Strength in Numbers : Male Prostitutes Form Support Group to Deal With Problems

As darkness falls over Santa Monica Boulevard near Plummer Park in West Hollywood, a group of young male prostitutes hovers near a street corner, eyeing two sheriff’s cars parked across the street.

As soon as the deputies disappear, the young men emerge from the shadows, cross the street and form a cluster on a patch of grass. A few minutes later, a lanky man in his early 20s addresses the group, which has assembled for the fifth unofficial meeting of SMASH--the Santa Monica Assn. of Street Hustlers.

To those on the boulevard, the lanky man goes by the name of Josh Travis, a self-avowed veteran hustler and the group’s unofficial leader. SMASH is the brainchild of Travis and was organized about a month ago after he and six other hustlers became believers in the principle of strength in numbers.

SMASH’s ultimate purpose, Travis says, is to “unite the un-unitable.”

Travis acknowledges that forming a sort of trade group for prostitutes is unorthodox. But, he said, there are concerns that only a group such as his can fully address--gay-bashing, clashes between hustlers and sheriff’s deputies, and the large number of young boys who want off the streets but don’t know where to go for help.

Once the idea for the group was spawned, Travis took the initiative and started advertising meetings by word of mouth and flyers--using his own money. So far, attendance has ranged from 18 to nearly 40, he said.

Now SMASH functions as a support-networking-referral service for many of the hustlers who work along the strip. The group is made up mostly of gays but also includes some runaway teens and homeless people.

Before each meeting Travis contacts social service agencies like Children of the Night, Stop AIDS LA, or the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, all of whom have sent representatives to the to pass along important information on subjects ranging from safe shelter to safe sex.

“There is not one person who really wants to be out here,” Travis said. “But since they are, SMASH shows them ways they can use resources to make it better.”

Sheriff’s Deputy Stan Garrett said more hustlers are willing to cooperate with authorities since SMASH started.

Though the relationship between police and group members has improved, some wariness remains on both sides. Hustlers have a natural distrust of police, Travis said. Some are concerned that their attendance will make them police targets.

But sheriff’s officials say the men can only be arrested if they are caught soliciting. Garrett stressed that--while he doesn’t condone prostitution--he does see merit in the group’s efforts. He also noted that hustlers are frequently crime victims.

SMASH members are confident that sticking together will limit their vulnerability.

“We’re trying to make it so we can be out here and not get raped, beat, or molested,” said Lance, a boyishly handsome hustler. The key is cooperation, he said.

So at SMASH meetings, members try to do just that. There’s no agenda, no Robert’s Rules, protocol, or formalities. For one hour the group conducts a quasi-therapy session in which stories about their experiences are exchanged and questions are answered. In addition, free condoms and doughnuts are handed out, compliments of Travis.

Travis said hustlers show up for a variety of reasons--some because they like the conversation and others because they want to know what’s happening on the street.

“Out here people are told they are worthless,” said one male prostitute. “But with SMASH you feel you are not.”

Some critics say the group needs to address deeper issues.

“I think they’re being somewhat dishonest with each other,” said a 25-year-old former hustler who has enrolled in school but continues to attend group meetings. “It’s emotionally devastating out here. They need to address AIDS, drug addiction, and for those not on drugs, their addiction to this lifestyle, along with pornography and violence.”