Rick Brennan

Housewives group backs prostitution

More money for women

Prostitution should be "decriminalized" so housewives can pick up a few extra dollars says a spokesman for the Wages for Housework Campaign.

Judith Ramirez was speaking at a news conference called yesterday to announce the formation of BEAVER (Better End All Vicious Erotic Repression), a group trying to organize prostitutes in Toronto and the rest of Canada to lobby to decriminalize prostitution.

"What we are here to say is that we want every possible option open for women for earning a living … including the work of selling sexual favours," Ms Ramirez said.

Being a prostitute is not against the law in Canada but soliciting for the purpose of prostitution is illegal under the Criminal Code.

Baba Yaga, a former Toronto stripper and founder of BEAVER, and her American counterpart Margo St. James, an ex-hooker who founded COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics), plan to speak at universities and colleges next week.

Ms St. James and Ms Ramirez will take part in a panel discussion Nov. 30 at the St. Lawrence Centre Town Hall with Toronto Alderman Pat Sheppard and lawyer Morris Manning, special prosecutor responsible for closing many sex shops on Yonge St.

Ms St. James told reporters the two organizations want prostitution decriminalized rather than legalized because "legalization means government involvement to some extent and we don't want that.

"We want these women to be independent contractors … who should be encouraged to work from their homes," she said.

"Decriminalization would all that where legalization would not."