Fact Sheets

Statements in response to Uganda’s persecution of our siblings through the Anti-homosexuality Bill of 2021

Reject the Ugandan Sexual Offences Bill of 2021. This legislation harshly affects sex workers, criminalizing brothels, engaging in prostitution and engaging in a sexual act with a sex worker. The legislation also criminalizes  ‘carnal knowledge against the order of nature” fueling anti-LGBTQ discrimination and heteronormative policing of sexuality. Download a statement from Ugandan Sex Workers. and download the Black Sex Workers Collective’s statement in response to Uganda’s persecution of our siblings through the Anti-homosexuality Bill of 2021.

Why are sex workers and their allies Occupying Wall Street? (2011)

In the last four weeks, many have been wondering what has driven people to Occupy Wall Street (OWS) and bring attention to the economic situation that has developed in our country. Critics have argued that so many issues are being discussed and that so many disparate groups have joined forces, that the occupation has no cohesive message, purpose, or goals. On October 5, 2011 a group of sex workers and allies stood in solidarity with their fellow revolutionaries at the rally at Foley Square in New York, and it was apparent that sex workers and their allies were included in that critique or question. What were they doing there? What was their purpose? Melissa Sontag Broudo and Penelope Saunders explain why sex workers and their allies in New York have joined Occupy Wall Street.e groups have joined forces, that the occupation has no cohesive message, purpose, or goals. On October 5, 2011 a group of sex workers and allies stood in solidarity with their fellow revolutionaries at the rally at Foley Square in New York, and it was apparent that sex workers and their allies were included in that critique or question. What were they doing there? What was their purpose? Melissa Sontag Broudo and Penelope Saunders explain why sex workers and their allies in New York have joined Occupy Wall Street. The fact sheet can also be downloaded as a pdf.

Fact sheet on End Demand Policies (2006)

A coalition of advocates and sex worker rights organizations have produced materials critiquing “end demand” style programming.  Proponets of “end demand” style programming such as “John’s Schools” or increased arrest of clients of prostitution, claim that the measures only punish the men who purchase sex and protect women who sell sex. However, programs working with sex workers across the United States have found that intensive “end demand” programs increase law enforcement activities against all people in public space. Furthermore, these programs allow conservatives to channel hard won social service funding into policing efforts.This downloadable fact sheet cites research that illustrates the real results of “end demand” programming. We were able to do this analysis and produce these fact sheets via a grant from the Urgent Action Fund in early 2006. Groups involved in developing analysis of changes in the Trafficking Victirms Protection Reauthorization Act include: the Desiree AllianceSex Workers Outreach Project-USA (SWOP-USA), the Woodhull FoundationBayswan, Best Practices Policy Project and local service providers in the District of Columbia. View the fact sheet as a webpage here. Download the fact sheet here.