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

Hentaied Founder Romero 'Mr. Alien' on Fetish, Fantasy and Finding Order in Chaos

A sharp sting pierces the woman’s skin. Something foreign slips beneath the surface. Eggs, maybe. She doesn’t know it yet, but soon her body will become a vessel, a hive, a source of contamination.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for July, August

AEBN has published the top search terms for the months of July and August from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Guardian Devotes Feature Article to XBIZ Amsterdam

British newspaper The Guardian sent a reporter to cover XBIZ Amsterdam earlier this month, resulting in a lengthy article about the annual European adult industry conference.

Bree Mills Unpacks Power, Pain and Family Ties in New Pure Taboo Film

Bell is shooting a scene for “The Secrets We Share,” a new feature from Pure Taboo and Adult Time — and moments like this remind the crew that they are not out to make just another adult movie.

Cubbi Thompson Stars in Latest From Brazzers

Cubbi Thompson stars with Keiran Lee in the latest release from Brazzers, titled "Slippery Business."

Pineapple Support Taps Char Borley as Brand Ambassador

Pineapple Support has named Char Borley as its newest brand ambassador.

Adult Time Drops Bree Mills' 'Hard Stop Reunion' Documentary, New Scene

Adult Time has released a documentary feature on the recent Bree Mills-helmed drama “Hard Stop” as well as a new cast orgy scene, titled “Hard Stop Reunion Orgy.”

Gal Ritchie Performs Her 1st Anal for Brazzers

Gal Ritchie performs her first anal scene alongside Ricky Johnson in the latest Brazzers release, titled “Say Hello to My Little Arsehole.”

Michigan Legislators Propose Online Porn Ban

Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make it illegal to distribute pornography via the internet in the state.

Florida AG Sues Aylo, Segpay Over State AV Law

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed lawsuits against Aylo and Segpay on Monday with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for noncompliance with HB3, the state's age verification law.

Show More