12/17/08: National March for Sex Workers' Rights

Published December 11, 2008 @ 09:34PM PT

On Wednesday, December 17th the National March for Sex Worker Rights will happen in Washington DC.

Below are some of the demands that the participants are asking for from the Obama administration:

1. Stop Shaming Us to Death

In the past two years we've seen two women commit suicide after high-profile sex scandals related to politicians. We are outraged that those who provide services, especially women, including transgender women carry the burden of sexual shame and punishment in our society while the very people who use our services are creating and enforcing legislation that violates our human rights. Furthermore, we are frustrated that the media emphasizes violence against female sex workers while ignoring the homophobia and transphobia that fuel violence against men and trans people in our community.

2. Violence Against Sex Workers Is Not Acceptable

Violence against us is not only tolerated, but even expected by society. Gary Leon Ridgway, the Green River Killer, murdered more than 60 women over a 21-year periodwith impunity. When he was finally apprehended he was quoted as saying: "I thought I could get away with killing hookers because nobody cares about them... I was doing the cops a favor by cleaning the trash up off the street." It is clear that labeling sex workers as criminals puts us at odds with law enforcement who should be protecting us and it sends a message to society that sex workers are expendable. Sex workers should not be criminals and violence against us should be classified as hate crime.

3. Listen to Sex Workers

Sex workers and their allies around the world have been in the forefront of the struggle against human trafficking, working together to address force, coercion and other abuses in the sex industry. Sex work done consensually by adults is distinctly different from human trafficking. The conflation of these concepts inhibits our role in contributing solutions to human trafficking and other abuses in our industry. There is a great deal of expertise from our communities defining safe work environments, identifying abusive situations and establishing a culturally appropriate community-based response to these problems.

4. Sex Workers Are Part of the Solution- Don't Silence Us!

The Report of the Commission on AIDS in Asia noted that sex workers are part of the solution to preventing the spread of HIV. This year, United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon called for an end to discrimination against sex workers noting that prevention is only available to sex workers in countries with laws that protect them. Harmful policies such as the Anti-Prostitution Pledge in PEPFAR gag sex workers and the agencies that serve us by forbidding funding to any organization that does not condemn the sex industry. There is much to be gained by repealing the Pledge and working with sex worker and public health organizations to define best practices.

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Comments (4)

I agree completely. I always thought this was one more way to keep women in their 'place'. Legalize, decriminalize, take away penalties. Offer healthcare services, stop the shaming.

Ann F.
in Sisterhood

Posted by Annie Appleseed Project on 12/12/2008 @ 06:32AM PT
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I am pleased to see the womens rights activists dealing with problems here in America, where it is their responsibility.

Too many other activists are trying to save the abused in other nations where it is completely out of our hands and not our responsibility.

Please never give in to those people that will tell you, you must stick up for womens rights in places like the middle east. You know and I know, they are not our problem.

Posted by Grant Robinson on 12/12/2008 @ 11:23PM PT
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Here are videos of the Dec. 17th event in Washington: http://deepthroated.wordpress.com/2008/12/18/national-march-for-sex-workers-rights-video/
and in San Francisco: http://deepthroated.wordpress.com/2008/12/18/san-francisco-day-to-end-violence-live-videos/

Posted by Nicole Nepton on 12/19/2008 @ 07:56AM PT
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How about those women that are forced into force sex labor. If we decriminilaze and legalize prostitution it would be almost impossible to go after human smugglers.1 million women and children are trafficked around the world each year. A lot of this come to the U.S. with out the knowledge of the english knowelege so I can see how the pimp can coherce the girl to get her working license or ID, with out no one even knowing. Separating prostitution from sex trafficking is like separating national security and illegal imigration.

Posted by laura Gonzalez on 12/22/2008 @ 08:53AM PT
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Author

Jen Nedeau is a social media consultant, progressive activist, feminist speaker and writer. She currently lives in New York City, where she works full-time as the Director of Digital Strategy at Air America Media. In August 2008, Nedeau was selected to be the Editor of the WomensRights.Change.Org where she facilitates daily discussion about the feminist movement. Additionally, Nedeau volunteers as the Chief Technology Officer for New Leaders Council, a non-profit that offers exclusive training for young leaders. You can follow her on Twitter @HumanFolly or learn more here: www.jennedeau.com.