Call Out for FIRST's Sex Worker Video Project: "I am a sex worker. My partner is a sex worker. I love a sex worker.

We aim to celbrate the strength and diversity of sex workers and their supporters. Help us put a face to sex work!

Contact us: firstvideoproject@gmail.com, (604) 565 6216

Actively seeking participation from current and former male, female, and trans sex workers, Aboriginal and sex workers of color, and families, partner, and clients.

Vancouver Filming Dates: July 30th, August 1st, 8th, 15th, 16th

This project is inspired by the "I am a Sex Worker video produced by participants in the Speak Up! Media training (New York Harm Reduction Coalition, April 2009)

Open to all FIRST members. Please contact Esther for more information (emls@shaw.ca)

Charter challenge to criminalization of sex work must go forward January 21, 2010

VANCOUVER - Lawyers representing Vancouver sex workers will appear in the BC Court of Appeal today, continuing efforts by sex workers to abolish Canada's prostitution laws with a Charter challenge.

"Today is critical. The Court will decide whether the Charter challenge can continue, but as important, the Court will decide whether marginalized people actually do have access to justice in our country," said FIRST spokesperson Esther Shannon.

One proposed "solution" to Canada's antiquated and oppressive prostitution laws is to make it illegal to purchase sex, but legal to sell it. However, this model is failing in Sweden, the country that pioneered it. Sweden's law was expected to reduce the number of sex workers in that country, but very few sex workers have stopped working. While many simply adjusted to the law by choosing to work indoors, some were forced to work underground in isolation, where they are far more vulnerable to violence and abuse.

As in Sweden, Canada’s current prostitution law robs sex workers of their livelihood, and deprives them of the right to control their work environment and create safe and empowering working conditions.

Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Definition
Trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction of fraud, of deception of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, or of the giving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.[1]

September 24, 2009

Dear Salvation Army:

Vancouver’s sex workers are distressed and angry over your ‘The Truth isn’t Sexy’
anti-trafficking campaign. Sex workers are appalled that you never consulted the sex
worker community before launching this highly offensive campaign. Research has
repeatedly found that the involvement of sex workers is critical to the success of antitrafficking
campaigns.

Anti-trafficking initiatives are critically important, but grossly inflating the level of
trafficking and treating most female sex workers as trafficked “sex slaves” does
nothing to improve sex worker safety—it only exacerbates their stigma and
marginalization.

If you agree with our position statement and would like to become a member, there are many ways to join us:

Option 1: Create an account on this site, participate in online discussions, create a blog specifically addressing relevant issues and be as active as you would like to be! We will be featuring guest blogs weekly, so if you would to be the featured blogger for a week, please let us know!

Option 2: Join our listserve (hosted by Cybersolidaires) to receive information on our events, activities and press releases. Check out the website whenever you feel so inclined!