Sex Workers Rights - A Public Service Announcement from FIRST

Celebrating the strength and diversity of sex workers -
A Public Service Announcement from FIRST.

Sex workers face extreme levels of stigma and social exclusion, often fearful of the social consequences of speaking openly about their work. When they do, they risk being stereotyped, with few people looking beyond the label of "sex worker" to see the unique lives each person leads.

This video is an attempt by this experiential community to highlight the strength and diversity of those who are currently or have been engaged in sex work.

We would like to thank those who participated in this video, as well as acknowledge that there were a far greater number of people who could not due to the social consequences they could face in their relationships, careers, and day to day lives.

For more info check out the FIRST Advocates Website at firstadvocates.org

This video was created by Rachel Malek for the FIRST Coalition. Inspired by the I Am a Sex Worker video produced by the Sex Work Awareness Project

Creative Commons Licence No Deriv No Commercial Use

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• sex work
• sex worker rights
• sex trade
• advocacy
• advocates
• human rights
• destigmatize
• destigmatization
• reduce stigma
• decriminalization
• decrim
• prostitution
• prostitute
• vancouver
• canada
• sangram
• sex work awareness
• first
• first coalition
• feminist
• feminism
• public se

[OniNoFro]

Nice video. Definitely casts sex workers in a positive light. Just wondering if you're considering including more males to help represent the diversity of the sex industry?

[FIRSTadvocates]

@OniNoFro Definitely, Thanks for asking this important question!

Our goal at the beginning was to focus primarily on including male and transgender sex workers, sex workers of colour, clients, and partners or family of sex workers. We felt like these groups make up such a significant part of the industry, while remaining invisible and highly stigmatized. Yet many of these workers were unable to participate in the video due to the stigma they continue to face in there daily lives.

[FIRSTadvocates]

@OniNoFro Definitely, Thanks for asking this important question!

Our goal at the beginning was to focus primarily on including male and transgender sex workers, sex workers of colour, clients, and partners or family of sex workers. We felt like these groups make up such a significant part of the industry, while remaining invisible and highly stigmatized. Yet many of these workers were unable to participate in the video due to the stigma they continue to face in there daily lives.

[womanwheart]

Great video, out of curiosity...where was it aired?

[FIRSTadvocates]

@womanwheart We haven't had it aired anywhere yet, it's only viewable on Youtube and at firstcoalition.blip.tv

Thanks for your interest!

[travelingjohn69]

I am 100 fold for the legalization of prostitution. I support sex works rights. But I am for legislation that will prevent some of those women in the video from being a sex work. Them bitches was mad ugly. If you don't have at least C class (somewhat decent average looks) you should be arrested for trying to get out their, because your making the industry look bad.

[mickGPN]

"Sex workers' rights" is just a sticking-plaster on a gaping wound. Sure, give them all the help we can, but don't tell yourself it's any kind of solution to the underlying problem. The only way to reduce the harm which prostitution does is - as with the Swedish Model - to gradually reduce the demand, and so the number of people being used as sexual-commodities. The "human-rights" approach just provides a sticking-plaster for the pimps to hide behind. (If you'll excuse the mixed metaphor :-)

[FTMspiritworker]

Thank you for this informative view. I am awakened to an angle that I have never considered before.

[womanwheart]

@FIRSTadvocates Thanks for the response...I will check out the Blip.tv page. Like to learn more...

[YeOldeHeretic]

Love it! :)

~aymi