$pread presents…
Grind the Vote: Sex Workers From Pole To Poll
“From the Bay Area to the Big Apple, sex workers are organizing for political and economic justice. It’s time to organize our sex worker electorate into a political force and “Grind the Vote!”
We already have voter registration events scheduled for New York City and Washington DC, but we need you to help us Grind the Vote all over the country! Volunteer to organize an event in your city or town, email infoatspreadmagazinedotorg”
—
This is an exciting development. I would love for sex worker rights to become a more talked about political issue. Is it possible? Definitely. Not too long ago politicians would never talk about gays, let alone gay rights. I’d like to see sex worker rights get taken seriously by the candidates.
Posted by Vixen as Activism, Sex Workers at 10:07 PM CDT
No Comments »
From their Wiki page:
“The Masturbate-a-thon is an event where participants masturbate in order to raise money for charity and to increase awareness of, and dispel the shame and taboos that persist around, this form of sexual activity. During the past six years, the Masturbate-a-thon has raised over $25,000 for women’s health initiatives and HIV prevention, education and treatment organizations, and has contributed to debates about safer sex and alternative safe methods of sexual expression.”
This year’s Masturbate-a-thon will be May 25th. What events are happening this year?
Longest Squirt Distance
Longest Time Masturbating
Most Orgasms
Tag Team Fun
Details about the event can be found here. If you’re participating drop me email!
Posted by Vixen as Sexy Sensations, Activism at 11:21 PM CDT
No Comments »
Libertine emailed me about this the other day. I think it’s pretty groovy!
Red Light District Chicago
“Sex workers making media so the media doesn’t make us.
Red Light District Chicago is a new webpage featuring real sex worker made media including podcasts and videos made by the members of Sex Workers Outreach Project-Chicago.”
With reporters like Diane Sawyer doing such a disservice to sex workers, projects like Red Light District Chicago are definitely needed.
Posted by Vixen as Activism, Sex Workers at 11:16 PM CDT
2 Comments »
For the Iraq War Anniversary I looked for different stories to blog about. The numbers of dead, of wounded have just grown more depressing. The scandals of the war-from Abu Ghraib to Walter Reed-are seemingly endless. Bummed out I skipped writing anything.
Today though I was on the Common Dreams website and found two stories that really uplifted me. Yes the war is still going on but more and more people want it to end. The resistance movement is growing. Change is happening. Sure it’s slower than I’d like but things are changing. If you were bummed out by yesterday perhaps these two articles will lift your spirits as well.
Resistance is Futile - Or Is It?
“It was a time without precedent in American history. The commander-in-chief voiced his intention to take the country to war - a voluntary, preemptive war with no clear catalyst, no faraway invasion or Pearl Harbor or sinking of the Maine - and millions of people shouted their opposition. With plenty of time to avert war, the protesters warned the invasion would be a costly disaster.0319 08
They were right. And it didn’t matter.
The war in Iraq was a test of our democratic ideals. It was a test that this country failed, a failure that has been felt by the people of the United States, Iraq, and elsewhere for the last five years. For many, the refusal of the US government to heed the demands of its citizens left them disillusioned and disempowered.
But others say it sparked a political change that woke up an apathetic citizenry, pulled the Democratic Party back to the left, and may have averted war with Iran.”
Five Years Later
“Five years ago and more, many of us vehemently, passionately opposed the war in Iraq. We opposed it by marching in the streets on February 16, 2003, in one of the biggest marches in this city’s history, part of the biggest demonstration in world history with people standing up on February 15, 2003, against war on every continent-including the scientists in Antarctica, small towns in Inuit Canada, South Africa, New Mexico, Turkey, Bolivia…. We were right, and now sheepishly, fudging their change of heart, everyone from Hillary Clinton on is busy erasing the memory of being for the war, of buying lies, of dismissing deaths, terrible deaths, the deaths of so many children, so many mothers, so many brothers, the deaths long ago of far more Americans than died on September 11, 2001, the unrelated event used to justify these five long years of slaughter and destruction, the destruction of the fragile psyches of the young, the ancient landscape of Iraq, the bodies that survived this war mutilated and disabled and shaken to need our care for decades to come. Five years ago we opposed this war, and we were right that it would be ugly, a quagmire, an international disaster, that it would make nothing safer, that it was about oil and geopolitics and never ever about justice and utterly unrelated to September 11, 2001. Five years ago here in San Francisco we shut down this business district to show how passionately against the war we were as it began.”
Posted by Vixen as News, Activism at 12:26 PM CDT
No Comments »
Thinking about sharing an abstract, workshop, or training at the 2008 Desiree Alliance conference? Got something to teach other sex workers? Why not submit a presentation idea?
Sex Worker Conference In Chicago July 16-20, 2008
On July 16-20 of 2008, hundreds of sex workers and sex worker activists will converge on Chicago at the Desiree Alliance Conference:
“Pulling Back the Sheets: Sex, Work and Social Justice”
Deadline for submissions: Friday March 21st, 2008
Email submissions to: dasubmissions@yahoo.com or call: 1-866-525-7967 extension 702 for assistance.
All presentations will be considered, and confirmation will be provided by April 11th for all submissions.
A Proposal should include:
Title for your presentation
Affiliation with an organization or social justice movement you’d like to have listed
A short paragraph with your background and experience in sex work or the sex workers rights’ movement
A one paragraph summary of the workshop or presentation (four to eight sentences)
The time frame needed to present, whether 15 minutes, half-hour or an hour.
Please include whether or not you will need any technical support, such as a projector or AV, etc.
We are accepting practical workshops from all genders and working backgrounds including, but not limited to the following subjects:
Advocacy/Outreach, Court Support and Solidarity, Fundraising/Grant-writing, Self-Defense Training, Planning for Retirement, Protecting Our Families, Health & Safety Issues, How to Run a Business, Direct Services, Substances in the Workplace, Strategies for Alternatives to Criminalization, Policy Reform, Grassroots Organizing, Building Community, Labor Organizing, Lobbying, Media Training, Wellness Leadership from Sex Workers, Technical Training for the Web, Marketing Strategies for Organizing and Sex Work, Screening Clients, Policies related to Sex Work and, Bridging International Sex Work Communities, Workshops about Clients, Allyship with the Prison Reform Movement, Impacts of Criminalization and Incarceration on Our Community, John Schools, Impacts of End Demand and Anti-Trafficking Policies, Media Advocacy Toolkits, Federal Law and Sex Work, Issues Specific to Trans Sex Work Communities, Resisting Oppression, How to be an Ally to…. Sex Workers.
The Desiree Alliance is a diverse, volunteer-based, sex worker-led network of organizations, communities and individuals across the US working in harm reduction, direct services, political advocacy and health services for sex workers. We provide leadership development and create space for sex workers and supporters to come together to advocate for human, labor and civil rights for all workers in the sex industry.
Posted by Vixen as Activism, Sex Workers at 9:27 PM CDT
2 Comments »
From Masturbate For Peace’s site:
“As we begin with this act of self-love, we encourage others to do the same, to take pleasure in life and to share masturbation’s positive energy with a world in need.
Joining the Movement
Joining this movement is simple. Just masturbate in your own way, focusing your thoughts and energy towards love and peace. Encourage others to do the same. Also, please fill out the petition below and tell us how you intend to masturbate for peace. We will share the most thoughtful petitions on this site. This is an international movement for peace. So far we have received over 17,000 petitions from 91 countries and all 50 of the United States.”
The site’s been around for five years.
Masturbate for Peace Marks Fifth Anniversary
“The site began as little more than an angry joke. By that time, it was clear that war was inevitable, that no amount of honest debate or protesting could stop it. The decision had been made (see Cheney’s speech of August 22). So our suggestion to the world? You’re going to whack off anyway, why not do it for peace.
(snip)
Our message, whatever that may be, is no less relevant today than it was five years ago. So we’ll keep plugging along.”
When the news gets too depressing I like to visit this site. The peace poems are my favorite. And why not focus one’s orgasm energy on peace? It couldn’t hurt.
Posted by Vixen as Musings, Activism at 9:11 PM CDT
4 Comments »
From XBiz:
6th Circuit Court of Appeals Rules 2257 Unconstitutional
“The 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled today that the federal record-keeping statute 18 U.S.C. 2257 is unconstitutional, holding that the law is overbroad and facially invalid.
Attorney Lawrence Walters told XBIZ that the court’s opinion, while a very significant victory, is not the final word on the question of 2257’s constitutionality and cautioned that adult webmasters should not view it as the end of their 2257 concerns.
“Generally, you have to be very careful with reacting too rashly to any opinion,” Walters said. “This is a panel ruling, and it is not final. The government could ask for an en banc rehearing by the full circuit, and they can appeal the decision.”
Walters also noted that the decision only applies to the portion of the U.S. that is covered by the 6th Circuit – namely, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.”
—
To the average porn consumer 2257 may not mean much. But for people in the adult industry this is major news.
—
From Fleshbot:
Breaking: 2257 Is “Unconstitutional”
“As we’ve explained, 2257 was a piece of law that was added to the Adam Walsh Child Obscenity Act of 1988. Ostensibly “for the children”, it put a good number of law abiding porn businesses out of business, did nothing to protect any children, and made it seem as though anything could be “sexually explicit conduct”. Let’s just hope that if push comes to shove after this and it’s taken up on review, our *cough* open-minded Supreme Court jutsices care more about the First Amendment than using strongarm tactics to intimidate law-abiding porn makers—and that someone reminds them that last time we checked, it’s still legal to make porn here in the good old US of A.”
Constitutionally Correct:
6th Circuit: Record Keeping Requirements for Producers of Sexually Explicit Images Held Unconstitutional
“The court held the law “facially invalid,” because it requires all producers and not just commercial producers of pornography to keep records. It found that, on it’s face, the law applies to even married couples photographing themselves in sexual poses. Thus, the court said, it would require those couples to keep records of the actors and actresses and affix a statement on the photos indicating where the records may be found. Also, the court said the couples must make the records available to law enforcement “during normal business hours.” This interpretation of the law seems quite a stretch from that intended by Congress which targeted the commercial producers of adult pornography who used girls under the age of 18 in hardcore films.”
From Slashdot:
Court Strikes Down Age Verification For Adult Sites
“How Appealing reports that a court has struck down age verification requirements for porn sites, as a First Amendment violation. Here is the ruling (PDF). While the average reader here has never been to such a site, porn has been a driving force in the economics and technology of the Net. The age verification requirements of U.S.C. Title 18, Section 2257 were yet another attempt to regulate to death what the government can’t outright prohibit. The requirements intruded on the privacy and safety of performers and created headaches for sites like flickr and photobucket that host images. It is has long been thought that the requirements wouldn’t hold up in court, but this is the first actual ruling.”
Posted by Vixen as News, Activism at 11:50 PM CDT
No Comments »
From the $pread Blog:
Sex Workers: Call to e-Action!
Who: Desiree Alliance and Friends
What: Live-blog response to Farley
When: September 17, 2007 Beginning at 3pm PST 6pm EST and going all night
Where: http://www.BoundNotGagged.com
Why: The mainstream media (msm) buys Farley’s point of view without any care or concern for those who actually work in the sex industry. BNG is where sex workers go to respond to the media blackout that distorts and ignores our voices. We will put an end to Farley’s lies!
Are you tired of ‘researchers’ like Melissa Farley using lies and manipulation to demon-ize your work? Are you sick of reading article after article written by journalists who go for all of her sensation without digging deeper for the REAL stories of people working in the sex industry?
Now is your chance to speak out! BoundNotGagged.com is hosting a live- blog event Monday, September 17th, 2007. Articles and blogs about Farley’s recent visit to Las Vegas will be linked to the blog. These links are also available below. This blog event is an opportunity for sex workers and our allies to respond to the lies and hypocrisy that have dominated this debate!
Please take a few moments this weekend to prepare a post that you can put up on the blog, respond to other posts and make comments out in the public arenas. All sex worker comments and stories are welcome! Some angles that would be especially helpful are: critiques of Farley’s research from experts (however one defines oneself as so,) stories from workers who have participated in Farley’s research, stories of Farley’s abuse and manipulation of international allies when researching in other countries, summaries and links to credible research, experiences from workers in Nevada, community-based peer research experiences, etc.
More information and how to RSVP can be found here.
I’d also like to send out a thanks to Bound, Not Gagged for mentioning my Palfrey Interview.
Posted by Vixen as Activism, Sex Workers at 11:43 PM CDT
No Comments »
From ABC News:
Feds Pay $80,000 Over Anti-Bush T-Shirts
“A couple arrested at a rally after refusing to cover T-shirts that bore anti-President Bush slogans settled their lawsuit against the federal government for $80,000, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Thursday.
Nicole and Jeffery Rank of Corpus Christi, Texas, were handcuffed and removed from the July 4, 2004, rally at the state Capitol, where Bush gave a speech. A judge dismissed trespassing charges against them, and an order closing the case was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Charleston.”
I think it’s important to follow up on news of this nature. So many times we hear of protesters getting thrown out, harassed or arrested. But we don’t often hear what happens to them months, and sometimes years, later when they take their fight to court. Kudos to Jeff and Nicole Rank for having the courage to dissent.
Posted by Vixen as News, Activism at 11:19 PM CDT
2 Comments »
Stop the Postal Rate Hike for Periodicals
“Have you been to the post office lately? Notice that the price of stamps went up, again? Well, if you thought two cents was bad, how about if the price had gone up a whole 41%? That’s the kind of increase that some small publications will face if the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) goes ahead with a proposed rate hike for periodicals. This will likely affect a publication you read, including NOW’s National NOW Times, Ms. Magazine, Mother Jones, Bust, Bitch, and others.”
This stinks. The big magazine companies won’t have a problem with higher postal rates. Does anybody really think Time or People Magazine will fold? Not a chance. But the awesome magazines listed above plus $pread, Utne, Adbusters or Funny Times could be really hurt by this.
Take action today! Click here for details.
Posted by Vixen as Activism at 11:03 PM CDT
No Comments »
