December 17th: The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

A Sex Worker's Guide to the Galaxy

This episode of "A Sex Worker's Guide to the Galaxy" marks the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, founded by Annie Sprinkle and Robyn Few in 2003. Host Parker Westwood discusses the history of the day, highlighting the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, who targeted sex workers, and the systemic dehumanization of sex workers through the "No Humans Involved" (NHI) designation. The episode features interviews with veteran sex workers' rights activists, including Melissa Ditmore, Jill McCracken, Tracy Quan, Stella Zine, and Veronica Vera, who recount their experiences and the evolution of December 17th events. The conversation emphasizes the need for decriminalization to end violence and improve the lives of sex workers.

**Trigger Warnings** sexual violence & serial killings/murders

Personal Accounts or Statements from:

Veronica Vera: VeronicaVeraWrites.com

Tracy Quan: http://tracyquan.net

Annie Sprinkle: https://sprinklestephens.ucsc.edu/

Stella Zine: https://linktr.ee/stellazine

Jill McCracken

Zee St.James:

Melissa Ditmore: https://melissaditmore.com/about/

Host: Parker Westwood: https://parkerwestwood.com/

A Network of Sex Workers to Excite Revolution (ANSWER): https://answerdetroit.org/

Articles and Things that We Mention/Cite:

“List of Names for 2025 December 17th” by COYOTE-RI: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LOm3Lut-IRSGhEaxcm4XqtRAyyAsY8FIMgLhvEA6CKI/edit?tab=t.0

“Predatory Prostitute” Video by Juniper Flemming: https://vimeo.com/263617662?&login=true

“How to End Violence Against Sex Workers” by Jayne Swift: https://genderpolicyreport.umn.edu/how-to-end-violence-against-sex-workers/

“No Humans Involved (NHI): The dehumanization of black people” by Guy Nave for Medium: https://medium.com/illumination-curated/no-humans-involved-nhi-the-dehumanization-of-black-people-8866a7122f97

“International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers” by National Ugly Mugs: https://nationaluglymugs.org/idevasw/

“International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers” by Decriminalize Sex Work:

https://decriminalizesex.work/international-day-to-end-violence-against-sex-workers/

“AIDS United marks the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers” by AIDS United: https://decriminalizesex.work/international-day-to-end-violence-against-sex-workers/

“Pimps are People Too” by Tracy Quan: https://mycitypaper.com/articles/2003-12-18/slant.shtml

“International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers” by Global Network of Sex Worker Projects: https://www.nswp.org/event/international-day-end-violence-against-sex-workers-6

“Green River homicides investigation” by King County Sherrif’s Office website: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/sheriff/courts-jails-legal-system/sheriff-services/investigations/green-river

“Gary Ridgway: The Green River Killer” by Real Crime: https://youtu.be/9iAsZH_30rM?si=NTnINXHIucpRm4YE

“Gary Ridgway” by Biography.com: https://www.biography.com/crime/gary-ridgway

“Organize Like a Sex Worker: Learning from worker and organizer Kate D’Adamo” by Scarleteen: https://www.scarleteen.com/read/culture/organize-sex-worker-learning-worker-and-organizer-kate-dadamo

“Direct Action: by the Activist’s Handbook: https://activisthandbook.org/tactics/direct-action?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9vS6BhA9EiwAJpnXw3b4dLkEVM3mwQ4UehGAxMg_rWSp53jFbxGX5UBUfpBOOwgr6I5ethoCeTEQAvD_BwE

“How to Organize a Direct Action” by Resist Harm: https://resistharm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ResistHarm_OrganizingDirectAction.pdf

“Direct Action Manual” by Mutual Aid Disaster Relief and Earth First!: https://mutualaiddisasterrelief.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/direct_action_manual_3-1.pdf

Erin Taylor (The poet with the more angry poem from Tracy’s account of 2019 NYC D17 Event): https://bluestockings.com/item/NLwFYGtI2nOisHHXp9SzZg

Rachel Rabbit White (who organized 2019 NYC vigil from Tracy’s account) : https://www.thebeliever.net/logger/an-interview-with-rachel-rabbit-white/

“Dis/organizing Toolkit: How We Build Collectives Beyond Institutions” by Hacking Hustling

https://hackinghustling.org/research-2/disorganizing-toolkit/

“The Legacy of Cecilia Gentili: Artist, Mother, and Saint of Trans Liberation” https://www.them.us/story/cecilia-gentili-artist-mother-organizer-and-saint-of-trans-liberation

“Arrested for Walking While Trans: An Interview with Monica Jones”

https://www.aclu.org/news/criminal-law-reform/arrested-walking-while-trans-interview-monica-jones

ACT UP New York: https://actupny.org/documents/documents.html

“Rescue is for Kittens: 10 Things Everyone Needs to Know about ‘Rescues’ of Youth in the Sex Trade” by Eminism.org: https://eminism.org/blog/entry/400

"Supporting Sex Workers and Survivors: Lessons for Defense Campaigns" by SurvivedandPunished.org: https://survivedandpunished.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SP-Sex-Work-toolkit.pdf

"Maine's Bad Prostitution Law Could Be Coming Soon to Your State" by Elizabeth Nolan Brown for Reason.com: https://reason.com/2024/01/03/maines-bad-prostitution-law-could-be-coming-soon-to-your-state/