Be Careful What You Wish For

Chagall's David and Bathsheba

Psalm 14:1b “there is no one who does good.” David, oh David. I’ve probably heard 72 sermons on David and Bathsheba. I’ve probably preached 4 or 5 myself. I’ve heard the text used as a morality tale about idle time. I’ve heard it as an example of violence against women. I’ve heard it as an [...]

Never Too Late

trau·ma  (trôm, trou-) n. pl. trau·mas or trau·ma·ta (-m-t) 1. A serious injury or shock to the body, as from violence or an accident. 2. An emotional wound or shock that creates substantial, lasting damage to the psychological development of a person, often leading to neurosis. 3. An event or situation that causes great distress [...]

“I work in a church, and we have sex workers”

Map of Malawi

This morning in the Global Village of the 2012 International AIDS Conference, a gentleman from Malawi approached our desk with some trepidation. “Is there a contact list where I can sign up?” he asked. A volunteer said, “I don’t think so, but if you’ll leave your information, I’ll make sure that you get on a [...]

Harm Reduction 101—Options

HIV Sign

Harm reduction is the philosophy of service that respects an individual’s choices, is nonjudgmental, and provides options that can help them lead healthier lives. While not as controversial as it once was, harm reduction programs often offer condoms to teenagers (or to anyone who is having sex) to reduce their risk of STIs including HIV/AIDS, [...]

Why Should You Care?

Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. Exodus 22:22-24 I’ve been blogging a lot more about sex [...]

Save Us from Saviours

I consider this concept in my book due out in November,  I Heart Sex Workers: A Christian Response to People in the Sex Trade. If the people you are trying help do not like you, you should rethink your strategy.

AIDS in America

The Washington Post had a special section yesterday on AIDS in America. In an article named “The invisible epidemic” there were these staggering numbers: About 1.2 million Americans are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of that total, 80 percent know they are [...]

Anti-Prostitution Pledge

Red Ribbon

Are you aware that funding from the United States is given to NGOs (non-governmental organizations) around the world to fight HIV/AIDS? Are you also aware that they have to sign an anti-prostitution pledge to receive those funds? The pledge reads like this: No funds…may be used to provide assistance to any group or organization that [...]

Sex Work and Arrest

This will probably be the first of many posts about the police and sex work. Most people who take the time to think about sex workers think that sex workers should stop selling sex. So they propose several ways to make trading sex more difficult, less profitable, and riskier. They create Prostitution Free Zones, they  [...]

Not in My Neighborhood

  A friend read my post on sex workers in the neighborhood. He said it reminded him of this story: When I was about 6 or 7, I dropped an ice cream on the sidewalk in my neighbor’s yard. I was really upset that I had lost my ice cream. The neighbor ran out into [...]