Robyn Few - a sex worker coming out of the closet

Robyn Few, a native of Kentucky, USA, ran away from home at age thirteen and later became an exotic dancer. After marrying and having a daughter in her twenties, she began to take college courses in the hopes of earning a degree in theater arts. She went to California in 1993 to pursue theater and become an activist. Acting and activism not being the highest paying jobs, Few turned to prostitution to pay the bills in 1996. She has worked tirelessly as an advocate and caregiver for medical marijuana and AIDS patients and has gained quite a reputation in the Bay Area activist community as an effective lobbyist for the issue. In June of 2002, the FBI arrested Few, under the direction of the U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Using the Patriot Act, Ashcroft was able to equate terrorism with prostitution and get additional funding for the very expensive investigation. She was convicted on one federal count of conspiracy to promote prostitution and received six months house arrest, which she finished serving in June 2004. Judge Marilyn Hall Patel allowed Few to continue her activism and volunteer efforts while under house arrest.




Dubbed the "patriotic prostitute," a campaign centered on the idea that prostitution should be decriminalized to protect women from violence began in October 2003 with The Sex Workers Outreach Project www.swop-usa.org. SWOP is an outgrowth of the anger and frustration that Few feels as a result of her federal bust. "Until prostitutes have equal protection under the law and equal rights as human beings, there is no justice. Until prostitutes are no longer criminals why would they come forward and allow themselves to become targets for law enforcement? Decriminalization is the beginning of the solution; it's not the solution itself" -- says Few.




Today, Robyn Few is the Director of SWOP-USA, and co-founder of the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, held on December 17th each year. SWOP helps sex workers and their organizations organize to protect their rights and fight against stigmatization and discrimination. It published media manual, citizen lobbying handbook and decriminalization fact sheets. Its volunteers and staff provide consultation on local, national and international campaigns and organize trainings on topics including lobbying, media, action planning, civil disobedience and strategy.

Robin Few was interviewed by our crew at the International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harms in Warsaw, 2007.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• HCLU
• SWAN
• sex
• work
• coming
• out
• prostitution

[stefanierose88]

i am a sex worker and i love what i do. thank you for speaking out!

[AuroraABC]

LEGAL PROSTITUTION REDUCES RAPE

When Denmark legalized prostitution, the total number of rape reports in the whole nation of Denmark in the 10 years after legalization, was less than the total number of rape reports in the capital city of Copenhagen in the 1 year before legalization. The countries where prostitution is legal have the lowest rates of rape.

Men NEED sexual release. Let them have it, and let the women who provide it get PAID!

[acerb45666555]

these glorious god sent women save minds and lives! who else would see a geek like me and all my thousands of geeky socially blundering awkward brothers out there,(Archaeology rulzz!),! we neeed these angel women!! at least until a super brave, sharp minded ,no nonsense wife kicks our brains into gear and fixes things!..............but that kind of tough smart ((Open Minded!!!), chick is as rare as snow in central Brazil!!

[BloodElfMohawk273]

@AuroraABC: I know it's been 2 years since you posted your comment on legalizing prostitution, but I've gotta say anyways....A-FUCKING-MEN to that!!! *salutes you* 8^)

[BabyoAileenej139]

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[jiji309]

i respect sex workers :) i hope men do the same

[Bromopar]

Sex work is something that can be done safely and consciously. There is no reason that prostitution should still be illegal.

[DominaElle]

@darepow She is not saying children as in underage FYI, she is saying that we should LOVE one another!! That a mother can still love a daughter who happens to be a sex worker. It is the marginalization and social stigmatization that needs to STOP. What many fail to realize, is that attitudes such as yours darepow actually support violence towards human beings. Serial killers for instance have admitted that they target sex workers because they know people will not care about them. This must stop!

[DominaElle]

1:28

[DominaElle]

The world is full of shame. PEOPLE NEED TO STOP PROJECTING THEIR SHAME ONTO OTHERS! Find a way to heal the shame or the guilt that you carry in your heart and mind. Just because you cannot imagine that being a sex worker can actually be a choice for someone, and a choice that they are happy with, does not mean you can decide for someone else! Keep your ideologies out of my mind, my spirit and off of my body! Our voices count! Stop marginalizing people and projecting your shame!

[cruzere120]

Ashcroft is Gay to start with so what's his problem, oh? Yeah the funding he stuck in his pocket, I forgot, the government would do better to concentrate on the federal reserve.

[XlPackratlX]

@darepow No! They absolutely can. One day, children will grow up to decide for themselves and not need authority of what the government tells them to do.