The Oldest Profession Podcast

This week, on Old Pro News, we'll tell you about two new online reporting programs, only one of which we believe will actually keep sex workers safe. Then, we'll be chatting with Tamika Spellman, the Advocacy Manager of the harm reduction organization HIPS DC, about the #DECRIMNOW campaign and why we need to center — and pay! — black trans women in the movement. And we'll fill you in on recent sex work related legislation in Lousiana and Ohio, and why this makes Lakeesha feel like the government just doesn't want us to survive!

For more resources on this episode, visit our website:

https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-007

GUEST BIO AND LINKS

Tamika Spellman, Advocacy Manager of HIPS (Honoring Individual Power and Strength) DC, is originally from Buffalo New York but has lived in Washington D.C. on and off since 1988. Tamika has worked with HIPS since June 2017. She has served as a peer educator then worked as a part of the needle exchange program. She has volunteered her time with mobile services giving new works and safer sex supplies to people throughout the District. Tamika knows first hand what the war on drugs has done to the community. She is dedicated to helping others and working to create positive policies and laws to help those involved in sex work and drug use. She has testified on behalf of HIPS at the D.C. Council, spoken on several harm reduction panels, and is very active in both SWAC and the DC LEAD Coalition.

https://www.hips.org/tamika-spellman.html

Sex Workers' Advocates Coalition #DecrimNow Panel featuring Tamika L Spellman, Pontiannà Ivàn Pendavis, Jessica Raven, Louraca Jackson, Nona Moselle, and Jordan DeLoach

"What media should be telling you about the fight to decriminalize sex work"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtLIohf-4Ho

HEADLINE 1 | 'Report John' platform in Vallejo California

"Vallejo Police Department introduces 'Report John' platform to target sex buyers"

https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2022/04/28/vallejo-police-department-introduces-report-john-platform-to-target-sex-buyers/

HEADLINE 2 | Ugly Mugs Netherlands

"Sex workers warn each other of aggressive clients on new platform"

https://reason.com/2022/04/05/rhode-island-senators-consider-two-paths-to-decriminalizing-prostitution/

https://nltimes.nl/2022/04/20/sex-workers-warn-aggressive-clients-new-platform

https://nationaluglymugs.org/

https://www.uglymugs.nl/nl

https://www.soaaids.nl/en

https://www.wijzijnproud.nl/

HEADLINE 3 | New Westminster develops a work plan related to the safety of sex workers

"New West aims to keep sex workers safe"

https://www.newwestrecord.ca/local-news/new-west-aims-to-keep-sex-workers-safe-5288346

HEADLINE 4 | Chippendales are lobbying up

"The iconic male stripper group has hired a lobby shop for the first time. It wants pandemic relief"

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/22/chippendales-lobbying-covid-relief-00027202

HEADLINE 5 | Update on Noho Strippers Strike

https://www.change.org/p/star-garden-petition-for-jobs-and-safety

https://www.instagram.com/stripperstrikenoho/

https://donorbox.org/stripper-action-fund

MUTUAL AID NAME AND LINK

COYOTE

https://coyoteri.org/wp/

Mary Magdalene is one of the most famous, mysterious, and perhaps controversial women in the Bible. She's been called a friend to Jesus, his wife, one of his most devout followers, and a prostitute. Who is Mary Magdalene and how did her story become aligned with sex workers around the world? Find out this week, as Kaytlin Bailey rewrites the age-old stigma of Mary Magdalene on The Oldest Profession Podcast.

For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/stigma-of-mary-magdalene

Stock Media provided by sounddogs / Pond5

This week, on Old Pro News, we're talking decrim strategies in Rhode Island and dominatrix discrimination from DoorDash. Our guest is Geo, an activist from Sex Workers Against Criminalization New Orleans, who shares her story of being an undocumented sex worker in the United States. Then I explain what the 14th amendment has to do with the personhood of sex workers.

For more resources on this episode, visit our website:

https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-006/

GUEST BIO AND LINKS

Our guest this week is Geo, an organizer with SWers Against Criminalization New Orleans, who has chosen to remain anonymous because of her vulnerable immigration status.

https://www.instagram.com/swacnola

HEADLINE 1 | FOSTA-SESTA upheld after 1st Amendment Challenge

"DC Court Upholds FOSTA-SESTA, Rejects Free-Speech Challenge"

https://www.xbiz.com/news/265618/dc-court-upholds-fosta-sesta-rejects-free-speech-challenge

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/federal-online-sex-trafficking-law-survives-first-amendment-look

HEADLINE 2 | Two Rhode Island Decriminalization Bills

"Rhode Island Senators Consider Two Paths To Decriminalizing Prostitution"

https://reason.com/2022/04/05/rhode-island-senators-consider-two-paths-to-decriminalizing-prostitution/

HEADLINE 3 | DoorDash Discrimination

"Dominatrix claims DoorDash banned her over sex work"

https://nypost.com/2022/04/06/dominatrix-claims-doordash-banned-her-over-sex-work-its-dehumanizing/

HEADLINE 4 | Update on Noho Strippers Strike

"These Strippers Are Protesting For Safer Work Conditions In Hollywood. Instagram "Mistakenly Removed" Their Account."

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/otilliasteadman/instagram-stripper-removal-protest

MUTUAL AID NAME AND LINK

New Orleans Mutual Aid Society

https://www.facebook.com/neworleansmutualaid/

Together Old Pros Historian, Dr. Charlene J. Fletcher, and podcast host, Kaytlin Bailey, discuss Boston's infamous "Big Dig," a construction project that unearthed a trove of archeological treasures from a 19th century brothel. According to census records, the "parlor house" in question belonged to brothel owner Mrs. Lake, who set high standards for her SWers' self-care and personal hygiene.

For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/brothel-owner-mrs-lake

This week, on Old Pro News, we're talking about decrim in Belgium, a stripper strike in North Hollywood, and financial discrimination in the sex industry. Our guest is Alexandra Hunt, a congressional candidate from Philadelphia who has made her background as a stripper a part of her campaign while refusing to be reduced to that one aspect of who she is and what she stands for. And then Keesha connects Alexandra Hunt's fight for dignity to the worthiness of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

For more resources on this episode, visit our website:

https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-005/

GUEST BIO AND LINKS

https://www.alexandramhunt.com/

Alexandra Hunt is a public health researcher, a girls' soccer coach, an advocate for social, racial, economic, and environmental justice, and an organizer fighting for the 3rd district of Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of two teachers and a sister to a twin brother. Alexandra's twin brother grew up with a learning disability. Seeing the systemic obstacles her brother faced inspired Alexandra to become an advocate and challenge barriers on the basis of race, gender, class, and ability.

HEADLINE 1 | Belgium Decriminalizes Prostitution

"Belgium is the first country in Europe to decriminalize selling and paying for sex."

https://reason.com/2022/03/23/belgium-decriminalizes-prostitution/

https://www.nswp.org/featured/utsopi

HEADLINE 2 | NoHo Strippers Strike

"North Hollywood exotic dancers walk off job to protest unsafe work environment"

https://www.foxla.com/news/north-hollywood-exotic-dancers-walk-off-job-to-protest-unsafe-work-environment

https://www.instagram.com/stripperstrikenoho/

https://www.strippersunited.org/

HEADLINE 3 | Lube and Condom Company Denied Insurance

"Lube and Condom Company Denied Insurance Because It Sells Lube and Condoms"

https://www.vice.com/en/article/4aw8dm/lube-and-condom-company-denied-insurance-hartford-company-paradise

HEADLINE 4 | OnlyFans Porn Ban Watch

"OnlyFans could ban porn again in its push for an IPO"

https://www.inputmag.com/culture/onlyfans-ban-porn-public-ipo-spac

MUTUAL AID NAME AND LINK

Black Sex Worker Collective

https://www.blacksexworkercollective.org/

It's unclear if Ella "Cattle Kate" Watson was a SWer, but what we do know is she was a renowned pioneer of the Wild West. She was a ranch owner, entrepreneur, and woman who sought to challenge gender norms to live life her own way. Why then is her name notorious throughout American history? Join your host Kaytlin Bailey as she reclaims the often misremembered story of the infamous Ella "Cattle Kate" Watson.

For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/cattle-kate

This week, on Old Pro News, we're talking about transgender housing justice, Safe Reporting in Colorado, and the dictionary. Our guests are Yeonhoo Cho and Esther Kao from Red Canary Song, who are here to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings with a conversation about Asian migrant massage workers rights.

For more resources on this episode, visit our website:

https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-004/

GUEST BIO AND LINKS

Yeonhoo Cho and Esther Kao, organizers with Red Canary Song, a grassroots coalition organizing with migrant & Asian massage workers in NYC

https://www.redcanarysong.net/

Un-Licensed: Asian Migrant Massage Licensure and the Racialized Policing of Poverty, a A Report by: Red Canary Song, Massage Parlor Outreach Project, Butterfly, in collaboration with Bowen Public Affairs & Brown University Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice Human Trafficking Research Cluster

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e4835857fcd934d19bd9673/t/6218d9316e93a74b051c9f00/1645795656006/2022_Un-Licensed.pdf

HEADLINE 1 | Dictionary dot com

"Term "Sex Worker" added to Dictionary dot com"

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sex--worker

HEADLINE 3 | Colorado Safe Reporting Bill

"Safe Reporting Assaults Suffered By Sex Workers Bill introduced in Denver"

https://www.denverpost.com/2022/03/17/sex-workers-safe-reporting-colorado-legislature/

http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB22-1288

http://www.rlri.org/

https://www.cpr.org/2022/03/21/colorado-sex-workers-reporting-crimes-protection-legislation/

HEADLINE 4 | Protect Trans Youth

"Legislation Affecting LGBTQ Rights Across The US"

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/transgender-rights

https://www.aclu.org/legislation-affecting-lgbtq-rights-across-country

HEADLINE 2 | St James Infirmary trans shelter

"SWer health org St James Infirmary opens San Francisco's first shelter dedicated to trans and gender non-conforming communities"

https://www.sfpublicpress.org/sf-launches-first-navigation-center-to-serve-homeless-transgender-people/

https://twitter.com/comebystjames/status/1502034177142657024

https://www.stjamesinfirmary.org/

OTHER RELEVANT LINKS TO TOPICS IN EPISODE

Featured in this episode: In response to the charges being pursued by the District Attorney's offices of Fulton and Cherokee County in Georgia for the murders of Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, Daoyou Feng, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Yong Ae Yue, and Sun Cha Kimon March 16, 2021 Red Canary Song and Survived & Punished released the following statement:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e4835857fcd934d19bd9673/t/61981921d8b4367907c4ba1a/1637357859533/Response+to+Charges+ENG.pdf

8 Lives Vigil March 16 2022:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKv2rjUWrl0

MUTUAL AID NAME AND LINK

Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network

https://www.butterflysw.org/

Check out the newest show from Old Pros! Introducing Old Pro News, hosted by longtime human rights activist and former sex worker Lakeesha Harris. Old Pro News is a biweekly podcast that reports on and contextualizes current events affecting the sex worker rights movement and community. We don’t just report on sex worker related news. We’re here to help you understand what’s really going on!

SUBSCRIBE today to Old Pro News, so we can work together towards positive change!

Listen now to the latest Old Pro News episode, Unapologetically Generational – with Desi. In this episode, Old Pro News updates you on exciting new pieces legislation regarding sex worker safety at the state and federal levels, as well as some troubling developments from Russian Only Fans creators. Our very special guest this week is host Lakeesha Harris’ daughter, Desiree. They share a personal conversation on generational sex work. 

For more information on today's episode and headlines, visit https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-003.

Evidence of the oldest profession can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. Volumina Cytheris, also known as Lycoris the Mime, is among the oldest and most influential courtesans in history. This week on The Oldest Profession Podcast, travel back in time with Kaytlin Bailey for a history lesson on ancient Rome and Lycoris the Mime.

For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/lycoris-the-mime

This week, on Old Pro News, we'll update you on exciting new pieces legislation regarding sex worker safety at the state and federal levels, as well as some troubling developments from Russian Only Fans creators. Our very special guest this week is host Lakeesha Harris' daughter, Desiree. They share a personal conversation on generational sex work.

For more resources on this episode, visit our website:

https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-003/

GUEST BIO AND LINK

HEADLINE 1 | John Oliver's Sex Work Segment

"Sex Work: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gd8yUptg0Q

HEADLINE 2 | 8 Lives Vigil for Atlanta spa shootings and Massage License Decriminalization Act (A8281) introduced in New York

"Advocates Call for State Legislature to Pass González-Rojas' Bill to Decriminalize Unlicensed Massage Parlors"

https://astoriapost.com/advocates-call-for-state-legislature-to-pass-gonzalez-rojas-bill-to-decriminalize-unlicensed-massage-parlors

https://events.humanitix.com/8lives-vigil

https://www.redcanarysong.net/

HEADLINE 3 | Russian OnlyFans Creators Banned

"Russia's Blameless OnlyFans Stars Say They've Been Banned After Putin's Invasion of Ukraine"

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russias-blameless-onlyfans-stars-say-theyve-been-banned-after-putins-invasion-of-ukraine

HEADLINE 4 | Sex Worker Safety Legislation developments in Vermont, Oregon, and US Congress

"Burlington Voter Referendum"

https://safesexworkvt.org/burlington-voter-referendum/

https://www.ishtarcollective.org

"Sex Worker Rights Campaign Refiles Petition for Decriminalization"

https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/02/21/sex-worker-rights-campaign-refiles-petition-for-decriminalization/

"The SAFE SEX Workers Study Act"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WqZn5qsrA3TnmJPbGrrcGnN9UiCayw7w/view

GUEST:

Please refer to our guest in print only as "Desi" to protect her privacy.

You can link to her IG in show notes and social media:

https://www.instagram.com/goddessvibesent_/

Mutual Aid Shout-Out

Whose Corner Is It Anyway?

gofundme.com/f/whose-corner-is-it-anyway