December 17th(today) is the international day to end violence against sex workers.

To check out gatherings today in/near your city, click here

Stopping the Terror: A Day to End Violence Against Prostitutes
by Annie Sprinkle

In 2003 “Green River Killer” Gary Ridgeway confessed to having strangled ninety women to death and having “sex” with
their dead bodies.

He stated, “I picked prostitutes as victims because they were easy to pick up without being noticed. I knew they would
not be reported missing right away and might never be reported missing. I picked prostitutes because I thought
I could kill as many of them as I wanted without getting caught.”

Sadly, some Seattle area prostitutes, their boyfriends or pimps, knew the Green River Killer was Gary Ridgeway for years.
But they were either afraid to come forward for fear of being arrested themselves, or when they did come forward the
police didn’t believe them over the “upstanding family man” Gary Ridageway. It seemed as though the police weren’t
working very hard to find the Green River Killer. If the victims had been teachers, nurses or secretaries or other
women, I suspect–as Ridgeway did– that the killer would have been caught much sooner. Ridgeway remained at
large for twenty years.

From working as a prostitute myself for two decades I know that violent crimes against sex workers often go unreported,
unaddressed and unpunished. There are people who really don’t care when prostitutes are victims of hate crimes, beaten,
raped and murdered. They will say:

“They got what they deserved.”
“They were trash.”
“They asked for it”
“What do they expect?”
“The world is better off without those whores.”

No matter how people feel about sex workers and the politics surrounding them, sex workers are a part of our
neighborhoods, communities and our families and always will be. Sex workers are women, trans people and men of all shapes,
sizes, colors, ages, classes and backgrounds who are working in the sex industry for a wide range of reasons.
Many of us are out and proud, and spend a lot of time trying to explain to the public that we freely choose our
work and we are not “victims.” But the truth is, some of us have been, or will become, real victims of rape, robbery and horrendous crimes.

When Ridgeway got a plea bargain in 2003, he received a life sentence in exchange for revealing where his victims’
bodies were thrown or buried. As the names of the (mostly 17- to 19-year old) victims, were disclosed, I felt a need to
remember and honor them. I cared, and I knew other people cared, too.

So I contacted Robyn Few, the founder of the Sex Worker Outreach Project (SWOP) based in San Francisco and we
made December 17th as the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. We invited people everywhere to
conduct memorials and vigils in their countries and cities. Robyn co-produced an open-mike vigil on the lawn of San Francisco’s City Hall.

Since 2003, each year hundreds of people in dozens of cities around the world have participated in this day to end
violence– from Montreal where people marched with red umbrellas, to protests against police brutaility in Hong Kong,
a candlelight vigil in Vancouver, a memorial ritual in Sydney, a dance to overcome pain and traum in East Godavery,
India. More events are planned for 2008, the sixth year of the event.

The concept for the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is simple. Anyone can choose a place and
time to gather, invite others to gather and share their stories, writings, thoughts, poems, and memories of victims,
related news and performances. Or people can do something personal, alone at home, such as lighting a candle or
taking a ritual memorial bath. We encourage discussions among friends, by email, on blogs. People are encouraged to
list their events at the SWOP website so others can attend them, and to share the power of their actions. People can
also participate by making a donation to a group that helps sex workers by teaching them about dangers and how to best
survive. Two such non-profits are St. James Infirmary and AIM Healthcare.

A video from a public meeting on Maine’s marriage equality bill on April 22, 2009, via boinboing.net:

Found via feministing.com & mediaed.com

War Zone

What does it feel like to be a woman on the street in a cultural environment that does nothing to discourage men from heckling, following, touching or disparaging women in public spaces?

Filmmaker Maggie Hadleigh-West believes that the streets are a War Zone for women. Armed with only a video-camera, she both demonstrates this experience and, by turning and confronting her abusers, reclaims space that was stolen from her.

War Zone is an excellent discussion starter for both men and women. It gives voice and expression to a disturbing daily aspect of being a woman in this society. It also gives men a direct personal feeling for what harassing behavior looks and feels like to a woman. Young men who may think such behavior is cool or funny will be forced to rethink their assumptions.

War Zone is a classroom, documentary edition of Maggie Hadleigh-West’s first film by the same title. Her film has been screened and applauded at scores of festivals in the U.S. and abroad. She has appeared to discuss the film on the Today Show, CBS News, 20/20, BBC, NPR, CNN, and Eye to Eye with Connie Chung.

Last night, my friend Joe hosted the second official “Classic Wrestling Night.” Highlights included the Jumping Bomb Angels vs. The Glamour Girls(January, 1988), “My Breakfast with Blassie”(Andy Kaufman has breakfast with his hero Fred Blassie and it is a mindblowing 68 minutes), and Ric Flair razoring himself during a fight with Macho Man Randy Savage(including some Elizabeth drama…oh Elizabeth and her drama). A good, good time.

Would it be false information to proclaim myself a pro wrestling fan? Probably. I’m not up to date with any current wrasslers nor do I watch a weekly program of any sort. However, I do enjoy the classic matches–watching old Ric Flair or long ago lady wrestling matches taps into a part of my brain adjacent to my childhood. Wrestling is an archived flavor of nostalgia that I tend to forget about.

Thank goodness I know Joe, who one could consider a professional appreciator of professional wrestling. His brain is a rolodex of matches, strategies, heels and losses. His ocean of knowledge is impressive and somewhat frightening. Part of the fun in Classic Wrestling Night is knowing how much Joe adores the “genre,” and it’s his night to talk shop and shoot the shit about new storylines and wrestler developments with other people who enjoy it as much as he does. Of course I can’t participate in a lot of these conversations, but it’s nice to know any/all of my questions about wrestling can and will be answered. It’s always fun to see a friend in their element. Yes, I would refer to wrestling night as “Joe’s element.”

This is the best part about humans and/or being human: the gray area of likes and dislikes we all dance in. Some would probably scoff at me for admitting that I harbor this funny little affection for classic pro wrestling. But you know what? People aren’t black and white. True, people are generally picky about their preferences–even MORE picky with OTHER PEOPLE’S preferences, which is just downright hilarious to me. Especially in the world of the infamous internet. To narrow it down even more: especially in the world of blogging. Perhaps my thoughts are scattered here, but it’s something I’ve thought about for quite some time, and pro wrestling really brought it out for some reason. Watching Ric Flair yell WOOOOOOOOO! to a crowd of screaming fans in the ’80’s does not make me any less of a female, or artist, or poet(I mean come on, the theatrics! The plots!). It doesn’t brand me a misogynist. It doesn’t make me any less of an athletic person. And liking something doesn’t put me in or out of a box.

I like motivational sport montages, going to the ballet, the Family Ties tv series, the city as much as the farms back in Ohio. I like Hank Williams, De La Soul, Carol King, The Pointer Sisters, and Two Man Advantage. I like demolition derbys and symphony in the park. See? It’s the modge podge that makes us.

via feministing.com:

A socially-conscious video-production class in Chicago created a video on rape culture “to spread awareness and get people thinking about how and why rape happens.”

Here is the video:

I think this is awesome and courageous for youth to be involved in. Definitely.

I went to the Pittsburgh peace vigil for Iran tonight. As the announcement stated:
As concerned Americans (and other nationalities involved with the planning) who acknowledge that Western governments must not overstep their boundaries in this matter, it is simply the intention of this
grassroots vigil to show support for the human right to peaceful assembly and to protest election
fraud worldwide.

People gathered in Market Square and handed out candles to light, green ribbons and bands to wear in support. Others brought signs, poetry, words. Some people sang the Iran national anthem, and I stood there holding my candle quietly, watching generations bring their voices together. At the end, one young man stepped forward and started singing again. Sometimes the peaceful things, our subtleties, are most intense. I want to write more, but I’m still wrapping my head around it. I know how helpless one can feel at times like this. I think it’s important that we find ways to show support, to be present, to acknowledge and listen to the people around us. Not just the people we see every day, and not just the people in our cities, our country. But people; humanity as a whole.

Amsterdam

Knowing their March 20, 1969 marriage would be a huge press event, John and Yoko decided to use the publicity to promote world peace. They spent their honeymoon in the presidential suite (Room #702) at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel for a week between March 25 and 31, inviting the world’s press into their hotel room every day between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. After their other stunts, such as the nude cover of the Two Virgins album, the press were expecting them to be having sex, but instead the couple were sitting in bed—in John’s words “like Angels”—talking about peace with signs over their bed reading “Hair Peace” and “Bed Peace”. After seven days, they flew to Vienna, Austria, where they held a Bagism press conference.

Montreal

Eventually, they flew to Montreal on May 26 where they stayed in Room 1738 and 1742 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. During their seven day stay, they invited Timothy Leary, Tommy Smothers, Dick Gregory, and Al Capp and all but Capp sang on the peace anthem Give Peace a Chance, recorded in the hotel room on June 1. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation conducted interviews from the hotel room.

“Fidelity”: Don’t Divorce… from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

In regards to the ordinance hearing…

Council hears debate on anti-discrimination bill
By Tim Puko
TRIBUNE-REVIEW

More than 100 people filled Allegheny County Council chambers Thursday evening for public debate on an anti-discrimination bill.

The bill would make Allegheny County the first county in Southwestern Pennsylvania with a broad-based anti-discrimination policy, including protection for gays, bisexuals and transgendered people.

At one time, nearly the entire council supported the measure, but several members dropped sponsorships in recent weeks as public pressure mounts.

Only one open seat was visible an hour into the 5 p.m. meeting, and people were lined shoulder to shoulder against the walls. Dozens had to wait outside or in hallways.

“We have a situation we’ve never had before in nine years here,” said Council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill. “It’s a testimony to democracy and people’s feelings, especially on such a cold night, that so many people would come out here.”

Debate over the bill became heated in mid-December when a Franklin-based group, the American Family Association of Pennsylvania, used 2,000 robocalls to spark local protest letters to council. Supporters responded Saturday with a rally in Oakland and had the majority of speakers through the first 90 minutes of yesterday’s meeting.

Anna Hegedus of Swissvale got the loudest ovation after she told council how she had been fired from the first job she enjoyed. A manager at her suburban employer fired her after finding out she was born with a medical condition that had caused gender ambiguity issues, she said.

“I want all the counselors in this room to look at me, look at my face and tell me I deserve that. As long as this law isn’t in place, there will be more people just like me,” Hegedus said, weeping as she left the podium to applause.

Opponents said the law would create a deadlocked conflict between the rights of religious people and gays, both of whom would be protected as workers, renters, homebuyers and users of county facilities. Religious businessmen and organizations legally would be required to make choices that betray their morals, they said.

“While this ordinance seeks to protect the rights of a certain segment of our society, it takes away the rights of others,” said Richard Gelfand, who said he is pastor of the 65-member Sewickley-Lighthouse Baptist Church. He was one of several men with religious affiliations among the 90 scheduled speakers at the meeting.

“People who are gay or lesbian can change their sexual orientation at will,” Gelfand said, drawing some boos from the crowd. “A person who wants to claim discrimination can claim they are homosexual without any way to verify that claim,” he added before leaving to loud applause.

Public urges county to form Human Relations Commission
By PATRICK CLOONAN, Daily News Staff Writer

“Make sure you are comfortable with what you do.”

That’s what McKeesport resident Alan Wakefield told Allegheny County Council Thursday as it pondered a bill to establish a county Human Relations Commission.

Bill No. 4201-08 also adds sexual orientation and gender identity to protected categories such as race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex and physical handicaps.

For 3 1?2 hours, the pros and cons of the bill were debated, with those who favor it outnumbering those who oppose, 49-16.

“Join progressive communities across Pennsylvania that have adopted it,” state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, urged council.

“This is not burdensome,” said Charles Morrison, director of a human relations commission formed in 1957 in Pittsburgh.

“Realistically, there is no need to set up a Human Relations Commission … except for the fact that the proposed ordinance is extended on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” Patricia Weaver of Fox Chapel said on behalf of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

PFI’s stand is that the state already is policing discrimination.

But Peter Harvey, executive director of Fair Housing Partnership, said “housing discrimination is tragically underreported.”

“It is our chance to show the world that we accept and respect one another,” former council hopeful Kevin Acklin said. “It is the right thing to do - ensure and protect the rights of every individual.”

Acklin lost to former county and Homestead solicitor Charles McCullough in the 2007 Republican primary for a council at-large seat. McCullough was one of two councilors who did not attend Thursday’s hearing.

“Why should we continue to discriminate against those who were born lesbian or gay?” Jeanne Clark of Shadyside said. “That is no more than just discriminating by eye color.”

Others argued over whether someone is born with a sexual preference.

The long list of speakers and overflow crowd caused council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, to hail the hearing as “truly participatory democracy.”