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The majority of records relating to sex work in the archives are about female sex workers ; however, there have also always been men who have sold sex, predominantly to other men 1. Men engaged historically in sex work faced a double stigma as both homosexuality and sex work were controversial in their own right 2. Sex work between men also involved a significant extra layer of risk, as before in England and Wales homosexual acts between men were illegal whereas women engaging in sex work was not in itself illegal, although many associated practices were criminalised.
The increased risk meant this work was often less visible and men were less likely to openly solicit. Male sex workers presented a challenge to the many stereotypes that surrounded female sex workers, such as a lack of agency and choice. Despite this, reports of male sex work and male brothels had been longstanding and, at times, prominent in the public eye. This can be seen in the case against Oscar Wilde, in which he was linked to a series of young male sex workers.
In the treason case against Roger Casement in controversial diaries were used to discredit him, citing his sexuality and regular visits to male sex workers 5. These cases indicate the controversy of male sex work for client and worker, and the ability to discredit someone or leave them vulnerable to blackmail. Whereas men importuning or soliciting for sex in the records can often just mean men looking for sex, rather than men looking for people to pay for or sell sex.
The criminalisation of homosexual acts between men mean it is often hard to differentiate in the records between sex where money is exchanged, and sex where it was not, because all of it was subject to the law in some way. As with other sex workers in our collections, much of the evidence is statistical and impersonal in nature, but with surprisingly revealing stories littered throughout.
