Erik Rhodes's Death and the Sex Industry

Erik Rhodes, a porn star recently died of an overdose. His death has sparked controversy in the gay community. Various people attribute various contributing factors.

But the tragic thing about Erik Rhodes its all to common in a subset of the gay community. What basically happens is a bunch of young guys come out to the "scene" with nothing but their tools and their bodies. So they make a living off of being "hot". The problem is, not only is not a career you can do till retirement, very often being the hot thing to the gay community only lasts a few years, or so. Actually, in some cases not even two years. So then you're left with someone with no job skills, who has become emotionally damaged, and who may not see a future for themselves.

After all, they are just a "tool" right?

I'm not saying that no one should never do porn or erotic work. But depending on this for your future generally isn't such a good thing. Most people in the erotic industry don't consistently make good money (its fast easy, money), and it comes with a number of problems. Exposure to stds, emotional abuse, the damaging of one's resume and reputation (often preventing one from having a legitimate career in the future or at least damaging the prospects of it).

Basically, if you know someone considering being a stripper, porn star, etc and if they are talking about doing this for their future, talk them out of it. When a go go boy overdoses, no one knows or cares about it. When a hustler o.d.s, no one cares. Studies have been done on the higher rates of addiction in the lgbt community, particularly those who are often marginalized not only by the mainstream, but by the lgbt community itself. And there's no one more marginalized than a sex symbol getting older and becoming played out and work out.