By KEVIN CONNOR, Winnipeg Sun
October 7th, 2009
TORONTO — If prostitutes could work from home they would be safer and not a public nuisance on the street, sex workers told a court yesterday.
Advocates for prostitution are battling the government and Christian groups for the right to ply their trade in bawdy houses.
They are arguing that they have a constitutional right to work indoors which is safer that street hooking.
“There is a blanket prohibition on selling a sex service in a secure location. You can’t move into a house and hire people for protection,” Alan Young, the lawyer for the prostitute advocates, told court.
“There are dangers working on the street. The law has contributed to the lack of safety and harm women face.”
Prostitutes have gone missing and have been murdered on a large scale in cities like Winnipeg and Vancouver because they were forced to work the streets, Young said.
Sex workers want the laws to reflect the reality of life, said prostitute Val Scott outside the downtown courthouse where the case is being heard.
“It is legal to sell sex. But on the street you have a danger of being raped, robbed or murdered,” Scott said.
“Those in opposition have a displaced sense of morality. It is time for Canada to get over it.”
Dominatrix Terri Jean Bedford was busted in 1999 for operating a bawdy house.
“I just want the bawdy house laws changed so I can get back to work. Everyone knows how much I love my work,” she said outside court with a whip in her hand.
Since the madame’s suburban bawdy house was busted by police she has been on campaign to change the laws and says she will fight the government’s discrimination against sex trade workers. Bedford said she kept her lawn manicured and the neighbours didn’t know she was selling her services to men from every walk of life that included doctors, lawyers and an Indian chief.
“I have worked in all aspects of the sex trade. I know the good, the bad and the ugly and I know that bawdy houses are safer than being on the street,” Bedford said.
“We can sell all the sex we want, but where are we supposed to do it. When I was convicted they took everything and they never gave me my panties back.”
Witnesses will be called on the bawdy house issue as well as on decriminalizing communicating for the purpose of prostitution.