LONDON — Johnny Anglais, the former East London high school teacher reprimanded by the General Teaching Council in 2011 for his work as an escort, stripper and adult performer, will speak tonight at Oxford Union on the topic of legalizing prostitution.
Anglais — real name Benedict Garrett — served as the head of personal, social, and health education at Beal High School in Ilford from 2008 up until 2011, when students exposed the moonlighting professor’s secret career shortly after viewing him in a trailer for a pornographic film.
The General Teaching Council found Anglais guilty of unprofessional conduct, but allowed him to continue teaching so long as he quit his porn and escorting gigs. Anglais refused and went on to become an activist for sex worker rights and sexual education.
"We all need to be far more open and honest... not just for our own sense of identity, but for the health and well-being of our young people," he told BBC.com.
Anglais will, tonight, join British Medical Journal head Dr. Fiona Godlee and Moonlite Bunny Ranch proprietor Dennis Hof at Oxford Union to discuss the legalization of prostitution with Justice for Women founder Julie Bindel and feminist activists Finn Mackay and Ellie Levenson.
