Folks, can we calm down a bit here, and look at this more analyticaly than just what is reported in the papers.
Vanessa posted a more complete link to this in the sex work and media section.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...325681509.html
A transgender male escort and a female escort are arrested and charged with brothel keeping.
A very unfair charge as we all know, but nontheless it's the last thing any escort needs given that the brothel definition is so stupid (and designed to make things even more unsafe for escorts).
So they get a good lawyer, who tells them exactly how to get off. First they claim to be trafficked (and coerced against their will). That should help to get them off the brothel charge because you clearly can't be running a brothel if you are trafficked.
Second the transgender male escort claims to be HIV postive!! WHy the hell would anyone in their right mind admit they are HIV positive? Well in the Irish courts anyway, there is a long history of judges being lenient if the accused has a medical illness. And the more serious it is the better. In case you didn't read the full article, the female escort claimed she had previoiusly suffered a stroke!! At the age of 42, I can tell you that's pretty rare!
Back to the HIV - you can be sure that this was based on the TV's testimony and not on a HIV test done on arresting him - because that would be against his rights and also HIV tests take a while to come back. As to why someone would falsely claim to be HIV.....well the judge released them both!!
Good tactic and good lawyer.
And before anyone gets on their high horse, this in no way dimishes the risk or seriousness of contacting HIV. But I will post about that later. As to this story, I do think we should read between the lines.