LEGISLATION & POLICY
DISCRIMINATION TOWARDS SEX WORK
No need to reinvent the wheel. Regardless, as Sylvia and Marsha have taught us, sex workers are often strong and driven individuals, whose work and labor must be respected and acknowledged-often supporting micro-economies (ie, households and neighborhoods.) Society must do more to provide for sex workers crushed under crippling poverty (survival sex workers) and those who experience discrimination and violence.
STARR is pushing NY officials to amend the Human Rights Law's to include protections and resources for Sex Workers who need it.
The Red Sunflower Project:
The Decrim' Movement Through and Afro' Constitutional Lens
White women have coopted the fight for equal protections for sex workers. Period.
In order to re brand and reclaim the fight for sex workers in NY and the US--while also acknowledging an era defined by the loss of Black life -- George Floyd and Breonna Taylor--combined with a record number of deaths of Black Trans Women, we've developed the Red Sunflower Project. It’s time Black/Brown sex workers had our moment in the sun.
Why the Red Sunflower?
Because the sunflower is a symbol of the African Goddess of Love, sweetness and the patron Goddess of sex workers Oshun. A direct answer to a highly whitewashed movement for sex workers rights, calling on symbols of European sex work, such as red umbrellas. Its time someone centered the needs and beauty of Black and Brown sex work.
The reason STARR and our co founders Sylvia and Marsha aren't known for their decades of work for sex workers rights, is white washing and systemic oppression; white-patriarchy, sexism, transphobia and racism. It’s time to overthrow these systems, with the sweetness and cunning taught to her followers by Oshun.
RSP At Work: Education and Support
STARR is oldest Black/Brown-TGNC lead, Sex Workers Rights organization in the U.S. The Red Sunflower Project will help uplift the expert voices of TGNC sex workers, including where the civil rights of Black and Brown sex workers are concerned. Like voting and other civil rights, STARR and the Red Sunflower Project believe that you don't need a law degree, to understand or benefit from Equal Protection under the law.
The ancestors of today's social justice warriors, used the laws and Constitution of this stolen land, to free us and level the playing field as much as possible. The Red Sunflower Project continues this work on behalf of Black and Brown workers.
Defending the rights of sex workers (including malke sex workers) is in our DNA. Back in the beginning of the "Gay Rights Movement", the fight for sex work to be decriminalized was completely taboo. Even more far fetched of an idea than the thought of Marriage Equality being upheld; or a Women's Right to an abortion. Same is true today, but we have history to guide us, and Black Trans women and Sex Workers to lead us! We understand the constitution, and the laws of this land, same as anyone else.
According to Lawrence v Texas an individuals sexual orientation--or the sex acts which derive from that sexual orientation--cannot be criminalized by the state. Period. Laws which outlaw or prohibit homosexual sex, or the orientation of homosexuality in particular, were struck down by the SCOTUS.
This ruling by the SCOTUS makes all laws prohibiting sex work between consenting adults (who found each other via their 'orientation'), unconstitutional.
A sexual orientation is how someone expresses their sexuality, whether that be by buying whips and chains for a night of home-alone fun or a night out with 'friends'; coupled-role play, or even pursuing that cute tall dark and handsome person at your local coffee shop (pre COVID of course). A sexual orientation is legally exactly what it sounds like. The direction your sexuality points you in; with consent, protection and a safe word, of course.
If people really took a second to think about it --and work to educate our own social circles and our elected officials--sex work (either providing the service or patronizing a provider) is truly the same legally as any other sexual orientation, making it exempt from unfair laws, the same as the sex acts once prohibited between two consenting adults of the same-sex (ie Gay or Lesbian sex). The fact that pornography is legal--when a person is paid to have sex, the same as sex work--adds even more injustice into the mix. It is time society moves past judging what goes on inside people's hearts, minds and bedrooms.
We understand that there is much education and civic engagement needed in order to help our neighbors and our elected officials to view sex work as a sexual orientation, but STARR is already half a century old, we remember when "homosexual sex" was viewed the same as sex work is today. That said, we are in this fight for justice, for the long haul. We believe that eventually we will be successful in changing hearts, and sharpening minds, and bringing the law (and lawmakers) along with us for the ride!
Red Sunflower Project will:
1. Developing Black Brown leadership in the fight for sex workers rights. Via the Red Sunflower Project, STARR will encourage Black and Brown sex workers--especially TGNC folk--to take to the frontlines of the social and political fights for laws to improve and protect the lives sex work/ers; while brandishing the Red Sunflower, of course.
2. Replace Venus--Euro centric sex worker culture--with Oshun and other vibrant Afro indigenous beliefs, art, culture and symbolism, as a means of undoing centuries of erasure and oppression of said belief, art, culture and symbolism. Through education, encourage the adoption of Afro centric symbolism and culture by Black and Brown sex workers (eventually hosting educational groups for community wishing to learn more about Oshun).
3. We will also attempt to meet the needs of Black/Brown sex workers; we are working on opening safe houses in NY for TGNC POC indivduals. We currently have two safe houses in upstate NY.
4. Making Sex work safer again. We believe most sex workers could benefit from Harm Reduction based safety tools. Red Sunflower Project wants everyone to be safe and healthy--- and we blanket ourselves in the philosophy of Harm Reduction--that's why we are developing educational material (safer sex work tips and best practices) as well a service referral guide for Black/Brown sex workers of all genders.
5. Protecting the bodies and rights of sex workers. Sex work should not be listed as a crime, but attacking one, should be! Sex workers are at increased risk of violence at the hands of very dangerous people; from drunk wife beaters to serial killers; everyone knows this. We need and deserve more legal protection under the law. Simple. Nuff said!
STARR via the Red Sunflower Project, is pushing NY lawmakers to decriminalize sex work by removing it from the penal code (same as homosexual relations in the early 1970's), AND, to add sex workers to list of groups protected against targeted attacks or attacks which in some way involve an individuals status as an actual or perceived sex worker.