The one conspicuous absence (other than actual facts) in any policy debate or decisions around the world and across time has been that of the voices of those most affected - sexworkers themselves.

Policy makers have seen little reason to consult or listen, and much of the debate has effectively erased the voices (and agency) of sex workers, who after all have been portrayed as 'victims' requiring rescuing, and who, if 'happy' or 'consensual' are immediately dismissed as suffering from PTSD, and therefore unaware of just how 'unhappy' they are.

Structural barriers in a criminalised world make it difficult for sex workers to effectively organise in the way other interest groups do, but this is changing. As Gracie demonstrates, the internet is providing new ways to create virtual communities of practice, and an alternative voice that is becoming harder to ignore. Not so long ago, if a sex worker made it to an interview, it would be in shadow, with an altered voice and assumed name. And now people like Tracy Quan can start off an article in a quality newspaper with "As a prostitute in New York" and actually look happy!

We cannot, and should not speak for sex workers, and indeed sex work is so diverse that one cannot generalise either. However as friends and colleagues of sex workers, we should confront the criticisms that Gracie has identified, correct inaccurate statements and speak out as responsible citizens for the rights of all to be recognised in a just society, rather than be treated as an underclass to appease those who disapprove of their chosen profession.

Michael Goodyear