Vancouver, B.C., Sex Workers Honored With Memorial

Vancouver, B.C., Sex Workers Honored With Memorial

VANCOUVER, B.C. — On Friday, a crowd of about 100 gathered outside Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Anglican Church to unveil a lamppost with a red bulb in tribute to sex workers who plied their trade up until the early 1980s when they were chased out by authorities after a new statute took effect.

At the West End intersection of Jervis and Pendrell, the lamppost stands where prostitutes and hustlers once flourished and then were pushed out after the law allowed police to crack down on them. That law was later deemed unconstitutional.

Leaders of the city of Vancouver at Friday’s unveiling said the anti-hooker law displaced sex workers, creating additional conditions of vulnerability, stigma and harm as well as moved sex work to other neighborhoods.

In 2008, the West End Sex Workers Memorial Committee was co-founded by Indigenous trans sex work activist Jamie Lee Hamilton and University of British Columbia professor Becki Ross with a mandate to commemorate a community of sex workers, with diverse cultural and gender identities, who were expelled from the Vancouver's West End.

For the past two years, they have worked in close partnership with the city of Vancouver and St. Paul's Anglican Church, to establish a memorial.

Vancouver provided funding of $28,000 for the memorial, which equals the total dollar amount in fines that was imposed on sex workers as a result of the city's street activities law.

 

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Wicked Premieres 1st Installment of Seth Gamble's Erotic Thriller 'Once Upon a Time in the Valley'

Wicked Pictures has released the debut installment of multi-XMAs award winner Seth Gamble's latest feature, "Once Upon a Time in the Valley."

JuicyAds Launches Summer Advertiser/Publisher Promo

JuicyAds has launched a summer promotion for advertisers and publishers.

Brittney Kade Fronts New Feature From Erotique Entertainment

Brittney Kade stars in the latest feature from Erotique Entertainment, titled “Triangle.”

Anna de Ville Toplines Latest Volume of 'Hookup Hotshot: E-Girls'

Anna de Ville headlines Bryan Gozzling’s “Hookup Hotshot: E-Girls 30” from Evil Angel.

FSC to Honor Board Chair Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Leadership

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) will honor board chair Jeffrey Douglas for his 30 years of service to the industry at an event on June 27.

Zazie Skymm, Dakota Dove Star in Latest From MixedX

Zazie Skymm and Dakota Dove star in the latest release from MixedX, titled “Unboxing Hearts.”

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches by Country for April, May

AEBN has released the list of popular searches from its straight and gay theaters by country in April and May.

Bella Joie Returns to TransAngels

Bella Joie stars with William Seed in the latest release from TransAngels, titled "KumbaYa Bitch."

Leana Lovings Makes Her Kink.com Debut

Leana Lovings has made her Kink.com debut alongside Tommy Pistol in "Peeping Tom."

Gal Ritchie, Beca Barbie & Cece Wetdreams Visit Ricky's Room

XMAs Best New Performer Gal Ritchie stars with Beca Barbie, Cece Wetdreams, Ricky's Room exclusive Mazee the Goat, and studio honcho Ricky Johnson in "Trio of Temptation."

Show More