this american whore
my, my siouxsie q, i have to say we all love the this american whore podcasts here at powder; we find them thought-provoking and provocative. so i’m wondering, how did you come to start the program and what do you seek to achieve with it?
I love podcasts. I listen to Dan Savage and the Moth all the time. I realized that there wasn't a podcast out there that showcased sex workers and truly talked about sex politics in an intelligent, provocative, and entertaining way. So I thought...why don't I make that podcast?
your interviewees relate arresting anecdotes; can you recount a few of your favourite moments or stories from the show?
I love Maggie Mayhem's story about the client she had that had a serial killer/necrophilia fantasy and she was able to help him realize it in a safe way. I also love when Maxine Holloway waxes poetic in Episode 1 about fucking Meghan McCain in the desert.
a new piece of legislation has been passed in california, prop thirty five. can you explain what this legislation is and why you, as a sex worker, do not support it?
Prop 35 is a very deceptive piece of legislation. It is marketed as a "Human Trafficking Law" that will "crack down" on human traffickers by increasing the severity of punishment. Of course Human Trafficking is an atrocity that needs to be addressed, but Prop 35 will lump ANYONE who profits from ANY kind of prostitution into the category of "human trafficker" or "victim of human trafficking". All prostitutes are not victims and have not been "trafficked". And anyone who shares in the profits of prostitution (including partners and family members of prostitutes) should not automatically be seen as a "pimp" or a "human trafficker" in the eyes of the law. I have a close friend who lives with her Grandmother and does escorting to help pay her and her Grandmother's rent. Under Prop 35 if my friend was arrested for prostitution, her Grandmother might face "human trafficking" charges and could face jail time and would have to register as "sex offender" for the rest of her life.
Prop 35 does not adequately address the actual problem of Human Trafficking and instead will target honest people trying to make a living.
you seek to broaden the awareness of the situation of sex workers; what are the main difficulties that they face?
I can only speak for myself, but social stigma is I think the root of many dangers for sex workers. Sex Work is not stigmatized because it is dangerous, it is dangerous because it is stigmatized. I hope I see the day where sex worker rights and human rights are more synonymous.
and what about you, siouxsie q, what was your life like before your podcasts and how did you come to be in your profession?
I identify as a whore. It is part of my identity and am proud to say that. I entered the sex industry 4 years ago and I have never once regretted it. The podcast is a window into my world and my point of view that is very pro-sex work. I want to share a little slice of my life with my listeners.
what’s the best thing about your line of work? do you have any favourite experiences?
The best part of my line of work is the freedom it gives me to do exactly what I want to do in life. Being a sex worker allows me to also have a podcast, write a play, be a singer/songwriter, and still pay my rent. It's also awesome to be my own boss, make my own hours and be part of an amazing community of revolutionaries, artists, and radical perverts.
i’ve got a bit of a penchant for fashion. do you have any prized outfits or make up products that you like to wear?
For me, my femme gear is my armor. Red lipstick, seamed stockings, high waisted panties and garter belts, and shiny black high heels are like a second skin to me. It's like my super hero costume.
you stand as a public figure for sex workers. are there any sex workers that you hold in esteem as role models?
I remember reading about Annie Sprinkle and Carol Queen in my college classes and knowing that those ladies were my role models. Now they're my friends too!
some of my feminist friends may question your integrity. what would you say to them and do you consider yourself a feminist?
I am most definitely a feminist. One of the main tenets of feminism is that people should be able to choose what they do with their own bodies--and for me, that's sex work.
lastly, what’s next for siouxsie q? where do you see the podcast going and do you have any other projects in line?
I hope that This American Whore becomes huge. A household name. I hope that the podcast really changes the way people view sex workers and helps make strides in the Sex Worker Rights Movement.
Next for me is the premier of FishGirl, my original stage play (its about sex work and mermaids) And in May I'll be launching my own porn site. 2013 should be a good year.
thanks for talking to us at powder siouxsie. it’s certainly been a pleasure and we look forward to listening to you in the future with baited breath.
Thank you so much!
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