Red Umbrella Day: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

December 17th marks Red Umbrella Day, a day that calls attention to the violence that sex workers face all over the globe. The day commemorates the hate crimes, violence and discrimination that sex workers face, and urges the public to respect the basic human rights of sex workers. The story of violence towards sex workers across Canada, for the most part, goes untold. Violent crimes against sex workers often go unreported, unaddressed and unpunished. Many sex workers may be hesitant to discuss violence due to stigma and judgment from being involved in sex work. Workers may not wish to report bad dates to the police for fear of being criminalized, making their identity known to police or if they have warrants for their arrest.

Violence should not be accepted as part of the job, but yet sex work & violence have become so intertwined that it is almost normalized. This can be seen in commonly heard statements like “what do sex workers expect?” or “if sex workers just stopped working they wouldn’t be hurt.” Such attitudes imply that violence is not only an accepted but inevitable part of sex work and that it is the workers themselves that are to blame. Simply not true! We are all responsible for taking urgent steps to ensure the people involved in the sex industry, our friends, family and community’s, right to safety is addressed.

In recognition of International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, Shift will be hosting a symposium and launching Shift’s Red Umbrella Challenge on December 15 from 5:30-7:30pm at the Calgary Cares Centre. Please join us for an evening of speakers & a panel discussion to address violence against sex work, and explore ways in which we can take steps to increase safety for all those involved in sex work.

Decreasing Social Isolation

Marginalized populations, including people living with HIV and sex workers, experience higher levels of social isolation. The stigma and discrimination related to HIV and sex work can make it “very easy to become isolated from friends, family and community” (Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange [CATIE]), 2009 p 71). Isolation can lead to depression, increased addiction issues, low self-esteem, and overall feelings of negativity.

In July 2011, AIDS Calgary introduced a new position, an Education/Support Worker. A part of this position’s role is to create workshops, groups, and social events for clients. As the person who was lucky enough to get hired for this position, I have focused a lot of my time on developing more social inclusion activities for clients; understanding the positive impact that these events can have.

In September I got the chance to accompany clients on the second annual zoo trip. This gave me a firsthand glimpse into the positive outcomes of a social outing. Friendships were developed, jokes were told, and the general mood of every participant increased; mine included. Since then AIDS Calgary, with the help of my new position, have worked hard to develop more opportunities for social outings, both for our HIV supports program, as well as the Shift program.

One upcoming event is our Glenbow Museum trip. On November 16th the HIV supports clients will get the opportunity to visit the Glenbow Museum for free. This will allow clients to explore the featured exhibit ‘Watch Me Move: The Animation Sho’, which explores the progress of the animated world, from Snow White all the way to the Lord of the Rings. The trip will give clients a chance to engage with others, build social supports, and just enjoy the beauty and creativity of the animated world. The same trip will be offered for our Shift clients on November 30th.

I am personally very excited to attend the trip to the Glenbow Museum. I also look forward to developing many more social events for our clients. Until then…I hope to see you all at the Museum!

This blog was orginally posted on AIDS Calgary's the A Word Blog on November 3, 2011 at http://aidscalgary.blogspot.com/2011/11/decreasing-social-isolation.htmlThis article was created by ACAA's Education & Support Worker. To learn more about the programs and services Shift offers visit or contact info@shiftcalgary.org www.shiftcalgary.org

The Unheard Voice

I feel so alone and cold
I’m lost and blind
A childless mother, also the motherless child
I walk aimless around and around
What I am looking for, never finding
I’m scarred from the inside out
Never to heal my wounds, lost, forgotten
Who I am?
I am any and every women
you have ever judged on the street corner
I have died alone in the shallow grave
Never to be found
And if found, never to be identified
I am your mother, your sister, your daughter
I am that voice crying for help
That falls upon deaf ears

This poem was written by a Shift Engagement Project volunteer. To learn more about the Shift Engagement Project, drop us a line at 403.237.8171 or email info@shiftcalgary.org

You can also find more information on the project in our April 2011 submission here: http://shiftcalgary.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html

Sex Worker Positive: How to be an Ally

You know a sex worker! Whether you are involved in sex work, a customer of the sex industry, a service provider or maybe a family or friend, you know (whether you know it or not) someone involved in sex work. There are many ways in which you can support these friends, clients, coworkers etc. of yours.

To begin with, it is imperative to understand the continuum of sexual exchange. On one end the continuum there are people who make a choice to be involved in sex work while on the other end there are people involved in the sex industry who are experiencing exploitation. In the middle of the continuum there are people whose level of choice may be influenced by struggles for money or with other concerns. Allow the person involved in sex work to name where they are on the continuum and what their needs are. Assuming that all sex workers are victims who are trying to get out of the industry or need help does not recognize that not all sex workers want or are prepared to exit. Using a harm reduction and rights based framework will support sex workers where they are at on the continuum and recognize workers’ right to self-determination.

Whether you believe that sex work is inherently exploitative or that it is a person’s right to choose, be conscious of your own values & attitudes and how they influence your actions. Stigma and discrimination is one of the biggest barriers to sex workers’ rights and safety. Isolation and marginalization occur when sex workers experience judgment from the people in their lives, their friends, service provides, and clients, distancing the workers from the support and services they may need. Seek out sex worker friendly information, materials and resources. Know the truth behind the mainstream information that can be biased against sex workers or offer inaccurate information. Education & awareness helps fight against stigma, so be an advocate for sex workers rights and fight the discrimination that exists. For an agency, know the needs that sex workers face and create a resource bank in your organization that will address sex work issues and have them out in the open. This allows people to know that you are aware and comfortable addressing the needs of people involved in the industry.

Recognize that for many people sex work is work and it should be treated as a form of employment. It is false to believe that a sex worker can be bought or rented, but instead workers set their own rules and limits as to what services will be performed, the price and the duration. Sex workers have professional skills, boundaries, and rights that must all be respected, and should have access to the same work-related health and safety as all professionals.