annie sprinkle

If you see a bunch of people in your neighborhood carrying red umbrellas, it might not be about the weather. December 17 is the international day to end violence against sex workers, and the red umbrella has become a symbol of sex worker rights and safety. Why do we need such a day? Well, sex workers have long been targets. Part of what spurred Annie Sprinkle, author, activist and former sex worker to organize vigils on Dec.17 for the forgotten victims of the "Green River Killer." Now similar actions have bcome an annual event -- from Bangladesh to Toledo, Hong Kong to Halifax. There's lots to do... rules need to change. In Philadelphia just two years ago, a man accused of raping a sex worker was instead charged with ?theft of services" Because someone decided it's not rape anymore, it's a property crime, when the victim is a sex worker. Some sex workers around the world are organizing unions demanding legalization to make their work less dangerous, but all call for human rights as equal humans. Can any be free while all are not free? Sex workers say no one's safe as long as there's any category of person, or worker who under the law's considered fair game for brutal treatment. Those who agree just might want to find their red brolly.  - Laura Flanders