Sex workers have been fighting for decriminalization for generations. Now politicians are starting to listen. Anna North John Locher/AP
Wayne Rooney prostitute Helen Wood says ‘the only men that have been nice to me have been the ones that were paying’
Helen told MEN: "The only men that have been nice to me are the ones that were paying me. “I would say one of the top five questions I am asked is do you regret being an escort. Well no - I have some great memories. Could I say that about my family or those who I have called my boyfriend? No. That speaks volumes. “I’m not saying that I didn’t have options and I’d be lying if I said I chose the easy way out. Some days I was repulsed by it. “But when you can pick your child up from school and pay your bills on time and be comfortable, it felt like the right thing to do at the time.”
Poetry: Radio Waves Antimony by Fred Hatt
For Mind to know the Real, it must enter a body. Therein it will revel in pleasure, and strive, and suffer, and die. Here you are, piloting a doomed craft on a river of glory RADIO WAVES fredhatt2019-07-09
Meet The Face Behind PA Workers Survivors
Updated 7/8/2019 HELLO! Thank you for your interest in my discussions on survival sex, sex work and sex trafficking. This post contains strong content not appropriate for all environments.
California Passes SB233
Sex Workers Applaud Vote By California Assembly For Passing SB233: SB 233 prohibits the arrest for prostitution of people who witness or are a victim of specified violent and serious crimes, and prohibits the use of condoms as evidence of sex work.
Poetry: We, Made of Bone by Mahtem Shiferraw
"We, Made of Bone" by Mahtem Shiferraw
NEW: Pennsylvania Project
Torturing Sex Workers, with Melanie Dante: Ken’s guest is Melanie Dante discussing various issues surrounding the sex trades, badly needed decriminalization, and holes in the law that create “viminals”, i.e., making criminals out of victims of sexual abuse.
Poetry: Transportation By Janet Fishman
Transportation Poetry by Janet Fishman, Painting by Philip Zuchman, Image Collage by Ms. Dante, Image of Ms. Dante also by Janet Fishman, at a Salon arranged by Deb Zuchman Philadelphia April 14th 2019
The War On Whores
Author and Whore, Maggie will be joined by Triple-X Secretary Kerry Porth and New Democratic Party candidate Sven Robinson will host a panel discussion following the film. The War on the Whores is a feature-length documentary that exposes the harms and waste of America’s escalating crackdown on sex work which masquerades as fighting sex trafficking and rescuing vulnerable women and girls caught up in sexual exploitation.
PA Women: Extreme Differences Of Opinion
One op editorial. Two totally different opinions. Posted below: Project SAFE's Aisha Mohammed's January op ed in Philly dot com, and Villa Nova's Legal Fellow Shea Rhodes discussing the op ed from an abolitionist perspective. Compare / Contrast. For those of us defined as youth survivors and adult sex workers we are caught between these radical extremes. As the PA motto goes its seems that No: both can’t survive!
Feature: Sex Workers Are Human Resources
JAN 10 • Thank you so much for your fair and balanced coverage of the 15th Annual IDTEVASW. Since 2012 SWOP and SAFE have strived to stand up and speak out in Philly on issues specific to stigma and gratuitous violence against sex workers. Folks are always amazed at how hard and painful this event is to do, yet in the end how truly blessed we are to be able to come together to do it. Many households in most areas of Greater Philadelphia, if not all of PA, are touched somehow by this issue. Talking about sex work and prostitution is hard. Living in shame and silence is harder. D/17 is not fun, though it is full of love. Truly. We are here because we have been there, and we care. Our voice is their voice. Thank you for covering the memorial. Words cannot even express the gratitude I feel right now. Philly is proving we got LOVE!
Poetry: Kerosene by Sarah Doughty
(C) Sarah Doughty Kerosene “I didn’t know who I would be. But I think I know now. I was meant to survive.”
Some Members of Congress Want To Study Sex Workers – SF Weekly
new bill is the first step toward their rights part of the national conversation. Read on http://www.sfweekly.com/news/some-members-of-congress-want-to-study-sex-workers/
By Veronica Irwin, Author at SF Weekly
VT: Out in the Open – Blog
Out in the Open statement on H. 568, 569, and 651 - A trio of proposed legislation affecting the lives of sex workers in Vermont
1/16/2020
Out in the Open stands with sex workers throughout Vermont, in all rural places, and in all places. Sex work is work. It is long past the time to decriminalize sex work in Vermont and we are pleased that this conversation is on the table during this legislative session. Justice for sex workers is interconnected and part of our fight for collective liberation.
There are three bills being currently considered by the VT State Judiciary Committee: H. 568, 569, and 651.
SBB On Super Bowl and Trafficking
Super Bowl used as excuse to arrest consensual adult sex workers. FACT: Mass incarceration: an LGBTQ issue 1 in 2 transgender prisoners is sexually abused. 1 in 2 homeless children is LGBTQ and half of homeless people experience incarceration. 1 in 3 American adults has a criminal record and sexual minorities are three times more likely to be incarcerated.
Woodhull Win!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Woodhull Wins FOSTA Appeal Washington, D.C.— January 24, 2020 - Today the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals revived Woodhull‘s challenge to FOSTA. The court ordered that the constitutional challenge be sent back to the district court for a ruling on the merits. “We are thrilled with the victory in this incredibly important case,” said … Continue reading Woodhull Win!
DSW Advocating In Vermont
HB 569, as introduced, would decriminalize consensual, adult prostitution in Vermont. The bill simply repeals the statute that criminalizes such activity. Trafficking or any form of coercion in sex work remains illegal.
Package Legislation In Pennsylvania: No sex work support; yet(?)
Pennsylvania ranked 10th nationally with 127 cases reported in 2017. Pittsburgh ranked 10th among all U.S. cities. In most cases, victims of human trafficking endure sexual violence and exploitation.
Pennsylvania SB60 + HB12
Current in PA: SB60 and HB12
