In the light of the SESTA/FOSTA vote in the US, it’s absolutely vital that we as a community do our very best to support sex workers in the face of growing marginalization. As such, here are a few sex worker-led initiatives that need your money now more than ever:
– STROLL, a Portland-based organization spearheaded by the formidable @workingitinportland, currently raising funds on YouCaring for their weekly outreach and meal program. They provide sex workers with meals and health kits containing (among other things) condoms, heating pads, energy bars, tampons, water bottles, deodorant, mouthwash and wipes. They also offer a weekly support group, and many other valuable services to Portland sex workers. Donate here.
– Women With A Vision in New Orleans, created by and for women of colour to address various issues such as sex worker rights, drug policy reform, advocacy for HIV+ women, and reproductive justice outreach. They have existed since 1989 and offer so many services that I couldn’t possibly list them all here, but you can find details on their website. Donate here.
– Lysistrata is a mutual care collective focusing, among other things, on providing financial assistance to sex workers in case of illness, injury, homelessness, wrongful arrest or incarceration, unstable or abusive working conditions, domestic violence, discrimination, or any other factors that might put sex workers in peril. They are currently receiving more requests for help than donations. Donate to the emergency fund here. (If you need financial help email lysistratamccf@gmail.com)
– CUSP is an organization working in Alaska. They currently need money for lobbying efforts to support HB 112/SB 73, which would expand sexual assault laws to make it illegal for police officers to have any form of sexual contact with those they are investigating. This would help protect sex workers from exploitation by police in Alaska. Donate here.
– The Black Sex Worker Collective seeks to address the issues specifically facing Black sex workers, and provides education, legal assistance, and healthcare resources. They also offer affordable housing referrals. Donate here (your donation is tax-deductible).
– Here is the Amazon wishlist of the Coyote RI outreach program for street-based workers, including products such as first-aid kits, gloves, toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, socks, underwear, or razors.
All these resources are courtesy of Tits and Sass, which I’m sure will publish new ones over the next days. If you’re a sex worker and can recommend other organizations, add them in the notes! If you have a personal fundraiser going on, add it in the notes! It’s our responsibility as allies to do whatever we can to support members of our community who are currently facing inhumane laws leading to abject violence and dehumanizing working conditions. We cannot stay silent and we cannot keep our wallets shut. Show up for sex workers. Please donate and share.
I find the last part of this post to be uncomfortably pushy in light of the fact that so many of us have nothing to spare and creating a pressure for other marganilized people (which is what most allies are) to ‘open their wallets’ just leads to guilt and blame within communities (see also: crowdfundig our survival http://queeranarchism.tumblr.com/post/162387335443/crowd-funding-our-survival )
But gooooood list.
QueerAnarchism 