Being Amber Rhea

This Sunday, Dec. 17th, is the 4th Annual Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. I feel very strongly about the importance of this day, because far too many people - of all political and ideological stripes - either vilify sex workers or act as if they don’t exist. Or worse, as if they do exist, but are somehow “lesser” than non-sex workers. They’re evil destroyers of society, or they’re helpless victims - but either way, they’re trash. FUCK THAT NOISE.

Everyone should check out this excellent poem by Daisy Anarchy, “I Deserve To Be Safe.” All of us would do well to remember that the sentiments expressed therein apply to all people.

I deserve to be safe

whether I am a nun in a convent

or a street corner hooker

in a run-down inner-city neighborhood.

I deserve to be safe

whether I am saving it for marriage

or selling it

at a price you can or cannot afford

Read the whole thing.

I’m guessing there will be an event of some kind in Atlanta on the 17th, but as is typical, I won’t find out about it until after the fact. Which sucks, because I would love to do a podcast about it. So if you know anything, Atlanta peeps, let me know.

Otherwise… if you live in or near New York City, try to make it to this event:

NEW YORK CITY - On Sunday, December 17th, sex workers and their supporters will gather at vigils around the world to mark the annual Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, honoring the sex workers who died as victims of violent crime this year, and raising the issue of violence against sex workers to the public.

In New York City, participants will gather for a candlelight vigil at 5 PM on the steps of the Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South in Manhattan. This year’s list of names of murdered sex workers will be read aloud, participants will be encouraged to speak or offer a prayer, and a moment of silence will be observed.

At the event, organizers will read a statement demanding that authorities step up their investigation of the Atlantic City serial killer and officially announce a moratorium on arresting prostitutes to encourage cooperation between local sex workers and police. The statement will also challenge the media to report on the case in a way that respects the humanity of the women who were murdered. Atlantic City is only one example of these sorts of problems. Many more violent crimes against prostitutes remain unaddressed by the justice system, but exploited in the media.

The event is organized by Prostitutes of New York (PONY), $pread Magazine, and the Sex Workers Project of the Urban Justice Center. Members of the press and the public are also encouraged to attend.

The Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers was inaugurated in 2003, conceived by the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) based in Berkeley, California after the conviction of Gary Ridgway (the “Green River Killer”), a serial killer responsible for the murder of at least 48 prostitutes in Washington State. One particular statement in his confession outraged sex workers, and determined the need for a very public memorial that raises issues of violence against sex workers to lawmakers, police, and the media: “I picked prostitutes because I thought I could kill as many of them as I wanted without getting caught.”

Press release via $pread Magazine and the awesomely talented Dacia (executive editor thereof). Dacia also has info on her site about events in some other cities.