International Sex Worker Day

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2 Jun
On 2 June 1975, approximately 100 sex workers occupied Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, to express their anger about their criminalised and exploitative living conditions. On 10 June at 5 o'clock the Church was brutally raided by police forces. This action sparked a national movement, and the day is now celebrated in Europe and around the world.

Please see a list of events below

Asia Pacific

Project X is collecting quotes from sex workers and allies in Singapore using the hashtag #ListenToSexWorkers, to be compilied into a video to be released on Project X’s Facebook page on 2nd June. The goal of the video is to encourage the public to listen to the voices of sex workers, and to become better informed about the issues sex workers face. NSWP members, sex workers, and other allies in Asia Pacific countries who are interested in submitting a quote should do so on social media using the hashtag or send a quote to sherry@theprojectx.org. You can also modify your quote for your country; or example, people in Cambodia could contribute by using the hashtag #ListenToSexWorkersInCambodia.  

Respect Inc are hosting 3 days of free meetings, workshops and training for sex workers in Cairns, and a rally on 1st June. All the details of the programme are available here.  

Europe

BesD are hosting a party for sex workers in Berlin on 2nd June. Details are available on Facebook. 

STAR-STAR are organising a photography exhibition, installation and performance art and promoting three local films in a private gallery “Akantus” in Skopje, Macedonia. It will also include a collage of photographs, texts, audio and video recordings mapping the urban history of sex work and sex workers in Skopje. The three films - The Return, The Red, and All Together for Better Health - were produced by STAR-STAR as part of a project coordinated by ICRSE and SWARM, supported by OSF. The Facebook page is available here. 

North America and the Caribbean

Survivors Against SESTA are collating a list of events happening in the USA  to mark 2nd June, including in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Bay Area, Las Vegas, Colorado, Seattle, and Washington DC. Please see their website for all the details. 

St James Infirmary is organising a rally and march on 2nd June in Oakland. The protest aims to make more Bay Area residents and local media aware of systematic violence against sex workers, and the repercussions of FOSTA/SESTA legislation. It will also mark St James Infirmary's 19th anniversary.  More details are available here.