I remember the first time I explained my job to my mam. She looked worried. Not about the sex work itself, but about my safety. Working in hotels for years taught me more about risk than anyone realizes. You think cleaning rooms at 2am in a dodgy city centre hotel is safe? Please.
People get hung up on the moral arguments about sex work. I don't. This is labour. Plain and simple. I'm selling a service, managing my own business, taking calculated risks like every single person trying to make money in this economy.
When people talk about decriminalization, they usually mean it academically. For me, it's practical. It means being able to report bad clients. Screen people safely. Not have the guards treat you like a criminal when you're just trying to earn a living. In hospitality, I was invisible. Disposable. At least now I'm running my own show.
Some clients are sound. Some are absolute nightmares. Just like any job. The difference is I can actually do something about it if the laws support me. That's what decrim means. Not some theoretical human rights debate. Real protection for real workers.