Hello hello hello, my loves! Welcome back to our worker interview series, A Tryst With! Today we're blessed to be catching up with gorgeous Texas hottie and El Paso escort, Riley Vega! We talk social media, gender and the local hardcore music scene.
How did you get into the industry and what does your journey look like so far?
To be completely honest, getting into the industry is something I've always seen as a “when” and not an “if”. I’ve always been really interested in sex and the psychology behind it, and I love being an outlet for people's fantasies. Also as a chronically ill autistic person, sex work allows me to set my own pace and schedule. I really value being a safe space for clients to explore kinks that society might look down on. I’m still fairly new to the industry and am figuring out my way, but I'm learning a lot and gathering wisdom with every day that passes.
What was it like moving to escorting, compared to doing online work?
It’s been really interesting seeing how each kind of work comes with unique sets of challenges. My biggest challenges online are having enough reach as someone starting from scratch with most social media. It is also difficult for me to think of new and interesting content ideas. For escorting, my biggest challenge so far has been finding and keeping clients, or finding clients that don’t flake. Something I've been practicing in general is establishing clear boundaries with clients and constantly checking in with myself. Overall, moving from online to escorting has been a positive experience.
Is there anything you wish more of the general public knew about sex work?
I wish the public knew not to conflate sex work with sex trafficking. I also wish that people knew that the decriminalization of sex work would free up resources to track down actual sex traffickers. Other than that, I wish there was less stigma surrounding this job. It truly is just like any other job, some people love it, some people hate it, and it is simply just a job for others. No one should be ostracized or criminalized over decisions they make with their own body. It’s been eye-opening transitioning into an era where I can’t be completely honest about what I do for work with people I have just met, or even more established friends. You never know how people are going to react or how their perception of you is going to change afterwards. Telling people you’re a sex worker can not only set you up for ostracization or judgment but can also go as far as putting your immediate and future safety in danger.
How do you find navigating sex work spaces as a trans person, given it’s not always inclusive?
I definitely do feel pressure to feminize myself in order to appeal to a wider variety of clients, however this is something I always knew I would want to do and I have made my peace with the conflicting feelings it can sometimes bring up. I’m a pretty feminine person despite my gender identity, and getting dressed up for work feels like getting into character. Riley Vega is very much a sexier, more feminine persona compared to who I am in my day to day life. I am still trying to find a good balance with feminizing myself in order to not get burnt out as often as I do.
What is something clients can do to make you feel more comfortable as a trans worker?
I honestly don’t expect much from clients. I am personally not open to correction on pronouns or assumed identity due to the current climate of the world, and would prefer not to instigate a conversation that may or may not put my immediate safety in danger. This is part of the reason why decriminalization and trans rights go hand in hand, ensuring safety for sex workers is ensuring safety for trans people and vice versa.
Sex workers are often hyper-critical of our bodies, especially so if we’re trans. What I’d love to know is if there’s something about your body that really brings you joy? That you just love?
I definitely tend to be hyper-critical of my own body, especially entering the industry as not only a trans person but also a medium fat person, there’s quite a lot to be said about being a sex worker at those specific intersections. Something about my body that brings me joy is my smile. I used to have a difficult relationship with my smile due to severe bullying when I was younger, but it was a lot easier to let go of those conflicting feelings when I kept reminding myself that a smile and laughter are expressions of pure joy, and everyones is beautiful.
For clients visiting, what’s something fun you can do together around town? Any local adventures you love to go on?
Something unique about where I live is the fact that there’s a huge mountain range in the middle of the city. If you know where to go, you can find some amazing views. Another cool thing I like to do around town is go to local music shows. There’s a lot of very talented musicians in the area and my favorite shows to go to are the hardcore music shows. If a client doesn’t like heavier music, there’s also plenty of indie bands that perform around town and tons of other great nightlife.
Can you share a little about your experience of being a Trans Mexican BIPOC sex worker in Texas? What's it like for you at those intersections?
Existing at those intersections, especially in a state as volatile as Texas, has been difficult. I don’t want to go too into detail about the negative because I feel that is all the media tends to portray these days. Coming to terms with the fact that people will hate me no matter what I do just because of who I am is something I had to do very early on in life as an immigrant from Mexico, and even more later on in life when I came into my queer and trans identities. Although I chose to be a sex worker, it’s a bit easier to deal with all the animosity towards us because of what I’ve been through. Now onto the positive, my intersections have allowed me to be a part of the most wonderful communities. Growing up in a small city, I truly thought I was the only gay person in the whole area, and when I became an adult I realized how wrong I was. Finding a good sense of community has truly been a saving grace for me. There is no feeling like being surrounded with people of similar identities, jobs, and life experiences.
Is there a book, blog, tv show, or movie that has had a major impact on your life? What was it and what did it teach you?
I almost never watch or read anything that isn’t fiction, and I tend to consume a lot of post-apocalyptic media, especially the queer kind. My two favorite and most impactful pieces of media are actually video games. I’ve noticed that video games tend to be left out of mainstream media conversations, but there is so much amazing storytelling in video games that people tend to write-off, solely because of the fact that they’re games. I have always gravitated towards post-apocalyptic media, I have found that it always reveals peoples’ true colors. There’s something about constantly being in danger and having no certainty of a future that allows people to become who they are no matter what that is. I personally favor The Last of Us and The Walking Dead game because they both showcase queer main characters, one of which is a lesbian and the other is a POC bisexual. This kind of media has taught me that life is too short and uncertain to not pursue your passions unabashedly, and to always be yourself and not change for anyone. I was bullied severely as a kid and it taught me to put up this wall of who I thought people wanted me to be, and if the wall ever faltered I suffered the consequences. As an adult, I have made it a point to make time for self-discovery and to only keep around people who wholeheartedly accept me and want to see me succeed.
Is there a sex worker cause or project you love or are involved in? Please tell us why it matters and how others can support it.
For a few months now I have been organizing with my local SW alliance organization, the Erotic Laborers Solidarity Alliance, better known as ELSA. We work together with other sex workers and allies on a few different committees, including one with the end goal of decriminalizing sex work in El Paso County. Other projects include a lingerie closet for sex workers in need, community care circles, and Trans Treats, which is a fund for dispersing micro-grants to trans people, no questions asked. If you would like to know more about what ELSA is up to, follow us on Instagram @elsa_west_texas. If you would like to donate to the Trans Treats fund, you may send it to $rreddsunshine. Finding a local sex worker organization to immerse myself in has been an absolute blessing, community is incredibly important to me, especially in this line of work. ELSA also recently hosted an art show fundraiser and we were able to create over 40 care bags to disperse to street-based sex workers. You may also follow this link to learn more and to donate to SWers and other marginalized communities: https://msha.ke/elsawesttexas.
My favorite colors are: blue, black, and red.
My ideal date would consist of: good food and good vibes.
I get a big thrill out of: filming content and interacting with my clients.
I feel most sexy when: I transform myself into Riley Vega or when I’m just able to be myself.
A fellow sex worker I find inspiring is: Leely Moore, we organize together and she is also a very dear friend of mine.
Want to meet El Paso escort Riley Quinn in person?
Head over to their profile! 👇👇👇
