Dangerous Sex, Invisible Labor: Sex Work and the Law in India

I was recently fortunate enough to chair a brilliant author meets reader session at the SLSA Annual Conference in Leicester.  The book in question was Dangerous Sex, Invisible Labor: Sex Work and the Law in India (published by Princeton University Press) from the wonderful Prabha Kotiswaran from SOAS.   The text had just been crowned winner of the SLSA-Hart Prize for Early Career Academics, and she recently appeared on Laurie Taylor's Thinking Allowed.  You can still listen to the programme here - give it a whirl.

Obscenity Podcast: It's Obscene!

I should have known about this resource sooner but discovered it via the brilliant Melon Farmers website earlier today.  Last month, NorthPod Law produced a podcast exploring the implications of the Peacock case for the law and obscenity.  They assembled an excellent team of Alex Dymock, Myles Jackman and David Allen Green.  Check out the podcast below.

We Go Dogging

Thanks to Ian for flagging up this brilliant video from Fascinating Aida entitled 'Dogging'.  Enjoy!


 Here are the lyrics:

My husband came home friday with a brand new motor car.He told me I could drive, it I said Brian you're a star.We drove down to the boozer for a vodka and a fag then of course we had celebrate the purchase with a shag.
We go dogging,We go dogging,We're a treat for any passers by out jogging.We do it 'cos we've found that when people crowd around it is somehow more profound when we're dogging.
(Spoken)Oh now well some of the older members of the audience my have a little bit of difficulty with this one.I just say hang on in there and think the meaning will shine through.Bill how are you doing.Anyhow if you are still a little bit in the dark at the end.Just ask a young person or emm...Google.Just don't take your computer for repair immediately afterwards.
(Sung)Well we drove down to the far end of the car park back of Asda.A threesome was hard at it in a sporty little Mazda.It made it more exciting as they pressed against the glass.And when Brian got his torch out you could see right up her arse!
They were dogging,They were dogging,Believe me they were more than merely snogging.But though her cheek were parted she spoilt it when she farted and we wanted to get started on OUR dogging.
(Spoken)Now how are the older members doing now.Not finding it too impenetrable?Those of a sensitive disposition, leave now...
(Sung)Well we rushed back too our car 'cos we were randy as two goats.But being late november we had on our duffle coats.We should have stripped off first before getting back inside.'cos disrobing in a smart car isn't easy have YOU tried?
We were doggingWe were doggingIn the struggle poor old brian tore his frogging.Our Apparel was misguided 'cos when our heads collided Brian's manhood then subsided, but thats dogging.
Well I admit this was a setback but i wasn't beaten yet. 'cos i'm really very handy with my man's beef bayonet.I quickly had his flagpole up responding to my touch.And next thing I was upside down and staring at the clutch.
We were dogging,We were dogging,Oh the heat was on to stop the windows fogging.Thank god for plastic sheeting well one must protect the seating.'Cos the fabric takes a beating when your dogging.
Well by now a crowd had gathered it was cheering fit to burst.An Bri was close to peaking though he likes me to come first.My legs were out the sunroof as I really hit my stride.Then Brian promptly stopped and cried "The Rozzers are outside!".
We were dogging,We were dogging,We were so alarmed our arteries were clogging.But we took it on chin when the coppers with a grin said:"Can anyone join in with your dogging?
Well as you can imagine Bri and I were thrilled to bits.I love to feel a coppers truncheon in between my tits.My ecstasy was mounting I was feeling so alive,When who should wander by but a bloke from channel 5.
He likes doggingHE likes doggingHe signed us for a series he was flogging.So watch out for Bri and me and the odd Celebrity,We were shagging on TV likely dogging.
Oh we'll be doggingWe'll be doggingOh think of all the limelight we'll be hogging,Well the credits show my hand massaging Brian's gland,The Presenter's Russell Brand, lovely dogging!

USA HIV Status Laws

WNYC (Iowa public radio) has produced a fascinating little item on HIV status disclosure in the USA, and it's available as a recording here. Failing to disclose positive HIV status to sexual partners is a crime in more than 30 states. In Iowa, it can carry a 25-year jail term.

The phone-in comment about whether using a condom is or is not a 'deal-breaker' is bang on the money, as health and policy changes have led to a major social change and a growing acceptance among men having sex with other men that condoms don't matter  -let alone those who openly seek out bareback encounters.

The comments also - at least for me - re-enforce the message that criminalisation just doesn't work, and as one of the commentator highlights, it can have unpleasant and un-intended outcomes such as blackmail whilst these voices remind us that behind the words about HIV and law are people, leading real and complex lives.

Curious to also here the comments about ignorance and the impact that has on testing in the USA.  It's important to contrast that with the development of criminal law in England and Wales which has focussed instead on the idea of recklessness which arguably does not allow a kind of ignorance defence to be deployed.

It's well worth a listen.

Bareback and Gloryholes

I'm sad to say I've been a bit slow to discover this wonderful podcast about bareback sex and gloryholes/public sex.  It's from  Distorted View Dailywhich is a daily comedy podcast.  The site describes how the presenter, Tim Henson, 'scours the darkest corners of the web in search of the truly bizarre. He then presents his finds to you, complete with unique (read: crass, vulgar, childish, and inappropriate) commentary. For a half hour each day, sit back and witness this audiophonic trainwreck. After listening, you’ll feel much better about your own life.'

So...don't expect a podcast extolling the virtues of bareback and public sex, although Henson is talking with bareback brother website architect, Mark Bentson - who I finally hear.  It's a really fascinating interview covering a lot of ground.  A must listen for all my students and anyone interested in public sex, glory holes, bareback sex, and HIV transmission (including stealthing).

Check out the podcast here.  The podcast proper begins at 2.11.

You can check out Mark's explicit gloryhole etiquette guide here and you can see the bareback brotherhood (also explicit) here.  You can also read my earlier blogpost on the bareback brotherhood here.

The remarkable thing (for me) about the podcast is that Mark sounds much more engaging, open and convincing than he does in text.  I'm already convinced, but it seems to me a pretty relaxed commentary in which you think 'fair enough' - at least at first.  He even deals really well with the "worth a bit of AIDS" line.  I also wonder how many males who have sex with men find these anecdotes familiar - especially the stuff about males who claim to be 'safe sex only'.  Where Mark maybe comes undone is the use of stealthing - an activity that I continue to unreservedly condemn.  It's a shame as I think his acceptance of stealthing undermines his wider bareback arguments.

A Bit of Drama

This is something of a treat; the Canal St website have teamed up with Made in Manchester to publish a series of gay drama podcasts on their website.  The first episode, currently available here, is Rock, which sees West End star Michael Xavier play Rock while the incomparable Bette Bourne is his agent Henry Willson. Hudson was one of the biggest screen idols of his generation, but, due to his secret gay life, his career was perpetually under threat from the press. This engaging audio drama brings the seamy world of Hollywood's 50s heyday vividly to life and reveals how Rock Hudson - his name, his appearance and even his voice, was shaped for his audience. This drama comes almost 26 years since we lost Rock Hudson to AIDS in 1985.

The series continues with these three episodes:

Turing's Test 

Written by Made in Manchester writers Phil Collinge and Andy Lord, this drama examines the scientist's legacy in the field of artificial intelligence and the personal tragedy of his suicide through a deathbed dialogue with a "machine" played by actor Paul Kendrick who starred in the BBC4 film about the Wolfenden Report which eventually led to the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1968. Available from 26th Sept to 2nd Oct.

Undone

Chad McGitchie and Badcheck Productions play about surviving the village is adapted for radio by Made in Manchester and takes a look at how one young man tries to navigate his way through relationships, lovers and friends via the labyrinth of Manchester's gay scene. Available from 3rd Oct to 9th Oct.

Death in Genoa

In 1895, writer, wit and raconteur Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for gross indeceny with a number of young men. On his release, he settled on the continent under the name of Sebastian Melmoth. He wrote to his wife, Constance, but he saw neither her, nor his two young sons, again. The drama imagines what Wilde might have got up to in Italy during a visit to his wife's grave in Genoa. Available from 10th Oct to 16th Oct.

Obama, Debt and the Sexuality Legacy

On the eve of a debt deal earlier in the week I shared some thought on Audioboo about the debt deal. I really need to record them more often and I certainly will when term starts in the Autumn. I'm also working on an iPhone App that brings my blog, news feeds, youtube videos and audioboos all together in one app but it's a bit buggy so far. Will let you know when/if sorted!

In the meantime, if you missed my 'boo', here it is:

Sky Sports Sexism Row

I've not done an audioboo for a while so here we go, my thoughts on the sacking/resignation of Andy Gray/ Richard Keys over sexist comments.