ADD LOUISIANA TO THE LIST!

Louisiana – thanks to the incredible work of Women with a Vision – has become the third jurisdiction to introduce decriminalization legislation in the United States with HB 366.

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Today in honor of International Working Women's Day, we're uplifting important legislation calling for the decriminalization of prostitution-related offenses. That's right Louisiana Rep. Mandie Landry filed HB 366! Louisiana has the opportunity to join those leading the movement to Decrim Sex Work! Call your legislators and let them know you support this bill! If you have any questions about why you should support give us a call at 504-301-0428. We, and so many other amazing organizations, have been working to make sure folx know that Sex Work is Real Work! Decriminalizing sex work is a labor rights issue! Adults of all genders have the right to engage in transactional sex work that is consensual and free from criminalization and exploitation! Decriminalizing sex work gives those who face employment discrimination, those that can't access jobs that pay a living wage and those who are subjected to violence and predatory policing the opportunity to work and earn a living for themselves and their families. #SexWorkisRealWork #RightsNotRescue #DecrimNow #SexWorkersRights #SexWorker #DecrimLouisiana #DecriminalizeSurvival @votelandry @neworleansworkersgroup @louisianatransadvocates @YouthBreakOUT @trystereo @neworleanshospitalityworkersalliance @vote_nola @maypopNOLA @barenola @operationrestoration.or @swopnola @justcausenola @lgbtccno @decrimny @decrimcalifornia @DecrimNowDC @SexWorkersOutreachProject @swop_usa @Mvmnt4blklives @lamdalegal @aclu @byp100 @barenola @stjamesinfirmary @hips.dc @wearedancers.usa @harmreductioncoalition @humanrightscampain @drugpolicyalliance @centerforconstitutionalrights @reframehealthandjustice @lgbtqsupportsexworkers Please tag any other orgs we inadvertently left out images and art from @lgbtqsupportsexworkers and @Sarah.epperson

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Global Fights and International Solidarity

This year's International Women's Day reminded us about the importance of women's collective solidarity. On March 8, sex workers throughout Europe went on strike [iNews] to discuss decriminalization, health and safety. This is especially impactful, as the Nordic Model has now been put into action in several countries, and continues to push throughout the continent.

In a prime example of the importance of this local organizing, sex workers in Germany are trying to fight the proposed legislation [i-D] which they say will put them in jeopardy. Germany is currently a model of legalization where the industry is regulated by the government, and uniquely taxed. The last major overhaul came in 2002 [Deutsche Welle - EN], which sought to improve the conditions within the trade, but many have remarked that the persistent stigma has been a barrier that is yet to be overcome.

SayHerName in SA

This week, South African-based sex worker organization SWEAT released a report entitled Say Her Name, detailing the violence against their community. The report found that of the  101 deaths of cis and trans women sex workers in 2018/2019, 45% were linked to murder [IOL].

For the Hustlers Among Us

The International Strike comes just on the heels of a major win in the UK for dancers. London-based stripper Sonia Nowak and her union, United Strippers, were fought through the courts to get her club to re-classify her from an independent contractor to a worker [the Independent] (in the  UK there are three categories - independent contractor, worker and employee).

Classifications of dancers have been a discussion here in the US, as well, as California just passed a law [The Intercept] governing those in the gig economy and expanding labor rights, including for dancers in the state. But strippers in other spots continue to remind us of the rampant labor rights violations they constantly face, as this thread lays out:

And for folks who are dancers and want to connect to other folks, this organization is looking to connect with you too!

Want to be an organizational hustler?

For sex workers who are looking to move beyond organizing and explore fundraising support, the Sex Worker Giving Circle might be a great opportunity to get involved, and learn more about the awesome work happening across the country:

Visibility Matters

Sex workers have also had a recent explosion of sharing and crafting their own narratives over the last few weeks, and it is inspiring.

Over the weekend, Chicago launched its Sex Workers Art Show:

To celebrate International Sex Worker Rights Day on March 3, Brooklyn-based SWOP-Brooklyn and Lysistrata arranged an art show which raised almost $8,000 for the mutual aid organization:

N

ew York will also enjoy a whole Sex Worker Pop-up with different events from March 10 - 16. The event was organized to complement the UN's annual event bringing together women from around the globe, the Commission on the Status of Women, which has been cancelled due to the corona virus, but can still be enjoyed by local folks.

And visibility really does matter. The Pop-up has put subway ads advertising the event:

(Yep - that's a church advertising it on twitter!) The anti-sex work group CATW already complained to the MTA about it (my personal favorite interaction with CATW involved their ED saying "these women can't be fixed" about anyone who has ever traded sex and then using incorrect language about trans identity).

And also in London, public transit is being politicized for sex workers' rights [DAZED] with posters saying #SexWorkisWork and #DecrimNow.

What a time to be in this fight. Back to the grind.

K.