Y'all might be interested in this story. And there's a conspiracy theory brewing in my mind. I think a journalist who's into anti-stripping is showing up here on the TUSCL boards.
While driving during rush hour yesterday I encountered a story on the radio about Memphis ministries that work to get prostitutes AND STRIPPERS out of what they consider "the sex industry." It was on NPR radio. I was surprised at how directly the link between crack-addicted street-walking trashy 'hos, and cute cuddly bouncy sweetheart stage-dancing millionairess strippers, was made.
The story was typically non-specific, and yet entirely derrogatory, and also rather sensationalistic, about how "bad" sex-work is for participants of both genders (this IS after all mainstream media) but there were some interesting points. They visited what must have been Platinum Plus, though they wouldn't name it, in the course of it.
The focus was a ministry type of Christian outfit that seems to have a very high level of respect among the national organizations that rate charities. Their rating can be seen here:
... and their weak little home website is here:
I heard the clip on Mississippi Public Radio / NPR between 5 and 6 pm yesterday (Tuesday, August 8, 2006), but couldn't find it on any of the associated web sites. A bit of further Googling uncovered an old February story that appeared in "World" (a Christian-based magazine about charity and non-profit type work), which you can see in its entirety here:
"World" would require that you register and join, to read the whole thing on their website. The story is not 100% identical to the radio clip that I heard, though it is close enough that you'll get the gist of it.
The article is written by a dude named Harrison Scott Key, who also shows up (via Google) in Mississippi State and Tulane public relations offices, and all over the net on Christian-based discussion boards.
Two things seemed fishy when I started reading mister Key's writings. First, the language was similar to something I've seen before. And second, the hysterically knee-jerk link that he makes (which isn't necessarily made by all Christian ministries, I don't think) among direct prostitution, stripping and even photograph nude modeling, and photographic pornography -- these links were strangely characteristic of ...
... a certain troll here on the boards. I wonder if it's him. The kicker was that, all over the net, mister Key often says "Men think the stripper will be their girlfriend" or "They think she is their friend, but they don't know her real name." REAL NAME. Hmm ...
