December 17th marks the international day to end violence against sex workers. The South House Sexual and Gender Resource Centre recognizes the global struggle of sex workers and would like to join them as allies in the resistance of the cultural, systemic, and State violence enacted upon them daily. Sex workers are vibrant members of our diverse communities who unjustly face many forms of stigma and discrimination which contribute to a loss of safety and security. We demand justice and safety for all sex workers. We remember the workers who have been threatened, brutalized or even lost their lives.

While we will not be coordinating an official rally this December 17th (due to a loss of volunteers and staff over the holiday season), we would like to cultivate on-going dialogue about how we might do better sex worker solidarity work here in the HRM. 

As such, we have compiled a list of ways in which you/we might support local and national sex worker solidarity initiatives. Please let us know of any other initiatives that you know of, or any other pertinent news articles, reports or call outs that you come across. 

1. Stepping Stone, the local organization that provides direct support to sex workers, is currently accepting donations for their Holiday Party and they need your help to make their gift bags! Donations of cash or small items like toiletries, mittens, candy or gift cards are being gratefully accepted at the South House (6286 South Street) between the hours of 9-5pm, Monday-Friday. Every donation gets you an entry into a sweet prize pack too!

2. Pick up a copy of Selling Sex: Experience, Advocacy, and Research on Sex Work In Canada at the South House (6286 SouthStreet). Books are $35 and proceeds go to Stepping Stone. There are also $5 packs of sex worker solidarity buttons available, with proceeds also going straight to Stepping Stone.

3. POWER (Prostitutes of Ottawa/Gatineau Work, Educate and Resist) has a very handy and practical Toolbox on What Works For Sex Workers that you can read, print, and distribute here: http://maggiestoronto.ca/uploads/File/POWER_Report_TheToolbox.pdf

4. SWOP (Sex Workers Outreach Project) has a handy list called How To Be An Ally To Sex Workers that you can read and distribute here: http://redlightchicago.wordpress.com/how-to-be-an-ally-to-sex-workers/

5. Maggies Toronto released a report called 10 Reasons To Fight For The Decriminalization of Sex Work that you can read & distribute here:http://maggiestoronto.ca/uploads/File/10reasons.pdf

In Solidarity,
South House