CALICO LANE

We acknowledge from the start that these categories (sex worker, researcher, client) are not monolithic, and that they contain overlapping segments with individuals belonging to more than one category with varying degrees of openness. In order to advance the cause of sex worker rights these communities need to collaborate, yet collaboration is made difficult by distrust (often earned by researchers who have not taken the time to learn how to be allies). There are excellent examples of working alliances, and we’ll discuss how those examples serve as models for other collaborations that can, over time, help reduce the distrust that has made good research, good policy, and good outreach difficult. Collaborative spaces exist online and offline, and ideally participants in these spaces interact as equals, each being recognized for the specific knowledge and skill they contribute.

Session leaders: Elizabeth Wood & Renegade Evolution