From advocacy to celebration: A day to honour sex workers

Anarcho-feminist icon Emma Goldman famously didn’t say “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” However, the misquote persists. Perhaps it’s because the sentiment resonates with so many of us in social justice work. No doubt it was on the Global Network of Sex Work Projects’ minds in 2019 when they launched an annual international sex worker rights day called Sex Worker Pride.

Taking place on September 14, this day differs from other days that call attention to sex workers’ labour rights, access to justice and violence against sex workers by focusing on celebration. It celebrates sex workers’ achievements, their self-determination, their fearlessness and their important contributions to society.

Despite heavy stigmatization, sex workers are increasingly rejecting shame. As part of a 2020 survey of male-identified sex workers in Ottawa and Quebec conducted by the now defunct TOMQ coalition, 78% of respondents reported being stigmatized or shamed for being a sex worker, with 82% of respondents expressing that sex work related stigma has affected their mental health in the past. Nevertheless, most respondents ranked their current mental health from fair to very good.

Since the majority of respondents also stated that they’re most comfortable seeking support from other sex workers as opposed to friends, partners, therapists, or outreach workers, I think that our reasonably good mental health can be partly attributed to our peers. For this very reason Maggie’s Toronto, one of Canada’s oldest support and advocacy organizations led by and for sex workers, strives to create safer spaces where sex workers can congregate and form connections with others in the business.

One such space was our downtown office, which, on the evening of September 8, 2023, burned down in a horrific fire that is still under investigation. While staff and board were reeling from this devastating turn of events, we made the necessary decision to temporarily cancel our programming and mobilize around this new, pressing disaster.

But, there was one event we all agreed on seeing through. On September 14, 2023, for Sex Worker Pride, we pushed forward with our previously planned event, Exxxtravaganza. Featuring burlesque performers, erotic dancers, DJs, a mini ball, prizes and more, our celebration was a jovial reprieve from the stressors of sex work. Instead of being shaken by a fire, our community mobilized to not only drink, dance, and party, but also grieve, heal, rally and fundraise. The event was the truest expression of the day it was meant to recognize. In the face of a devastating setback, we stood proud. That is, of course, when we weren’t dancing.

This year, for Sex Worker Pride, we’d like to ask people to donate to Maggie’s disaster relief fund so we can continue to offer wrap-around supports and life affirming care to current and former sex workers across the Greater Toronto Area. To learn more about Maggie’s work and history, our plans for this year’s Sex Worker Pride and to access resources for sex workers in Canada, visit www.maggiesto.org or follow us on Instagram at @maggiestoronto.

Michael Burtch is the manager of the HIV & Harm Reduction Program at Maggie’s Toronto, one of the first sex worker organizations in the world to receive government funding. Founded in 1986, it was established on the belief that sex work is real, legitimate and valuable work.