SWOSWers | South.Western.Ontario.Sex.Workers.

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swoswers@gmail.com

We are sex workers of South Western Ontario and we are a group of individuals that either have lived experiences of working within the trade or working with individuals who are currently in the trade. We do not support the criminalization of the trade, including clients, sex workers, and/or third parities. We approach sex work from a rights based approach. We acknowledge the diversity within the trade across race, gender, class, ability, etc. We view sex workers as persons with agency and capable of making decisions for themselves and by themselves. We are aware that we do not speak for all sex workers but offer a starting point for the discussion on sex work, which must be centered upon the lived experiences of sex workers from this region. We support all types of sex work including indoor and outdoor sex work. We are of the opinion that it is because of the criminalization that sex workers experience inequitable access to non-judgmental and nondiscriminatory services. We abhor the City of Londons approach to homelessness and inadequate/unfair access to health care and other services that sex workers may need. We are of the opinion that if the City of Londons goal is to get women off the streets, the city must support decriminalize of the trade. The city must ensure all services that sex workers provided are non-judgemental and non-discriminatory, and that information sex workers receive from service providers including healthcare providers and social services workers is accurate, up-to-date, and does not stigmatizes ones decision to be a sex worker.