Regarding “R.I.’s carnival of prostitution,” by Donna M. Hughes, June 24.

What “circus”?

Let me introduce myself: I’m the nationally certified sex-educator and derogatorily labeled “tattooed lady” mentioned by Donna Hughes in her June 24 opinion piece. It seems that the professor of women’s studies at the University of Rhode Island was so put off by my appearance that she called into question my credentials. Putting quotation marks around my profession was insulting. And yes, I am a contributor to the sex-workers magazine $pread. Is it so shocking that sex workers can read?

This “opinion piece” was nothing more than an exercise in highbrow name-calling. She attacked the opponents to her pet bill as “a sordid circus,” as “smelling of other odors,” and as projecting the atmosphere of “a carnival.”

As an alum of URI (‘97), I would have expected faculty of our honored university to develop a reputation for science and truth. Instead, it seems that Ms. Hughes would rather resort to right-wing scare tactics. Perhaps if “the Professor” really cared about women, she wouldn’t attack us for the way that we look.

MEGAN J. ANDELLOUX

Pawtucket

The writer is a certified sexuality educator.