Tuesday , February 23rd, 6:00pm-8:30pm
Large Conference Room, Urban Justice Center
123 William St., 16th Fl
New York, NY 10038
Ask most people about government and they tend to talk about their federal representatives, the White House, or maybe the Mayor. But the state government may have the most significant impacts on our daily lives, particularly in the realm of criminal justice. This two hour seminar is presented via a partnership of Sex Work Awareness and the Urban Justice Center’s Sex Workers Project. In it, sex workers, former sex workers, and allies will learn from a veteran staffer of the state legislature how the legislative process works, how to talk to elected officials about sex work issues, and what opportunities exist to engage with elected officials and affect change in Albany.
This piece is in progress. It is an interactive installation which will also have an audio recording (narrative) triggered by the same sensor that triggers the lights. The first person narrative will reveal the life and death of Catherine, a sex worker murdered in 2003.
This series will be an ongoing memorial for sex workers who have been victims of violence.
The first draft will be completed on December 17th, 2009 to coincide with the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
The Desiree Alliance, Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP-USA) and allied organizations such as BAYSWAN and the Best Practices Policy Project are saddened to observe the malicious tactics used by Glen Beck of Fox news in a recent “expose” of ACORN. All of our organizations stand firmly against the exploitation of minors in prostitution and we also oppose trafficking in persons, but we are concerned about the way the provision of services to adult sex workers was portrayed in the recent report.
In Glen Beck’s effort to critique ACORN via a highly edited series of videos, he in fact belittles the efforts of sex workers who seek services to find stable living circumstances and financial help. “The Fox news report tears down the efforts of grassroots service providers all over the country to reach out to hard to reach communities of sex workers to help them,” said Tara Sawyer of SWOP-USA.
“Sex workers are already very fearful about accessing services that could help them and these low-brow media attacks on service providers increase barriers and harm” she added.
All of our organizations are concerned that the “expose” will cause service providers and non-profit organizations to shy away from
providing harm reduction services and helping sex workers “where they are at.”
“Providing sex workers with information about how to live safely, even though what they do is criminalized, is essential,” said Susan Lopez of Desiree Alliance “And we commend all organizations that provide these services to prevent HIV, help sex workers find housing, seek financial support and to take care of their health needs. Don’t turn sex workers away because of unconscionable undercover reports like those carried out by Fox.”
About the Organizations:
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 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.
Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of sex workers and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy.
New York Sex Work(er) Film & Video Fest is a one day Film and Video art festival screening recent works including shorts, documentaries, and experimental works by and about sex workers. A panel discussion on sex work and the law, media, and art as well as an after party will follow.
All proceeds from this event go to support community activist work.
Submit Your Film/Video
Please send a link to your work for submission, the title, director, 200 word or less synopsis, year (ex 2007), location (ex. US), and length (ex. 8min), and a URL if applicable (ex. http://www.sexworkerfilm.com) by October 1st for consideration. If selected, you will be required to send in a DVD, to be received by October 20.
Free legal training for sex workers on September 24th. Sponsored by SWANK & SWOP-NYC, Sex Worker Project of the Urban Justice Center, and Anti-Violence Project.
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