While a lot of attention is paid to the female sex worker industry, the gay sex industry doesn’t usually garner as much attention, and as such, has fewer harm reduction resources available. Hawk Kinkaid (alias), a former escort and sex worker for men, is trying to change that.
Hawk first entered the sex industry in his early twenties due to family troubles and economic need. He was introduced to bodywork, a form of erotic massage, and through advertising in the local gay newspaper, he found enough clients to meet his economic needs. Over the next several years he was in and out of the sex industry, earning as much as $40,000 a year outside his regular job to pay off college debt.
According to Hawk, gay men enter the sex industry for several reasons, but primarily because of economic need, drug addiction or for the perceived self esteem boost that can come from feeling wanted. Many who enter the industry do so from necessity and without full knowledge of the risks involved. Lack of education and empowerment can put workers at risk for everything from STDs, HIV and hepatitis, to poor financial decisions and substance use.
Realizing that not many resources were available for male sex workers, Hawk founded Hook Online (www.hookonline.org) a harm reduction resource for male sex workers that provides information on responsible financial management, safe sex behaviors, cleanliness, prevention of client abuse, mental exercises and more. Hook also aims to facilitate constructive dialogue among current sex workers.
Education and empowerment are crucial tenets of harm reduction. Though preventative measures such as distribution of safe sex supplies and sterile drug equipment are important to curb the spread of infectious diseases, education and empowerment allow sex workers to make safer, more informed choices for themselves. Disease prevention programs can educate workers on how to protect themselves and others from STDs, HIV and hepatitis. Business management resources can help workers make sound financial choices, which may reduce their chance of taking on risky clients because of economic need. Empowerment also reduces vulnerability by enabling workers to take control of their own lives and work situations. Statistics show that if the sex worker feels empowered, he or she is more likely to use a condom and to not buckle under potential pressure from the client to not use one. Additionally, empowered sex workers are more likely to avoid potentially violent situations and to seek medical treatment if needed.
As for his personal safety practices, Hawk is a self-proclaimed straight-edge. “Not using drugs and alcohol allowed me to make better business decisions and to be as clean and safe as possible,” says Hawk. “Mixing drugs and sex work can lead to poor choices. Most gay sex workers are in the industry only temporarily and then they get out and have other jobs. If you contract HIV or hepatitis C while in the industry, it could affect your ability to move on.”
Hawk recently moved to North Carolina from New York. He telecommutes with the Hook Project Board in planning several upcoming events and ongoing site management and also hopes to create workshops and opportunities for dialogue among gay sex workers in the Triad area. To get involved with Hook visit www.hookonline.org.