That is so on-point. It becomes more and more apparent that an intersectional, holistic approach to helping sex workers is the only thing that’s going to accomplish anything longterm and the harm-reduction activists working on the streets are the ones doing that work. This woman is fantastic.

I remember reading the news that WWAV had successfully gotten sex workers off the sex offenders list — absolutely heroic.

I’m glad Deon brought up these points about addiction, access to public space and child custody. Sometimes we talk about decriminalization as if that’s all we need because it’s such a huge first step. But the marginalization of sex workers — especially those who are already devalued because they are racialized, not citizens, have disabilities or addictions, or live in poverty — intersects with so many other laws designed to punish people of colour and the poor.

Prostitute Free Zones, “SCAN” acts (that allow for speedy eviction of “criminals” if their neighbours report them), racist and misogynist child welfare systems, laws related to domestic violence, school zoning, vagrancy and loitering laws, drug laws, immigration laws… and of course sex offender registries. Even without getting into labour legislation, there is a huge, huge legal framework relevant to the criminalization and victimization of sex workers.