF WE
DON'T DO THAT, THEN WE'RE GOING
TO CARRY ON LOOKING LIKE A BUNCH
OF FUCKING CLOWNS.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW A FOND
FAREWELL TO THE WENDY WILLIAMS
SHOW.
>> HOW YOU DOIN'?
UH-UH.
FIRST-TIME CUSTOMER.
THIS IS AN ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN
ACCORDING TO EVERYBODY BUT ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS.
THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN AN
ATTRACTIVE KILLER.
WHAT THE CRIMINOLOGY IS GOING
ON?
WHAT THE BRUCE LEE IS GOING ON?
WHAT THE LUTHER VANDROSS IS
GOING ON WITH YOU?
SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET FIRED.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE YOU.
THEY TOOK A MASSIVE DUMP
IN A PAIR OF MANOLO BLAHNIKS.
I EAT MY BAKED POTATO
WITH THE SKIN.
CLAP IF YOU EAT THE SKIN.
CLAP IF YOU THINK SHE SHOULD
SUFFER.
CLAP IF YOU'VE EVER WANTED TO
KILL SOMEBODY.
I AM TRYING TO PUSH A BURP DOWN.
THAT'S A PROBLEM WHEN YOU START
OUT HOT.
THERE IS NOWHERE TO GO BUT DOWN.
HE IS SO WEAK,
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I AM ABOUT TO DITCH RESPECT YOU
CRAZY.
THAT HEAD IS LONG.
GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY.
DIE, DIE, DIE.
IT'S OKAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> John: THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.