Living a life less lived can be a challenge. Especially when society/ media has not yet even started to express equality for working girls.
I have always tried to find solace within the pain...there's a constant struggle to feel accepted, respected, understood, loved.

Checkered girl.
Checkered past.
I am the [Slur Deleted] (if doesn't spell it : d.y.k.e) WHORE.

In Australia.
It is legal to be a prostitute.
There are laws, legislations and OH&S guidelines set by the Government.
However the majority of Brothel Owner’s do not abide by them.
SWOP & Scarlet Alliance act as 2 organisations to 'support' us.
SWOP will not help the plight of ensuring laws in parlours are followed..."Call Work Cover"
I’m currently seeking help from Scarlet Alliance to help put documentation together for Work Cover.
Contacting Work Cover for across the board unsafe practices is a near impossible task.
Unsafe sex practices are on the rise due to the recession & rise in Asian cheap parlour work & customer expectations.
HIV & STI's will increase within the straight middle class community if nothing is done.

Tobi Vail + Rebel Girl + Bikini Kill + Gossip = THANK YOU

PARKLIFE FESTIVAL SYDNEY
Sunday 2 October 2011

Parklife became my outlet. The best therapy session I’ve ever had.
Raw emotion. Free release!

On the lead up to the Sydney leg of the Parklife tour I had been pumping the live set of Gossip loud and proud. Always love their cover of Rebel Girl.
Before Beth started belting Rebel Girl lyrics, she did a Tobi Vail tribute.
That in its self set my heart and mind on fire.
Hope. Happiness.
Knowing Tobi is a radical feminist who believes in equal rights for gays/ queers + sex workers made me think maybe Gossip get it too... maybe artists hitting mainstream mass media might understand equality should also exist for the most taboo of all taboo’s.
Sex workers are people who deserve equal rights. Sex work is just work. Get over it!
The tribute to Tobi really hit a positive nerve with me.
I felt it necessary to hold up a sign saying [Slur Deleted] D.Y.K.E WHORE to Rebel Girl. I felt if I didn't do this that I'd be taking a back seat in my life and what I believe in.

The idea of publicly outing myself (and the heartache behind it) was too much for me to deal with... I needed support. Unfortunately my support was not in a good place herself.
I broke Edge (Straight Edge) and smoked my lungs dry to deal with the overwhelming nature of what I was about to do. I knew I had to do it and that I'd do whatever it takes me to drag my lazy ass into Parklife and insight of Beth.

The process of breaking edge, constructing the sign [Slur Deleted] D.Y.K.E WHORE/ Equal Rights/God hates your soul was a true art process in its most wanky- wank terms. I finally got what my Year 12 HSC final project was suppose to be all about. I became that art wanker. What a process hey... LOL
I was originally going to write [Slur Deleted] D.Y.K.E WHORE/ TOBI LOVE but through the ‘wank process’ & smoke session I was watching a documentary on Metallica where they spoke about their song God Hates Us All & their Christian up bringing. I decided to go with a more emotive version of God Hates Us All, so I changed it to God Hates Your Soul.

By the time my mate and I dazzled the Parklife punters with our heightened presence we had gotten there late. Sydney Parklife fell on the day of daylight savings. Forgot to put my watch an hour forward. Clever girl strikes again!
So I free styled… got in touch with the ‘art process’ again. Connected with the emotions & feelings of inequalities the LGBTIQ community & sex industry workers face. I screamed short loud bursts of pain repetitively, holding the sign up high as I could & pushed my way to the front.
I caught Beth's attention. I was pulled over the barrier. Beth called me onto stage. I managed to hold onto my sign & a bottle of water. With the remaining water I poured it over Beth's foot, like a biblical foot bathing, 'my goddess!' (Fluid debauchery)

When I got on stage my vision blurred. The 2 days of smoking really started to take its effects… LOL
The next part was slightly hazy. Pretty sure I held up the sign - showed both sides.
I remember wanting to get naked on stage and attempted to do so, however was pulled off before I could. I know this as I've always appreciated Beth's ‘warts n all’ approach. Own your 'ugly'. Love her strength in character and flamboyant nature when she takes off her kit in front of her audience. She doesn’t hide behind smoke and mirrors. Proud of her 'fat/ phat' status. I wanted to show the Parklife punters & her... hey skinny girls can have chunk in their trunk too- thank you for liberating me. I feel free.

Even though I did break Edge to do it, even though I caused chaos & was misinterpreted: Thank you.
It acted as a platform for me to find inner peace and self- acceptance, even if others judge me.
The experience has helped me find purpose: to help others who face hardships/ traumatic situations (become a paramedic)
I want to help sex workers in Australia (as a personal endeavour) by improving their work conditions as most places do not follow laws/ OH&S procedures. Even if society as a whole may never accept or respect them as human beings, at least in the future people within the industry will. In the process I hope changes will help decrease the risk of HIV & STI transference.

The experience has taught me that music is truly powerful/ influential/ positive force. I hope more bands in the future will follow Bikini Kill and Gossip’s lead.

Thank you Bikini Kill. Thank you Tobi Vail. Thank you Gossip and thank you Beth! <3 <3 <3
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For debate sake: I've notice on this website D.Y.K.E is a slur yet its ok to use the word whore. funny