In our traditional spirit of transparency and accountability, we’d like to share with you the highlights from the Erotic Service Providers Legal Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) activities in 2020.
Looking back, despite the Pandemic presenting obvious challenges in organizing around policy issues facing our community yet we still managed to achieve a lot…
Please do ask if you would like more information on any item below or you are interested in joining in – at info(at)esplerp(dot)org
Pandemic
Since March last year, many of us lost a big slice of our income, and have been worrying about basics like food, utilities, rent, etc. – never mind whether we will get ill with COVID-19 and how we will pay for our treatment (!).
As it turned out, the limited federal and State programs (whether via the IRS, Small Business Administration, or California EDD) effectively excluded many workers in our community.
Realistically, the economic effects of the Pandemic are likely to continue through 2021, so we have been working on alternative arrangements. For example, we managed to secure a small emergency grant, where we have been distributing one-time $200 payments to workers throughout California in 2020.
Media Coverage
Claire Alwyne and Maxine Doogan were quoted in San Francisco Chronicle and KQED articles on how sex workers are coping, and helping each other, with the ‘new normal’.
Folsom Street Fair
Folsom Street Events (FSE) are hoping to run some kind of in-person event in 2021 – possibly something like a ‘Sunday Streets’. We hope to be a Beneficiary again as they have been very generous with community grants over the years. It’s not clear how volunteering will work yet, but if you are interested, let Claire (our Volunteer Coordinator) know at claire.alwyne(at)gmail.com.
Tracing Criminalization in LA
On August 13th, we hosted an online presentation called ‘Tracking and Tracing: Criminalization: Policing and Prosecution in LA, 2017-2019’. This was presented by a UCLA Law Student panel to discuss their research findings , based on an extensive dataset collected from public records, focused on all misdemeanors and infractions issued in Los Angeles between October 31, 2017 and October 30, 2019.
This first of its kind study can be found at Tracing Criminalization: Policing and Prosecution in LA, 2017-2019. And the link to the video report is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGNu7EEGO7Q
647(b) Cases
We’re working with a few folks across the state charged with 647(b) to make sure their rights are being upheld, including their right to challenge the law.
It seems remarkable (that’s a polite word!) that law enforcement are mounting sting operations even during this historic pandemic – when sex workers have no support, and have to choose between income and safety. But Sacramento County District Attorney’s office is so pleased with themselves that they are bragging about their efforts – https://www.sacda.org/2020/11/16/operation-hot-spots-2020/
Legislation
- Repealing ‘Prostitution Loitering’ laws
Seattle, New York city, and now New York State have repealed their problematic ordinances criminalizing “prostitution loitering”. For example, Council Member Alex Pedersen (Seattle District 4) was quoted as saying “I believe it is vital to support the recommendation of the Seattle Reentry Work Group to repeal the Prostitution Loitering law, so we can eliminate a source of disproportionate harm to people of color from our policing and carceral system. After engagement with community stakeholders, cosponsoring the repeal of this problematic law is just another initial step I’m taking with my colleagues to help right what has been wrong for too long.” - CA SB233
California Senate Bill 233 became law January 1st 2020. When we work together, we win. - House Bill 5448
It’s not clear when Congress will get back to non-COVID-19 legislation, but with a new administration there is the potential for progress on Representative Ro Khanna’s bill – HR 5448: the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act. That directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to assess the impacts on the health and safety of people engaged in the commercial sex industry resulting from FOSTA/SESTA. The hope is that documenting the harms sets the stage whereby repeal of FOSTA/SESTA becomes politically possible.
Policy Agenda 2020
We find that our Policy Agenda is an invaluable tool when talking to legislators – especially in educating them about protections our community is going to need regardless of our status. The criminalization of consensual sex creates a system with multiple levels of social and institutional discrimination – which need to be addressed with or without decriminalization.
You can view the 2020 draft at – https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RWHohnYfsCwBny6OvROfnd46oiugIqASqPD9UH83ihM/
New Board Members
We need new Board Members! So if you have the time and energy to help, and particularly if you have legal, media or fund-raising skills, please do contact Claire at claire.alwyne(at)gmail(dot)com.
Finance
Despite everybody facing substantial economic pressure during 2020, we raised $19,000 from grants and individual donors.
We are still paying off legal costs associated with our historic lawsuit ESPLERP v Gascon. And we now need to raise funds to move forward on additional legislative and legal fronts – such as lobbying legislators and the potential California state court case. Your donations continue to make the difference.
- Contribute online at litigatetoemancipate.com
- Venmo @EroticServiceProvidernonprofit
- Hit the PayPal button at http://esplerp.org
- Mail checks to ESPLERP, 2261 Market Street # 548, San Francisco, CA 94114.
We so appreciate your support – both financially and in spreading the message that sex workers and clients have a right to sexual privacy. This is a bottom-up activist movement and we appreciate any feedback you might have for us. Thank you.
Maxine, Reada, Claire, Elle and Phil
To subscribe-email info(at)esplerp(dot)org with ‘subscribe’ in the subject line.
To unsubscribe-email info(at)esplerp(dot)org with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.
The Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) is a diverse community-based coalition advancing sexual privacy rights through litigation, education, and research.
Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP)
2261 Market St. #548, San Francisco, CA 94114
