A SAFE in Collingwood presentation: Working together to create a community that is safe and healthy for everyone.

Sex work Awareness For Everyone

SAFE Values & Guiding Principles:  Embrace diversity and respect all people  Enable participation of all people  Foster positive change through learning and capacity building  Stand against exploitation and social injustice  Create understanding and build community  Be open to listening and understanding different perspectives

WISH Drop-in Centre Society HUSTLE PACE Society Living in Community Seniors Residents Local Schools VCH - Evergreen Community Health Centre Collingwood Business Improvement Ass’n Collingwood Neighbourhood House Vancouver Police Department Collingwood Community Policing Centre Youth VPL: Collingwood Branch

This presentation is for residents in neighbourhoods impacted by the sex trade.

At the end of this session we hope you understand:  The important role you play as part of the neighbourhood and the need for all community members to feel welcome  That sex workers are also part of this neighbourhood and have rights as well as responsibilities  How to respectfully engage with sex workers  When to ask for help

 The presence of litter such as used condoms, condom wrappers and syringes  Safety concerns related to the presence of sex workers, their clients, and pimps  Increased traffic and noise  Concern for the health and safety of sex workers

 Selling or purchasing sexual services has never been illegal in Canada  However, there are laws that prohibit some activities associated with sex work such as public solicitation, or paying for sexual services from someone under the age of 18  Everybody is free to stand in public places

 Research has demonstrated that some members of marginalized communities lose their ability to read any human expression except disgust as that is often the only expression they see... Martin, L., Clair, J., Davis, P., O’Ryan, D., Hoshi, R. and Curran, H. V. (2006), Enhanced recognition of facial expressions of disgust in opiate users receiving maintenance treatment. Addiction, 101: 1598–1605. doi: /j x

Impacts of stigma: low self-esteem & diminished self-confidence demoralization poor perceived quality of life social withdrawal fear of being judged negatively low expectations & few demands on services Women’s Health Research Network, 2010

Stigma, in the context of sex work, is:  Based on misconceptions rather than empirical evidence  About discrediting and ‘marking’ people as ‘other’  Perceiving others as different can lead to discrimination The Toolkit: Ottawa Area Sex Workers Speak Out

 Become conscious of your own values, prejudices & attitudes & seek to understand the motivation behind them  Avoid assumptions such as assuming a sex worker is a drug addict, has low self-esteem, carries disease, wants out of the industry or is a bad parent  Above all, treat the sex worker the way you would treat anyone else

 Your personal safety must come first  Sex workers may fear you  Building trust takes time and patience  90% of communication is non-verbal  Know your boundaries  Be mindful of your own agenda  Don’t make assumptions

 Excessive noise  Used syringes 311  Outreach services  Violent crime in progress 911

 Some sex workers have addiction issues  Overuse of stimulant drugs  Overuse of depressant drugs  What to do if someone is unresponsive

 To be recognized as full citizens  To be listened to without being judged  To be taken seriously  To be integrated into the community  To have their human rights recognized and respected  To have access to public services without discrimination  To have access to work-related social & judicial services The Toolkit: Ottawa Area Sex Workers Speak Out

The next section of this presentation will provide you with some more information about sex work and sex workers.

Sex work is ILLEGAL In Canada Selling or purchasing sexual services is legal; However, some activities associated with sex work are not.

Sex workers set themselves up for violence No one ever deserves to be assaulted, sexually assaulted, or murdered.

All sex workers were sexually abused as children While it may be true that some sex workers have experienced abuse as children, the same can be said of any occupation.

All sex workers are drug addicts Sex work is as diverse as any other occupation where some workers have addiction issues and some do not.

Sex workers spread HIV and other sexually transmitted infections to the public. Sex workers practice safe sex at much higher rates than the general public. Sex workers are no more responsible to prevent the spread of HIV than any other sexually active person.

All sex workers want to get out of the industry While some sex workers do want to get out, many others do not. Furthermore, for those who do want to get out, there is a lack of services to assist them in doing so.

All sex workers are young women While the majority of sex workers are believed to be female, there are large numbers of male and transgender sex workers as well. Some sex workers continue working right up to retirement age.

All sex workers are forced into the sex industry Individuals enter sex work for a variety of reasons, most often economic. Those who are forced or exploited are very isolated and there is limited knowledge about who they are and how best to support them.

Raids of brothels and massage parlours rescues sex workers and victims of trafficking Empowering sex workers to work with law enforcement to identify and assist those people who have been coerced is an effective way to support sex workers.

Sex work is an easy way to make a lot of money Remuneration for sex work varies with the type and location of work. Income can fluctuate widely from day to day.

All clients of sex workers are men who want to hurt women. Not all sex workers are women. Clients come in all ages and from all walks of life. Much of sex work does not involve violence.

Sex work is degrading Let people name their own experience. We are all the experts in our own lives. This is a value judgment that leads to discrimination and dehumanization.

There are sex work support organizations throughout Canada who are happy to provide information to members of the public. An excellent start: and download their “toolkit”. Supporting the work of support and outreach services to sex workers in your community, in addition to reaching out as an individual, will contribute to health and safety for everyone.

Kerry Porth, Sex Trade Educator SAFE Public Education Committee Brette Little, Model