D17 2024

Editor’s note: this article contains mentions of violence against sex workers

D17, aka International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers (IDEVASW), began life as a vigil for the victims of the Green River Killer, many of whom were sex workers. It has grown into a day not only to mourn our lost and taken community members, but to demand better. Better treatment, better laws, better policy, better conditions. A better world for us to live and thrive in.

Violence against sex workers takes many forms, some easier to see then others. We are killed and injured just as often by the violence of the state as we are at the hands of individuals. Today, as we mourn together alongside our community, I’d like to share some brilliant, often heart breaking and galvanizing articles we’ve posted here on the blog, and to bring attention to The December 17th Project.

The December 17th Project, run by the folks at SWOP-USA, is a collaborative and ongoing living memorial to sex workers who have lost their lives to violence. The project maintains a podcast, telling the stories of these workers, a blog, posting updates about cases of murdered sex workers, and up-to-date information about the fight for our rights and safety.

The criminalisation of the sex industry is state violence. Decriminalisation is an integral part of ensuring sex workers can access safe working conditions, labour rights as well as their basic human rights. However, decriminalisation is only one part of the fight. We believe that supporting sex workers means supporting sex worker-led grass roots organisations – through donations and passing the mic. This is another way we can push back against systems that would see us drown, and build space for us to be heard. See below for some of the amazing articles we’ve published by sex workers talking about the kinds of violence we as a community face. See how we come together and respond with resilience and power.

Why the Swedish Model is Harmful

In September of 2023, a Bill known as the Swedish Model was introduced to the South Australian Parliament. This news was celebrated by SWERFs, but has sent a wave of anxiety among sex workers.

Tryst.link BlogVixen Temple

Sex Workers and the Left: Pass The Mic

Leftists and non profits want sex workers on their boards to be seen not heard, to speak only when spoken to.

Tryst.link BlogMistress Mei

Cis For Pay

Salem Serene on sex work, their non-binary identity, and their changing opinions on femininity.

Tryst.link BlogSalem Serene

How Ableism Blocks Disabled People From the Traditional Job Market

Mistress Koshka discusses how sex work has been a saviour in an ableist job market, giving her the means to thrive.

Tryst.link BlogMistress Koshka

Landscape of Funding for Sex Workers Rights

“We take care of us.” I was reminded of this phrase by a sex worker and community organizer who was remarking on the lack of funding or institutional support for our movement.

Tryst.link BlogSavannah Sly

“Bottoms and Tops We All Hate Cops”

Pride organizers could learn from the sex workers who refuse to budge on our anti-police stance. There is no way to stop the police from showing up to demonstrations, particularly when populated by marginalized people, but that doesn’t mean we have to encourage them.

Tryst.link BlogJack Parker

How To Talk About Us (And Not Over Us!)

If I can’t speak on this panel about the way that policing impacts my life and the lives of my sex-working comrades without incriminating myself to people who have the authority to arrest me, I am effectively silenced.

Tryst.link BlogJessie Sage

Sex Work in the City: Discrimination in Personal Relationships

In our new series ‘Sex Work In The City’, Kam discusses the hardship of discrimination in personal relationships.

Tryst.link BlogKam

Looking Back: A Year of Decrim

On the one hand, I feel like sex work in Victoria has entered a new era. On the other hand, I’m worried that this improved situation for some of us will mean a decrease in motivation to push and to fight for the rights of those of us who have been left behind.

Tryst.link BlogGeorgie Wolf

Everyone Wants To Be a Ho, No One Wants To Be a Whore

Above all else, to be a sex worker is to gamble with, and often lose, the ability to become someone, and something, else after leaving the industry.

Tryst.link BlogAdrie Rose

Porn Didn’t Hurt You, Patriarchy Did

What is the issue with partnered men watching porn? Raquel Savage explores porn addiction through a sex work lens.

Tryst.link BlogRaquel Savage

Sex Work is Work… and Work is not the Answer

Sex work is what I chose to do for a living, because out of all the jobs accessible to me, it was one that worked for me – but I work out of necessity, not desire.

Tryst.link BlogSunny B

RuPaul’s Bigotry is a Drag

A noteworthy portion of drag queens are sex workers and trans people, often being both. Drag Race has a history of refusing to allow trans contestants to participate and of whorephobic commentary.

Tryst.link BlogJack Parker

Sex Work and Folk Devils

Since the pandemic induced boom in online content creation, the media has taken a keen interest in sex work, and as a result, us as sex working individuals. We do make great clickbait after all.

Tryst.link BlogCyber Harlot

Sex Work, Social Media and SWERFS

I know I’m not the only one who’s noticed and even felt the effects of the ever changing social media Terms of Service; sex workers of every kind are being scraped away from the internet daily while SWERFs spreading anti-porn misinformation gets thousands of likes

Tryst.link BlogBlair Bishop

Whore History with Old Pros: Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera

Marsha moved to New York City in 1963, right after graduating high school, arriving in the city with a bag of clothes and fifteen dollars to her name. Sex work became her means of survival and she created family among other sex workers along Manhattan’s Christopher Street.

Tryst.link BlogKaytlin Bailey

Anonymous Advocacy - Speaking Out While Staying Anonymous

For those organizing within the sex work community, the fear of losing the protection that anonymity provides is very real.

Tryst.link BlogMistress Mei

No More Perfect Victims: Solidarity and Incarcerated Sex Workers

In places where sex work is criminalized to any degree, we are all considered criminals. Even if your sex work doesn’t break the law, we are all tarred with the same brush.

Tryst.link BlogJack Parker

Are you a sex worker with a story, opinion, news, or tips to share? We'd love to hear from you!

We started the tryst.link sex worker blog to help amplify those who aren't handed the mic and bring attention to the issues ya'll care about the most. Got a tale to tell? 👇☂️✨