Arts & Entertainment
 

Sex workers speak against injustice

Prostitutes use art in different mediums to expose, attack political, social stigmatization

By Blake Whitaker
The Daily Cougar

The subject of prostitution is one with which the average American probably lacks close experience. Even patrons of sex workers may not have a clear idea of the complex attitudes of the men and women involved in the industry.

However, Wednesday night at the Axiom, sex workers from across the continent had a chance to express themselves and recount their experiences through music, dance, poetry and prose at the Sex Worker's Art Show Tour. Their performances were hilarious, exciting and deeply emotional, as they sought to promote "safety, autonomy and respect" for sex workers everywhere.

The show began with an introduction by master of ceremonies Annie Oakley, a young artist/sex worker whose fantastically gaudy sequined outfit was accompanied by a down-to-earth, friendly attitude. The Axiom, a mid-sized bar and performance space east of downtown, was packed with mostly younger show-goers, most of whom were taking in a few drinks before the show started. After the brief intro, Oakley, along with co-worker Blake, followed the introduction with a sloppy, energetic Misfits cover. The song set the tone for a show that was to be part poetry reading and part Vaudeville. 

The first performer was Ducky Doolittle, an ex-New York City peep show dancer who spoke to the audience about the trials and eventual rewards of growing up with a few "funny little" afflictions including slightly deformed legs and a bladder condition that resulted in her developing super-strong vaginal muscles. Her experiences offered an amusing view into the early life of an unapologetic, talented sex worker. After Doolittle's set, Lambda Award-winning author Michelle Tea read a hilarious short story about her experience starting out in the sex industry.

Next up was rapper Tre Vasquez, who represents the barely existent queer hip-hop scene. His set, which involved only a microphone and a drum machine, actually leaned closer toward spoken word, but offered insight into the relationship between racism and prostitution.

Burlesque dancer Erochica Bamboo was next up, and easily stood out as one of the night's most viscerally engaging performers. Hailing from Tokyo, the delicate dancer, writer and filmmaker was the winner of the Miss Exotic World 2003 title. The relatively small venue allowed her to work the crowd as she performed a sensual, graceful routine. 

Canadian writer and activist Tralala Farsi Sentiamo followed Bamboo with a reading in which she described a character dealing with a cocaine-addled, perverse client by fantasizing about the woman she loved. The story dealt with a disturbing situation in a defiant and light-hearted manner.

Dominatrix Ana Jae, who was incredibly pleasant despite the requirements of her profession, took the stage after Sentiamo. She read short accounts of various clients and experience, including one of a fellow junkie and friend who died during a stint as her house-call driver. Most of the stories were more humorous. Before leaving the stage, Jae offered a word of advice for anyone visiting an inexperienced dominatrix: Don't expect her to remember to remove the enema.

After a brief intermission during which two sex toys were raffled off, Bamboo performed another routine, this time to the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K." With her creative interpretation and venture into the crowd, she somehow managed to top her earlier performance.

The climax of the show came when Scarlet Harlot, activist, prostitute and coiner of the term "sex worker," took the stage in a giant American flag to perform a routine including comedy, a song titled "Bad Laws" and some information on the legal issues surrounding the sex trade. Harlot condensed more than two-and-a-half decades of wisdom into a few minutes of entertainment and free stickers.

Sex Workers Art Show

The Axiom, 2524 McKinney Ave.

The Verdict: All of the talented artists of the SWAS contributed to fulfilling the show's mission, as well as entertaining the audience.

Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu