POINT WAS MISSED

REGARDING Lindor Reynolds' Oct. 22 article Ain't no prince charming. I was
horrified to read Reynolds' article that denigrates women and transgenders
involved in the sex trade. Although Reynolds claims to have compassion for
the lives of sex-trade workers in Winnipeg, she unfortunately resorts to
using mean-spirited language to describe the women in the video entitled,
Trying to Exit. She refers to one of the women in the video as a "crack
whore" and says that she is "supposed to say she's a sex-trade worker with
a drug addiction, which is a fancier way of coming to the same truth." When
she labels women in the video "crack whores" she does not come close to the
truth but rather reduces their complex lives to a cheap joke. In her
efforts to sensationalize the issue by pulling pieces of their stories and
presenting them so out of context with their reality, yet another shameful
piece of garbage is being thrown at these women.

I was at the screening of this powerful video and talk-out, and what
Reynolds neglects to report is that these courageous women and transgenders
identified supports that would assist them in their struggle with
homelessness, addictions and parenting. I heard these women talk about the
urgent need for addictions programs for women only, so that they are not
propositioned in rehab programs by johns they knew on the street.

I heard these women talk about the need to have rehab programs available at
the time when they recognize the need for treatment, not two weeks from now
or a month from now. I heard these women talk about the need for income
assistance that would provide reasonable accommodations where they are not
confronted by drug dealers and where transitioning off the street might be
that little bit easier. And I heard these women say they need a
compassionate approach from workers in their efforts to remain connected
with their children as they deal with the harsh reality of life on the streets.

I encourage people in Winnipeg to see this video as it beautifully
demonstrates that, yes, these women are sex-trade workers and they are also
artists, mothers, historians, sisters and daughters. People who view this
video can then determine whether a better approach than that taken by
Reynolds might be to stand beside these women, not to pity them, and to
lobby for changes to bring about the necessary supports. Shame on Reynolds
for missing the "fancy truth" of the matter.

BRENDA SLOBOZIAN

Executive Director

Mount Carmel Clinic Winnipeg