Allies: We Need You

In 1969, Canada decriminalized homosexuality. Sex workers, some of whom were homosexual, rejoiced; sex workers helped in the fight, and it was a fight that was won. The right of homosexuals to their own bodies – their liberation – is tied to the rights and liberation of sex workers.

In 1988, the Supreme Court struck down laws that hindered a woman’s access to abortion. Sex workers, most of whom were women, rejoiced; sex workers helped in the fight, and it was a fight that was won. The right of women to control their own bodies – their liberation – is tied to the rights and liberation of sex workers.

In 2012, “gender identity” and “gender expression” were added as grounds of discrimination to the Ontario Human Rights Code. Other provinces are catching up. Sex workers, many of whom are transgender, are rejoicing with each victory; sex workers are helping in the fight, and it is a fight that is being won. The right of transgender and non-binary people to control their bodies – their liberation – is tied to the rights and liberation of sex workers.

Each of these victories did not come without a battle. Each of these victories were hard fought and deservedly won, because they were just fights and good fights.

In each case, the fight was against the same group of people: social conservatives who believe straight white men are at the top of the food chain and will fight any attempt to subvert their control over society, even if it means ruining lives in the process.

Each time their attack is the same: marginalize, belittle, and be sanctimonious. They’ll find someone from the group they’re attacking to side with them. They’ll find an “ex-gay” who will say homosexuality is bad and can be “cured”. They’ll find a woman who regrets having an abortion and wants the practice ended. They’ll find a fake feminist who says transgender women are not real women, so don’t give them the dignity of human rights.

Why social conservatives are fighting so hard against sex work? Why are Peter MacKay’s new laws so deliberately punitive as to result in violence against sex workers?

It’s because on every major civil rights issue social conservatives have lost. They lost on woman’s rights. They’ve lost on gay rights. They’re losing on transgender rights. This is their final battle. All the anger they experience each time a woman gets an abortion, each time a gay couple marry, each time a transgender person is not fired, has built up into a steaming kettle of rage – and they are looking for someone to burn.

They’ve learned from past “mistakes” of allowing the targets of their violence a voice; this time around their targets were shut down if not ignored completely. Senator Plett even admitted the purpose of C-36 is not to make sex work safer, as that would mean sex workers would continue being sex workers when the goal is their annihilation.

This is why allies are important. This is why you, reading this right now, are important.

December 6 the day bill C-36 comes into force. It is also the day, recognized nationwide since 1991, as a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. It is a sick, perverse joke by a cruel and indifferent group of men that a day to commemorate the memories of women murdered in the Montreal Massacre is the day “we don’t want to make life safe for prostitutes” – the majority of whom are women.

Allies – women, gay, trans, and more – we were with you in your fights. We won together. Now we need your help.

This December 6, remember and say aloud not just the women murdered by Marc Lépine, but the women murdered by Robert Pickton.

These laws will mean a lot more victims of violence against women. These laws must be fought. We’ve fought with you in the past; need you in this fight now.