It is the province of knowledge to speak, and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen. – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Over the past three years I’ve slowly built up a reputation as an activist, and I’m frequently consulted by journalists, academics and even lawyers (those which leave discernible traces online are linked on my “Offsite” page). Better still, a number of activists I truly respect read my blog either frequently or regularly; I hope to meet some of them in person at the Desiree Alliance convention in Las Vegas this July. Last September, I attended the Southern Harm Reduction and Drug Policy Conference in Atlanta, and convention organizer Robert Childs asked me to give guest lectures on two successive days at two branches of Oklahoma State University this April. But all of these venues will be friendly ones; today I’m participating in the Albany Law School’s annual symposium, whose topic this year is “Voiceless Cargo: Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery in the Modern Era”. And though I’m sure everyone will be totally professional, at the same time I’m well aware (as the title of the event alone should tell you) that though the audience may be receptive to some of what I have to say, I honestly don’t expect my fellow panelists to be.
Still, I think it’s important that I be there. The organizers thought highly enough of my work and my opinions to invite me, pay for my airfare to Albany and hotel for two nights, and assemble several hundred law students, faculty and guests to hear what I have to say. And that’s important not because of who I am, but because of what I am: a retired sex worker. Not a prohibitionist shill parroting the typical horror stories, but an established critic of the “trafficking” narrative chosen to present that critical view. Usually, the “sex trafficking” bandwagon just goes rolling along, horns blowing and drums beating, and the voices of real sex workers are drowned out; we are treated as things to be talked about rather than subject-matter experts to be talked to. But this time, the organizers recognized the need for our viewpoint; this time somebody said, “hey, why don’t we find out what at least one real sex worker has to say about all this?” Nor am I being treated as a token; I’ve been invited to contribute a scholarly paper to the law school’s journal along with the other participants, and have even been offered help putting it into the proper format so I don’t end up looking like an idjit.
So even though I’m slightly terrified of the event, and wholly terrified of the flights to and from Albany, I think this is important; I’m wholly aware that I’m not there merely as a representative of Maggie McNeill, but as an ambassadress for my whole profession, and that’s a huge responsibility I do not take lightly. I promise I will do my very best to be sensible and levelheaded and charming, and to voice the concerns of sex workers in general rather than concentrating on mine in particular. So I got my physician to prescribe a strong anti-nausea drug, went out and bought an appropriately legal-looking suit, and flew up here yesterday; I suspect I’ll be awfully tied up today and tomorrow (when I fly home), so if y’all don’t see me “tweeting” or replying to any comments, that’s why. Unless I succumb to brain fever I should be back at my desk on Saturday morning, doing what I usually do. So pray for me, wish me luck, cross your fingers, beam positive vibes or just trust me to do my best (whichever one fits your own belief system or lack thereof), and a week from today (March 7th) I’ll report on how everything went…which I hope will be, in the balance, positive.
If the quality of your presentation is only half as good as the quality of your blog, you have nothing to worry about. Be confident and have fun.
Into the Lion’s den, so to speak! My hero and my crush. Knock ’em out and knock ’em down, too.
Hi Maggie
I definitely feel that what you are doing is very important, it is very clear that their is dreadfully little accurate information on this subject.
I hope the experience will be a good one, however please be aware (as I’m sure you already are), that some people may have a hostile reaction to what you say (which in itself has stifled debate and brought us to this sorry state of affairs).
I am very new to your blog, but I have found it informative and insightful, however I’ve no doubt some people will feel threatened by what you say.
Still it comes down to each of use to decide should we do what is “right” or what is “easy”, often the two options are not necessary the same.
Naturally should you meet any individual who become hostile because of your words please put it down to a deficiency in their character rather than any fault on your part (by trying to debate a subject).
Of course my statements above may be entirely unnecessary and this may be water of a ducks back to you, in which case please accept my apologies for my presumption and put it down to me being new here.
Either way I hope the experience is enjoyable and fulfilling and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and theories when you get back.
Good luck, Maggie! It sounds like you’re going into a forum that may be hostile but will at least be polite and engaging. Knock ’em out!
I wish you the best of luck in this Maggie – and I’m glad to see you confronting your discomfort with flying to attend this.
But …
Watch out. I was on a panel once and I got my ass almost literally beaten by an audience of about 200 people. I was explaining (and defending) Navy manpower policies – some of which had been my own idea which the Flag Officer I worked for had adopted. These policies were more “business oriented” and Sailors didn’t like them. The other panelists with me were all senior enlisted people – but they had no connection to manpower – so of course they defended more liberal assignment policies for Sailors.
Logic – just didn’t apply to that audience – nor to the panelists. I got hit with bullshit scenarios that I know had never happened but some in the audience declared them true and the rest nodded. It was very frustrating.
The only thing I managed to accomplish – was to maintain my “cool”. Losing my “cool” would have only provided validation to the audience that they were right.
I did panels after that – and they all went pretty smoothly because I learned how to deal with some of the trip-wires an audience and a panel will set up. I learned how to answer the “bullshit hypothetical” that never happens.
Be careful and good luck.
I have to agree with krulac on occasion the discussion is biased right from the beginning.
In which case its best just to shrug your shoulders and get on with life once its over.
Hopefully this will not be the case and this is an honest discussion.
I second Krulac’s comment. Debates are about winning and losing, not finding truth. You can be absolutely right on all counts and still “lose” if your opponents can shovel bullshit faster and more persuasively than you.
Not to mention that public speaking’s a bitch in its own right. Good luck. Do well.
Try not to bruise their egos too badly, Maggie. 😉
Thanks for all the good thoughts, everybody! I had two truly awful flights yesterday, but a good night’s sleep has put me to rights so I can promise I’ll be in top form this afternoon. At least two of the symposium’s organizer’s are readers and one described himself as a “big fan”, so they definitely know my positions. I don’t expect the students in the audience to be majority-hostile because young people tend to be more sex-positive and open to new ideas, though obviously the faculty is older and some may be quite resistant. I don’t feel I need to win everyone over to succeed today; I just have to get them thinking and convince a good fraction of the audience that maybe the narrative as popularly presented is badly flawed.
If you speak there like you write here, you’ll get them thinking, unless they’re so close-minded there’s no hope for them.
This is great………….i hope your able to take someone along for support.
PS.. Im terrified of flying to
Hey…one more comment… Can we get a podcast of your talk???
Maggie, the Albany Government Law Review is honored to have you with us today and thrilled to have your voice at our Symposium! We look forward to hearing your uniquely qualified insights into this critical area of public policy, and we hope you enjoy your time here in Albany!
Knock ’em dead, kiddo.
Maggie, knock ’em alive! You are the perfect ambassadoress. Ambassadortrix? So grateful you are doing this. Those of us that are like minded SO NEED YOU to get out there and speak/present/show up. Feel the fear and do it anyways. You will be fabulous, as you always are. The more you do things like this the easier it will become. So just do it! and do it some more! and know that my titties are crossed and I’m on my knees doing sex magic for you. xxx Go Maggie! And thank you. Your voice is so important. The symposium picked the perfect person. Just imagine that you are teflon and their judgements and ignorance doesn’t stick to you. Just rolls off your back. And if your buttons get pushed, look inside yourself and see what it is you are judging about yourself or your beliefs. Use it to grow. If you learn you win. Go girl go!!!! Thanks for sharing your feelings/process, and let us know all the juicy details of how it went.
PS– Actually I often find these days that the professors are more open minded than the students that grew up in the AIDS era. And the “anti-trafficing” zeitgeist. Can’t wait to hear what happens.
Watch live or archived! http://www.totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=albanylaw
Good for you, Maggie. Not an easy thing to face a (possibly) hostile audience but I’m sure you’ll do it very well.
One thing I am damned sure of: You’re no idjit.
Go get ’em, lady. 🙂
Maggie feel free to use the stats from my OpEdNews article “Making Sex A Crime, ( http://www.opednews.com/articles/Making-Sex-a-Crime-by-Richard-Girard-120324-103.html,) and go get’em lady. Make them look dumb and ill-informed.
You’re going to be at Oklahoma State in April? The main campus in Stillwater? Could you please let us know the time and place ahead of time?
I’d say I’m praying for you but, since I’m reading this late in the day, the event is probably over. I’m sure you did great, and I’m eagerly awaiting your report. It’s wonderful that you’re doing this sort of thing.
Maggie, when you get back, I’ll be interested to read your opinions about this….
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/16/iceland-online-pornography
The disease is not just spreading, it’s mutating! 🙁
Belated good wishes, Maggie.
Obligatory wise crack…
Men paying for you to travel to them and stay in a hotel? I thought you said you retired!
Thanks, everyone! Everything went extremely well at the symposium; I was made to feel very welcome, and the audience was clearly interested in what I had to say. I also spent a great deal of time talking to students (and some faculty) at the reception after the symposium. I really feel as though what I said was heard and deeply considered by many people, which really gives me hope for the future! I’ll write my thoughts in more detail for this coming Thursday’s column.
As far behind as I’ve let myself get, I wasn’t able to wish you luck in this specific endeavor. However, I wish you luck in what you are doing for sex workers, their clients, and sex-positive thought and policy in general, on a continuing basis, and that would include this. I was not surprised when you said that things went well; as soon as I read this I knew that you would do well. My only concern was the other people involved, and I got, i don’t know, kind of a vibe that they weren’t going to shout you down and out pitchforks and the entrance.
You make me proud, and I ain’t even a sex worker. Well, an unpaid pornographer maybe. 😉
and HAND out pitchforks