International Whore’s Day 2022!

International Whore’s Day is coming….

We are less than a month away from International Whore’s Day (June 2nd)! This annual celebration honors the resilience of sex workers while recognizing the often harmful and exploitative working conditions we face.

International Whore’s Day celebrates the anniversary of the ten-day occupation of Saint-Nizier church. More than one hundred sex workers in Lyon occupied the church on June 2, 1975, in order to draw attention to their inhumane working conditions and police violence against sex workers. The following year, sex workers in cities across the globe came together to celebrate the first International Whore’s Day!

This year SWOP LA will be celebrating with two events:

purple graphic showing steps going up with grass on either side reads: Sex Workers Outreach Project Presents VISION FOR LOS ANGELES A conversation with local candidates about the city we can build without criminalization. May 28th 6:30 pm at the Robinson S.P.A.C.E. SWOPLA logo in the bottom left purple graphic of a flat rooftop and clouds in the sky behind white banner with edges like ripped paper, text reads: This forum will be exclusively about policies and projects based in community care. There will be no discussion of criminalization, surveillance, or other carceral "solutions" SWOPLA logo in the bottom left corner

Vision for Los Angeles 

Join SWOPLA and local candidates, as speakers weave together a vision of Los Angeles without criminalization and the city we could live in if we chose to invest in community care. We’re bringing together sex workers and candidates for various local political offices to discuss what a future without criminalization could look like for everyone. 

The conversation will be held in The Robinson S.P.A.C.E., on May 28th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m, and include a reception with light refreshments to follow the panel. Attendees will be required to wear masks.

Find out more and RSVP here!

International Whore’s Day @ MOCA

SWOPLA will also be partnering with Kink Out, Free Speech Coalition, and Strippers United for an event hosted at the MOCA in Los Angeles.This event, held on June 2, 2022 from 6pm–9pm, will include contributions from Sinnamon Love and Lotus Lain, a DJ set by Ethical Drvgs, a pole performance by members of Strippers’ United, and food courtesy of Detroit Vesey.

You can find more information about the event here!

Community Resources

comic style graphic top panel is teal with clouds, reads: “Help Us Build a Resource List” bottom left panel is pink and has a 3 signs on a post that say, top to bottom, medical services, legal help, and mental health bottom right panel is purple and has a white speech bubble that reads tell us about your favorite SWer friendly therapists, doctors, lawyers, social workers, etc. border says swoplosangeles.org in the bottom right

Because of the vital role that the sex working community plays in keeping each other safe, we would love your help in building our resource list! This list will compile your recommendations for community resources and services providers that are SWer friendly and respect our human rights.
If you have any suggestions, please submit them to our website here.

comic style graphic top panel is orange with darker orange pop art dots, two hands, one with dark skin and green nail polish and one with lighter skin and pink nail polish joined together at the pinky reads: “Help Us Build a Resource List” bottom left panel is teal with lighter blue sunburst pattern, reads: “Bad Date List” in blocky pink text Center white dialogue box reads: “We will be compiling information on ‘bad dates’ in the LA metro area. This information is completely anonymous and will be made available to our community for the purpose of keeping swers in the area safe.” border says swoplosangeles.org in the bottom right

We have also started on a project to develop a Bad Date List for the LA Metro Area. This list will collect information on clients that workers have had negative experiences with in order to be shared with other LA workers for their safety.
You can submit your Bad Dates to the following Google Form:
https://forms.gle/wbishqVqVo2S1prF9

All submissions will be confidential and information on the list will only shared with other sex workers. 

Other News!

Bright red background, white circle shape with a lighter red heart. Inside heart reads "thank you!"Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Migrant Sex Worker Outreach Fund! 

Your shares and donations have had us meet our goal in just two months! Keep an eye out for future updates as this SWOP LA and CCED partnership project grows!

Pink and purple background. In the top panel clear pleaser heels walking around a pole in purple/pink club lighting, text reads "deadline extended". Middle panel reads "Let your voice be heard on AB5! Are you a stripper, freelancer, independent contractor, or small business adversely affected by AB5 in California? Submit your negative or detrimental experiences to the California Advisory Committee on Civil Rights! The committee will examine the damaging impacts of AB5, particularly on marginalized groups. Email bpeery@usccr.giv by June 23rd, 2022 with your perspective and how AB5 has adversely impacted your personal experience." Bottom panel reads: "Deadline: June 23rd, 2022 Email: Bpeery@usccr.gov follow @artistsrevolt for updates and ways to get involved"

SWOPLA stands in solidarity with Artist’s Revolt as they encourage those who have been negatively impacted by CA AB5 to submit their experiences to the CA Advisory Committee on Civil Rights. This Committee will review the damage that has been caused by AB5, particularly to marginalized workers. 

Send your submissions to bpeery@usccr.gov by June 23rd!

Call for #SWOPoganda Volunteers!

Are you social media savvy? Do you want to make a difference in the way sex workers are portrayed in the media?
Join SWOPLA on a new project we’re calling #SWOPoganda!

We will be creating content that shows the experiences and perspectives of sex workers in order to combat the harmful stereotypes and narratives that are often told about us by people who know nothing about sex work.

If you’re interested in helping with this project email losangelesswop@gmail.com or sign up to be a volunteer on our website! 

 

Call for SWOPLA Zine Submissions!
SWOP LAs June 2021 Zine cover Background is a drawing of a lighter skinned dancer, naked with long brown hair and black strappy heels with their leg out, dancing on a pole that is emerging from a clam shell with a pearl sitting in the foreground. In the top left corner there is the SWOP Logo and under it reads, "SWOP LA Zine". In the bottom left the cover reads "Celebrating International Whore's Day". The bottom of the cover reads "still here: working during the pandemic, SWOP LA Legal Update, Why I suck dick for money and that's okay!"
Last year for International Whore’s Day, we put out a zine which was full of art, litterature, poetry, and music all submitted by members of our community. We’d love to put out another zine, but need your help once again to collect content!
If you, or someone you know would like to contribute, please send your work to losangelesswop@gmail.com

 

UCLA & SWOPLA Research Study On The Experiences of Sex Working Parents Have you engaged in sex work? Do you identify as a parent/caregiver to a child? We need your help! Participants are needed for a research study exploring the experiences of sex working parents and their needs. Who May Be Eligible: 18+ current or former sex workers who parent a child under the age of 18 while working in the sex trade. Participation Entails: 1.5 hr focus group discussion $150 compensation To participate take the screener here: https://tinyurl.com/swopla Questions? Email kfuentes17@g.ucla.edu or losangelesswop@gmail.com

SWOP LA is excited to be part of another paid research opportunity for sex workers!

We will be partnering with UCLA to host paid focus groups for sex working parents in LA. You can take the screener to check eligibility at https://tinyurl.com/swopla. Eligible participants will get $150 for 1.5hrs of their time.

Please email kfuentes17@g.ucla.edu or losangelesswop@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like more information.

Be on the lookout for more current events and advocacy from SWOPLA in our monthly newsletter! You can sign up for the newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of this page to where it says “Get Our Newsletter”.