CarnalNation

“Be Sustainable – Don’t Buy Sex.”

That’s the strangely worded message the mayor of Copenhagen is sending the hundreds of international dignitaries visiting the city for the just-launched UN climate summit, reports Spiegel.  Prostitution is legal in Denmark, but Lord Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard disapproves; along with the city council, she sent postcards to about 160 of the city’s hotels discouraging them from arranging liaisons between their guests and local prostitutes.

In response, Danish sex workers are offering free service to anyone from the conference who visits them with one of the postcards. Sexarbejdernes Interesseorganisation, the Danish sex workers interest group, even made a website aimed at politicians inadvertently drawn into the fray between the city’s prostitutes and those trying to criminalize sex work:

"Even though the issue about sex workers rights has nothing to do with the summit, you are inadvertently drawn into this fierce, local debate about sex work. We do not encourage or discourage you to buy sexual services; we encourage you to concentrate on the climate issue."

Susanne Møller , spokesperson for the sex workers, spoke to avisen.dk: "This is sheer discrimination. Ritt Bjerregaard is abusing her position as Lord Mayor in using her power to prevent us carrying out our perfectly legal job. I don't understand how she can be allowed to contact people in this way.”

That’s why anyone with the postcard and an ID from the summit can get free service for the duration of the conference.  This is a good thing, because I hate to think of what kind of crazy resolutions might get passed by a conference full of world leaders who haven't gotten laid in two weeks.

SIO The Danish Sexworker Organization