Transboy Dom Jamie shares with us

It is often difficult for trans, genderqueer and non-binary people to find escort agency representation in sex work.  Paramour Collective is proud to be a welcoming community for all people who want to provide sexual services and it is very important to us to promote inclusion in the sex industry with our work.

The 31st of March is International Transgender Visibility Day and we have asked one person from our collective to share their experiences as a trans person in the world of sex work with us. Thank you, Jamie, for sharing your thoughts and words with us.

In my observation, pro-sex work activism focuses heavily on the normalisation of sex work as work.

This is an important focus - yes! Sex work is work!

However, it is equally important not to romanticise the adult industry. This industry is a direct reflection of patriarchal, racist, sexist, cis- and heteronormative social structures. The primary target group consists of over-privileged white cis men with highly normative expectations - both in terms of the appearance and performance of the service providers and the services they request. Service providers who do not fit into this norm often face open hostility and marginalisation. So on the one hand, I want to emphasise how exclusive this industry is on the consumer side for anyone who is not white, cis-male, heterosexual and non-disabled. For example, women, queer people and people with disabilities are rarely considered as potential consumers of erotic services.

This lack of inclusivity is evident in the décor of BDSM studios, for example. You will often find several types of chastity belts designed for penis wearers, but none for other genitalia. Similarly, play with gender expression is marketed almost exclusively as feminisation - there is no room for people who already exude femininity and want to explore their gender identity in other ways. Androgynous expressions or transgender identities are rarely, if ever, recognised. These are just a few obvious examples, but the problem goes much deeper. It is reflected in everything from the way the adult industry portrays itself in porn and adverts on websites, to the design of sex toys. The majority of the adult industry reinforces rigid gender norms and cis-heteronormative definitions of bodies and sex, making it difficult for anyone outside of the gender binary, or even those who want to leave stereotypical roles behind, to find representation or access to services tailored to their needs.

A crucial aspect of consumerism is how people are socialised in relation to their bodies and sexuality. Being constantly judged through a patriarchal, racist, sexist, cis- and heteronormative lens can have a profound impact on how one experiences and expresses their sexuality. Furthermore, factors such as the gender pay gap and unequal access to well-paid jobs can prevent marginalised people from accessing erotic services in the first place.

At the same time, the industry itself is not a fair competition. While being a marginalised sex worker can mean occupying a niche, it often comes at a high price: fewer clients, lower prices and significantly more work. Furthermore, it is incredibly difficult for marginalised, deviant bodies to establish themselves as anything other than what they are fetishised for. This makes it particularly difficult for a transmasculine person, for example, to be perceived as a BDSM dominant, as they are primarily booked for trans fetishising sexual services rather than the BDSM expertise and wide range of techniques and practices they actually offer.

This is precisely why it is so important to empower and structurally support marginalised consumers. If we want real change, we need to create spaces where BIPoC queers, women, trans people, people with disabilities and other marginalised people not only feel safe to access erotic services, but also have the economic and social means to do so. Without a shift in power relations and access, the industry will continue to cater almost exclusively to those who are already in privileged positions.

Sex work is work, no matter what! But it's work in an industry that - like any other - is highly normative and structured to primarily serve cis-male desire.

I want more queer clients!

Photo Reference: Jamie Transboy_Dom photographed by: Sean Paul Denny