Today I was invited along with other male sex workers in Berlin to discuss critical and essential topics about sex work in Germany. As well as more practical issues related to escort business.

Gathering together with around ten colleagues, including current and former escorts, we discussed how we should practice safer sex and how drugs have an impact on escort work. We also discussed the legal situation of prostitution in Germany, and how we, as sex workers, could improve and strengthen our community as well as discussed more practical topics like the sex-workers financial situation today in Berlin, and how to prevent fake and avoid fraud clients. "There is indeed much information in just one day," said one colleague of mine, who started to work in this industry only ten days ago. While the other, former-escort who have worked in this industry for many years, said that things are still getting complicated. There were colleagues in this meeting who worked in this industry even 20-30 years and still in the market.

"Giving a good perspective on my work makes me understanding who I want to be"

The topic of drugs and how they are involved today in the escort business was especially a hot topic in today's meeting. The fact that many escorts are using drugs during sex or together with the client is so true. Drug addiction is today a reality in the escort industry and leads sex workers to a situation where they lose their work, family, friends and even home. We escorts are still sensitive to the issues that are related to declining clients who are demanding to do things that are not suitable to us. One of my colleagues said in our meeting: "I confess that I had to deny clients of demanding drug-use and getting high on our date. It is not pleasing, but giving a good perspective to my work makes me understanding who I want to be".

Escort job is not easy in Germany

Sex workers in Berlin are suffering in money challenges and the numerous growing fake contacts - the audience who is writing and wasting our time without real intend to book. One of my colleagues pointed out that escorts in the prostitution market are growing, but (real) clients are getting less and less compared 5 years ago. Plus, the other factor is that Berlin is a cheap city, and getting money tends to concern more and more sex workers today. Nevertheless, to say that most of the escorts just can afford to rent an apartment. He added that renting an apartment in Berlin is expensive, and the money that clients are paying to sex workers around 50 to 60 Euros per date is slightly small. Therefore denial to real customers is a worrying issue today in Germany and escorts must put more effort to find clients.

I expressed my feelings and thoughts about the client review system on the HUNQZ.com website, which is, in my opinion, is not accurate. I pointed out the fact that there is a significant development bug in their technology. I expressed my concern regarding the issue that every person can, regardless if he has booked or not, leave a review. And some clients use it as a source to make revenge and say bad things based on their emotions. These clients are not always honest with their feelings. And mostly they are commenting on negative thoughts because of not getting a fast answer, or not liking the response they get. Or any other such kind of dishonest and inaccurate situations where the actual meetings have never occurred.

Discussing marketing topics, one of my colleagues mentioned that they get sometimes clients on such platforms like Twitter or Instagram. I warned my colleagues in the meeting that finding clients on any such social platforms are risky and we have to pay extra attention to what we post and how we express them. For instance, according to the Twitter Terms of Use, promoting directly any sexual services is forbidden and may lead to account suspension.

Escorts are concerned about the Germany law

In today's meeting, we also discussed the safe sex policy in Germany, called the "Kondompflicht act" that actually seems to disturb escorts due to the easier access on preventive drugs such as PrEP, which was established recently in Germany for all those who have German health insurance. The financial penalty to clients who are not using condoms during sexual intercourse with sex workers is today in Germany up to 50 000 Euros. So that is good news, said supervisor of the meeting.

Discussing how to strengthen our community, my colleagues were agreed that we need a united and active community to support each other. We are not competitors. We are all unique. Discussing topics that are essential to us helps us to build more stronger and efficient community — and supporting each other in any matter. Some of the escorts are today as part-time sex workers, and some of them are working full time.

The meeting was supervised by the smart-berlin.org. For everyone's safety and privacy, I did not record any photos and videos of the meeting.