BARCELONA, Spain — Erika Lust has announced donations to four sex worker and adult industry organizations and is encouraging others to support those who are working to help the most vulnerable members of the sex worker and adult entertainment communities right now.
The recipients of Lust’s donation are Pineapple Support, the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), Red Umbrella Fund and Organización de Trabajadoras Sexuales (OTRAS).
“Sex workers are the backbone of the adult industry and it's vital now more than ever before to support them and help our community,” said a rep.
Lust and her Barcelona-based team have kept working with sex performers regardless of the lockdown.
Her studios, XConfessions and Lust Cinema, are funding films “shot by them, from their homes,” like the recently released short doc “Sex and Love in the Time of Quarantine.”
Here is the text of Lust’s announcement and invitation to donate to these four sex-worker support organizations:
In the last few months COVID-19 has spread across the globe and changed many of our lives, but the pandemic has been especially harmful for sex workers who are experiencing cancellations, job loss and lost income. Sex workers are not usually eligible for unemployment benefits when out of a job, and there is no knowing how long it will take for the industry to bounce back.
With this in mind, we know that it’s more vital than ever before to help our community and support the sex workers who are the backbone of the adult industry. That’s why I am recently donated to four organizations who are doing critical work to support sex workers at this time — Pineapple Support, Free Speech Coalition, Red Umbrella Fund, & OTRAS.
I urge you to please read more about their work below and support them if you can.
Pineapple Support
Pineapple Support is a free support and therapy service for everyone working in the online adult industry — no matter their gender, ethnic origin, social status, age or sexual preference. They have an ever growing team of sex-work friendly, kink-aware therapists who offer face-to-face and online video therapy sessions.
In the current unprecedented situation the world finds itself in, Pineapple Support’s services are needed more than ever before. They are seeing an increase in the number of therapy applications and have arranged a number of support groups and webinars over the coming months to help with growing anxiety and uncertainty faced by our industry’s performers and professionals.
Check out their work and donate if you can here.
Free Speech Coalition
Founded in 1991, the Free Speech Coalition is the trade association of the adult entertainment industry based in the US. The organisation functions as a resource, a leader, and a tool for the adult community. They are continuously fighting to alleviate the social stigma, misinformation, and discriminatory policies that affect those who work in and adjacent to the adult industry.
To deal with the current pandemic which has halted all adult productions, they have opened the FSC Emergency Fund Relief Effort to help talent and crew with their living expenses while they are unable to work. Talent and crew are the foundation of the adult industry, so for the industry to survive this, they’re asking everyone who is able to work and generate revenue during this time to help those who aren’t.
Read more about the fund and donate if you can here.
Red Umbrella Fund
The Red Umbrella Fund is the first global fund guided by and for sex workers. Launched in 2012, the Red Umbrella Fund joins together funders and sex workers in support of the human rights of sex workers.
They are currently providing a guide of potential resources accessible for sex-workers during the crisis of the COVID-19. It includes potential financial support, good-practice resources and right-based tools.
Read more about Red Umbrella Fund and donate if you can here.
OTRAS
Organización de Trabajadoras Sexuales (OTRAS) is a Spanish workers union that defends the rights of people in the sex industry. Because sex workers do not have workers rights, they are completely neglected by the state and are especially vulnerable during this pandemic.
To combat this, OTRAS have recently started an emergency fund for sex workers in Spain to help cover basic needs such as food, shelter and medicine. So far they have helped over 80 workers but they would like to support many more. With all of our help, they can distribute a little support and help those workers who are in need.
Read more about OTRAS and donate to their emergency fund here.