BIG ISSUE
DANGEROUS LIAISONS
The wellbeing of sex workers has been pushed even further into the shadows during the COVID pandemic, says Del Campbell, health promotion specialist
Del Campbell
Sex workers are often stigmatised in ‘normal’ times, but since the introduction of COVID-19 regulations, the organisations where I work, CLASH (Central London Action on Sexual Health) and SHOC (Sexual Health on Call), have noticed that this has increased. There are voices who seek someone to blame for the spread of the pandemic and sex workers are often in the firing line.
At a time when we are only really supposed to have sex with people we live with — clients are not normally part of an escort’s bubble — sex workers are worried about being judged if they continue to work. And this fear is making them reluctant to use the health services they need more than ever.