Gay sex worker wins landmark court case after being ‘de-banked’ by financial provider
Gay sex worker Matthew Roberts wins landmark court case against financial provider for discrimination
Matthew Roberts, a gay sex worker and advocate for sex workers’ rights in Victoria, recently made headlines after winning a landmark court case against his financial provider for discrimination. Roberts had been using the business banking service “drama free” for years until he opened up about his job to his financial provider and was immediately cut off from the service.
The incident occurred in 2021 when Mint Payments, the fintech company Roberts was using, was acquired by First Data Merchant Solutions Australia. After being banned from using the service when his occupation was revealed, Roberts decided to fight back in court in 2022. He eventually won the case, allowing him to take payments from his clients via an EFTPOS machine.
Roberts’ victory shed light on the discrimination faced by sex workers in the financial industry. Many others in the sex work industry shared similar experiences of being “de-banked” by their financial institutions after disclosing their profession. Roberts emphasized the importance of being able to take payments via EFTPOS, as it provides convenience and choice for clients.
The discrimination case brought by Roberts also highlighted the dangers faced by vulnerable workers in the sex work industry. Keeping large amounts of cash at home made them more susceptible to theft, and the lack of access to banking services made it difficult for them to comply with tax obligations and apply for housing.
While Roberts resolved the case under certain conditions, he believes that more needs to be done to protect sex workers and related adult industries from discrimination by financial institutions. Despite the decriminalization of sex work in Victoria, many financial providers still have policies that exclude sex workers from their services.
Roberts’ case serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by sex workers in accessing essential financial services and the need for greater awareness and protection of their rights.
