Tampa escort arrested

[+ cougar]

The St. Petersburg Times today had an article about a local escort that was arrested in Tampa on sex cahrges and criminal transmission of HIV. It is an interesting article, cause this man is a local activist.

http://sptimes.com/2004/03/25/Hillsborough/Activist_arrested_on_.shtml

[Guest DevonSFescort]

My search was hardly exhaustive, but I haven't been able to find any of this guy's ads that the article referred to, therefore I don't know whether or not he was upfront about being poz.

 

If he WAS, then his arrest strikes me as being especially unfortunate, because it would create yet another incentive for poz escorts not to disclose, thus discouraging honorable behavior by punishing the good guys. The story also didn't make clear (unless I missed it) whether or not barebacking was discussed before the arrest, and the answer to that question would also tend to either add or subtract to how bad I think this news is.

 

But even if the escort was closeted about being poz in his escort life and also agreed to bareback (in which case he doesn't get much respect from me), if the newspaper account is accurate, it seems clear that this guy is being punished not so much for prostitution (or even for the felony with which he's charged) -- I doubt those anonymous letters were the first time the police had been made aware of whatever websites the escort's ads were on -- but for his political activism. As Jeff's recent experience suggests and this story REALLY suggests, it's one thing to be a whore, but to be a whore who chooses to behave like an engaged citizen in a democracy -- now THAT's a little too threatening for Big "Benevolent" Brother to let slide.

 

You could very credibly argue that the truly stomach-churning hypocrisy of a poz political activist who, as a hooker, doesn't disclose his HIV status but DOES bareback (and I want to stress that I'm speaking HYPOTHETICALLY, since it is not at all clear to me that this is what happened) would at least mean his arrest carries the consolation of poetic justice to it. But the poetic justice, it seems to me, is outweighed by the political injustice of singling out this particular (again, HYPOTHETICALLY speaking) non-disclosing, barebacking hooker for his activism.

 

Silver lining: it's not like he got killed or maimed in Iraq. That would definitely be a much more unpleasant experience. (I know how vitally relevant that comparison is for some of you, so in the spirit of congenial debate I'll save you the trouble of making that point.) :*

[Guest DevonSFescort]

My search was hardly exhaustive, but I haven't been able to find any of this guy's ads that the article referred to, therefore I don't know whether or not he was upfront about being poz.

 

If he WAS, then his arrest strikes me as being especially unfortunate, because it would create yet another incentive for poz escorts not to disclose, thus discouraging honorable behavior by punishing the good guys. The story also didn't make clear (unless I missed it) whether or not barebacking was discussed before the arrest, and the answer to that question would also tend to either add or subtract to how bad I think this news is.

 

But even if the escort was closeted about being poz in his escort life and also agreed to bareback (in which case he doesn't get much respect from me), if the newspaper account is accurate, it seems clear that this guy is being punished not so much for prostitution (or even for the felony with which he's charged) -- I doubt those anonymous letters were the first time the police had been made aware of whatever websites the escort's ads were on -- but for his political activism. As Jeff's recent experience suggests and this story REALLY suggests, it's one thing to be a whore, but to be a whore who chooses to behave like an engaged citizen in a democracy -- now THAT's a little too threatening for Big "Benevolent" Brother to let slide.

 

You could very credibly argue that the truly stomach-churning hypocrisy of a poz political activist who, as a hooker, doesn't disclose his HIV status but DOES bareback (and I want to stress that I'm speaking HYPOTHETICALLY, since it is not at all clear to me that this is what happened) would at least mean his arrest carries the consolation of poetic justice to it. But the poetic justice, it seems to me, is outweighed by the political injustice of singling out this particular (again, HYPOTHETICALLY speaking) non-disclosing, barebacking hooker for his activism.

 

Silver lining: it's not like he got killed or maimed in Iraq. That would definitely be a much more unpleasant experience. (I know how vitally relevant that comparison is for some of you, so in the spirit of congenial debate I'll save you the trouble of making that point.) :*