From Women With A Vision:
December 2nd: Save the Date! Summit on Sex Work in the South
“On December 2nd, 2011, Women With A Vision is joining forces with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, Asheville Sex Worker Outreach Project, Sex Workers Without Borders, North Carolina Sex Workers Alliance and Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS) to host the first regional Summit on Sex Work in the South. Attendees include the awesome Human Rights Watch and other national allies.

We will be discussing sex work in the South, human rights & sex work, the negative public health & criminal justice effects of criminalization of condoms, advocacy for sex worker related issues, risk reduction for sex workers, drug use & sex work, bad date reporting and more!”

If I were in the area I think I’d go to this.

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From Self Served:
Haystacks, Fucking, and Needles: Is Sex Work a Cop-out?
“Let’s talk about the world’s oldest profession. In my experience, the societal view of sex work claims it’s easy. Women and men who choose sex work, our culture tells us, are throwing away their education, or should go make something better of themselves, because exchanging sex or sexuality for money is a drag on society, morally corrupt, and a waste of one’s talents. For this blog, we’re going to examine the last stereotype—that being a sex worker wastes a person’s talents because it is easy. The implied idea in this stereotype whispers: “You’re such a smart/pretty/talented/capable girl; you come from such a good family/religion/socio-economic status; why are you doing this?”

I don’t know that I can argue that being a sex worker is easy, even for the sake of argument. I do know that not everyone can do it.”

My friend Sera Miles is blogging over at Self Served, a hip sex store in New Mexico that gives a discount to sex workers. In this post he writes about traits sex workers need to have to do well in the industry. It’s a good read.

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Found via Tits and Sass:
Why are sex workers and their allies occupying Wall Street?
“In the last four weeks, many have been wondering what has driven people to Occupy Wall Street (OWS) and bring attention to the economic situation that has developed in our country. Critics have argued that so many issues are being discussed and that so many disparate groups have joined forces, that the occupation has no cohesive message, purpose, or goals. As our group of sex workers and allies stood in solidarity with our fellow revolutionaries Wednesday, October 5th at the rally at Foley Square in New York, it was apparent that we were included in that critique or question. What were we doing there? What was our purpose? What was our message? And how do sex workers’ rights connect to the larger OWS movement?

Those of us who were there, or who are active in the sex workers’ rights movement generally, have no doubt about how we fit within OWS and how OWS fits within our movement. United, in solidarity, with everyone coming together in Zuccotti Park and in all the plazas nationwide, we can bring about greater change. After the rally, we decided to highlight the points that bring together our intersecting movements and realities.”

Yes, yes and yes. This post is from last month but is still a good read. I wholeheartedly agree with it!

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From SWAAY:
Sex Workers’ Rights Activists Step Up Public Education Campaign with a Controversial Mobile Billboard in Los Angeles
“After being rejected by every billboard company in Los Angeles, the sex workers’ rights project SWAAY (Sex Work Activists, Allies, and You) has launched their public awareness campaign with a mobile billboard, which will be running for eight days between November 1 and November 9, 2011.

SWAAY’s text-only billboard reads, “Sex worker: a person who consensually exchanges their own sexual labor or sexual performance for compensation. Sex work is not the same as forced sex trafficking or sex slavery. Learn about the people and facts behind sex work at SWAAY.org.” Any variation of the group’s message was banned by Clear Channel, CBS, Lamar, Regency, Van Wagner, Avant Outdoor, LA Transit Authority, and Outdoor Solutions, but was finally picked up by a mobile billboard company.

The sex workers’ rights billboard was paid for by 115 supporters on EpicStep.com, a Kickstarter-like website that allows grassroots activist groups to crowdsource the funding of a media campaign. Previous billboards successfully launched through Epic Step include messages in support of WikiLeaks and accused war crimes whistle-blower Bradley Manning.”

While a billboard would have been awesome I’m glad SWAAY got the mobile billboard as a backup. It’s so nutty that the simple definition of a sex worker is considered controversial. Let’s hope this campaign gets bigger and goes nationwide.

Posted by Vixen in News, Sex Workers