THE SEXUAL FREEDOM COALITION

Tomorrow the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill 2008 will have its second reading in the House of Lords and they have sneaked some terrible clauses into the Bill, which will put innocent people in prison, and on the sex offenders register. Many of these people will be disabled people, who have a hard time finding partners and enjoying sex like other people, and may have to resort to pornography and sex workers for their mental health.

Section 64 on the possession of extreme pornographic images would criminalise the downloading and possession of some images of BDSM sex (Bondage, Domination, Sadism & Masochism). Disabled people have a hard enough time enjoying more conventional sexual lives, but fetishistic sex can be even more out of reach, both because of the prejudice they face in society generally, and because of often limited access to appropriate venues. Because of this, disabled people often need to rely on the internet and films for their satisfaction and mental and physical well-being. These proposals will therefore have a disproportionate impact on many people with a physical disability, by adding yet another barrier.

Clause 104 rightly abolishes to the biased term "common prostitute" but will mean more women are arrested.

Clause 105 should be replaced by Amendment 11 and be deleted as it will force sex workers into prison.

New Clause 2 will force rehabilitation of prostitutes and the criminalisation of clients, many of whom are disabled and need to see sex workers. Can you imagine a man withour arms, or weak arms who cannot even masturbate, being denied access to a man or women to help him relieve himself.

We suggest the new Clause 13 should be adopted to allow two women to work together, infact we suggest that all the laws controlling sex workers are scrapped, as in New Zealand. The New Zealand is the only model that is safe and respectful.

Traficking has been used as a cover, based on severe distortions to deport and target sex workers.

There is a group of Lords who are going to ask for amendments, I think Lord Faulkener is amongst them.

I hope you can help to get all these old-fashioned and pointless clauses taken out of the Bill.

Many thanks,

Dr Tuppy Owens
Outsiders Trust