SWOP San Francisco

From SWAAY.org:

“Google announced last week that they are making the largest-ever corporate donation to “ending modern day slavery”: an impressive $11.5 million dollars. We applaud and support Google’s desire to fight slavery, forced trafficking, and exploitative labor conditions, but Google’s funding recipients include three NGOs that cause serious harm to sex workers around the world: International Justice Mission, Polaris Project, and Not for Sale. As front line sex worker support services struggle for funding to serve their communities, it is offensive to watch Google shower money upon a wealthy faith-based group like the International Justice Mission, which took in nearly $22 million dollars in 2009 alone. (In contrast, the St. James Infirmary, a San Francisco clinic that provides free healthcare to sex workers, operated on only $335k in 2010.)”

Read more at http://www.swaay.org/action/google.html

On December 21st, several members of the Bay Area chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project peacefully handed out 200 fliers in front of the San Francisco Google offices. Many Google employees stopped and discussed the topic, and no one argued or opposed our concerns. A Google employee came down and asked if we had “been inside” or “talked to anyone”, meaning if we had had a dialogue with the company. We replied we were trying, that they’re not that publicly accessible, so this is the beginning of our dialogue. He said they’re interested in us giving a talk in the new year, that the company probably “just didn’t do their research”, and took my card. Another Google employee came down and took a handful of fliers, saying she was totally supportive and had heard about it on the SWAAY Twitter account (@SWAAYorg). They were both very understanding and supportive. We look forward to a productive and educational dialogue with Google soon!

SWOP Bay Area members Patricia West, Bettina Doll, Jolene Parton, Arabelle Raphael

SWOP Bay Area members Starchild, Bettina Doll, Sandy Bottoms

SWOP Bay Area members Sandy Bottoms, Bettina Doll, Jolene Parton, Arabelle Raphael

SWOP Bay Area member Sandy Bottoms

Join SWOP and the Center for Sex and Culture for a night of celebration as resistance in honor of December 17, the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers! Indulge in a moment of peace with the Om Shan Tea table. Watch performances by and about sex workers. Dance to live music and the tunes of a skilled DJ while enjoying drinks and snacks. Remember the sex workers who were killed this year at our Day-of-the-Dead themed altar- you’re welcome to create your own memorial to add. There will be an ASL interpreter for the introduction to the event, and the space is accessible for people with disabilities.

Additionally, we will have three silent auction baskets filled with goodies from local companies such as Cleis Press, Vixen Creations, and Crashpad! The money made will go directly back into activism to support sex workers.

Come join us as we honor our dead and fight for the living!

Saturday, December 17

7-10pm

Center for Sex and Culture

1349 Mission Street (at Grace Street between 9th and 10th streets) in San Francisco

We have *so* many great events coming up and we hope you’ll join us!

10/24 7pm SWOPBay General Membership meeting at private residence in
Berkeley near BART. Carpools happily arranged if needed! Email Patricia@SWOPUSA.org for location.

10/25 7pm Fall TweetUp with Solace, email Patricia@SWOPUSA.org for location.

11/14 8pm Sex Worker Social, White Horse, Oakland. Karaoke, drinks, and sex worker community!

11/18 7:30pm Trans Day of Remembrance Oakland, Preservation Park

11/28 7pm SWOPBay General Membership meeting location TBA

12/17 International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

Did you know that some SWOP Bay Area members speak at local universities about sex work and therapy? We are usually invited by sexuality professors to guest lecture to future Marriage and Family Therapists, however this presentation is applicable to MSWs and any other currently practicing mental health professionals. We’ve got a great panel of current sex workers with a wide range of experience in the sex industry and individual therapy experience as well. Topics covered include:

-Sex Work 101

-Mental Health History and Sex Work

-Causation vs Correlation

-Internalized Shame

-Identity and Authenticity

-Sustainable Sex Work

If you are interested in booking this panel or simply want more information, please contact us at Patricia@SWOPUSA.org

Our next meeting will be Monday September 26th at 7pm. The meeting will be held at a private residence in Oakland near Macarthur BART. If you would like to attend, please email Patricia@SWOPUSA.org for details.

http://millionfishes.com/xxxhibition
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194356013921679

XXXhibition: An Art Show Celebrating Sex Workers
March 3, 6-9pm
Million Fishes Gallery
2501 Bryant St. San Francisco, CA 94110

Please join us in honoring International Sex Workers Rights Day by
celebrating the talents and gifts of our local community! On Thursday,
March 3 from 6-9pm we will showcase art by more than a dozen Bay Area
sex worker artists.

The exhibition will feature art prints by Annie Sprinkle, erotic oil
paintings by Nancy Peach, photos of St. James Infirmary workers by
Rachel Schreiber and Barbara DeGenevieve, video previews from the Sex
Worker Film and Art Festival by Carol Leigh (aka the Scarlot Harlot),
mixed media collage by Kalash, textile by Zee Boudreaux, and much
more.

This event is hosted by the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP-Bay
Area), St. James Infirmary, and Hookers, Escorts, Masseurs Association
(HEMA).

Please join Sex Workers Outreach Project SF for our new monthly social!