How do you become a male prostitute in New York City? For one man it was as simple as typing that question into Google. The Red Umbrella Diaries, an upcoming documentary, offers an empowering look at seven sex workers without the shame that often accompanies many such exposés. Included here is a look at a trans woman who shares her story of growing up in churches that tried to fix her and finding her way to religion and family as an adult who does sex work, and there’s the tale of a gay man who reveals how hooking saved him from poverty and brought him back from a breakdown.
The film is expected to premiere in film festivals next year. Watch the trailer, which contains some NSFW language, below.
Geeker
So the moral of the story is anyone can be a hooker?
Trippy
I’ve never really understood why our contemporary live-and-let-live culture demonizes sex workers to the degree that we do. We put porn stars on pedestals and turn turn up our noses at prostitutes. Strangely hypocritical.
doug105
@Trippy: Too many drug users and criminals on the low end, which is most of what people see.
Geeker
@Trippy: Who idolizes porn stars? They’re just prostitutes that do it in front of a camera.
Trippy
@Geeker: Well, you can start with Francois Sagat and Jenna Jameson, and then go from there.
Geeker
I’m sure they have fans but I doubt many “idolize” them.
Milk
Many people who just can’t reconcile their sexual desire and their moral shame of it. Porn and prostitution in a way represents the underground guilty pleasure. Both provide sexual releases with no condition attach. It’s no accident all those selfies and personal sex tapes, internet hook up sites and grindr and tinder are at the forefront these days. It’s the ever evolving human sexuality. One hope that eventually those who took the moral high ground come out of their closets and accept sex like food is a natural essence of life. Porn actors and hookers provide services for many to lead a healthy life.
Geeker
I actually think people who escort are probably far more psychologically sound than those that do porn. Porn performers seem to have an deep and sometimes desperate need for attention and validation that sadly often leads them to more and more extreme acts and behaviors.
vive
@Trippy, yes, it is hypocritical. Ironically, the demonization of (female) sex work comes from both the conservative “upright-morals” brigade and the liberal feminist brigade. They provide different pretexts, but the fact that both sides are most vocally led by women is instructive, suggesting that it may be something as primitive as female mate competition behavior at the root of it.
Something similar may be going on in the case of demonization of male sex workers by some gay men.
vive
@Geeker, many porn actors make their real money from escorting. The porn is a form of advertising rather than a need for attention.
But in any case a need for attention and validation drives almost all Hollywood stars and politicians, and I don’t see you condemning them for it.
orcanyc
Congrat’s on what looks like a fascinating film. Very brave of these people to come out of the shadows.
onthemark
Well they’re talking about NYC – you either need to be a millionaire or a sex worker just to live there nowadays.
Saint Law
@vive: The reasons women go in to sex work are overwhelmingly economic. Objecting to the exploitation, victimisation and abuse that often accompanies such work – that is, often, the trigger for the decision to undertake it in the first place, is not a “pretext”.
That you appear to believe feminists have formulated such objections because they really want those johns for themselves sounds more like sour grapes on your part, you truly bizarre little kween.
tricky ricky
none of those people look like they’re worth spending money on for sex.
SteveDenver
Sex work should be legalized, licensed and taxed.
SteveDenver
@tricky ricky: Do you often miss the entire point?
SportGuy
@tricky ricky:
Well if someone is paying them for sex then it’s probably because they are also not attractive, so it works, two ugly people get what they both need.
Geeker
@vive: Most Hollywood stars and politicians are screwed up too so there’s that. I wonder if his clients know that Sailor guy does bareback porn?
restoretherainbow
This looks like a must watch. It’s presented in a humanistic way, people opening up their lives and sharing their journey for us to learn. It’s gratifying to see that the documentary is striving to be three dimensional and rather than offering up some kind of faux moral cleansing.
vive
@Saint Law: “That you appear to believe feminists have formulated such objections because they really want those johns for themselves, you miserable [denigrating term omitted]”
Only if you fail to recognize that the johns include some of their husbands.
And many feminists on the left are pro-sex-work, by the way.
Clark35
*yawn* Another queerty article that glamorizes prostitution.