Audacia Ray's Blog, page 31
July 26, 2012
At the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC on July...
At the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC on July 25, 2012 sex workers activists loudly disrupted a special session on the United States Congress and the global AIDS epidemic. Activists rose up from the audience several minutes into the panel, as Senator Bill First praised panelists Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) for their bipartisan support of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Although PEPFAR is the world’s largest government-generated fund for HIV/AIDS, it contains a policy, known as the “anti-prostitution pledge” that requires recipients of funds to oppose prostitution.
Activists raised red umbrellas, unfurled a banner reading “Stop Criminalization, Change PEPFAR” and chanted “repeal the pledge, reform PEPFAR,” “sex workers’ rights are human rights,” and “nothing about us without us.” The activists made their way to the front of the packed room, to cheers from the audience, while Senator Frist tried to silence them. The group refused to step down, and remained seated at the front of the room for the duration of the session.
After the group sat down, Senator Frist introduced Representative Barbara Lee, who announced planned legislation, bill HR 6138, which was introduced last week but for which the text is not yet available, which will eliminate the anti-prostitution pledge. As Rep. Lee exited the stage, the activists chanted “We love Barbara Lee!”
This video includes documentation of the disruption, Barbara Lee’s announcement about the new legislation, and commentary on the action by Kelli Dorsey (Different Avenues), Daisy McCloud (Red Umbrella Project), and Sharmus Outlaw (Desiree Alliance).
July 25, 2012
harmreduction:
Activists Interrupt Press Conference at AIDS...
Activists Interrupt Press Conference at AIDS 2012
Harm Reduction Coalition’s own Allan Clear and other activists interrupt a press conference at the International AIDS conference in Washington DC to demand accountability for the exclusion of sex workers and drug users from AIDS 2012.
ACT UP! FIGHT BACK!
Me, before the We Can End AIDS march yesterday, sporting my IAC...
Me, before the We Can End AIDS march yesterday, sporting my IAC sex worker organizing collaborative tee shirt.
July 23, 2012
Video of sex workers and drug users disrupting opening press...
Video of sex workers and drug users disrupting opening press conference at the International AIDS Conference in DC.
From the GUARDIAN:
…activists invaded a pre-opening briefing in protest at laws that forbid sex workers and drug users from entering the USA. The conference is being held in the US for the first times in two decades as a result of President Barack Obama lifting the ban on entry for people with HIV, but those in some of the most affected population have still not been able to attend.
A rival conference of sex workers in Kolkata has been accredited by the International Aids Society which organises the Aids conference as a “hub”. Protesters at the Washington Convention Center sprang up out of the audience chanting “What about the sex workers?” and “Nothing about us without us.”
sex workers' global village: Sex Workers and Allies Call for Change in U.S. Policy on Sex Work and HIV
More than two hundred organizations and individuals have signed on to a declaration demanding the U.S. repeal and eliminate restrictions on domestic and global AIDS funds, which currently prevent sex workers around the world from receiving life saving HIV services and medicines. The statement, drafted by a coalition of sex workers and allies based in the United States, also calls for the U.S. to repeal the prostitution inadmissibility ground for immigration; that sex workers not be subjected to arrests, court proceedings, detention, mandatory testing or government-mandated “rehabilitation” programs; and that the U.S. reorient anti-trafficking campaigns to be in line with the standards set by the United Nations.
sex workers' global village: What's Up Down South? Perspectives on HIV and Its Challenges for Women in the Deep South in the U.S.
Today, Women With A Vision (New Orleans, LA), SisteLove (Atlanta, GA) and their allies across the US deep South held a press conference at the International AIDS Conference to demand significant government investment in the health and well-being of women living in the deep South.
July 22, 2012
sexworkersglobalvillage:
Getting the sex worker networking zone...
Getting the sex worker networking zone set up in DC! The AIDS conference theme is “Turning the Tide.” So our theme for the sex worker networking zone is “Rocking the Boat.”
This week I’m going to be posting a lot of stuff on the sexworkersglobalvillage tumblr -I’m in DC at the International AIDS Conference, organizing alongside sex workers from all over the US and the world. I’m posting pics today and hopefully will be posting video later tonight.
sexworkersglobalvillage:
One of many banners in KolkataPhoto:...
One of many banners in Kolkata
Photo: DMSC Media Team
We’ve got the sex workers’ global village tumblr up and running! There are a whole bunch of pictures from the Sex Workers Freedom Festival in Kolkata. Hopefully we’ll be adding pictures and video from the International AIDS Conference in Washington DC today, too!
July 16, 2012
Come to the Sex Worker Pre-Conference for the International AIDS...
Come to the Sex Worker Pre-Conference for the International AIDS Conference!
Calling all sex workers and people involved in sex trade! Are you in DC for the International AIDS Conference? Are you from DC? Please join us Saturday and Sunday July 21 and 22 for a pre-conference gathering - two days of sessions, discussions and networking among sex worker activists and allies.
The “Rocking the Boat for Sex Worker Rights” pre-conference will include:
Networking – get to know other amazing people with experience in the sex trade!
Build & share skills – everything from media strategy to policy work to documenting human rights abuses
Know Your Rights in DC
Learn about the Sex Worker Networking Zone in the Global Village – the part of the Conference that is free and open to all
Navigate the roadmap of workshops and sessions at the Conference that impact sex workers
Get familiar with the Sex Worker Declaration demanding policy change from the US on sex work and HIV
Plan for participation in marches and direct actions during the conference
Please RSVP for location and other info to iacsexwork@differentavenues.org for more information. The pre-conference activities will be from 10am to 6pm Saturday and 1pm-6pm Sunday.
And if you’re in DC through the IAC, check out the calendar of sex work related panels, workshops, and events taking place July 22-27. Everything that takes place in the Global Village is FREE to attend.
July 13, 2012
Long dog is long.
That there is my funny little Ziggy Pop,...
Long dog is long.
That there is my funny little Ziggy Pop, dachshund/beagle extraordinaire, doing her weird thing on the back of my couch.
