Sex workers need more support from local communities, said an organiser of the Sex Worker Film Festival in Dalston on Sunday.
The organiser, who asked not to be named, said allies in the community were essential to protect sex workers from marginalisation.
“We don’t want people to speak for us,” she said, “but then also it’s really difficult for us to speak in our own names because of anonymity issues and because of stigma.”
Organised by campaign group Sex Workers Open University, the festival was hosted by the Rio Cinema and preceded by a two-day conference, which the organiser called a “huge week” for sex workers.
It featured the UK premiere of Red Umbrella Diaries, a documentary telling the personal stories of seven people who work in different sectors of the sex trade, and Roxanne, an award-winning film about a transgender sex worker who takes in a young girl.
It was followed by a question and answer session with an expert panel of people involved in the industry.
However, while the help of allies was important, the organiser emphasised that the festival was for sex workers themselves.
“As well as talking about decriminalisation, strengthening our goals and getting more allies, we really want to get more sex workers involved in sex worker rights activism,” she said.
“One of the things the film festival is doing is showing that sex workers have opinions and a voice and are real people that are capable of speaking for themselves.”
Photo Credit: Ania Ostrowska. Sex workers protesting outside the Scottish Trade Union Congress in Glasgow.
