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23/03/2009 - Sex Worker Open University

Here is the manifesto and program of the Sex Worker Open University. There is on the blog more details about the facilitators and the content of the workshops
http://sexworkeropenuniversity.blogspot.com/

The Sex Worker Open University project brings together sex workers, academics, activists, artists and allies to explore the richness, diversity and contradictions of the sex industry. We want to give a voice to sex workers, whose lives are too often stereotyped and voices too often silenced. We want to challenge media sensationalism, which, hand in hand with the UK government, often represent us as victims or criminals.

Some politicians, religious representatives and part of the feminist movement claim that all sex workers are victims and that all sex work is violent or immoral. But many sex workers are feminists and we support the right of all consenting adults to express our sexuality as we wish and to enjoy the same rights as other workers.

For many of us, sex work is a choice.

We are full member of this society, with skills and abilities, whether erotic massage, healing, BDSM, acting and performance skills, entrepreneurial talents, strip tease or a compassionate, attentive and non-judgmental ear.

We know that in the sex industry there are, like in many other parts of the service industry, forms of abuse, exploitation and violence. We also experience every day how criminalisation increases our vulnerability and oppression.

We refuse to let the issue of trafficking be used to criminalise us all, and we fight for support for all migrants as well as victims of trafficking and against their deportations.

We support the right of any woman, man and transgender person to exit the sex
industry, and see the core problems for many who wish to exit not as sex work itself but poverty, lack of education, domestic violence and the criminalisation of drug users.

Our time has come. A society that recognises, accepts, respects and values sex workers is a fairer and more mature society. Join us at the Sex Worker Open University!



Program





Tuesday 31st of March, 2pm :
Speak Out + Stand Up for Sex Worker Rights
at the Eros Fountain, Piccadilly Circus. Bring your red umbrellas!


Wednesday 1st of April, 6pm til 9pm:
International struggle for sexworkers' rights.
Presentations and discussions with activists and short movies from UK, Denmark, Germany,
France, Spain, Latin America, Thailand...
RR2 (Rehearsal Room 2)
Arts Building, Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road, E1 4NS.


Friday 3rd of April, 7pm til late,
London Action Ressource Center, 62 Fieldgate street , London E11ES.
Tube : Whitechapel or Aldgate East
Opening of exhibition "Prostitutes of Europe".
Photographs by Mathilde Bouvard.
Wine and non-alcoholic drinks.


Saturday 4th of April,from 1pm til 8pm, LARC:
Workshops and debates
1 pm - 3pm :
Self defence,
Tips for wannabe sexworkers (legal, practical ..),
3.15pm - 5.15 pm :
Taking the feminist anti-prostitution argument seriously,
Keeping yourself emotionnaly safe
5.15 pm - 6pm :
tea and cakes break
6 pm -8pm :
Working as a pro-submissive
Erotic Dance


Sunday 5th of April, from 1pm til 8pm, LARC:
Workshops,debates and film
1pm - 3pm :
Presentation of sexworkers and outreach projects: SohoBoyz, Praed Street...
Identity and anonymity
3.15 pm - 5.15 pm :
Wrestling,
Identity and Anonymity
6 pm :
Vision for the future of sexworkers's movement ( sexworker magazine workshop... )
9 pm :
PARTY !! ( details and venue to be confirmed )
Djs, perfomances, lap dance, raffle ..

Other workshops, time and details to be announced:
Campaigning agaisnt the rise of bareback in gay twink pornography
Sexual violence, sexual healing and sex work.
Sexwork activism in San Francisco.

at LARC : London Action Ressource Center, 62 fieldgate St. London E1 1ES.
tube: aldgate east/whitechapel