Constitutional Challenge Update

Sex work is legal in Canada, yet everything required for a sale to take place is illegal:
Keeping a common bawdy- house (a place kept, occupied or frequented for purposes of prostitution; including an escort service or erotic massage). Communicating for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, and procuring or living off the avails of prostitution.

The case brought before the Ontario Supreme Court, by three sex workers, is challenging these three sections of the Criminal Code.

In deciding the case, Justice Susan Himel needs to determine whether the prostitution laws are proportionate for their purpose, or whether they have the effect of forcing sex workers into unsafe situations.

Those wishing to strike down the laws argue that they do create unsafe work environments by forcing workers on the streets, or underground; thus preventing them from being able to screen their customers, work in and travel to places they consider to be safe and hire staff to help them to do this; such as drivers and receptionists. The evidence points to the sex trade workers across Canada who have been beaten, killed, kidnapped and missing.

Over the years attempts have been made to change aspects of prostitution laws, though this is the first challenge in decades that is aiming for broad changes.

Court resumed with final arguments for the Ontario level of this challenge on Monday October 26th, 2009.

Winter Lovin'?

With their lips still locked, Sarah somehow managed to find her keys and open her apartment door. They stumbled onto the couch, passionately tearing off each other's clothes as they went. He ran his tongue along her body. She uttered a low groan. Jay continued to run his tongue against her body until Sarah couldn't stand it anymore. "Take me now, Jay," she panted desperately. Jay lifted Sarah's legs back toward her shoulders and...Ahh, a good old fashioned romance novel, a straight girl's summer staple. While this particular passage does have all the steamy prerequisites covered, something is definitely missing. Sexual tension? Check. Being swept away in the moment? Check. Details intimate enough to make your great-aunt Edna blush? Check. Protagonists practicing safer sex? Negative.While perhaps not the finest pieces of literature, romance novels continue to be one of the largest read genres of book lovers. In 2008 alone, Harlequin Enterprises sold 130 million books.Romance novels feature formulated and reoccurring themes where a female protagonist is often swept away in a moment of passion. In the process of being swept away, condoms or other safer sex methods are usually left behind.

Why does safer sex on paper matter? It’s just fiction right? Well, the concern lies in how narratives are capable of touching our emotions, teaching us new behaviors, impacting our beliefs, and shaping our cultural identity. Whether we like it or not, modern sexuality requires a more careful eye to safer sex. Media outlets, such as the romance novel, have a perfect opportunity to normalize safer sex practices.So how difficult would it be to slip a condom in to a sex scene anyways? Let’s take a crack at it:

Jay pulled back slightly and asked ‘should we use protection?’ Sarah nodded; her face was warm as he unwrapped the foil package that read “Cherry Flavored Condom, expiry date: June 3rd, 2010”. Pleased with his concern for her well being and that it was June 3rd, 2009, she smiled. See? Not so difficult after all! Alright, the expiry date might be pushing it. But how about this?
With their lips still locked, Sarah somehow managed to find her keys and open her apartment door. They stumbled onto the couch, passionately tearing off each other's clothes as they went. As Jay ran his tongue along her body he fished a cherry flavoured condom from his discarded pants’ pocket. Pulling back, he slowly rolled the condom over his throbbing member. Sarah uttered a low groan at the site. Jay continued to run his tongue against her body until Sarah couldn't stand it anymore. "Take me now, Jay," she panted desperately. Jay lifted Sarah's legs back toward her shoulders and...I don’t know about you, but I’m just as riled up as I was that first read through. And I for one am happy to know that Jay and Sarah are reducing their risk. What’s hotter than that?

Posted by AIDS Calgary at 3:21 PM on July 9th, 2009 from The A Word: Summer Lovin'

Look What's Back!

Syphilis is on the rise in Calgary. In 2008, there have been more than 200 confirmed cases of Syphilis.

What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by bacteria called Treponema pallidum.

What are the symptoms?
Syphilis progresses in stages and people often don’t know that they are infected because the symptoms are not easy to see or feel.

What are the stages of Syphilis?
Primary Stage (9-90 days after contact) – A person infected with Syphilis will experience a painless sore where contact was made with the bacteria. The sore is highly infectious (meaning, it can be passed easily from person to person). The sore will disappear on its own, but if left untreated, the person can still pass it on to others.

Secondary Stage (1-6 months) – If left untreated, the infection progresses to the secondary stage. The person will experience a non-itchy rash somewhere on their body. The rash can sometimes appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet but it has been reported to show up elsewhere. Other symptoms include patchy hair loss, swollen lymph glands, and muscle and joint pain. Syphilis is still highly infectious at this stage.

Tertiary Stage/Latent Stages – Syphilis can stay in a person’s body for decades and if left untreated, it can progress to the later (tertiary) stages. Eventually, the bacterial infection can cause severe damage to organs and could ultimately cause death.

How is it transmitted?
Syphilis is transmitted through sexual contact (vaginal, anal, oral), from direct contact with the sore or rash if it is present, or from body fluids (semen, vaginal fluid, etc) containing the bacteria. The sores and rash generally appear where contact was first made with the bacteria (vagina, penis, inner thighs, mouth, and back of the throat). A mother can also transmit Syphilis to her baby. Syphilis testing is routine for pregnant women. If pre-natal screening and testing has not occurred, syphilis can lead to death in a new born baby.

How can I get tested for Syphilis?
The test for Syphilis is a blood test. It is not part of routine testing so a person must ask to be tested. If you do not have a family doctor, or don’t feel comfortable asking your doctor, you can access:

Calgary STD Clinic
Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre
5th Floor, 1213 – 4th Street SW
Calgary, AB, T2R 0X7

Safeworks
Safeworks has several day sites throughout the week, and also has a mobile van service. You can call them on the van after 8pm at 403-850-3755 or at the Sheldon Chumir office between 4:00-7:45pm at 403-955-6014.

Prevention
You can reduce your risk of Syphilis transmission with safer sexual practices:
- proper condom use for oral, anal and vaginal intercourse and shared sex toys
- use of gloves and/or dental dams (or condom cut lengthwise)
- communication with partner and negotiation of safer sex practices
- regular testing

Treatment
Syphilis is curable with antibiotics (usually penicillin), and it is easier to treat when diagnosed early.