Living in Community

Tomorrow is the deadline to sign this official petition to the Government of Canada to call for the decriminalization of sex work. Add your name here:

"All massage workers deserve rights and protections, regardless of whether they offer sexual services. Further, as Yves Tong Nguyen of Red Canary Song, a New York City-based collective of Asian and migrant sex workers, reminds us: whether or not they are sex workers, they were harmed by the criminalization of sex work. And as police presence rises in Asian neighbourhoods as a result of last week’s shootingsostensibly to protect against similar attacksmany massage workers will likely feel even less safe."

Good news to end the week on! Thank you to the BC Federation of Labour Executive Committee for adopting this motion, and thank you to MoveUP and the Vancouver and District Labour Council for submitting and advocating on this motion! Sex work is work, and sex workers deserve the same rights, freedoms, and protections as other workers.

Looking for a particular program in BC or the Yukon? Check out the new database on our website to find sex worker-serving drop-in spaces, shelters, advocacy organizations, and more. You can use the map to find an organization in your area, or search by location or keyword to find a service. Or, browse the services of each organization listed! This database is live on our website: https://livingincommunity.ca/find-a-service/.

"Those who were killed were targeted not only because of their race and gender but also because of their perceived work and immigration status. "In other words, they were targeted because of their intersectional identities."

New in Policy Options Magazine: "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed 'no one will be left behind' due to the pandemic. Yet the stigma and criminalization of sex work have left workers unable or unwilling to access most government income support programs because they fear further stigmatization and police harassment."

For our friends in the Kingsway, Kensington, and Mount Pleasant communities of Vancouver: check out this upcoming provincial election all candidates' forum, virtually hosted by Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House. Please RSVP to [email protected] or call 604-874-4231 and a Zoom link will be forwarded to you.

BWSS Battered Women's Support Services is launching an exciting new group: Thriving is a safe, confidential place for women with experience in sex economies to build community and empowerment every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 pm starting on Thursday, October 22, 2020. A $20 gift card will be provided to each participant after every workshop. For more information and to join: https://buff.ly/36REWWJ

We ask each and every one of you, whether you are a parent, in any of the four levels of government, a police officer, a judge, a teacher, how are you contributing to eliminate violence and death of Indigenous Women and Girls?

If you agree that no one should have to go to work sick, check out this campaign from the Retail Action Network calling for paid sick leave to be added to the BC Employment Standards Act:

"There are so few safe spaces for women and gender-diverse folks in the Downtown Eastside period. And then even fewer spaces that really cater to and are safe for sex workers, said Beyene. "The shelter will welcome all self-identified women, including trans women, and will be open 24-7. Women won’t have to leave the shelter every morning, a rule in some shelters."

Congratulations to WISH for all the hard work to make this a reality!

"Workers waking up feeling sick won’t know if they’ll be eligible for the federal benefit because of the one-week wait to apply and then a further wait for the government to respond. This uncertainty may pose too much risk especially for those in precarious, low-paying jobs and for migrant workers who need assurance that staying home won’t affect their take-home pay, much of which is sent to support their families."

Congratulations to Mebrat Beyene from WISH Drop-In Centre Society, Co-Chair of our Steering Committee, for receiving the YWCA Metro Vancouver Women of Distinction Award in the Non-Profit category!

WAVAW-Rape Crisis Centre is hiring for several exciting positions in Vancouver, including Manager of Counselling Programs and Clinical Supervision and Manager of Victim Services and Volunteer Programs. Read more on their website: https://buff.ly/2HxZY21

"Toronto bylaws prohibited body rub parlours and holistic centres from keeping their doors locked, so that inspectors could have full access. But the rules led to thefts, abuse, and even death, sex workers say. By locking doors, workers are now able to screen people entering their businesses."

The September issue of our quarterly e-newsletter is now on our website! In this newsletter, you'll find updates about emergency funding for peer workers across BC, a list of COVID-19 and overdose resources and supports (including Brave Co-op's BeSafe app), a spotlight on the work happening at HOPE Okanagan, and an update from us about virtual Curriculum for Change training. Read more on our website, and sign up to receive future e-newsletters in your inbox: https://buff.ly/2zUWxyJ

Check out WISH Drop-In Centre Society's #WISHUpClose Campaign and help them raise funds for their Supportive Employment Program! In light of COVID-19, WISH has had to cancel all major fundraising events and as a result, are faced with a significant financial hit. Simultaneously, the demand for their services has more than doubled. Will you help make a difference in the lives of hundreds of women? Find out more info here: