Sex Work and Satanism with Azura Rose - a podcast by Avery Smith

Despite growing up in a heavily conservative Christian town, Azura Rose (they/she) was raised by parents who encouraged them to ask questions and explore religion on their own. They are now a Satanist in Toronto, as well as a cosplayer & sex worker. In this episode, Azura discusses the beliefs & activism of The Satanic Temple, as well as what it's like to be a queer, goth, disabled sex worker.

Listen (or read along with the episode transcript) to find out what Satan & Jesus have in common; what was up with all the backlash around Lil Nas X's single Montero; how some of Azura's clients have supported them on their gender journey; and much more.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse; bullying & religious trauma + threats of hell; mention of grandparent deaths

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Talking Points:

(0:00 - 2:30) Housekeeping

(2:31 - 5:11) Introducing Azura

(5:12 - 10:10) Growing up — bullied for not being Christian; supportive parents; discovering Wicca and Satanism, Lilith & Lucifer

(10:11 - 12:35) Explaining differences between the Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple (TST)

(12:36 - 15:19) Who is Satan for Satanists? — An archetype embodying rebellion against unjust authority; Satanists are atheistic

(15:20 - 18:28) Why TST has a large number of queer & neurodivergent members; parallels between Christian elements & Satanism

(18:29 - 20:59) Backlash Lil Nas X

(21:00 - 25:36) The Satanic Panic of the 1980s-90s — originated in Canada; the McMartin Preschool Trial

(25:37 - 29:43) TST's political activism — reproductive rights, religious rights — more complex in Canada, where TST isn't an official religion

(29:44 - 36:06) How TST's tenets speak to Azura as a sex worker & trans person — "our body is subject to our will alone"

(36:07- 48:59) More about TST: meetups; non-binary interpretations of Baphomet, Lilith, and Lucifer

(49:00 - 55:51) What it's like to be genderfluid and a sex worker — supportive clients

(55:22 - 1:02:48) Closing thoughts: other people's thoughts about your gender or faith don't matter; the need for rights and resources; when seeking to learn about Satanism or sex work, find people who are similar to you and different from you



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Find Azura on Twitter @hellcatazura and at hellcatazura.rip.

Learn more about The Satanic Temple at thesatanictemple.com/pages/about-us

Resources for supporting sex workers:

- https://decriminalizesex.work/

- Human Rights Watch: "Why Sex Work Should Be Decriminalized"

- The Sex Workers Project

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Blessed Are the Binary Breakers is part of the Rock Candy Podcast  Network. Find more shows, such as Sacred Tension, at www.rockcandyrecordings.com.

This show's theme song is "Aetherium" by Leah Horn. This episode also makes use of "Camilla" by Jeremy SH Griffith.

Further episodes of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Further podcasts by Avery Smith

Website of Avery Smith