Audacia Ray and Eliyanna Kaiser

For the second year, NYC-based organization Sex Work Awareness is hosting a media training workshop for current and former sex workers. Last year the training was one day - this year we're expanding to a whole weekend. Speak Up is taught by Audacia Ray and Eliyanna Kaiser, two former executive editors of $pread magazine who have worked with mainstream and independent media as part of the sex worker rights movement for many years. Our 2010 training will kick off with an evening seminar on Friday, April 9th and consist of two full days of workshop on April 10 & 11. We are able to train 10 people.

The training is funded by sponsorships and sales from the 2010 Sex Blogger Calendar. In addition to the training and skills, workshop participants will get: a $50 stipend; dinner on April 9th, breakfast and lunch on April 10 & 11th; the opportunity to apply for a $500 grant to continue their media advocacy work. Our current budget does not include funds for travel stipends and housing for those coming from out of town, however, we will do our best to accommodate the travel/housing needs of all successful applicants.

We will be accepting applications until February 17, 2010. Accepted applicants will be informed no later than March 1.

For full info and the application, check out: http://www.sexworkawareness.org/speak-up-2010-application/

Stella Montreal

Have you ever wanted to hand someone a list of answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about sex workers and sex work? Maria Nengeh Mensah at Stella Montreal has produced a booklet (pdf and web versions) that might be just what you are looking for!

The booklet is interesting for almost everyone but Stella developed it as a quick resource "for social services and health professionals, police officers and community workers, as well as people from the media, the justice system or the government. Its purpose is to shed light on some preconceived ideas about sex work and to suggest a few ways to improve services offered to these women and to support them in a respectful and empathic way. Without being exhaustive, this booklet will hopefully increase awareness and reduce ignorance." (from intro to Sex Work 14 answers to your questions, Stella.)

Next time you are at a dinner party and someone asks you what you do for work, have a copy of Sex Work: 14 Answers to Your Questions (pdf) ready to hand over if you tell them. That way you can carry on enjoying your meal while they educate themselves.