Are We Pushers?

We must have offended someone.

It happens. We can’t make everyone happy. But it is upsetting when someone assumes what we do or who we are, because they read our shirts and read into it “judgmental” or “hateful.” They assume we own a bullhorn (we don’t) and that we just want to “preach.”

As most members of the industry will tell you, that’s the opposite of who we attempt to be. Do we sometimes have volunteers who become over zealous in their excitement to serve? Yes. Because people are imperfect. But we do our best to train and work with our outreach team so that they are serving not from a need to be a “Savior” because we are not a savior, or the savior.

The reality is that many of our team come out of the industry. We know what it is to walk the runway, to work hard, and that like all professions, there are up nights and down nights. That’s life.

We truly attempt to not “push” religion. Now we do come because we are believers, and we believe that our mission as the Bible outlines it is to love others. Not just those that society deems lovable, and not just those who look like us. But others. Every other person.

Since many of us come out of the sex industry, we realized that when we were in, there weren’t many people telling us we were loved. Most people who came to see us wanted something for us. It was an exchange, cash for services. We wondered…what if we went in to GIVE and not to take.

We don’t have a church of our own. In fact, our volunteers go to a lot of different churches all over the area.

We don’t serve only those who want to be baptised or who sing in the choir. We love every person in the industry, whether they are believers in what we believe or not. We have provided links to services, food, helped fill out domestic violence forms, and sat in court with ladies who are of different faiths than us. Because it’s not about that. It’s about love. Period.

We were there when one of our dancers needed addictions help. We were there when a lovely lady had her child in the hospital multiple times and she wanted comfort, a break to get a bite to eat, and prayer. We were there when COVID hit and the food banks were empty, and no formula or diapers was to be found. We lobbied for funds for strippers, prostitutes and porn starts who were not permitted to receive unemployment, though they had been working consistently, many in totally legal occupations!

Once in a while, we might post a scripture, because a lot of our ladies and gents are believers. I know, to those of you not in the industry, you are shocked, right? But yes, there are some amazing believers within the industry. And we love those folks, too. But we hope if this is not your faith, you’ll just pass on what you don’t care for, and that if you have a true need…when life hits you hard, that you will let us connect you to those who can help.

Because that’s what life is about for us. Connection and caring one for another.

However, if you refuse our gifts or don’t want to talk, we certainly don’t want to be “pushers.” If you have a concern with a particular volunteer, please remember they are volunteers, and though they may be overly excited to be there, they do care. And then, just ask their name and connect with our offices. We’ll chat with them and encourage that person to simply be kind and appreciate your right to not partake of gifts, hugs, or to deal with us at all.

We were there…we didn’t like “pushers” either.