What if it were ME? What if it were YOU?

[Dave]

I'm talking about being arrested, losing your job, having your bank accounts frozen, being publicly named and having your face pics posted all over the internet... and overnight, becoming internationally known for all of that.

 

That's why we started the DaddysReviews Clients: Help Rentboy Staff crowdfunding project. Let's not think about if this really were you or me, but instead, that effort...

 

I’m pleased to report that 35 readers of this forum have raised $7,700!

but...

I’m dismayed to report that (only) 35 readers of this forum have raised $7,700.

Look, I hate to have to say this again... but, this is important. I don’t want to say that EVERYONE reading this forum should contribute, because I know that there are people who are seriously struggling with their own finances right now. But unless you are in that category, I’m going to make a personal plea to you right now - to give something to this effort. Fact is, there are THOUSANDS of people reading the threads about the Rentboy arrests on this forum... and yet, only 35 of us have contributed.

 

Let's look at this another way. You benefit from reading this forum - how you personally benefit is irrelevant, the fact is, you know you do - or else you wouldn’t be here. I cannot emphasize enough that we are a community. Although many of us are affected by the Rentboy arrests and fallout from that (escort websites closing down, changing what they show or how they show it, information on guys being harder to procure, reviews being removed, escort ads being pulled, hires being slower), right now seven people in our community are very much in need of financial help. I am reposting the original request to you - a reader of this forum - by six of us who are male escorts... six of us who recognize that this is a time to come forth and help our brothers and sister. If you’ve already read it, please scroll down to the text under it, because, yep... there’s more:

 

Please join the crowdfunding campaign we have created, to support the seven staff members that were targeted in the raid.

 

A group of six of us male escorts (myself, Silas X, Master Avery, Danny Cruz, Steven Kessler, and Simply Adam) have come together to specifically ask those of you who hire, to donate to a crowdfunding campaign for the people charged as a result of the raid. This campaign is expressly directed to you - the readers of this forum on DaddysReviews.com.

 

The lives of those charged have been turned upside down:

Each individual faces 2 to 5 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Many of their personal items have been seized. They have been thrown into the public limelight. And they are now unemployed.

 

The money raised will be equally split amongst the seven Rentboy.com staff charged, and will be used at each individual’s discretion. This includes use for primary legal funds, rent, food and other resources.

 

This is their time of need. They need our help now.

 

For those of you who hire, you know that just like Daddy's Reviews, Rentboy was a safe, reputable, and discreet way to get information on escorts. The website was also widely recognized for the ways in which it gave back to the community. It supported the operations of HOOK-Online, a harm reduction organization for men in the sex industry. And most recently, Rentboy introduced a scholarship program for escorts, demonstrating it to be more than just a platform on which to advertise.

 

Recognizing Rentboy’s contributions to the industry, the six of us feel it is time the community support the staff who are now involved in this legal entanglement. It has been said that the shutdown of the Rentboy website affects everyone in the escort industry, and a growing number of people see this case as a pivotal step for the future of adult work: not only affecting how escorts advertise, but also how clients make their selections in hiring an escort. Should the Rentboy.com case become a precedent for the industry, the termination of other escort websites will follow.

 

We are asking people who hire escorts to contribute generously to this fund.

 

Please donate even if you Haven’t-Yet-But-Are-Considering-Hiring.

Or, if you're a fellow escort. We know business may be slower right now, since you're unable to advertise on Rentboy... but even a small amount from you is important support.

Finally, please donate even if you don't fit into any of the above categories, but are simply a friend of the industry.

 

It's time for all of us who know that escorting is viable, necessary and important work, to financially show what we believe. Even if it's a very small contribution, like how much you'd spend on a cup of coffee or lunch today.

 

And yet, we ask that you contribute as much as you’re able, without creating hardship on yourself. Clients, if you’re stuck on an amount, think of how much you spend on a single appointment, and perhaps consider a multiple of that.

 

Contributions may be made online at this link:

https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/daddysreviews-com-clients-help-support-rentboy--2

 

Thank you in advance,

Dave

(I know my brothers in this campaign thank you, too: Silas X, Master Avery, Danny Cruz, Steven Kessler, and Simply Adam.)

 

How can you show yourself as being part of a united community... one that supports adults engaging in the consensual act of hiring escorts - whilst simultaneously helping seven people in our community? By donating.

 

Steven Kesslar wrote: “If you could give what a typical escort charges for an hour of his time - $200 - our goal for the seven arrested would very quickly add up to $200,000.”

Steven's absolutely right. But if you can only swing $50... or even $20, that would be a great help, too!

 

Mike Carey wrote, “People should not feel that they are in some way shamed even if they can only donate $5. Every cent counts.”

Mike's absolutely right. Come on, readers of this forum - please, everyone, just GIVE SOMETHING. ANY AMOUNT. Wouldn't you feel good to know you've helped this cause?

 

WilliamM pointed out that “People can donate using the name "anonymous" and designate the amount “private."

Thank you, WilliamM, for bringing that up. We know anonymity is a concern for many people. If you (dear Reader) are one of those people, please consider making your donation with a pre-paid credit card. They're probably the best way to go. Pre-paid credit cards are those cards that supermarkets sell. You pay for it in cash and do not need to register it with the card's website. Then when you're using it on our crowdfunding site, your payment is anonymous - you do not need to list any of your personal details.

 

So please... if you haven't done so yet, please contribute to the crowdfunder for the seven arrested:

https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/daddysreviews-com-clients-help-support-rentboy--2

 

On behalf of all of the Rentboy Seven, I'll say thanks, in advance.

Dave