German "Sex Work" Org Targets Ukrainian Refugee Women

[ScreamingMeMe]

I think the fact this is a trans organisation is incidental, so I didn't put it in my title. But boy is this inappropriate.

German Trans "Sex Work" Org Targets Ukrainian Refugee Women

www.reduxx.org/post/german-trans-sex-work-org-targets-ukrainian-refugee-women

A "sex work" advocacy organization is utilizing social media to solicit Ukrainian refugee women for information on entering the legal German sex trade.

Berlin-based Trans*Sexworks, which describes itself as “a peer-to-peer support structure and network for and made up of trans and non-binary sexworkers," has posted advertisements for counselling services targeting Ukrainian women who "need support/info on how to begin sex work in Germany."

“We are now offering peer-counceling (sic) and support in Ukrainian, Russian and English for all sex-workers fleeing the war in Ukraine,” reads one post shared to their Instagram. “This offer is open to all sex workers regardless [of] gender identity (since we do not see any other offer for cisgender sex-workers) arriving in Berlin.”

continued on the link page, I won't c&p it all

What were they thinking? These are vulnerable women forced away from their home who are already being leched over and approached by dodgy men.

"It’s disgusting, really, and there’s no other word for it but immoral. It’s immoral. Deeply immoral. And you too, @MargaritaPie**

I don't find it immoral to offer support/peer/information services for vulnerable people. Also a little unnecessary to take that little jab at me because we have differing views on transsexworks.

Did you take a look at their Instagram page to see what else they are posting? Or is your only knowledge of them the article from reduxx?

linktr.ee/transsexworks

They also offer drug counselling and STI testing.

@MargaritaPie

linktr.ee/transsexworks

They also offer drug counselling and STI testing.

How about food? Accommodation? Grief/trauma counselling? Actual support rather than the kind you'd get from, oh, strangely enough, a pimp?

I have no idea what was problematic about that post. Detailing the kinds of support that might be helpful to traumatised refugees rather than the "help" that seems to be on offer doesn't seem to warrant deletion?

They have a contact email on their IG page. You could ask them about what they offer.

Even if they don't directly provide what you mention, they may be able to point people who need those things in the direction of services who can help.

Thanks, moderator - that was quick!

@MargaritaPie

"It’s disgusting, really, and there’s no other word for it but immoral. It’s immoral. Deeply immoral. And you too, @MargaritaPie**

I don't find it immoral to offer support/peer/information services for vulnerable people. Also a little unnecessary to take that little jab at me because we have differing views on transsexworks.

Did you take a look at their Instagram page to see what else they are posting? Or is your only knowledge of them the article from reduxx?

I haven’t read any article, and have no knowledge of them beyond the link you posted, Margarita.

But your position is incoherent. Either these are vulnerable people, in which case they should not be being offered “peer services” to get them started with “sexwork”; or they aren’t vulnerable because they are freely choosing, fully in control “sexworkers” for whom sex work is just their profession and like any other kind of work.

Vulnerable people need support services that help with basic needs and trauma, and protect them from exploitation.

Not-vulnerable people who happily choose exciting sexy work that’s just like any other work are presumed not to be vulnerable but full agents in control and doing it out of choice, not necessity or coercion.

So which is it? Vulnerable or not vulnerable? Because it can’t be right to counsel vulnerable people into “sexwork”, can it?

Word.

Well since the trans activists are also sex work positive (as opposed to TERFs and SWERFs), I can't get myself worked up about it. As long as they leave women alone, go for it.

We're talking about what they are specifically offering to Ukranian refugees, MP. I dont care if their website also says they give out free balloons on Thursdays.

Because it can’t be right to counsel vulnerable people into “sexwork”, can it?

Absolutely not. This is disgusting. And anyone that thinks this is ok is also disgusting.

@EishetChayil

Well since the trans activists are also sex work positive (as opposed to TERFs and SWERFs), I can't get myself worked up about it. As long as they leave women alone, go for it.

If you look at the OP, that's exactly what they're not doing..

MargaritaPie is trying to muddy the waters by talking in general terms about what this organisation does. That is not the subject of this thread.

@ScreamingMeMe

MargaritaPie is trying to muddy the waters by talking in general terms about what this organisation does. That is not the subject of this thread.

So the subject is specifically their Instagram post that says this:

"Peer counselling for sex workers arriving in Berlin. If you know someone who needs support/info on how to begin sex work in Germany, we can help."

The description next to the post describes this as a "peer-to-peer counselling team" and gives dates/times when people can drop in.

We might look at this differently but to me it looks like a support service for sex workers or people who were going to become sex workers regardless, especially taking the rest of their content into the context. I'm just not seeing it as a "recruitment" org which is setting out to make sex workers out of people who aren't sex workers.

Again, you've ignored the German legislation which makes it illegal to taget women who are financially vulnerable.
In this situation the right thing to do would be to give them money and/or direct them to other resources.

You see it as "illegally targeting financially vulnerable women", I see it as a service which can offers info, help and peer support (which isn't against German law). If you really do think a law has been broken and there is trafficking going on, I'm sure there will be a way to report it online to German authorities to investigate.

"and/or direct them to other resources"

I mentioned above this org appears to have links to other services which may be of help. I would also imagine having peer support from another sex worker would help them to find out what sort of help etc is available in Berlin.

Good intentions... with minds so open the brains have fallen out.
Hmm, after fleeing bombs, female sex workers need advice from the bepenised on job safety...

Its a shame after all they've been through that they aren't being offered support and advice on how to leave the sex trade.

But then like I said peer to peer sex workers contact covers a multitude of things doesn't it?

I wonder if there is peer to peer support to get surrogates back into replacing the babies they had to leve behind?