Humanist Program: Can Sex Work Be Reasonable and Compassionate?

The challenges that society faces when dealing with the subject of sex work are numerous and ongoing, especially in today’s modern world, where sexual liberation and sex positivity are taking ever-growing roles as issues of concern.

Certainly, non-consensual human trafficking, especially that of minors, is a major problem, and needs to be shut down as much as possible. But is sex work always non-consensual or harmful? Where are the lines between what is acceptable and what isn’t, especially when one considers the variety of sex work that exists, from those who work in pornography, to those who perform in gentlemen’s clubs and in burlesque, and to escorts and sugar babies?

Some objections exist to the idea of consensual sex work. Some argue that it isn’t possible for some sex workers to truly consent, because their economic well-being relies on their work. Others argue that the practice objectifies the sex-workers themselves, contributes to a culture of cheating, or of unrealistic and unhealthy sexual expectations.

But there is another side to sex work, one that can empower those who choose it in the right circumstances, offer sexual experiences to those who struggle with being differently abled in a way that limits their sexual options, and create a culture that is concerned with health and safety in a way that helps educate its members while providing a safer environment in which to explore.

Leslie Emerald has worked as an escort since 2012, where she started in a small agency and eventually became an independent provider when that agency went under in 2013. She worked as a sugar baby for some time before entering the world of escorting. She has a bachelor’s degree and is currently working on an associate’s degree in her field of interest. On top of school and escorting, she also keeps a day job relevant to her academic field. Leslie will speak about some of the potential prosocial aspects of sex work in general, and some of the benefits to sex workers and their customers in places where sex work is not criminalized or stigmatized the way it happens in most parts of the United States. She will also answer some of your questions about the day-to-day realities of this work, and her personal experiences with escorting.

Join us at 11:30 for pizza in the meeting room! The formal program starts at 12:00.