Finnish Member of Parliament Anna Kontula has publicly disclosed her past experience as a sex worker, revealing that she began working in the industry at the age of 16. In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, Kontula stated that her decision to enter the sex trade was driven by financial hardship and curiosity. She worked as an escort on and off for nearly two decades, during which time she became an advocate for sex workers’ rights.
Kontula co-founded the sex workers’ union SALLI in 2002 and has since been a vocal advocate for the industry. She has published articles challenging public perceptions of sex work and has campaigned for the rights of sex workers. In 2006, Finland passed a law that partly restricted the purchase of sex, which Kontula saw as a partial victory due to its inclusion of protections for trafficking victims.
Kontula has served in the Finnish Parliament since 2011, continuing to campaign for sex workers’ rights. She has announced that she will not seek reelection and is currently training to become a social worker, with a focus on providing safe-sex education. Kontula’s decision to speak publicly about her past experience as a sex worker is intended to contribute to the social debate on sex work and its direction.
Prostitution is legal in Finland, with some exceptions. Although Kontula was a minor when she began sex work, Finnish law did not prohibit it at the time. The 2006 legislation partially criminalized the purchase of sex, making it illegal to buy from minors, trafficking victims, or those involved in procurement.
Kontula’s disclosure has drawn criticism from some quarters, with legal psychologist Pia Puolakka arguing that normalizing sex work does not make society freer or fairer. Puolakka believes that a civilized state should guarantee conditions in which no one has to sell their intimacy. Kontula’s coming out has sparked a debate on the issue of sex work and its place in society. As the conversation continues, it remains to be seen how Kontula’s disclosure will impact the social debate on sex work and its direction.
