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a sex work activism education nightSo, at my local grass roots activist center they have different events and activities that are related to various causes mostly social and environmental. This evening I participated in the anti-rascist reading discussion group. Towards the end of the meeting I happened to glance over towards the bookshelf (they have a donated library) and happened to notice the book “whores and other feminists” in the bookshelf. I was totally relieved because I’ve been worried about what the vegan-anarchists might think about sex work, but obviously they’re cool with it if they carry a book like that. SO at the end of the meeting I asked if they do any sex work related events or activites and they said not at the moment since they’re fairly new, but they’d love to and asked me if I wanted to do something. I said I would. But here’s the thing, although I am most likely the most knowledgeable person in my town about sex work activism, I don’t know a whole lot about it compared to other folks. So, sex workers & activists: any advice? Reading material? Topics I should definitely cover? Right now I’m reading Unrepentant Whore… My initial thoughts were to have some night called “What is Sex Work Activism and how you can help”. I definitely want to cover all aspects too, not just prostitution, since I’ve been involved in virtually all aspects of sex work (apart from burlseque & peepshows) and think every aspect could use a hand, activism wise. What do you guys think about that? Florida is totally unconnected and there is virtually ZERO activist communities down here that are sex work related. So all you privileged folk from New York, San Francisco and Seattle LEAVE A COMMENT! Give me some advice! 10 comments to a sex work activism education night |
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by SequoiaRedd, SequoiaRedd. SequoiaRedd said: ATTN SEXWORKERS: I need your advice! http://sequoiaredd.com/blog/2010/01/a-sex-work-activism-education-night/ (please RT!) [...]
Unfortunately I have no particularly useful input here, as I know very little about sex activism. But I would love very much to hear more about what you learn and how things go with this group.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by SequoiaRedd: ATTN SEXWORKERS: I need your advice! http://sequoiaredd.com/blog/2010/01/a-sex-work-activism-education-night/ (please RT!)…
Congratulations on your projects! I think acknowledging sex workers’ rights adds a huge contribution to the activist dialouge. I hope you have a greta time structuring your workshops.
I’d like to suggest a workshop with a know-your-rights approach. A while back, a woman named Katya Komisaruk published her book “Beat the Heat: How to Handle Encounters With Law Enforcement” (AK Press, Oakland CA 2003) on how to prepare oneself physically and mentally with encounters with local law enforcement. She makes mention of various scenarios in the context of prostitution, busts and interrogation methods used by cops on sex workers. She also debunks many of the most popular myths in dealing with the police (ie: cops ARE allowed to lie/use drugs/have sex in order to bust you). I have been to many of Katya’s own workshops in the Bay Area and have seen her speak as a legal rep on behalf of sex workers. She is a great ally in every sense of the word.
Copwatch is another great resource for information pertaining to interacting with police and many of these tactics can be modified and used to assist escorts and street-walkers in some of their everyday experiences dealing with cops. You could ask any local ACLU rep if there are lawyers familiar with Copwatch in your city and area who would be willing to speak to you about coordinating a sex worker-friendly workshop.
Once again, good luck, sis!
-Vivian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copwatch
Good Luck being the lone warrior in a sea of empty politics. I did that in LA and am still trying to do it..it’s important to do what you do and have a small group and slowly you will REALLY touch the lives of at least 30-50 folks over time. That’s not the army we need but it’s a lot still..
Girl, you should come to the Desiree conference this summer, meet all the sex worker activists from around the country and start a SWOp chapter down in FL!
http://www.desireealliance.org/conference.htm
SWOP-LV had an amazing resources page. You should definitely check that out- http://www.scapa-lv.org/resources.htm
Good luck!
The Free Speech Coalition is another group you may want to contact for legal and other advice. Plus you may want to talk to sex workers who have already dealt with these types of issues. I believ there are groups in San Francisco who deal with this excusively( sorry I don’t recall their names).
Some books I would recomend for you to check out are: Bare…On Women, Dancing, Sex, and Power by Elizabeth Eaves, The Other Hollywood… The Uncensored Oral History Of The Porn Film Industry by Legs McNeil & Jennifer Osbourne with Peter Pavia, and The Happy Hooker by Xaviera Hollander(this may be a bit older but the lady had experience in the sex worker profession and in this and some of her other books she wrote about her experinces with the police both good and bad.
you can use my latest blog post about sex work as a form of resistance for research:)
What are you trying to accomplish? Acceptance/Awareness, or unionization? Changing legislation? Or outreach to other sexworkers? There are many different facets of this type of activism. Lots of info. Maybe just having a conciousness raising circle would be a good place to start.
It’s easy to start an activist group in a favorable environment, surrounded with like minded thinkers. True conviction to a cause is shown by being the lone wolf activist in an unfavorable setting.
Once you get started you will attract you’ll be able to show the positive sides of sex work and how the industry benefits a community.
“Sex Worker Activists Speak”, by Sequoia Redd?
Hell, you might just be a pioneer in this field.
I’d buy the book, but only if it had lots of pictures, and you didn’t suggest I wipe my ass with my HAND, instead of using TP. Who else but scat lovers would do that?!