Union fights for rights of men lured into sex work

Hong Kong has its first sex workers' union for men, which has revealed that poverty and joblessness have forced more than 1,500 men to sell their bodies.

The union claims the men - among them a 13-year-old boy and a 63-year-old former clerk - are subjected to police abuse and social discrimination.

Midnight Blue, set up in August last year to help what they call the 'invisible' men, said unemployment had forced a growing number of school dropouts, secondary school leavers and middle-aged low-skilled labourers to sell sex. The men cater mainly to homosexual clients.

With two social workers, the group offers an outreach service to men in massage parlours, cold-calls them and hands out condoms. They also provide classes on sex-work related laws, teach safe sex, offer Aids tests and host university talks to increase public understanding.

Group co-founder Leo - a former worker of Ziteng, which helps women in the sex trade - said many people were unaware of male sex workers and their plight. 'They are more marginalised than female sex workers. People accept women selling sex, but not men. It is more difficult for them as they are not accepted. And they hide their identity from friends and families,' Leo said.

Leo's co-worker, Chan Hau-leung, said social discrimination meant many of the men were defensive and it was difficult to reach them.