“The Ugly Truth:” An Inaccurate, Stigmatizing Ad Campaign

SWOP-Chicago is disappointed by the recent End Demand Campaign, “The Ugly Truth.” “The Ugly Truth” is a stigmatizing, shame-based campaign that proliferates biased, sensationalist research and statements about the sex trade, research that has drawn repeated criticism from academics, policy-makers, sex workers, and Canadian supreme court.

ugly truth campaign image

While it is important to raise awareness of exploitation and violence experienced by some individuals involved the sex trade (just as it is crucial to do so for any industry), it is important that this messaging does not add to the sense of stigmatization and discomfort individuals involved in the sex trade frequently feel. “The Ugly Truth” fails to do this.

We do not mean to single out this individual ad campaign. Rather, we intend to spark a conversation about a genre of public awareness campaigns that ultimately ignore the feelings, reactions, and complex lives of the target group the ad campaign is about.

Like so many abolitionist campaigns, “The Ugly Truth” directs messaging at individuals with no connection to the sex trade and overlooks the fact that sex workers, like everyone else, use public transportation and public spaces. It is disheartening when direct service providers who follow a non-judgmental approach in their work fail to consider the potential impact of very strong, likely triggering, likely traumatizing public messaging on the very population they are trying to ‘help’. And ultimately, sensationalist, costly campaigns both fails to educate the public about issues they can actively do something about and alienate individuals with direct contact to the sex trade.

Further, the message of this campaign and others, which ignore the complexity of sex work and sex trafficking, are misleading… perhaps with serious, detrimental consequences. It is imperative that public awareness campaigns about the sex trade recognize that many, many individuals can and do choose to engage in sexualized labor; and that discrimination, systematic inequality, criminal records, barriers to legal migration into the US, and stigma related to sex trade work, are at the root of forced and survival sex work. Recognizing the complexity of the sex trade is imperative, because simplification leads to policies that will ultimately harm sex workers, individuals engaged in survival sex, and sex trafficking victims.

Ultimately, “The Ugly Truth” campaign and others like it are a misallocation of resources, particularly when services that sex workers, individuals in the sex trade, and trafficking victims desperately need — things like targeted outreach, supportive housing, substance abuse recovery, and harm reduction services — are so underfunded. Perhaps more important, these campaigns compound stigma and trauma individuals involved the sex trade face, without producing any tangible benefits.

In brief, we hope that in the future, service organizations working directly with stigmatized and marginalized populations think critically about their public awareness campaigns, and — recognizing that their target population will likely be exposed to and impacted by their public messages — use the same approach in both.

SWOP-Chicago is not the only group disappointing by this ad campaign. We encourage you to also read the following responses:

PROS Network Chicago – LAUNCH RECEPTION May 8, 2013

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Please join us On May 8, 2013!

SWOP-Chicago is pleased to host a public reception to celebrate thelaunch of PROS Network-Chicago; an exciting new directory and network of helping professionals, clinics and agencies offering non-judgmental, client-centric resources and support to people in the sex trade.

The reception will take place at Cortelyou Commons (DePaul University, 2324 N Fremont, Chicago IL, 60614)

RECEPTION WILL INCLUDE:
• the release of new PROS print outreach materials…
• speeches by network professionals…
• a fair where attendees can pick up info about and talk to PROS network members…
• light reception fare.

The Pros Network Chicago, is one of few existing resource guides created for sex workers, in the world.
The PROS Network-Chicago currently includes over 35 helping professionals, agencies and clinics.

NETWORK MEMBERS INCLUDE:
• Asian Human Services
• Chicago House
• Chicago Women’s Health Center
• Chicago Recovery Alliance
• Heartland Health Outreach Inc
• Howard Brown Health Center
• Rape Victims Advocates

The PROS Network-Chicago was created to connect individuals involved or previously involved in the sex trade with affirming, non-judgmental services.
SWOP-Chicago hopes the PROS network will reduce access barriers to medical care, legal support, and human services commonly experienced by sex workers and also raise awareness and sensitivity of the human service and harm-reduction community to the unique needs of people involved in the sex trade.

The reception is co-sponsored by DePaul University Social Science Research Center.

The reception is FREE and opened to the public.

“The Scarlet Road” Documentary Film Screening- Saturday, April 6

SWOP-Chicago and SexFest2013 are proud to host a FREE screening of the award-winning documentary “The Scarlet Road” on Saturday, April 6 at the Jane Addams Hull House Museum. Screening begins at 7pm and will be followed by a panel discussion.

“Scarlet Road” follows the extraordinary work of Australian sex worker, Rachel Wotton. Impassioned about freedom of sexual expression and the rights of sex workers, she specializes in a long over-looked clientele – people with disabilities

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Date- Saturday, April 6, 2013

Time- 7pm

Location- Jane Addams Hull House Museum (dining hall)

800 S. Halsted st.

Chicago, IL

For more SexFest 2013 events, go to- http://www.thedeviantminds.org/

Scarlet Road Flyer - V1

 

PROS Network Chicago, Website Launch!

Today is International Sex Worker Rights day, and we specifically chose today to launch the PROS Network Chicago Website:  www.prosnetworkchicago.org

After over a year of hard work, we’ve created a network of (to date) over 25 health-care, legal, counseling, and harm harm-reduction practitioners and agencies with over 40 locations throughout Chicago, all offering affirming, client-centric, and harm-reduction-oriented services to individuals currently or previously involved in the sex trade/the adult entertainment industry. See our website for a full list of current PROS Network Members!

PROS NETWORK CHICAGO:
The PROS Network is a directory of direct service providers and legal, medical and mental health professionals who are capable of providing non-judgmental, client-centric and harm reduction-oriented services to individuals in the sex industry.
The purpose of the PROS Network is to connect individuals that by choice, circumstance or coercion, engage in sexual activities in exchange for money or other survival needs to non-judgmental and culturally appropriate services and resources.
The PROS Network – Chicago website includes:

This is only the soft launch. 

On May 8, 2013 we will have the PROS Network Chicago launch party!
We’ll be releasing the first batch of outreach material and celebrating the organizers who have been working on this project diligently for over a year and celebrate the organizations and individuals who have signed on, who are providing resources that makes a positive differences in the lives of so many individuals living and working in Chicago.
In Solidarity and Support,
Sex Workers Outreach Project – Chicago
PROS Network – Chicago

We are always looking to add PROS Network Members and expand knowledge and access to client-centric, affirming, harm-reduction-oriented services for individuals involved in the sex trade.
If you are a helping professional or represent an agency and are interested in joining the PROS Network, please email serpent@swop-chicago.org for more information. Signing PROS Network Partners can fill out an e-contract here, or they can request a printable form to be emailed or mailed to them.
If you are a current/former sex worker, please recommend a few of your favorite resources here  or give feedback on any of the resources we have listed on our website at: prosnetworkchicago@gmail.com!

March 3 Brunch to Celebrate International Sex Worker Rights Day!

March 3rd is International Sex Worker Rights Day!

International Sex Worker Rights Day was started in 2001 in Calcutta by the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a Sex Worker Rights group comprised of more than 50,000 sex workers and members of their communities. In 2002, Durbar invited organizations from around the world to join them in commemorating Sex Worker Rights Day on March 3rd.

We felt strongly that that we should have a day what need to be observed by the sex workers community globally. Keeping in view the large mobilization of all types of global sexworkers [Female,Male,Transgender], we proposed to observe 3rd March as THE SEX WORKERS RIGHTS DAY.

Knowing the usual response of international bodies and views of academicians and intellectuals of the 1st world [many of them consider that sex workers of third world are different from 1st world and can't take their decision] a call coming from a third world country would be more appropriate at this juncture, we believe. It will be a great pleasure to us if all of you observe the day in your own countries too…We need your inspiration and support to turn our dreams into reality.

Picmonkey for newspletter

On Sunday, March 3rd, SWOP-Chicago invites sex workers, allies, and their communities to join us for an informal potluck brunch to celebrate local, national and international struggles to secure human rights for individuals in the sex trade, as well as the strength, resiliance and creativity of sex worker communities in Chicago and around the world.

Sex Worker Rights Day Brunch

Schedule

12-1:20 – mingling, eating, laid-back music + silent projection of sex worker activism photos & film footage

1:20-1:25 – Speech about the history of Sex Worker Rights and International Sex Worker Rights Day

1:25-1:50 – Mingle and eat, or take part in an open mic / talk-circle

2:00-2:30 – Mingling, or take part in a Healing Circle led by Cassandra A.

When

Sunday, March 3rd from 12-2:30 p.m.

What

Potluck Brunch + Coffee

Open Mic + Healing Circle

We will be projecting photos and film-footage from local, national, and global sex worker marches, protests, and actions on silent throughout the event.

Where

At a 3000 square-foot loft-coop near the Southport Brownline stop.

 RSVP to meg@swop-chicago.org or via facebook for address!

Deets

We ask attendees to bring a desert, casserole, pastry or beverage, or make a small donation to SWOP-Chicago at the event.

For the “open mic/talk circle,” we invite attendees to share a 1-3 minute statement, speech, poem, etc. about why sex worker rights is important to them, support from the sex worker community, a victory they are inspired by, or a powerful moment as a sex worker or sex worker activist.

Tell Us a Few of your Favorite Things…

SWOP-Favorite Things-b

We DEFINITELY like gender-queer men & women, we love brown-paper gift packages, and snowflakes that stay on our nose & eye-lashes…

But

  • Non-Judgmental STI testing…
  • Free HIV testing…
  • Supportive & Informed Doctors in our neighborhoods…
  • Easy-Access Free Condom Baskets…
  • Culturally Appropriate Social Services…

    Those are some of the things at the top of our list when we sing about our ‘Favorite Things.’

What about you? What are your favorite places & things?

This form will help us research & be in contact with service providers, whom might be interested in joining the PROS Network Chicago.

PROS Network Chicago is the city’s first network & resource guide of helping professionals devoted to offering affirming, non-judgmental services to folks engaged in the sex trade!!

“Taxes, Tea & Coffee” – Tax/Money Management Worshop Saturday, January 26

Working in the Adult Entertainment Biz and want to get 2013 off to a good financial start?
Join SWOP-Chicago for a tax and money management workshop this January 26!
tax flyer - Big
When
Saturday, January 26, 2013
2-4:30 p.m.
Where
Rogers Park (near Loyola redline)
RSVP for address
What
William Enmark, a CPA with an investment/finance background and over 17 years of experience as a tax professional, will lead the workshop. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their experiences.
Workshop will cover topics including:
* The benefits of filing taxes
* Tax deductions sex workers can claim
* Budgeting your income and managing your money for the year
* How to stay legal and who can help
* Dealing with a “cash-only” income and how much to set aside for taxes

After the workshop, we will be hosting a coffee/tea/social hour for networking and to share information.

This event is free to attend!

RSVP: via email (meg@swop-chicago.org) or phone (312) 252-3880