Source: Radio New Zealand
Members of the Fired Up Stilettos group at a 2023 protest at Parliament. Fired Up Stilettos / Supplied
The Green Party says its decision not to select a former sex worker as a candidate has nothing to do with her background.
Sex worker advocacy group Fired Up Stilettos’ chairperson Bianca Beebe was not selected this year, with the group in a statement claiming the vetting process fixated on her former job, and that she was told it posed a reputational risk to the party.
“Much was made of her having previously advertised sex work online, and they asked how she would feel if the opposition found archives of those now-deleted photos,” the statement said.
“She quipped ‘all of my advertising photos were great, so it would be pretty funny to have people attempt to shame me by sharing photos of me looking amazing’.
“She pointed out that lots of adults-in and out of Parliament-share nude photos with other consenting adults, but that hadn’t prevented anyone else’s candidacy. The committee chair furiously erupted, ‘Who? Who is sharing nudes?’.”
The group said the Greens’ selection process included an intial interview, followed by an email with 28 questions, 21 of which related to sex work, and a subsequent interview with the party’s candidate committee.
The statement says the committee chair expressed concern about Beebe’s sex work past and activism would distract from the party’s messaging goals, including Beebe having done sex work while on a work visa.
But co-leader Marama Davidson has disputed those claims.
“We have always and will always continue to advocate for sex workers, for the role that sex work advocacy groups play in this country.
“Yes, we have criteria that keeps our party, the kaupapa and the applicant safe. The final thing, the process is confidential but we want to make it clear that there was no relationship to a sex worker background in the party’s decision on this.”
She said the party was not “at all” concerned about Beebe’s background, or that she may have been working illegally, or that political parties could use that to attack them.
“There are so many different reasons to make sure that candidates and applicants are ready to face the pressure of government, but I’ll be clear again, the sex worker background of the applicant did not have any bearing on the final decision.”
The Green Party’s candidate selection process has been changed ahead of the coming election after a series of personnel problems.
“We have had a new robust process come in and that process upholds the long-standing political positions and values of the Green Party. The bold and courageous positions we have taken when it comes to advocating for sex workers rights, when it comes to advocating for crime prevention, for example,” Davidson said.
“It is a process that better prepares and keeps candidates and the party safe.”
She refused to say why Beebe had not been selected, saying that was confidential – but it was not her past as a sex worker.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
