When I first read the 14-page report produced over a decade ago by @DeirdrePike, then-ED of the @SPRCHamOnt, I was angry. In the report, sex workers were pitted against their neighbours, and their own concerns as residents & constituents were not taken into consideration; they were painted as a large problem in the city, especially to those with interests in gentrifying the neighbourhood. They were erroneosuly described as being related to organized crime. Newsflash: if any industry is criminalized, the workers organizing would therefore be considered "organized criminals" even if unjustly. Similarly, I felt angry when I learned about @GarySantucci's photovoice project (read about it here in an article by former @TheSilhouette's Nolan Matthews: The Art of Creating a Neighbourhood - publicintellectualsproject.h…) which objectified the workers, recklessly disregarded their privacy and their dignity in the so-called name of "social justice", without actually meaningfully engaging them. I promised to make both of these instances right, one day. I am very pleased to announce that we at @SWAPHamilton have almost completed (35 participants out of 40 thus far) our @CityofHamilton photovoice needs assesment project in collaboration with the @YWCA_Hamilton as part of the #HamOnt's Gender-Based Safety Audit. In exchange for their expertise and input, each participant was spoken to like friends & family, received snacks, a juice & a water, $40 cash honoraria, and most importantly: respect and consideraton to their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. #WeBelieveSurvivors @SACHAHamOnt @CheriDiNovo @WAWGHAMILTON @InasmuchMSH @GoodShepherdHam @MissionHamilton @HCCI1 @DJNOntario #CDNPoli #ONPoli #CDNPolitics @MTaylorNDP @shaw_sandy @lisahepfner @FilomenaTassi @NrinderWard3 @SarahJama_ @MarkTadeson @CraigCassar @CameronKroetsch @AndreaHorwath @JohnPaulDanko @EstherPauls2 @ChadCollinsMP @ward1wilson @alexwilson96 @TedMcMeekin @mspadafora2022 @jeffbeattie2014 @tammyhwang @HamOntWard4 @TomJackson @BCouncillor @MatthewGreenNDP #YHMCC Prompt: "What would make sex work safer?" -More payphones for emergency calls -More shelters for women -City council needs to listen to sex workers -@HamiltonPolice need to be educated on how to interact with sex workers to reduce bias -Sex workers are being unfairly surveilled and we need to respect their privacy -More access to public washrooms -A guaranteed basic income (@KPateOnTheHill) -More housing -More funding to social services -Less money to police ~ -More beds and blankets -We need more supports at Willow's Place -We need to have access to telephones especially at night and in secluded places -The street lighting need to be improved and increased -More shelters for women ~ -More lighting -More payphones -Sex work needs to be decriminalized -More training on best practices to reduce the profiling, stereotyping and stigmatization of sex workers to reduce bias in policing ~ -Sex work (the purchase and sale) should be decriminalized -There should be supportive services that are educated in a nuanced way about sex work and sex workers -A local forum for sex workers to congregate and to network with clients that isn’t on the street -More lighting and payphones -Education for police officers about sex workers -Public charging stations -Police should take us seriously