Berlin Escorts

Social media posts by a German sex work network offering help to Ukranian sex workers have sparked a number of accusations on social media. These accusations say the group, Trans*Sexworks, are recruiting Ukrainians to work in German's brothel. This is blatantly untrue.  They state the group provides mutual aid to existing sex workers. Not a single member of the group works in brothels. The group was supporting people who already are sex workers. 

Born out of a frustration with the power imbalance between sex workers, managers, and owners, as well as a “common desire to see things done differently”, BSC are on a mission to overhaul the sex industry. As well as fighting for better working conditions and more autonomy over their work, the political and creative group are demanding an end to the wider criminalisation and stigmatisation of sex work.  They have produced a short film which appears on youtube.

Berlin's brothels were allowed to reopen last week after months of closure due to coronavirus restrictions―but full-on sex is still off-limits. Instead, clients looking for sexual healing in the German capital will have to make do with erotic massages until regulations are further relaxed in September.

Several dozen prostitutes armed with an inflatable sex doll staged a protest in Berlin on Friday against coronavirus restrictions they say are preventing them from making a living.

The protesters gathered outside the Bundesrat upper house of parliament with red umbrellas and placards bearing slogans such as "Let us work," "Open the brothels now" and "Our sector is being driven underground".

Prostitution is legal and regulated in Germany, with sex workers entitled to employment contracts and social security benefits.

Brothels have been allowed to reopen in neighbouring countries such as Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, the association pointed out.

Cis women walked the streets north of the railway bridge, trans women to the south. Not these days. “I feel depressed,” says Isabelle. “It’s our job, you know?” Colleagues describe overbearing police, price-gouging hotels and clients seeking outrageous “corona-discounts”.

Few industries have been as pummelled by covid-19 as sex work, which in Germany is legal and regulated. Like many workplaces, brothels had to close in March. Yet although massage parlours and nail salons have reopened, prostitutes have been left in limbo. Some, such as Undine de Rivière in Hamburg, are innovating with hands-off services like fetish videos or erotic-hypnosis recordings.