In attempting to keep somewhat abreast of the coverage in the Chronicle of the homeless debate I have seen some other voices represented. I have seen a some representation of other sides of the story from Heather Knight.

But the main thing is that Nevius’s articles is selling the newspaper at a time when newspapers are struggling. In addition the amount of comments he has received online for his column are unprecedented. I did actually write an article on this, but for various reasons, I have hesitated to publish it on this blog (if you have any recommendations as to where I can publish it, I welcome them).

So yeah, controversy sells. In the meantime, there are many people DO read the chronicle who are maybe buying into the sensationalism of the issue and the arguments of Nevius, and this is doing a tremendous amount of harm.

But beyond this, the Chronicle simply can’t be taken seriously as a newspaper with journalistic integrity or competence. We didn’t hear about the oil spill until days after it happened. More than once they’ve covered major local stories days late, & then only after picking them up from the AP. & they hardly cover any news about real politics or policy, focusing more on squabbling and personalities. (To blame this on the politicians, as many local conservatives do, is to run defense for the Chronicle—while politicians may be reproachable for getting involved in fracases, these are no indication that real political issues are in any way hidden in San Francisco, & are certainly no excuse for lazy pseudo-journalism.)

I wanted to tell you, I went to the most recent meeting of the Commonwealth Club (perhaps a symptom of my own private gentrification) to see Theresa Sparks, the president of the police commission and CFO of Good Vibrations, speak about her life with Good Vibes, politics and as a transwoman. I realized the format of the “Ask Dr. Hal” show (www.askdrhal.com) is loosely based on the less drunk, more formal Commonwealth Club; they give you question cards which are then handed to the moderator and asked of the guest. I had that problem I always do seeing someone I like speak, I forget to think of a question until half-way through the presentation. Anyway, I really like Theresa Sparks, she is a formidable woman with a good sense of humor and an amazing story who was instrumental in getting gender on the list of things employers cannot legally discriminate against in California, and plus, she always been attractive to me in a classy, sexy, polished desk and stern hand sort of way. But sitting there, I thought of what you would want to ask were you there, and realized what a disservice the police force does to the trans community (especially tranny women)with their periodic street sweeps.

So I labored over my little question card and formulated something that tied transwomen sex workers, lack of job opportunities, and Theresa’s role as president of the police commission together and then felt very proud of myself for my hard hitting question which would hold her accountable to her community. Sadly, it did not get asked (that’s what happens when my little brain takes half an hour to think of something and another 10 to write it out clearly in a one hour program.) But I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you and trying to make you proud.

I agree that nobody should be on the streets.

And that we should continue to work on the options.

And, most importantly treat people we encounter on the streets with respect.

I also wonder, if someone is choosing not to go to a shelter, maybe there are reasons. Could it be because of unsafe shelter conditions? Could it be because there are not enough beds? Could it be because this person is an immigrant? Could it be because an individual does not experience respect inside the shelters? Could it be that an individual feels the streets are a safer and more comfortable option than the streets?

And of course, to work on getting affordable housing for everyone.
And of course, to work against the other societal injustices that might lead to individual ending up homeless.

Let’s stop encouraging people to live on the streets. Get them into the shelters and keep working to make the shelters better. And to create a larger block of assisted and affordable housing to move to after shelters.

We have to get the people out of the streets. Winter is coming and they will die out there. Their death will not make affordable housing come any sooner. There are people who want homeless on the streets for political reasons and that is just cruel!

Thanks for chiming in.

Answering this question is not easily done simply.

Personally, I believe in decriminalization of sex work. In the current socio-political climate, this is, in my opinion the best thing that can happen. Until some basic social justice issues (such as equal access to employment, housing, health care, immigration status) are resolved, then I do not believe it is fair or just to criminalize sex work.

Many people choose sex work because it will allow them to pay their rent, pay for raising a child, or pay for higher education, etc. Some people have little choice in other work that will pay for certain needs. Some people have troubled getting hired because society does not accept them: many people who are transgendered, many people who have a history of incarceration, many people who are fighting for immigration status, and more. Until society is truly just and egalitarian, sex work should be decriminalized.

I do think that legalization is potentially a step in a better direction, but I could also see the government becoming the new pimps. The government is just as capable of being exploitative as many of the people in the role of pimp, and in fact already do it on a much larger, more devastating scale. Look at whole the US government, through its laws and systems allows for the exploitation of the environment, the exploitation of the poor, and the exploitation of indigenous peoples. Look at the unnecessary war in Iraq, look at our horrible health-care system which is basically run by greedy pharmaceutical companies.

How is the government, whose USAID policy requires NGO’s to sign a pledge not to support sex workers in order to receive funds for HIV/AIDS prevention, going to make fair, just, respectful policies that include sex workers?

I feel that legal recognition and acceptance of sex workers could be an improvement, but I also fear that it would include the legalization of degrading, and alienating practices.

And let me make it clear, that I think it is very important to get tested, and to have equal access to quality, non-judgemental health-care. I fear that required testing could easily fall into the judgemental sort of health care - which can do much more harm for one’s health.

I think if sex workers are required to get regular testing, then EVERYONE in the sexually active community should be required to get tested. IF a sex worker transmits an STI, who was it who gave it to them? Research available on the st. james infirmary website (the free clinic for sex workers and their partners) shows that risky behavior tends to happen with personal partners, not with clients. That tends to go the same for people who are not sex workers.

If sex work were decriminalized, and de-stigmatized, and access to safer sex supplies and safe supportive community increased, sex work would be an even safer trade.

Until some pretty huge changes occur, I do not foresee legalization as the best option. And until there is a more just society, I do not necessarily believe that sex work (which is a commerce of the individual) should necessarily be taxed. Not all sex workers feel this way. This is my opinion. But if this government and society does not respect, support, and care about sex workers, then in my opinion, this government does not deserve their hard-earned money.
Besides, many sex workers have other jobs for which they are taxed. Clearly their other jobs are not enough money to survive in this society.

Federal minimum wage is currently 5.85. It is scheduled to be $6.55 by next summer, and in two years it will be $7.25.
How much money do you make? Could you live off of less than $8.00 an hour? Could you live off of less than $10.00 an hour? Depending on where you live and the cost of living there, could you live comfortably off of $15.00 an hour?

I am happy for sex workers in Hungary. Conditions will hopefully improve for them. I do not live there, therefore I cannot truly give an adequate analysis. I can speak for conditions here, and hypothesize about how Hungary’s policies would affect sex workers here. I can also support positive steps, while being critical of what still needs to happen, or work for even better ways of making things happen.

As a citizen, and concerned for my community, I am doing this work.

It seems you want to be invisible except when you want something from us.

Well screw that. Stand up and be a citizen. You don’t get to be the only person in america who conducts business but with no laws around the business.

You are going to have to decide. This weird limbo place of “just leave me along” doesn’t work when you start to engage in commerce. Here in america we regulate commerce.

So which is it?