Jessie Abraham is simply an autonomous character. She is owned by no one- and is totally autonomous. Jessie does community education that aims to talk about sex work in a non judgemental, without the morals way- simply treating sex work like work.

For the past 2 years Jessie has done stand up comedy in many states around Australia, Jessie speaks as a sex worker, has been featured in Cosmopolitan, many commercial radio stations as a safe sex expert ( without the sex work, just an expert on sex) ABC radio, ABC online, is featured in Comparing Countries Compassion, ( filmed in India) and N.T recent film: "Regulating sex" and many you tube videos, she also writes letters to the editor, and is a spokeswomen for sex workers worldwide.

Jessie Abraham was created in 2008 when her creator, Seranna Shutt, decided to speak as Jessie on radio about being treated like a criminal while working in South Australia. NOTE: All of the videos on you tube is Jessie Abraham... not Seranna.

However, at the time Seranna worked as a outreach officer and many times legally could not speak as Seranna due to her day job. So Jessie was created.

Seranna is also an activist and whatever Seranna can't say (due to her SWOP commitments) Jessie speaks.. it makes lobbying the government around law reform double as effective. Seranna speaks about it from a HIV framework and Jessie plays it up and is a little bit more risky.

Jessie has been more of a media whore, however recently as Seranna spoke as the SWOP coordinator.

So here is a message from Seranna - not Jessie: (13/06/10)

Hi my name is Seranna.

In the news this week, there has been much discussion around legalising brothels.

This came into the newspapers after I had a interview with NT NEWS about my film called Regulating sex, and how police registration should be abolished. (N.T is the only state or Territory in Aust that still has it) I explained also how brothels are best practice for OH&S (According to our 2010 National HIV strategy Decriminalisation and deregulated settings are best practice and give sex workers better health outcomes.)

Most of all decriminalisation that includes making brothels legal gives sex workers choice how they want to work- just like other professions.

Now the NTNEWS has done a poll and its 10am sunday morning and it's 85% in favour of legalising brothels- however its not the main issue - even if we had brothels there still is the human right issue of police registration.

The main aim is to abolish-police registration of legal sex workers - creating a profile and placed in organised crime of legal workers is against human, civil and privacy rights.

If sex workers want to protect their privacy they don't have the option to work legally for an escort agency or brothel. Decriminalisation of sex work is the aim - however I was not going to start lobbying for that until after the election- however, a few small amendments, even just moving registration out of police hands would be a great step in the direction.

This delicate (due to ongoing stigma) information has been brought up in court cases, police checks and everyday police "somehow" know who sex workers are.. However when sex workers signed on only the commissioner and police liaison officer has access - like sex worker are meant to believe that!

I was one of 800 people world wide who received a part scholarship, to attend the International AIDS conference in Vienna in Mid July to present a poster about this N.T issue - it's going to become a international issue - already with a lot of support internationally - as its a human rights issue. (I also have t-shirts printed!)

(I'll also be shooting a film over there also as Vienna also has failed police registration- will be producing a film showing the last 10 years of lobbying)

How can you help?

Write a letter to the NT NEWS, text the editor, email, or preferably write a letter to the Chief Minister: (As all letters require a response)

Paul Henderson
Chief Minister.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services GPO
Box 3146 Darwin NT 0801
Chief.Minister@nt.gov.au

Thank you everyone from all around the world who is in support for workers rights.

Seranna

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