Published news story by Lurene K. Helzer, August 22, 2001, Bay City News, “Saturday Benefit For Clinic Serving Prostitutes”.
Email Lurene in 2014 at lurenexyz@gmail.com
I include here the edited and unedited version for the benefit of journalism students. Also, the subject is prostitution in California, so the story draws eyes in general. Photo above is of my cat, who's obviously not showing off her talents as a working girl in this 2010 photo.
Incidentally, I must mention that Margo St. James, the leading figure in this 2001 news story I wrote, was married to San Francisco Chronicle journalist Paul Avery, the leading reporter on the "Zodiac Killer" case. Avery even received a threat from the Zodiac, a card. The Zodiac was never caught, and Avery died in December of 2000.
Outside that interesting note, the reason I use the story’s original and edited form is to let people understand some of the mechanics of the American print media. The edited version includes the work of editors at BCN.
The reader should try to notice that there is no special set of editing rules for stories about prostitution, murder, fraud, or whatever. Whether the subject is prostitution, terrorism, or city budgets, the rules are similar. This is an important point, however obvious it may seem.
Why is it important? On too many occasions to count this April 1, 2010, I’ve read or listened to commentators from the Mideast. It’s often the same, tired saw: “The American media depicts us unfairly, like we are all backward, all terrorists.” Such critics are under the impression the media use different standards when reporting on issues involving Moslems.
This thinking displays only Islam’s pompous nature, as far as I’m concerned.
What the American media needs to answer back to Islam is this: “We are not your PR agents. If you blew up a subway this week in Moscow, you blew up a subway this week in Moscow. If you want a business to depict you in a flattering light, you’re knocking on the wrong door."
Nevertheless, I see Islam starting (again) now with Russia. My guess, as an American, is that Islam will obtain poor results. By 2013, they’ll wish they’d chosen a more sensible course:
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)
Margo St. James, the founder of an infirmary for sex workers, well-known for her advocacy of issues related to prostitution, was on the steps of city hall today to publicize a clinic fundraiser this weekend and to speak against prohibition laws.
“They haven’t done anything except what guys paid them to do,” said St. James of the women she has been trying to help since the early 1970s.
St. James began COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics) in 1973 to promote health care, political representation and legal rights for prostitutes. She says that because of its prohibition, prostitution is as stigmatized and dangerous as alcohol consumption was during the years of the 18th Amendment, passed in 1919 and repealed in 1933.
“It’s the whole stigma,” said St. James. “Every woman’s afraid of being called a whore.”
Her 7th Street clinic, called the St. James Infirmary, provides services not only to women, but also to transgendered and gay male prostitutes.
She said the trauma, disease and violence typically found in prostitution is associated with its illegality in the first place, rather than the profession alone.
Also, she pointed out that there is a societal push on men to seek sexual gratification, regardless of the cost to society. She used the aggressive promotion of Viagra by the pharmaceutical industry as an example. Meanwhile, she said, the women having sex with these men – quite often not the wives – are punished.
“Most current services for prostitutes are offered in the context of the correctional system. The St. James Infirmary is different,” she said.
The clinic looks at the normal range of issues a patient may have, not just STDs and wounds caused by violence, she said.
Patients come into the clinic with everything from back problems to urological complaints, she said. “Some Asian masseuses have never seen a doctor in their lives,” St. James said. It is poverty seen often in immigrant women who do such illegal work, she said.
A benefit for the clinic is taking place this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Lost City 23 Club at 23 Visitacion Ave. in Brisbane. There will be about 11 performers, some prizes, a barbecue and a no-host bar. Tickets at the door at $25. – END –
EDITED VERSION
The founder of an infirmary for sex workers stood on the steps of San Francisco City Hall today to publicize a weekend fund-raising event for the clinic and to speak against prohibition laws.
Margo St. James said her Seventh Street clinic, called the St. James Infirmary, provides services not only to women, but also to transgendered and gay male prostitutes. She said the trauma, disease and violence typically found in prostitution cases is associated with its illegality and lack of candor among victims who fear prosecution.
“They haven’t done anything except what guys paid them to do,” said St. James of the women she has been trying to help since the early 1970s.
St. James, well known for her advocacy of issues related to prostitution, began COYOTE -- Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics -- in 1973 to promote health care, political representation and legal rights for prostitutes.
She says that because of its illegal status, prostitution is stigmatized and dangerous, somewhat like alcohol consumption during the years of prohibition between 1919 and 1933.
“It’s the whole stigma,” St. James said. “Every woman’s afraid of being called a whore.”
She said there is also pressure for men to seek sexual gratification, regardless of the cost to society. She cited the aggressive promotion of Viagra by the pharmaceutical industry as an example.
Meanwhile, she said it is the female prostitutes, not the male customers, who are most often punished.
The St. James clinic, now celebrating its second anniversary, aims to help sex workers address their health needs in a less judgmental setting.
“Most current services for prostitutes are offered in the context of the correctional system. The St. James Infirmary is different,” she said.
The clinic looks at the normal range of issues a patient may have, not just sexually transmitted diseases or wounds caused by violence, she said. Patients come into the clinic with everything from back problems to urological complaints, she said.
“Some Asian masseuses have never seen a doctor in their lives,” St. James said, noting that many prostitutes are struggling with poverty as well as health ailments.
The benefit for the clinic will be held Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Lost City 23 Club at 23 Visitacion Ave. in Brisbane. There will be about 11 performers, some prizes, a barbecue and a no-host bar. Tickets at the door at $25. – END –
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