Women who buy sex back Corkery's brothel plan

Male escort Damian Grey says it's tough working alone. Photo / Richard Robinson

A woman who uses male prostitutes believes there is a market for a brothel for women, and is applauding Pam Corkery's plans to establish one in Auckland.

Although the 48-year-old property investor says it is easier to pick up men in local bars and nightspots, they do not give the same level of intimacy or respect as male prostitutes.

"Sometimes, a woman just needs to feel like a woman, and you're not going to get them from blokes you meet at bars who usually stink of alcohol and just go wham bam, thank you ma'am," she said.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said she started using the services about three years ago after being single for nearly eight years.

"I know I'm paying, but I know I'm getting what I paid for."

She uses a male escort about once a month and says she's looking forward to the day when she could "take a pick" from a selection at a brothel.

Another woman - 33-year-old Lola - told the Weekend Herald she has been paying male escorts for the past eight years.

Lola said a wide variety of women sought the services of male prostitutes.

"It's about time society faced up to the fact that female sexuality is just as strong as that of men, and that women who choose to pay a sexual partner are not defective."

Dr Calum Bennachie, who has researched issues affecting the gay and lesbian communities, says women pay for sex for different reasons.

"Every woman who buys sex would be doing so for a different reason. There are various theories, including that there's a desire for a connection before sex takes place," said Dr Bennachie.

He said New Zealand had about 180 known male sex workers, but believed fewer than 20 would want to work in a brothel, where they would have to share their takings.

Ms Corkery, a former MP and broadcaster, is planning to start a brothel for women. It would start as a TV reality series, but continue to operate after filming was completed.

Damian Grey, 32, who has been providing sex for money to women since he was 16, said he would be happy to work in Ms Corkery's bordello.

"It's tough working out on your own, and the numbers will make it worth your while to be working in a brothel," said Mr Grey.

Prostitutes Collective Auckland manager Annah Pickering said such a brothel would struggle to survive because there was little demand for male prostitutes from women.

She said fewer than 20 male sex workers were known to the collective. Most were in their 30s and 40s, and only half of them provide services exclusively for women.

They charged upwards of $150 for sex and $500 for an overnight service, but competition was tough and many heterosexual men had to perform some homosexual activities to make a living, she says.