Be heard on the issues that matter most to you!
What are the political issues that matter to sex workers?
Quite often the ones that matter to most people: Affordable housing, health care, labor rights, immigrant rights, day care, reproductive rights, violence against women, and protection of privacy and civil liberties.
It's no surprise then that sex workers are taking on the "Rock the vote" model and putting on their own voter registration and mobilization efforts, and we applaud and support that grass roots work. Want more information?
From $pread Magazine:
From Sin City to the Big Apple, sex workers are organizing for political and economic justice. It's time to organize our sex worker electorate ito a political force and "Grind the Vote"!
Labor Rights Affordable Housing Health Care Reproductive Rights Immigrant Rights
Upcoming Grind the Vote Events!July 3rd
Thursday NYC
at The Slipper Room
167 Orchard Street, NY, NY
Doors Open @ 8PM
Burlesque Show @ 9PM
21+
Jezebel ExpressNasty Canasta Boobie Von TrappRubie Fizz Runaround SueBastard Keith Madame RosebudPookie Patootie La John JosephBrown Girls Burlesque
with: SWANK & SWOP-NYCJuly 19th
Saturday Chicago
"Chicago Red Light Masquerade"
at Big Chicks
5024 N Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60640
8:30PM
Donations welcome, not required
Dress to impress, costumes encouraged
Wear Red!
21+
with: SWOP-Chicago & Desiree AllianceAugust TBA Washington, DC
Details to be announced!
with: Different Avenues & HIPSAugust TBA Las Vegas
Details to be announced! Want to get involved? Contact: SWOP-LV at info@swop-lv.org.
with: SWOP-LVYOUR EVENT HERE! Would you like to host a Grind the Vote in your city?
Send us an email with all the details to:info@spreadmagazine.org
__________________________
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
Do Sex Workers pay income taxes?
sweLL, I'm glad you raise that question because it is one that spotlights a lot of false assumptions about sex workers. And I'm glad you're the one asking it because I know that from you the question comes from genuine curiosity and a desire to know. So thank you!
Much of sex work is legal, and of that some is done "on the books" with formal withholding and W-2 forms and some is done "off the books" without withholding, just like other kinds of work. Some is compensated mostly by tips (rather than wages) which may be reported or not reported (or under- or over-reported) depending on how the establishment works. So among legal sex work you have a range of formal withholding practices that is not unlike the range in, say, the restaurant or entertainment industry more widely.
You also have in the legal sex industry workers who get their employment as "independent contractors" and who are responsible for their own tax reporting. Sex worker advocacy groups have, over the years, put on trainings and workshops for those who want to get the tax paperwork right. There are also accountants and lawyers who are open to working with sex workers to help them file correctly.
For those working in jobs that are criminalized reporting is more difficult, but some of those workers also file, and file using job titles like "independent contractor" or "consultant" or "entertainer".
I'm rushing out right now but when I get back I'll hunt up some links to the kinds of workshops and articles about trainings that I was just mentioning. Or if anybody reading has such things at their fingertips, please post in the comments!
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
Here is a link to a New York Times article from a couple years ago that discussed a PONY workshop on income tax filing for sex workers held at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center in Manhattan. The title of the article is a bit of an oversimplification of course:
An Old Profession That's New To Doing Taxes (Cory Kilgannon, NYT, April 5, 2006)
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
Just read on Bound, Not Gagged that $pread Magazine has compiled a voter guide for the upcoming presidential elections. It outlines the two major party candidates' positions on issues like health care, immigration, labor rights, reproductive freedom and lots of other important issues.
Get your copy here (PDF ) and check out the $pread Grind The Vote page while you're at it!
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
Some of your favorite sexy bloggers and sex educators are putting on their burlesque acts in this 2009 calendar. All proceeds will go to Sex Work Awareness. I've seen the proofs and while they're being carefully guarded I can tell you that this is going to be one hot calendar! The photography is gorgeous and the bloggers are stunning. Click here for our write up and here for my reactions to the shoot itself. Follow the calendar on Twitter or on its blog. Order yours early!
NYC Sex Bloggers Calender - $20 (US Shipping)
NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar - $20 (Canada Shipping)
NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar - $20 (Overseas Shipping)
