О себе: SWOP-East is a branch of the national organization, SWOP-USA. (Check outwww.swopusa.org or www.swopeast.org for more information.)
SWOP, at its most basic, is an anti-violence campaign. As a multi-state network of sex workers and advocates, we address locally and nationally the violence that sex workers experience because of their criminal status. Operating in one of the most prominently violent societies today, sex workers in America experience this phenomenon pointedly in the context of their criminal status. Yet, sex workers are seldom afforded protection or recourse from violent acts committed against them because of the precarious, often graft-ridden relationship between sex work and law enforcement. Society tolerates violence against sex workers because of the stigma and myths that surround prostitution. Only until these falsehoods are corrected and sex workers are legitimized will we be able to effectively prevent and minimize the structural and occupational challenges of sex work.
SWOP works to educate policymakers and the public on the institutional harms committed against sex workers, and advocates for alternatives. SWOP promotes proven and effective social policy approaches to the sex industry. In order to reach its goals, SWOP adopts the principles and practices of nonviolent action in order to reduce violence and achieve dignity and rights for sex workers.
A sex worker could work as a stripper, a prostitute, a porn star, an escort, nude model, a sensual masseuse, a rent boy, a hustler, a dominatrix, a phone sex/web cam girl, or anyone else who exchanges sexual/erotic services for compensation or survival.
Happy Birthday, SWOP East! I commend and congratulate You on your informative and thought-provoking profile that causes people to think and act, Reflectively! Likewise, I am pleased to report that I have featured You on my high profile site; and, I can earnestly and openly assert that You, and the values, attitudes and beliefs You represent, has been--and will again, be featured on my "Front Page 40"! SWOP East, I Am Proud of You!
Thanks for adding us and hope you like the music. Today you can download Fall Apart on our myspace site. We should be out your way soon. Sign up on our mailing list on myspace or at www. fiveam. com Thanks for listening and hope to see you at a show soon. ~ Five A.M.
Sex Workers and those who love them: Mark your calendar for the Whores holiday benefit. We're raising money for a sex worker's organization in Mexico City! I hope to see you there!
SISTER SPIT IS COMING TO YOUR TOWN! One vanload of queer female artists + writers + bon vivants coming to your town for one awesome night of shameless literary hijinks. Featuring Michelle Tea, Texta Queen, Chelsea Starr, Meliza Banales, Tara Jepsen, Dexter Flowers, and Kat Marie Yoas. Check out www.sisterspitnextgen.com for more info! Spread the word!
OCTOBER 24 Minneapolis, MN Pi Bar 8:30pm 25 Milwaukee, WI University of Wisc-Milwaukee, Greene Hall 7pm 26 Chicago, IL Women and Children First Books 9pm 27 Bloomington, IN Boxcar Books 8pm 28 Ann Arbor, MI Aut Bar two shows- 6pm and 8pm 29 Columbus, OH Scully's 8pm 30 New York, NY Rapture Cafe 8pm NOVEMBER 1 Brooklyn, NY Cattyshack 7:30 2 Middletown, CT Wesleyan College 3 Northampton, MA Smith College 4 Boston, MA Spontaneous Celebrations 5 Chester NH Chester College 6 Baltimore, MD Metro Gallery 7 Washington, DC Phase 1 8 Williamsburg, VA College of William and Mary 9 Bronxville, NY Sarah Lawrence College 10 TBA 11 TBA
I can't wait to hear all about it! I'm sorry I'm not there, but hoping that the payoff will be graduating sooner! Hope to begin interviewing independent Internet based escorts this August!
Desiree Conference, Sex Workers, and the Disabled. Unfortunitly my financial sponsorship to do a presentation at this year's Desiree conference fell apart, but I can still share a bit of what I've learned here. I also wanted to share some thoughts and ideas below.
When talking about the disabled, we need to remember that the term refers to many groups of people including: blind, deaf, disabled since birth, injured veterians, recently disabled, and a population that is getting older. These groups have physical limitations that sex workers need to understand. I've learned the painful way this year that mainstream disablity groups often don't want to work with sex workers. A solution may be to have a group of sex workers adopt the running of a yearly workshop on disability at the desiree conference, has need, they'd do fundraising for printed materials, videos, and if needed, speakers. the United Kingdom has a group that does this.
