Interviews

RACHEL AIMEE OF $PREAD MAGAZINE: Judy of SWIRL interviews Rachel Aimee, editor and chief of $pread Magazine on November 8th, 2008 before the launch party for issue 4.3. Rachel discusses the history, mission and philosophies of $pread magazine, and provides other insights into the inner workings of this sex worker activist publication. Running time: 15 minutes. Click here to hear the interview with Rachel Aimee of $pread.

DAISY ANARCHY - INTERVIEW BY MAXINE DOOGAN (courtesy KPFA Women's Magazine): Daisy Anarchy of "Sex Workers Organized for Labor, Human and Civil Rights" reflects on the unionization of the Lusty Ladies Peep Show, the only unionized strip club in the United States and the current state of work conditions for exotic dancers in San Francisco. Originally aired on International Labor Day, May 1st, 2005.Click here to hear Maxine's interview with Daisy Anarchy.

BERLIN SEX WORK ACTIVISTS - 2007: Judy of SWIRL interviews Joanna Lesniak of Hydra, Dr. Laura Merritt of Sexclusivitaeten, and Stephanie Klee of Bundesverband Sexuelle Dienstleistungen (BSD). In this program (over 1 hour), a wide range of German sex work issues are discussed, including legislation in the German parliament, the situation for immigrant sex workers, and the corporate assimilation of German sex shops. Available in both AAC and MP3 formats.

SOIBHAN BROOKS AND GRED WALSTON - INTERVIEW BY MAXINE DOOGAN (courtesy KPFA Women's Magazine): Former "Lusty Lady" Soibhan Brooks and attorney Greg Walston are interviewed on Martin Luther King Day 2006 about racism as a factor in the sex industry during the time that the Lusty Ladies Peepshow unionized and how this discrimination is being fought through the court system. In two parts:

Part 1
Part 2

GREGOR GAL - INTERVIEW BY MAXINE DOOGAN (courtesy KPFA Women's Magazine): Maxine Doogan interviews Gregor Gal, author of "Sex Worker Union Organizing in International Study" in January 2008. Gal is Professor of Industrial Relations at University of Hartfordshire (U.K.) and Director of the Center for Research and Employment Studies, and has published three books and over 50 journal articles about labor issues. Available in both MP3 and AAC formats.

JOE GALLANT: Joe Gallant is the founder and owner of Black Mirror Productions, an adult film company. Joe is also an accomplished composer, musician and film sound designer. In this interview by Judy of SWIRL, Joe discusses how he creates the soundtracks for his films. Click here to hear the interview with Joe Gallant.

INTERVIEW WITH HEJIN: HeJin is a sex worker rights activist, former sex worker, poet and writer living in Amsterdam. In this interview with Judy of SWIRL from November 2007, HeJin discusses the situation for sex workers in Amsterdam, as well as her recent activism on behalf of sex workers in Korea. Recorded at STEIM studios in Amsterdam. Running time: 21 minutes. Click here to hear the interview with HeJin.

H.I.P.S. INTERVIEW ON WAMU RADIO: WAMU's Stephanie Kaye speaks with Cyndee Clay, Executive Director of HIPS ("Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive") and sits in on a counseling session at the HIPS headquarters. HIPS' mission is to assist female, male, and transgender individuals engaging in sex work in Washington, DC in leading healthy lives. Utilizing a harm reduction model, HIPS' programs strive to address the impact that HIV/AIDS, STIs, discrimination, poverty, violence and drug use have on the lives of individuals engaging in sex work. Originally aired December 9, 2005. (Used with permission of H.I.P.S.) (10 minutes) Click here to hear interview with Cyndee Clay of HIPS.

INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY 2005 (courtesy KPFA Women's Magazine): In this 52-minute program, Maxine Doogan interviews four international sex industry rights advocates (Veronica Monet, Rachel W from SWOP Australia, Daisy Anarchy, Petra Timmermans of PIC in Amsterdam) who discuss the health and safety issues for all women on International Womens Day, March 2005. Click here to hear Maxine's International Womens Day 2005 program.

MIKE JONES - INTERVIEW BY MAXINE DOOGAN: On November 1, 2006 sex worker Mike Jones made public his relationship with Ted Haggard, the President of the National Association of Evangelicals, who had condemned homosexuality and advocated against gay rights and same-sex union. Maxine Doogan interviews Mike about his life since this event, and also interviews Brian Basinger, President of the Harvey Milk Club, which gave Mike Jones the Harry Britt Lifetime Award in May 2007. Click here to hear Maxine's interview with Mike Jones.

EXCERPT FROM "LEGALIZATION SUCKS": "Legalization Sucks: Decriminalize Now" is a film by by Maxine Doogan that features interviews with four sex workers who share their experiences and discuss labor, economic and civil rights that are denied them as erotic laborers. In this excerpt, an ex-strip club worker talks about how legalized dance clubs in San Francisco coerced exotic dancers into having sex with managers on the job in lieu of paying illegal stage fees in order to work.Click here to hear excerpt from "Legalization Sucks."

MARISKA MAJOOR AND BELLE: Judy of SWIRL interviews Mariska Majoor of the Prostitution Information Center (PIC) at their Red Light District shop in Amsterdam about the statue "Belle." This statue (commissioned by Mariska Majoor and designed by artist Els Rijerse), is located near the PIC and is dedicated to all the women and men who work in sex work around the world. The interview is followed by a short recording of Judy's visit to Belle. (Note: This item was recorded on a low-quality analog cassette recorder.) Running time: appx 3 minutes. Click here to hear the interview with Mariska Majoor of PIC and Judy's visit to Belle.

INTERVIEW WITH MASTER R: Over 20 years ago, some workers in a house of domination formed their own folk music group, went into a studio and recorded a tape of their songs, and then headed off to a busking festival. The band was short-lived but luckily documentation of this talented bunch was brought new life through the SWIRL audio project (you may download their songs on the "Music" page). In this interview by Judy of SWIRL, Master R tells the story of "Smut Hugs" and also discusses his background as a songwriter and musician. Click here to hear the interview with Master R.

DEBORAH JEANE PALFREY - INTERVIEW BY RADICAL VIXEN: This complete unedited interview (running over 1 hour), recorded shortly before Ms. Palfrey's death, covers many important aspects of Ms. Palfrey's case and also provides considerable insights into her views and her strong spirit. Portions of this interview were published in $pread magazine's Volume 3, Issue 3. Click here to hear Radical Vixen's interview with Deborah Jeane Palfrey.

THE SEX WORKERS' ART SHOW 2007: Judy of SWIRL and Anna Regina interview Annie Oakley, Reginald M. Lamar, Kirk Read, Stephen Elliott and Julie Atlas Muz after the Providence, Rhode Island show on February 18, 2007. Available in both MP3 and AAC formats.

SOU SOUTHAVEY - INTERVIEW BY MAXINE DOOGAN (courtesy KPFA Women's Magazine): Cambodian transgender sex worker Sou Southavey talks about her protest of the World Trade Organizations' trade agreements which foster corporate takeovers of resources and the U.S.'s gag order against sex workers organizing for their rights in Cambodia. Originally aired January 6, 2007. Click here to hear Maxine's interview with Sou Southavey.

KATIE TAYLOR - INTERVIEW BY MAXINE DOOGAN AND MELISSA GIRA (courtesy KPFA Women's Magazine): Melissa Gira and Maxine Doogan talk with Katie Taylor, a long-time sex worker activist and retired sex worker who teaches at City University of New York. They discuss the "Sex Work Matters: Beyond Divides" conference, held March 30, 2006 at City University of New York and New School. The conference's aim was to provide a forum for dialogue among scholars, activists and analysts involved in issues surrounding sex work.Click here to hear Melissa and Maxine's interview with Katie Taylor.

PETRA TIMMERMANS OF ICRSE: Petra Timmermans is the current Coordinator of the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) and also works at the Prostitution Information Center (PIC) in the Red Light District of Amsterdam. In this interview with Judy of SWIRL from November 2007, Petra discusses the activities of PIC and ICRSE, as well as the history of her own sex work activism and her hopes for the future. Recorded at STEIM studios in Amsterdam. Running time: 29 minutes. Click here to hear the interview with Petra Timmermans.