Prostitution/Trafficking Survivor-Activist committed to a world without prostitution. Love my cats Purr & Alan, Books, God, Barbie, Telly, My Bed & the Sea

Joined May 2012
197 Photos and videos
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Good morning, Sian here. Sitting here, thinking what to tweet, I'm always surprised at how uncomfortable I am on social media as a survivor. In the past, I have stated simple truth from my past in prostitution, and have received endless accusations of wishing death on women, of hating freedom, of silencing others, and the classic 'SWERF' - an acronym designed to label and shame those who want a better life for women and girls and who believe our bodies shouldn't be available to buy like pork chops for men to use and cast off. As just one person of the sadly thousands of women in the UK with experience of prostitution and abuse, I know my words don't carry any more weight than any other survivors'. But likewise, they do carry weight. You don't have to listen or believe if you don't want to - that's your choice, of course. There may be academic arguments to be had around prostitution and the use of and profit from the sale of women's bodies - I'm not sure Twitter/X is the best place for that discussion, but there's certainly a place for it somewhere. What is absolutely horrible is the feeling when a survivor speaks, lays bare the reality of her experience in prostitution and how hard that was, and people simply replying that she's a liar, or that by recounting her experience and feelings she is somehow harming others, perhaps even deliberately. It's designed to shut us up. When we shatter the illusion of empowerment and choice, even for a moment, some people with vested interests in keeping that illusion alive feel they have to stop us. Why? What is so wrong about pointing out the imbalance of power and the inherent exploitation in prostitution? Many of us know exactly how it feels to claim prostitution was our choice, that it felt empowering, that we could afford our lives now and no-one had the right to take that away from us. Survivors aren't stupid. We've been there. I said it, as a 13 year old kid in a garage full of men who'd paid to be there. It was stupid, but I had no other choice. Even thinking about having no other choice was too much, so I didn't think about it at all. Just say the line, smile, and everyone goes away and leaves you alone. I had too many problems to solve in one go, so I just held on until life somehow changed. And I was lucky- it did. It doesn't for everyone. The Nordic Model doesn't claim to make prostitution safe, or fair. Nothing can make it safe or fair. But it does give women options, where previously there may have been very few, if any. This is what women need. We're not stupid. We just need a chance, some support. That's why the Nordic Model has to include support services for women - in housing, healthcare, childcare, work, benefits, addiction services, studies. I'm not an old bag, a jealous harpy or someone who just hates women and freedom. I've been there. I know so many others that have too. So many of us just wanted a hand up, and someone to believe in us. The Nordic Model, when implemented properly, offers that, which is why I support it.
3
19
51
3,721
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Cross reference this list with the MSPs who voted against the #Unbuyable bill… then launch an investigation to their finances and hard drives. Anyone voting against grooming gang inquiries AND the prostitution bill needs investigated.
Replying to @francesbarber13
We have them in Scotland as well Frances
1
5
15
363
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
All 64 MSPs in @ScotParl who voted against @AshReganMSP Unbuyable bill should read this and hang their heads in shame. Nothing changes until those with the power to make change, act! @scotgov making excuses to to act for 19 years is simply shameful.
The murder of Fiona Ivison, in 1993, should have been a lesson. Police and social workers could have learned from this tragedy (piece in reply).
2
43
99
7,338
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Well said!
Exclusive - a prostitution survivor has accused the Scottish Government of siding with pimps and groomers after voting against Ash Regan's unbuyable bill. @TheScotsman 👇 scotsman.com/news/politics/p…
3
11
649
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Day 2 since #Unbuyable bill was failed by the government. Today an ecocide bill was passed to stage 2, we can add ‘shrubs’ to the list of living things that have more protection than women in Scotland.
List of animals that are legally protected in Scotland: • Greyhounds • Hares • Sex buyers Am I missing any?
60
117
2,561
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
The Scottish court is arguing that preventing a man from killing himself is more important than preventing him from killing a woman, wow.
12
207
1,027
11,418
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
If brave Virgina’s sexual exploitation had happened in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 I’m afraid that given Scottish sex trade survivors experience, Scottish Government, would refuse to meet her. When pressured to do act, the minister ‘responsible’, wouldn’t call for action but a commission. #UnbuyableBill
Imagine if Virginia Giuffre had never spoken up. We probably would never have heard about this scandal. Thank you to her for having the courage to speak up.
6
28
70
1,242
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
After refusing my FMQ request to meet survivors of prostitution, ignoring 2 letters requesting to meet survivors, 2 days AFTER voting against the Stage 1 principles of Unbuyable Bill - @scotgov claim to support… tonight I received a ‘response’ from the @ScotGovFM
14
155
605
22,562
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Spot on piece which highlights the absurd rubbish spouted by @MaggieChapman & @agcolehamilton "if prostitution is indeed a “meaningful and fulfilling” career that provides “a good living”, will any Scottish politicians be eager to give it a whirl, after the public votes them out?" "we can’t wish murder away, either. Or burglary, assault, or for that matter any other evil we care to name. So does that mean there’s no point criminalising them, either? If it’s impossible to prevent a bad thing from happening every time, should we simply allow it to happen all the time?" telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02…
20
178
503
10,177
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Then they had the audacity to moan they hadn't heard survivors voices. We were sitting in the gallery listening to their lies, after months of screaming at them to listen to us!
1
13
54
613
Thank you! @VoteEwing
An emotional @VoteEwing addresses the Scots Parliament on @AshReganMSP 's Prostitution bill Damn all those who are against it!
2
43
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
An emotional @VoteEwing addresses the Scots Parliament on @AshReganMSP 's Prostitution bill Damn all those who are against it!
21
194
566
23,724
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Replying to @AshRegan_
@AshReganMSP was absolutely magnificent today. She has fought like a lioness to protect women and girls. Bravo Ash. #Unbuyable
2
37
301
2,643
Scotland’s government ignored overwhelming evidence and survivor testimony and sided with the sex trade. They protected buyers, shielded profiteers, and abandoned exploited women. Cowardice over justice. Careerism over conscience
9
10
240
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Shameful from @theSNP What amendments do they want? They passed much more flawed legislation in the past - remember the push to get hate crime through in time with last minute amendments & chaos. The fact is, they don't want to protect these women & they want to punish @AshReganMSP
EXC: The SNP Government will not be supporting a Bill criminalising sex buying in a vote tomorrow. Minister Siobhian Brown said there is not enough time to amend the Bill and deal with concerns over the plan. dailyrecord.co.uk/news/polit…
18
143
406
10,633
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
As Regan closes, Harvie sits turned away from her, Chapman looks to be on her phone, Cole-Hamilton looks down, hand on chin, only Neil Gray on the Government front bench is turned towards Ash. Labour and Tories turned to watch her.
31
133
636
19,007
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Ash Regan reads out reviews from buyers of sex in her closing speech in the Unbuyable Bill debate: "This is the mentality of the men you are being asked to protect by not backing my Bill."
26
336
973
55,055
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
Ash Regan says some of the male MSPs voting tonight should have declared an interest 💜🤍💚
25
68
445
8,162
Diane Martin CBE retweeted
SNP MSP Ruth Maguire pleads with SNP colleagues to vote with their conscience on Ash Regan's Unbuyable Bill. "It's the public, not the government or whips who elect you to this place, and your public will value courage over unquestioning compliance."
14
89
373
25,806
Please stand with Survivors today!
1
25