 Photo circa 1998 My sex work identity has always been entwined in my Asian identity--sometimes in troubling ways and sometimes in self-empowerment and celebrations of heritage. Over the past few months, on behalf of Red Canary Song, I have been bringing food, sanitizing provisions, and emergency relief funds to migrant massage workers in Flushing.
The first time I drove to Flushing to hand out resources to the workers, I was shy due to my poor Mandarin communication skills. But as I gave out cloth masks (handmade by a friend of mine), bags of groceries that I had packed the night before, and envelopes with legal resources, put together by our RCS members, and cash (donated by our communities), I overcame my shyness as it was such a simple and caring act that needed no extensive conversation or comprehension. Two of the women bowed to me deeply, as I do to the altar of my ancestors. The tears in their eyes brought the same to my own and I bowed deeply back. It's that simple. We honor one another with this basic act of humanity. The next time I brought food to Flushing, a few of the women brought me food, as well-- the food they had made with their own hands. Zhong zhis and baos. This is a circle of care, of nourishment. I am honored to be selected as a grantee by the Asian Womens Giving Circle to continue the documentary on the history of racially targeted discrimination against Asian Women in America (Page Act 1875), which has led to the current rise in police violence against Asian massage workers. Care circles for sustenance, survival, work, and storytelling. This is my work; this is our future. Please consider donating to the following:
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 Kink Out has chosen a Pride Reading List that highlights the intersectionality of queerness, kink, race, sex work, and movement work — and addresses the systems, institutions, and history that have brought us to this key moment in the Revolution. Kick back and read up; then mask up and get activated!
Order these books through PS1 Moma's ARTBOOK —Follow Kink Out on Instagram & Twitter  Sex worker movements have been at the forefront of resistance against criminalization, police surveillance, and state violence for decades. As the Black liberation struggle forces a global reckoning with the racist and capitalist nature of policing, it has become increasingly urgent to centre the knowledge and experience of sex workers who face multiple intersecting oppressions. Community organizers are increasingly recognizing that the fight for sex worker rights is intimately tied to other emancipatory struggles from migrant justice and anti-gentrification, to anti-racism and LGBTQ rights.
Join Lausan for a webinar on 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔/𝟐𝟑 𝐚𝐭 𝟓𝐩𝐦 𝐏𝐓/ 𝟖𝐩𝐦 𝐄𝐓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟖𝐚𝐦 𝐇𝐊𝐓 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟔/𝟐𝟒 on a dialogue with organizers on how to connect sex workers’ struggles with other allies in social movements from anti-racist to anti-policing work. The panel will feature organizers from US, Canada, and Hong Kong. While the event is open to public, we strongly encourage activists and organizers who have experience or are interested in centering sex workers’ voices to participate! Speakers include organizers from: * Red Canary Song (New York City) * Midnight Blue (Hong Kong) * Black Sex Workers Collective * Butterfly (Toronto) * Black Youth Project 100 (New York City) |
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