Queen Elizabeth gives sex work activist Catherine Healy same honor as Helen Mirren
Queen Elizabeth II has recently been making some quite bold moves on her part, but her latest policy is surely about to take away the cake.
The Queen is already getting accolades for welcoming a black woman into the British monarchy, but now she has decided to up the ante and reward people for their work the way they deserve.
According to reports by the Washington Post, the Queen is all set to honor sex worker rights activist Catherine Healy, and declare her as a dame, the same royal honor which has been presented previously to the likes of stars such as Helen Mirren and Anna Wintour.
Healy, for those who aren't fully aware, was hugely influential in the decriminalization of prostitution in New Zealand in the year 2003. Apart from that, she is currently the founder of the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective, which is an organization completely run by sex workers and helps to support other sex workers out there.
The publication reports that Healy will live her life as Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, which is an honor that she has reportedly received “for services to the rights of sex workers.”
Throughout her time as an activist, Healy has made sure that the law protects those who choose to engage in sex work. She herself had been a sex worker in the 80s and was a first-hand witness of the atrocities that prostitutes and escorts go through in their day-to-day lives.
Which is why she started the Collective, and later aided the organization in passing the Prostitution Reform Act in 2003, that made the practices of sex work legal. Speaking about her work, she said, "The relationship we had with the police changed. They used to come in periodically and pose as clients, and then come back and charge you with solicitation."
An ecstatic Healy told the Post, “I’m very touched,” adding, “Looking at the different kinds of people who are put forward for these honors, in no way did I think I would ever be a recipient. I’m not sure what the queen would be thinking about this, but certainly, it’s no secret that I have been a sex worker, and obviously, my work is pushing for sex workers’ rights.’”
The news of the Queen's profoundly bold gesture comes only days after it was revealed that she, along with her new daughter-in-law Meghan Markle, would be going on a solo trip Chester to carry out Meghan's first official royal outing.
The Queen is taking Meghan along to unveil a new bridge in Widnes, Cheshire, and open the Storyhouse Theatre.
After the unveiling, the two will sit down for lunch at Chester’s Town Hall. Even though Meghan has got a taste of most of the UK along with Prince Harry prior to their wedding, this will be the first time that she will be seen with the Queen alone.