A few quick news notes and updates for you on this Sunday.

Sacred Sex Workers Speak Out: Vice Magazine/VBS Television recently launched a series called “Prostitutes of God” about sex workers dedicated to the goddess Yellamma in India, the devadasis. While the documentary presented a picture of exploitation, slavery, and disease, the women interviewed claim their stories were mangled, that Vice outed a HIV+ woman and implied that she was spreading the disease, and that they were not allowed to view the product before it aired. Veshya Anyay Mukti Parishad (‘Prostitutes’ Freedom from Injustice’) or “VAMP” (part of SANGRAM) has released an open letter listing their charges against Vice and film-maker Sarah Harris, and produced a Youtube video where the women speak out.

“In the age of the Internet, women in countries far away who used to be the objects of white people’s gaze with no right of reply now have access to the representations that are made of them, and the technological means to answer back. A naive westerner may seize the headlines, but there’s now scope for there to be a debate and to bring those who in the past would have remained voiceless victims into that debate to represent themselves. It is a great opportunity to put the record straight. While VAMP continues to explore possible legal and other actions to redress the violations detailed above, we ask that you upload the VAMP film in the comments section on your website. This would go some way toward not only allowing voice to the women of Sangli, but also providing much-needed debate on sensitive issues like sex work, livelihoods, choice and religion.”

This issue has been taken up across the feminist blogosphere, including Bitch Magazine, Feministing, RH Reality Check, and Waking Vixen. In addition, Mumbai-based filmmaker Paromita Vohra criticizes Harris for not doing the “hard work of questioning your assumptions” in making this film series. So far neither Vice nor Harris has responded to the allegations made against them, though they have (without comment) removed the clip outing sex worker Belavva’s HIV status without her consent. As many have pointed out in the links above, the days when 1st-world Western documentary makers can swoop in and make judgments about a culture without feedback or rebuttal are coming to an end. Perhaps this galvanizing moment will change the way the subject is handled and reported on in the future.

More on Patrick McCollum’s Court Appearance: The Lady Liberty League has posted an update on Patrick McCollum’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals appearance.

“[David] Kiernan [Patrick's lawyer] pointed out that special accommodation of the Abrahamic faiths has dominated the State’s religious accommodation policies for over 50 years, and that the only reason the Native Americans have been included is because they sued. I think it is time for the State of California to recognize the diversity of religion in the United States and its duty to accommodate religion in an unbiased manner. The State has a duty to the people of California and the United States to uphold the Constitution, not to serve as the advocates for preferred faiths or as the promoters of preferred theologies.”

You can find links to listen or download the October 7th oral arguments, here. You can find a summary of what this case is about, here. You can read all of my coverage of Patrick McCollum and his activities, here. For those who want to give aid and support to Patrick during this case, check out the Lady Liberty League’s support page. You can be sure that I’ll keep you informed as this moves forward.

Those Darn Pagan Vampires: An Arizona couple have allegedly stabbed a transient man after he refused to let them suck his blood on a second occasion. That man, Robert Maley, claims Aaron Homer and Amanda Williamson were into “vampire stuff and paganism”.

“Police said they were called to a home at 625 N. Alma School Road, where they found Homer and Williamson with a lot of blood in the apartment, as well as a trail of blood leaving the apartment. Initial statements by Homer indicated Williamson had been attacked by the unidentified person, police said, and that she stabbed him in self-defense. After being confronted by police, Homer admitted to stabbing the other man because he was making fun of Homer and Williamson’s religion, according to police.“

Of course we have no clue if the couple were actually “Pagan” or what kind of “rituals” they were performing, or even how serious their attributed vampiric identity is. Already some news outlets are saying that “the vampire trend has taken a dangerous turn”, as though this couple were somehow on an even keel until they read Twilight, and then decided to stab a homeless man. This is one of those stories were more information was needed before speculation should have started.

That’s all I have for now, have a great day!

I want to direct your attention to a heart-wrenching New Yorker piece about women within the devadasi system (essentially sacred prostitutes) in India who are increasingly ravaged by HIV/AIDS, loss of social standing, and poverty. These women are dedicated/married to Yellamma, patron goddess of the down-trodden, and protector of prostitutes.

“Yellamma never wanted it to be like this,” Rani said. “The goddess is sitting silently,” Kaveri said. “We don’t know what feelings she has about us. Who really knows what she is thinking?” “No,” Rani said, firmly shaking her head. “The goddess looks after us. When we are in distress, she comes to us. Sometimes in our dreams. Sometimes in the form of one of her children.” “It is not the goddess’s doing.” “The world has made it like this.” “The world, and the disease.” “The goddess dries our tears,” Rani said. “If you come to her with a pure heart, she will take away your sadness and your sorrows. What more can she do?”

While the devadasi are given more respect than “common” prostitutes, and are often invited to give their blessings to weddings and other festivals, they still live in poverty, are usually sold into the practice as children, and are often abandoned by their family if they can no longer contribute fiscally due to illness.

“Later, I asked one of the project managers of an N.G.O. working in Belgaum about AIDS and how the devadasis’ families reacted. ‘It’s terrible,’ she said. ‘The families are happy to live off them and use the money they earn. But as soon as they become infected, or at least become bedridden and sick, they are dumped in a ditch—sometimes literally. Just abandoned.’”

William Dalrymple’s haunting piece paints a picture of sacred prostitution that is anything but sacred. In trying to address this problem, some have tried to introduce “de-initiation” ceremonies, unbinding them from what the women see as their unchangeable fate. Others have attacked the system itself as an upper-class method of control, while government agencies have tried to enforce dedication prohibition through education campaigns. Until these women are given a better life through social and legal reforms, one can only hope that their goddess will give them the comfort and protection they pray for.