Hi Friends!
Can you belive its March already? While the year seems to be moving by quickly, here at SWOP LA we’ve been keeping busy with a number of projects in order to grow and nurture our community. Additionally, we continue to advocate for sex workers through legislation by supporting decrim efforts such as SB 357, a bill that is trying overturn the criminalization of loitering with intent in California.
This month also brings a sobering reminder of the threat of violence our communities so often face. March 16th will be the one year anniversary of the tragic mass-shooting in Atlanta where eight people, including six Asian women who were employed by the Asian-owned massage businesses targeted, were slain in an attack that was motivated by racism and whorephobia. We hope that you will join us in not only remembering those lost, but also by taking action to ensure the safety of massage workers in our own communities, as this was not an isolated incident. Just last month, two more Asian women were murdered by gunshot while working inside massage establishments in Albuquerque in two separate incidents.
In response to these dehumanizing acts against some of our most vulnerable community members, SWOPLA and the Chinatown Community for Equitable Development (CCED), have joined efforts to create the Massage Worker Outreach Program. With guidance from Red Canary Song and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, this program aims to provide material support to migrant massage workers in Los Angeles Chinatown and, eventually, the Greater Los Angeles area.
Our goal is to raise $8000 to provide outreach support for Asian migrant massage workers, connecting them with cash assistance, care and self-defense kits, multilingual resources and information about immigrant and workers’ rights, and to build relationships with and among workers. Additionally, these outreach events will allow us to learn about the workers’ needs and mobilize support systems to address those needs.
Please consider donating or sharing our fundraiser. Money raised will go towards expenses like translation, programming, and care packages, including cash payments for massage workers. Your contribution will directly support our efforts to build a safer world for highly stigmatized and vulnerable communities among us.
You can find the link to our GoFundMe here.
Some other things we’ve been up to this month are….
SUPER BOGUS: This past month, two SWOPLA board members spoke about myth that the Super Bowl attracts sex traffickers and the very real damage that’s caused by additional policing around the Super Bowl.
On Wednesday, February 9th, Chella Coleman spoke at a webinar specifically addressing the false narratives used by law enforcement and promoters to justify more policing.
Additionally, on Friday, February 11th, Ashley Madness spoke at a protest at the Crypto.com arena entrance that protested the policing, gentrification, and displacement that the Super Bowl and other mega sporting events bring.
Chella is also involved with STOPLA PD Spying Coalition, who co-hosted both events with NOlympics LA and other community organizations.
Link to media coverage of the protest.
EARN IT ACT: As if FOSTA/SESTA wasn’t enough, new legislation has been proposed that would cause further harm to sex workers and other marginalized groups in virtual spaces. Read more about it on our website and contact your representatives to urge them to oppose the EARN IT Act, Senate Bill 3538/House Bill 6544.
SWOP LA is working in collaboration with UCLA to hear sex workers’ perspectives about the effects of a recent law, California Senate Bill 233. SB233 is meant to protect people in the sex trade from being arrested and prosecuted for sex work and misdemeanor drug offenses when reporting a crime.
To participate, you must: be at least 18 years old, have engaged in sex work in Los Angeles County, and currently have access to a phone or computer with internet access. If you’re eligible, you can participate in a 60-90 minute interview via Zoom. This one-time paid $100 interview includes questions about interactions with law enforcement, sexual health, substance use and experiences with violence or victimization. Take the screener here: http://bit.ly/SWLEARN.
Participation is voluntary and confidential!
Thank you so much for your support! Stay tuned for more updates to be posted soon!