TransEthics: What do you say to critics who say that sex work isn’t ethical?

Mia Davina: I would have to play Devil’s Advocate a little and ask what is ethical to them? If working a “Normal” job where you are paid tiny amounts for all your free time and have to put up with bosses you hate is ethical, then I wouldn’t want to be ethical! Porn has always had stigma against it although sex is a beautiful thing that creates life. Porn performers are tested constantly and work in a safe environment. It’s much less “dirty” than sex is for people outside the porn world.

I think people can’t live off of the tiny wages they make doing 40 hours a week, let alone being Trans and having to mask your truth to appease your bosses, and unless people are paid better it is silly to look down on sex work and Adult Entertainment.

TE: What were you doing before you got started in the sex industry?

MD: Before coming to Los Angeles, I was in Boston working at a jewelry store I owned that bought gold and silver –pretty much one of those obnoxious Cash 4 Gold places you see everywhere. But I truly loved doing it and being able to give out cash to people who it sometimes really helped out. I had worked for another company doing the same thing and was fired after they saw my Facebook say I’m bisexual and had some risqué pics of me on it. I was so hurt by all of it, as they blamed it on my shirt having not been ironed enough. It went to court and everything. Instead of let it keep me down, I worked hard and eventually became manager, then owner of their competition company. Now the ones who fired me are out of business. That proved you can do anything if you really try, even as a trans woman!

TE: Did you come out at that job, or were you out before they hired you?

MD: I had been on hormones for 4 years when I was hired so I had boobs and my hair grown out and looked totally female. I still tried to dress like a guy even though I got called “she” and “ma’am” all the time. It felt easier than coming out completely and having to deal with stress when I just wanted to work. Plus, I take a while to do my makeup and would rather just have the extra sleep before shifts. (laughter)

TE: Seems like you were fired for what they found on Facebook. What was the outcome of the court case?

MD: I absolutely was fired for my Facebook. My coworkers started saying they’d seen pics of me online and that they thought it was cool, so while on break I showed one of them a picture of me with makeup on. The next day my manager asked me “…if I like guys…” and I said I’m bisexual. And the next day the District Manager came in and said my shirt was ironed but “not in the top left corner enough,” so I had to be let go. I had the right to talk to HR about it and was denied that and got hung up on. The whole thing really messed me up for a while and the case is still pending in the courts.

I happened to apply to their competitions company at 3am one night thinking nothing of it. I got hired and worked my way up to become manager. I did so well I became part owner of it and was able to wear anything I wanted. It felt so good to be able to do something about being discriminated against. I loved working because to me it meant proving that discrimination doesn’t hold anyone back, except the douche bags doing it to others.

TE: Speaking of discrimination, there has been a lot of uproar over trans people using the restrooms that align with their gender. What would you say to the authors of the bills meant to keep trans women out of women’s public facilities?

MD: It would be a huge step backwards for everyone if these bills are passed. It’s a slippery slope when it will start coming down to checking IDs, or having to pull a dick out to get into a guys’ restroom or not. They think we want to use the restrooms to spy on females, when in reality most trans women look much better than these busted ass genetic girls and they aren’t something worth the energy to look at (laughs). If they want me to look like a Barbie and have to use the guys room, that is outing me and purposely putting me in a dangerous situation when I simply want to touch up my makeup. But honestly, I am strong and confident and I would happily use the guys bathroom and be proud because I am a trans, and not just another generic boring cisgender woman. It’s all about perspective.

TE: Wouldn’t you worry for your safety?

MD: Me personally? No… although I’m the exception for having a black belt. [I know] other trans people would feel unsafe. This bill would actually backfire. The public is now accepting of transgender people, and they know this is unfair political shit. If it passes and we are forced into the wrong restrooms, the people would be proud of us for having to endure such a ridiculous law when no one really cared in the first place. If someone is out to hurt a trans person, they are going to do it regardless of this law or bathroom use. I have faith that humans are starting to live and love together, and no one wants to wind up on WorldStar Hip Hop beating on a trans woman and have the whole internet after them before they do jail time.

TE: Trans women have been more visible of late. Do you think this is just the media trying to capitalize on us, or something more?

MD: I think some of it has political reasons behind it, but I think people are just tired of seeing the same cookie cutter genetic females all the time and trans women are fresh, new, and exciting. We put so much into our image and are truly happy being who we are. People can feel that energy when they see us. Maybe the internet era has just made LGBT and gender-variant people more easily assimilated into society, so you see more of us everywhere. Or maybe we are just super hot and genetic girls have dropped the ball on being entertaining and positive beings. (laughs)

TE: What attracted you to sex work?

MD: I’ve always loved making videos and pictures while in High School. Porn has been something I was exposed to all the time from very early on, and I’m sure that had some influence on me wanting to get into it. I really just love being myself. I’m proud of what I look like, and think it’s something to share and let the world see. Maybe it helps others to see me making my dreams happen. Maybe I just like the idea of people getting off to me in the most vain way possible, but in the end it is something I am happy doing and wouldn’t want my life any other way!

TE: Awesome! Just one more question: What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

MD: I’m excited about the future, for myself in the porn world, and in other projects I’m working on while staying out in sunny beautiful L.A. I’ve worked hard and kept at my dreams, and am at a point where it is all here within reach and I couldn’t be happier! I have a lot of exciting content coming out soon that will be entirely new concepts for transsexual porn –something that is long overdue– and I hope to try to become more integrated into mainstream porn. I don’t think it could be a better time than now to be doing all this as well! So long as people are happy seeing me, I will always be happy showing them.

TE: I don’t suppose you want to share any of this revolutionary idea?

MD: (Laughs) People will have to keep up to date on my crazy ass to see whats up next.  It will be worth the wait, I can say that much!

TE: Excellent! We’ll be waiting with bated breath. Thank you for chatting with us today.

MD: Sexcellent even! (laughter) Thank you and thanks to my followers for the support and being the coolest ever, much appreciated Victoria!

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