Being in porn comes with a few consequences that range from difficulty maintaining vanilla or non-industry friendships and relationships to filing taxes to protecting your identity. There is no shortage of “issues” that sex workers face based on our choice of work. One issue that I constantly struggle with more than anything else is the fact that some people tend to view me as an object, rather than a human being.

I’ve identified as a feminist for years now; I’m a strong believer in my body, my choice. I don’t like demeaning terms or phrases used based on gender (whether female, male or any other gender identity). I believe in gender equality. Consent is super sexy. All of those thought processes.

So, where did this all come from? Well, yesterday, I went over to Disney World. I have an annual pass, and since plans with my partner changed, I had a Disney day with two of my girl friends. I posted on Twitter that I was there, snapped a bunch of photos to post on Instagram, and enjoyed laughing with my friends despite the pouring rain. I got to ride a bunch of rides (I was so excited to finally not have to wait 2 hours to get on the Mine Train in the New Fantasyland area!!) and posted a picture of me dripping wet but grinning on Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.

That’s when I got this:

Uh. Wait. What?? EXCUSE ME?!

Did…did you just call me a ride? As if you, or anybody else, can queue up to my bed and hop on for a turn of screaming pleasure?

No. No you cannot. I am not a ride. I’m a human, and I deserve to be treated as such.

Just because I am a sex worker (that’s a choice made by me, not anyone else), doesn’t mean I deserve to get treated as less than human. I get that I produce and act in porn, which opens up the flood gates for objectification potentially more than any other career option out there. I get that being a sex worker means there are consequences. I get that for people who have never actually met me, I’m just an idea to them rather than being a person. I get that this person probably thought this was a compliment, but…it wasn’t. It was dehumanizing. It took everything that makes me a human, my personality, my soul, my thoughts, my feelings, and turned me into a something.

Sex workers aren’t things. We’re people. We have personalities. We have friends, families, pets, goals, ideas, hobbies, etc. All of those aspects of humanity? Yea. We have those too.