New handle, new attitude, same ol' Nikki

[Nikki@SPOC]

Hey everyone, back from my little break, feeling refreshed and refocused. I spent some time pondering the last few weeks of my life, and realized I had lost sight of the things that were most important to me. So, in addition to catching up on the schoolwork I've neglected, I took the time I needed to get my priorities back in order.

Sometimes, you gain a lot more clarity on a situation as you get farther removed from it, and I realized my old handle was getting a bit stale. I figured a new moniker would give me a new outlook, a new direction, and a reminder to myself to stay focused on that which really matters.

We all have our moments where things go off-course; that's part of being human. But getting yourself back on track, and keeping your focus on the future, is the only way for us to grow.

Anyways, thanks to all of you who emailed me while I was away, and I'm really glad to be back.

~Nikki Thomas, SPOC

 

[dreamblade]

Great to have you back, darlin.

Let me be the first to say that you were sorely missed. :great:

 

[Maurice Boscorelli]

So what is the latest news on the plight of SPOC?

 

[Cycleguy007]

Welcome Back Nikki!

 

[Art Mann]

Welcome back, Nikki

Welcome back, Nikki

. . . We all have our moments where things go off-course; that's part of being human. But getting yourself back on track, and keeping your focus on the future, is the only way for us to grow. . . .

Keep challenging our minds. That also helps us to grow.

 

[ralp]

Welcome back!

Your perspective and insight were missed.

 

[Auggie]

More organized, focused and professional doesn't sound quite as sexy, don't lose track of your hotness aspirations.

 

[Nikki@SPOC]

Cheers everyone, thanks for the warm welcome back. I still have midterms coming in the next couple of weeks, so I won't be posting too often, but I'll be delivering updates on SPOC-related news, through this site and through my Twitter feed.

In recent SPOC news, we've decided not to fight the Crown's request to extend the stay past 30 days. Justice Himel included the stay in her decision (a stay is a period in which the court's judgement doesn't come into effect, like a moratorium) because she knew the Crown would appeal, and didn't want there to be any inconsistencies. We've agreed to extend the stay on the condition that the Ontario Court of Appeal hear our case in Febraury of 2011. This is for two reasons. First, it guarantees that our case will be heard quickly (by legal standards, anyways) and second, it allows us to pick a time of the year that is highly beneficial to us, hopefully during Reading Week. Alan Young is a professor, and quite a few SPOC members are university students, so the timing is very important to us.

Regarding the decision itself, this is the most important part - Even though we won the ruling at the Ontario Superior Court, the laws are still on the books. It was a big victory, to be sure, but it hasn't actually changed any laws (yet). So, SPs and clients alike, please continue to govern yourselves with the same caution and care as you did in the past.

Vancouver police busted an agency just two days after the ruling, as a show of force - it's not unreasonable to expect the same from the Toronto Police in the near future. My guess is that they'll go after a location(s) where they expect to find people who have been "trafficked" into the trade, because that will bolster the public perception of a connection between human trafficking and consensual sex work. Much of the opposition to Himel's ruling has been based on this tenuous (and in some cases, blatantly false) connection, and they'll do whatever they can to reinforce that perception.

The most significant part of the ruling is that now, during the appeal process, the onus is on the Crown to show where Justice Himel erred in her decision. For those who have read it, it's a very long, very comprehensive, and very detailed judgement - she didn't overlook anything, because she knew it would be scrutinized heavily, down to each and every word she wrote. Before, the Crown merely had to justify the existence of the laws, while we had to show why they were unconstitutional. Now, it's on them to explain where the mistakes were made.

To paraphrase Kissenger (which I seem to do a lot these days), before this judgement, we actually had to win - they just had to not lose. Now, the roles have been reversed, and they have to prove that the judge was wrong to strike down the laws, while we only have to reinforce why she was right.

Lastly, we're planning to hold a public forum for SPs in the middle of November, to go over the details of the decision, what it means for sex workers, what SPOC is planning in the future. More details on that when they become available, and until then, let's keep fighting the good fight! :great:

 

[Tyrell]

Welcome Nikki, nice to see you back.

 

[Iambad]

Welcome back Nikki. Tboy missed you . Easy there Tboy...just a joke :slap:

 

[JackassJack]

Welcome back Nikki.

 

[thetank]

It is nice to have you back Nikki. You were missed and your voice adds something special to this board.

thetank

 

[Maurice Boscorelli]

Thanks for the update on the current legal situation with regard to the 'good'' fight.

I did take particular notice of the logo of the SPOC;

It occurred to me that surely a less stereotypical logo could be used that would more in line with the public image that you are trying to convey.

 

[Nothingtodo]

It is nice to have you back Nikki. You were missed and your voice adds something special to this board.

thetank

Second that :great:

 

[Nikki@SPOC]

Wow, that didn't take long...

Wow, that didn't take long...

Ugh, sometimes I hate being right:

https://www.thestar.com/news/article/877317--police-charge-27-in-massage-parlour-raid?bn=1

Police are warning the public that prostitution legislation is still in force after 27 people were charged in a raid on a Markham massage parlour.

Just before midnight Friday, the York Regional Police’s drugs and vice enforcement unit executed a search warrant at Delux Club on Denison St. in Markham. Police say their investigation revealed that sexual acts were being performed in exchange for money.

After the raid, four other residences — one in Aurora and three in Toronto — were searched by police. There, investigators say they seized cash and documents connected to the Delux Club operation.

Included in the 27 arrests were five bawdy house keepers, 15 workers and seven other people found inside, police say. Charges include exercising control, keeping a common bawdy house, living on the avails of prostitution, possession of the proceeds of crime and being an inmate of a common bawdy house.

No word if there are any allegations of human trafficking, but if they're there, the cops will be looking very closely for them...

 

[Nikki@SPOC]

Thanks for the update on the current legal situation with regard to the 'good'' fight.

I did take particular notice of the logo of the SPOC;

It occurred to me that surely a less stereotypical logo could be used that would more in line with the public image that you are trying to convey.

I don't know the history of the logo, it was there before I joined the organization... but to be honest, I kinda like it.

She's looking you straight in the eye, instead of being a submissive victim looking down at the ground; her hand is thrust into the air to symbolize her fighting spirit, with sort of a "We Will Overcome!" attitude; she's a gutsy, bitchy broad, who embodies sexual power without shame; she owns what she does, loves who she is, and makes no apologies for it. :666:

That's how I read it, anyways, and I'm proud to have her as my sig pic - she represents everything that a confident, empowered sex worker can be.

But hey, that's just me - maybe I'm overthinking it way too much. Wouldn't be the first time I've done something like that!

 

[Auggie]

I like the logo, but I'd change the font of the typestyle.

 

[Maurice Boscorelli]

I don't know the history of the logo, it was there before I joined the organization... but to be honest, I kinda like it.

She's looking you straight in the eye, instead of being a submissive victim looking down at the ground; her hand is thrust into the air to symbolize her fighting spirit, with sort of a "We Will Overcome!" attitude; she's a gutsy, bitchy broad, who embodies sexual power without shame; she owns what she does, loves who she is, and makes no apologies for it. :666:

That's how I read it, anyways, and I'm proud to have her as my sig pic - she represents everything that a confident, empowered sex worker can be.

But hey, that's just me - maybe I'm overthinking it way too much. Wouldn't be the first time I've done something like that!

Fair enough I like your interpretation.

It is worth saying that your avatar is in direct contrast to the logo.

I was just thinking that a logo that featured a look that was more conservative in nature might be more acceptable for the non believers out there.

BTW I personally love the professional but enticing look in your avatar.

 

[RAWD]

If any muni was going to assert the existing statutes, I would have put my money on the YRPS.

No word if there are any allegations of human trafficking, but if they're there, the cops will be looking very closely for them...

I don't have a problem putting the screws in human trafficking. Go get 'em.

 

[Nikki@SPOC]

I like the logo, but I'd change the font of the typestyle.

Geez, you guys are so hard to please...

(Thanks to CG for that pic, I'll probably be using it pretty often...)

If any muni was going to assert the existing statutes, I would have put my money on the YRPS.

I don't have a problem putting the screws in human trafficking. Go get 'em.

I agree about YRPS, and in principle, I agree with the efforts to stop human trafficking... but it's one thing to investigate trafficking and make arrests based on the evidence collected, but another thing entirely to storm an MP as a show of force, hoping that evidence of trafficking will show up after you've already raided it.

It's tricky, and I guess we'll see in the coming days whether the links are actually there; until then, I'll reserve final judgment, while holding a sneaking suspicion that it was more likely a public statement than the result of an investigation.

It is worth saying that your avatar is in direct contrast to the logo.

BTW I personally love the professional but enticing look in your avatar.

Aww, thank you! I hadn't really thought about that, but I guess you're right, there's quite a contrast between them.

My avatar actually came from a "Sexy Secretary" photoshoot I did about a year ago, but if it showed the rest of my outfit (short skirt & thigh-highs) I don't know if "professional" would be the first word that comes to mind... although as I'm looking at it now, the word "Professionals" is directly above the pic! (Along with the word "Sex," so I guess I'm not nearly as subtle as I'm pretending to be...)

I usually use that pic to accompany the academic-y articles I've published, and when choosing a new avatar for my new handle, that one just seemed to fit.