[SWAF-Potluck] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3rd Annual Red Umbrella March...

[Andy Sorfleet]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 11, 2015


RED UMBRELLA MARCH FOR SEX WORK SOLIDARITY
SEX WORKERS, ALLIES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS STAND TOGETHER

On June 13, sex workers together with their allies, families and friends are coming out for our 3rd Annual  Red Umbrella March for Sex Work Solidarity.

Again this year, the event will show public support for sex workers in their courageous fight against the Harper government's new unjust prostitution laws. In December, 2013, The Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada's prostitution laws (bawdy house, living on the avails and communicating in public).

November 2014, the Harper Conservatives enacted Bill C-36, replacing the struck-down laws with broader laws which make "Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration," "Material Benefit from Sexual Services" and "Advertisement of Sexual Services" crimes.

To even discuss obtaining sexual services with anyone in any place - including on the telephone or Internet - is now a crime, leaving our clients vulnerable to police entrapment stings. Anyone who receives any material benefit - derived directly or indirectly - is also guilty of a crime. It is now a crime to live with or regularly be in the company of a sex worker. As well, any material - visual representation or written - that advertises sexual services is outlawed.

These new laws violate our Charter of Rights and Freedoms - including our right to associate with others - and will force sex workers into an environment of crime where our rights are not protected.

Beginning at 2:30, the rally will feature speakers at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Robson Street plaza) and will be followed by a march starting at 3 p.m. Speakers will be available before the rally to answer questions from the media. The march will travel through Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to CRAB Park.

Participants are encouraged bring a red umbrella: the symbol of the global sex workers' rights movement. All are invited to dress up, wear a sexy costume, or wear red. The Red Umbrella March is part of a national day of action, with similar events taking place in cities across Canada, including in Montreal, Québec City, Saint John's, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg.

The Red Umbrella March for Sex Work Solidarity is co-organized by the following groups: Triple-X Workers' Solidarity Association of B.C., Downtown Eastside Sex Workers United Against Violence, Pivot Legal Society, PACE Society, B.C. Coalition of Experiential Communities,  FIRST: Feminists Advocating for the Decriminalization of Sex Work.

Visit triple-x.org or our Facebook event page for more details.


- 30 -


Press Release PDF (includes photos):
http://triple-x.org/about/pr/pr-150603.pdf

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/swaf-potluck/attachments/20150611/5e466ca3/attachment.html>