International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

The idea to take one day and make a point every year of speaking out about the everyday violence that sex workers are singled out for and subjected to came from a very dark place as Annie Sprinkle, who originally suggested the idea explained in On The Issues:

In 2003 "Green River Killer" Gary Ridgeway confessed to having strangled ninety women to death and having "sex" with their dead bodies.

He stated, "I picked prostitutes as victims because they were easy to pick up without being noticed. I knew they would not be reported missing right away and might never be reported missing. I picked prostitutes because I thought I could kill as many of them as I wanted without getting caught."

When Ridgeway got a plea bargain in 2003, he received a life sentence in exchange for revealing where his victims' bodies were thrown or buried. As the names of the (mostly 17- to 19-year old) victims, were disclosed, I felt a need to remember and honor them.  I cared, and I knew other people cared, too.

If you've never done sex work, if you don't realize that people you know, respect, and love have done sex work or are currently doing sex work, it can be easy to judge the profession, and the people who do it. It can be easy to be grossed out, or dismissive, or titillated. All the cards are stacked against sex workers getting respect and everyone else giving them respect. But that doesn't mean it has to stay that way.

If you're wondering what this has to do with you make no mistake that your life has been touched by sex work in some way. People who do sex work aren't nameless, faceless others who you only hear about in grizzly news reports or see on 20/20. They are our lovers and spouses, our family members and co-workers, our teachers and students, our service providers and waiters. So too for the people who pay for sex. Yes, you may have never had a conversation with someone in your life about the time they paid for sex, but that doesn't mean they didn't. Or you didn't.

There are things you can do to be part of a change. If you feel like participating in a group event, check out SWOPUSA's site for a list of events around the world. If there's one in your city or town, check it out. If you go with an open mind and open heart I promise it will make you a more thoughtful person by the end of the day (which is not to say it will make you happier or less confused or anything like that).

If you're not the marching type, Annie Sprinkle offers this advice on how you can participate.

Ten Ways to Participate in International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

(EVERYONE IS INVITED)

1. Organize a vigil/memorial/gathering in your town. Simply choose a place and time. Invite people to bring their stories, writings, thoughts, related news items, poems, lists of victims, performances, and memories. Take turns sharing.
2. Organize or attend a candlelight vigil in a public place.
3. Do something at home alone which has personal meaning, such as a memorial bath, or light a candle.
4. Call a friend and discuss the topic.
5. Send a donation to a group that helps sex workers stay safer. Some teach self-defense or host web sites that caution workers about bad Johns. Donate to Sex Worker Outreach Project.
6. Read the Sex Workers Outreach Project's web site, www.swop-usa.org, Do let others know about any planned Dec. 17 events by listing them on the site. There is also a wikipedia entry about Dec. 17 which you can read.
7. Spread the word about the Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers and the issues it raises; blog, email, send a press release, forward this text to others.
8. Attend a Dec. 17th Day to End Violence event/action/memorial. Everyone is welcome.
9. Organize a panel discussion about violence towards sex workers. Procure a community space and invite speakers like sex workers, police, and families of victims.
10. Create your own way to participate. People have done celebrations, Xmas caroling, protests at jails, lobbying at City Halls, naked women reading whore writings, performance art, visual art projects, and other creative, fun and moving things.