Send Sex Workers to the Freedom Network Conference

We are fundraising to ensure that sex workers' voices are included at the nation's most important anti-trafficking conference, in March 2019. Help us raise $5150 by February 15, 2019!

Freedom Network USA is a national alliance of anti-trafficking activists advancing a human rights- based approach to labor exploitation in the United States.  Here in San Francisco, sex workers' rights advocates have teamed up with the city's official anti-trafficking task force to form a unique and powerful coalition focused on creating greater health, safety, and protection for everyone who trades sexual services. We are raising money to get to this conference to share what we have learned and help others form similar partnerships in their home cities.

The urgency of this request is based on multiple factors - first, there is a  burgeoning interest across the US in our project, “Prioritizing Safety for Sex Workers,” which allows sex workers and trafficking victims to report violent crimes against them without risking arrest. Additionally,  the devastation that FOSTA/SESTA has wrought among sex workers and their families  demands an urgent response. Had sex workers been invited to the table from the outset, the chaos created by this legislation could have largely been avoided; it is imperative that we don't allow the same mistakes to be made again. As the saying goes, "nothing about us without us!"

This money will be used to fund the costs of air travel, lodging, food and transportation for a diverse group of current and former sex workers who have all been outspoken advocates for their respective communities. These include young people who trade sex and transgender women of color. While there sometimes seem to be endless resources available for those who claim to be doing anti-trafficking work, funding for those of us who are most directly impacted is scarce; we are calling on you, our beautiful community, to help ensure that our voices are not ignored.

Cost breakdown:

Airfare: $650 x 4 people = $2600
2 Hotel rooms for 3 nights  = $1750
Food: 5 meals @ $20 x 4 people= $400
Ground transportation: $100/ person x 4= $400

Grand total: $5,150 for 4 people
** UPDATE** The amazing folks at 3rd Wave Foundation have donated $1000, so our new goal is $4150!

Who are we?

- Pike Long, St. James Infirmary 
- Alan Gutirrez, youth organizer, formerly with LYRIC 
- Carol Leigh, BAYSWAN 
- Aria Sa'id, Kween Culture Initiative

Thank you so much for your support!