our proposed by-law revisions......as asked ...

[susi]

the city tried to remove the body rub parlour definition a couple of years ago so some of us tried to work on bylaws related to sex work and these revisions are the result.

what we really want and believe is about to happen is a process in whic everyone affected work on it together so these will not actually be the changes made but council are putting forth a motion directing all departments to adress issues facing sex inhdustry community members in a way that favours inclusion instead of exclusion...

pleas feel free to comment......


The following B.C. Coalition of Experiential Women and Communities (BCCEW/C) submission provides a series of recommendations intended to revise the City of Vancouver’s by-laws that license and regulate businesses where sex workers, and other workers, have traditionally been employed. The suggested revisions are provided in the interest of stabilizing the local sex industry, including relevant aspects of the health enhancement sector, while increasing the health and safety of both sex workers and the communities where sex work takes place.

The BCCEW/C offers these recommendations in the spirit of its Guiding Principles which compel the Coalition to work to open dialogue aimed at the reduction of harm to sex workers and the elimination of the social, economic, and political conditions that lead to the survival sex trade, sexual slavery and trafficking in persons. We note that the City’s “health by law” (By-law No.6580) provides for the promotion and protection of the health of the inhabitants of the City of Vancouver. We respectfully ask that City Council keep the spirit of this by-law in mind while deciding on the proposed revisions.



City of Vancouver By-laws Associated with Sex Work Industry


The following reviews City of Vancouver by-laws commonly associated with the sex work industry on a section by section basis to provide suggestions for revision based on the BCCEW/C efforts to improve safety and working conditions of Vancouver sex workers.

1. Social Escort Service - By-laws 6373 and 6466

Current License Fees
Social escort service: New license: $1043, Renewal: $993
Social escort: New license: $183, Renewal: $133

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision

Social escort license fee: The individual social escort license application currently requires that the applicant name the agency where they intend to work. If an individual wishes to work independent of an escort agency, they must acquire a license to operate a social escort service as well as a social escort license. They must also be located in an office where they are required to remain while “at work” or while awaiting an outcall to a client’s hotel or residence. Given these requirements, the cost of licensing and maintaining an office can amount to $6000/year (assuming one can find a properly zoned, reasonably priced office with a landlord willing to rent). Costs of this nature provide a serious barrier to individuals who wish to be self-employed.

Social escort service: As it stands now, agencies hold too much control over where and when a worker can work. In some cases, individuals who have applied for a social escort license have found that their licenses, once approved, have been sent to the agency where the worker is to be employed. While this may be done in an effort to maintain the worker’s privacy, it is often the case that agencies refuse to return the license to the worker in a blatant attempt to control workers financially while also forcing them to work in an unsafe environment. Workers have even reported being “black listed” when an agency contacts other agencies with false accusations of theft, disease and addiction. Such situations leave a worker with few choices other than to either work illegally from home or work in the extremely dangerous street trade.

The above concerns could be resolved by reducing fees and allowing individual social escorts to work independently without the requirement to obtain two licenses and an office. Such changes would eliminate financial barriers while supporting a workers freedom to leave an unsafe work place and maintain their privacy. The power of negotiation and the choice of where to work would be returned to the individual worker. In summary, the Coalition urges the following:

• A reduction in license fees associated with social escort services to bring fees inline with fees charged to similar businesses (e.g. hair stylist: new license: $160; renewal: $110) Specifically:
o Escort service license: New: $254 Renewal: $254
o Social escort: New: $160 Renewal: $110
• That the requirement for a place of employment and a commercial office space or designated address be removed;
• That social escort licenses be the property of the escort and be issued to individual applicants rather than to an agency; and that
• Social escort licenses are available for pick up after processing through the licensing office.

Sub-section (d)
No person carrying on the business of a social escort shall offer the services or name of any person required to be licensed pursuant to this by-law unless that person is so licensed.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
The Coalition requests that caution be employed with regards to this section of the by-law due to our concern that the confidentiality of workers is at stake and that there are no guarantees from the City as to who has access to this information. We ask that a procedure for the protection of this information as well a procedure for justifying access to the information be developed in partnership with the sex worker community. In regards to this, we note that we are in the process of developing policy related to the health and safety certification of sex workers with one aspect of this policy related to privacy concerns.

Sub-section (e)
At all times during which the premises specified in the license application as the place of business for the Social escort service are open for business the operator or a licensee or employee shall be present on the premises.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
The Coalition requests that individual workers be exempt from this section in order to provide them with the freedom to engage in other activities while answering the phone and waiting for potential customers. Specifically, we suggest that the by-law be amended in the following spirit:

Any person operating as an independent social escort may operate from a computer, cell phone or home-based telephone. Independent social escorts are not required to either maintain or remain within a commercially-zoned location during operating hours.

Sub-section (f)
Every person carrying on the business of a social escort service shall maintain on the premises a list of all current employees and person’s being handled on an agency basis; and, upon request, make such a list available to the Inspector or Chief Constable.


Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
In the past the police and licensing inspectors have been allowed unrestricted access to information about employees in escort agencies. We ask that access to this information be based on clear criteria developed in consultation with sex workers. Suggested criteria would include proof that disclosure of information about an individual is based on whether such information can be shown to be required to protect a worker’s life and/or safety.

2. Criminal Record Check Requirement

Although the reasons for criminal record checks are obvious, the Coalition’s view is that convictions under criminal code sections related to prostitution (sections 211,212, and 213) shouldn’t automatically exclude sex workers from obtaining an escort license. This is especially so given that those with prior convictions are prevented from working in less harmful indoor venues leaving them with no choice other than to work in the far more hazardous street-based trade. We note here that obtaining a federal criminal pardon can take up to seven years and, in our experience, the Vancouver Police Department does not always chose to acknowledge such pardons.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
The Coalition requests a community-based consultation on these issues and, ideally, some level of shared decision-making with regard to who is able to apply for and obtain a social escort service and/or individual license. In seeking this, we are in no way advocating a “carte blanche” approach to licensing but rather we seek an opportunity for controlled community-based vetting in situations where such an approach is warranted.

 

[susi]

3. Steam Bath/Massage Parlor By-laws: 4782, 6038, 6646

Licensing Fees
Current fees: New license: $272, Renewal: $222

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
We request that the fees be lowered to bring them in line with fees required of other similar businesses (e.g. hair salon: New license: $254, Renewal: $204).

Sub-section (a)
No person owning, keeping, maintaining, or operating any bath, steam bath or massage parlor shall allow or permit any person of the male sex to act therein as an attendant or employee in respect of any person customer or patron of the female sex; or allow or permit any person of the female sex to act as an attendant or employee in respect of any person, customer or patron of the male sex; nor shall any person owning, keeping, maintaining or operating bath, steam bath or massage parlor attend, treat or serve any person, customer or patron thereof of the opposite sex.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
We ask that this section be removed as it is obsolete. Today, male and female masseuses routinely massage clients of the opposite sex.
Sub-section (b)
Every person owning, keeping, maintaining or operating and bath, steam bath or massage parlor shall provide and keep therein a written and legible record in journal form of all person’s using the facilities of said bath steam bath or massage parlor to record his or her name and address together with the date and time of registration in such register;

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
We request that these records be considered confidential unless proof of a threat to the life and/or safety of an individual is provided.

Sub-section (c)
No person owning, keeping, maintaining or operating a steam bath shall allow persons of the opposite sex to occupy the same room or adjoining rooms with an inter-communicating door or which have doors opening into a common steam room. Provided, however, that a person may maintain a steam bath a family room intended to be occupied and occupied by members of the same family, if such a room is closed off from the rest of the steam bath by a door.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
This section is obsolete and does not in any way reflect current business practices. It is also open to misuse by individuals who may feel a need to disrupt a business of which they do not approve.

Sub-section (d)
Every person owning, keeping, maintaining or operating a bath, steam bath or massage parlor shall ensure that the interior of the premises is at all times during business hours illuminated to a minimum of ten foot candles in every part thereof.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
This section should be revised to reflect current codes and language.

4. Health Enhancement Centre By-laws 6830, 7052

Sub-section (a)
The Inspector shall not issue a license for a health enhancement centre unless satisfied that the applicant for the license or an officer of the applicant demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of the art and practice of reflexology, Shiatsu, bio-kinesiology, hellework, polarity, reiki, rolfing, the trager approach, or any other therapeutic technique, and the Inspector may in that regard require the applicant or officer to take and pass an examination.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
While some services licensed under these by-laws do have the ability to require that staff enroll in training that leads to certification, due to the criminalized nature of sex work, sex workers do not have an option to acquire certification. At the same time, this is the business license that sex workers would most prefer to operate under (as long as no additional restrictions or increased enforcement occurs). Given this, the Coalition requests that the City consult with the community to develop an approach that addresses the issue of demonstrated knowledge/experience..

Sub-section (b)
All persons carrying on the business of a health enhancement centre shall ensure that all persons hired to administer a therapeutic touch technique are qualified in that respect and have not been convicted of an offence under sections 212 or 213 of the criminal code.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
This section prevents sex workers, including even those who have exited from the trade, from gaining access to employment in these types of businesses. It presents yet another example of how the most vulnerable sex workers are shamed and cast out of the larger community. We ask that this section be removed.

Sub No person carrying on the business of a health enhancement centre shall remain open or administer therapeutic touch technique between the hours of 12.00 midnight and 8 am.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
In the interests of supporting a safer trade, we ask that these hours be expanded so that those businesses who wish to can remain open on a 24 hour basis. Expanded hours could provide more opportunities for workers to find jobs in safer environments while diminishing the visible and unsafe street-level trade which dramatically increases after midnight as inside venues are forced to close. Such a change could also address community concerns around the visible side effects of the street trade.

Sub-section (e)
No person carrying on the business of a health enhancement center shall allow any employee or person on the premises to engage in or offer to engage in an act of prostitution.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
We ask that this section be removed. While making assumptions about the employees of these businesses, it makes room for such disastrous actions as the recent raids on “health enhancement centers” where police, armed with cameras, stormed into and, ultimately, closed some of these businesses further diminishing the number of safer indoor job opportunities for sex workers.

5. Body Rub Parlor/ Body Painting Studio/ Model Studio

Current License Fees: New license: $8454 Renewal: $8494

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
These fees are extremely high. When the costs of renting space are factored in, the potential cost to business becomes completely outrageous. The Coalition requests that these fees be set at the same level as those set for other similar businesses (e.g. Health Enhancement Centers: New license-$255, Renewal: $205.)
Sub-section (a)
Every applicant for a license to operate a body rub parlor, body painting studio or model studio shall supply the Chief Constable and the Inspector with the name, address and sex of all persons employed by the applicant

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
We request the removal of this section. We believe that it smacks of outdated notions of public morality prevalent in the early 1900’s. Additionally, the requirement to provide information on the basis of gender may be discriminatory. We ask again that a provision be made for proof of threat to life or safety before access to this information is granted.

Sub-sections (d)
(d) All rooms used for a body rub parlor, body painting studio or nude photography shall comply with the following;
• shall not be smaller then 2.4 meters by 2.4 meters
• shall not be equipped with any locking device other than a door providing an entrance there to,
• shall not have any means by which any person may view the interior thereof
• shall be equipped with lighting of at least 50 candle power which shall remain on when the door is closed.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
Section (d) provides the closest thing, in a business sense, to a private space where two consenting adults could engage in the legal exchange of sex for money. We request that this be the business license supported as the “license of choice” when the City issues business licenses and occupancy permits to these types of businesses.

Sub-sections (e)
No person carrying on the business of operating a body rub parlor, body painting studio or model studio shall permit any person to enter or remain thereon between the hours of 12.00 midnight and 8 am

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
In the interests of supporting a safer trade and increasing employment for sex workers, we ask that these hours be expanded so that those businesses who wish to can remain open on a 24 hour basis.

Sub-sections (f)
No person carrying on the business of a body rub shall permit any person engaged in providing a body rub in the licensed premises to perform the same unless the person is wearing clean, washable non-transparent outer garments covering his or her body from the neck to the top of the knee, the sleeves of which do not reach below the elbows

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
The Coalition sees no need for a dress code in this business and requests the removal of this excessive and invasive section. The section makes businesses and workers vulnerable to malicious persecution and can be used to shut down a business for what amounts to no reason at all.

Sub-sections (g)
No body rub parlor proprietor shall exhibit himself or herself nor permit other persons to exhibit themselves, in any window on or about the licensed premises or exhibit or permit to be exhibited any sign outside of the premises showing any nude male or female body, or any part thereof, nor any printed words that might indicate the licensed premises is a place that offers any form of nude or sexual entertainment.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
The Coalition notes that virtually every business in the corporate world publicly uses sexualized images, including images of partially and/or unclothed models of both sexes, in their advertising campaigns. We question why the sex trade industry should be treated any differently with respect to regulation. The following revision provides the City with protection from the more extreme visual display possibilities that could potentially draw public concern or censure. In as far as determining what is considered acceptable, we request that these issues be examined on a case by case basis in partnership with the Coalition. Revise as follows:

No body rub parlor proprietor shall exhibit themselves nor permit other persons to exhibit themselves, in any window on or about the licensed premises or permit to be exhibited any nude male or female body or exposed male or female genitals or breasts nor use crude or offensive printed language to describe the services offered inside.

Sub-sections (h)
No person carrying on the business of a body rub parlor shall practice or provide or permit the practice or provision therein of a therapeutic touch technique or advertise in any way that a therapeutic touch technique is available or being practiced on the premises.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
We note that supporting this definition as the “license of choice” provides a clear definition between therapeutic massage and “body rub” parlor thereby eliminating the confusion that arises around these two terms and allowing consumers clear options as far as legal and safe ways to access the industry.

)

 

[susi]

6. Governance of Clubs within the City of Vancouver By-Law 2647

Section 13
It shall be unlawful for the manager of any Club within the City to knowingly suffer or permit any prostitute or person evil repute to enter or remain upon the club premises.

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
This section reflects discriminatory attitudes about sex workers which greatly contributes to their stigmatization and marginalization. We ask that this section be removed.


7. By-law 5156

A by-law to prohibit the carrying on of sundry businesses, trades, professions and other occupations;
1.”nude encounters”- or synonymous word or phrase
2.”out call” body massage service
3.”erotic telephone call” service

Proposed BCCEW/C Revision
Since such businesses operate freely and openly in Vancouver, we request that this section be removed.

Conclusion

Under the Vancouver Charter, Section 202 (a), the City Council “may provide for social planning to be undertaken including research, analysis and coordination relating to social needs, social well-being, and social development in the City.” The Coalition respectfully requests that Council consider the spirit of this section of the City’s Charter when making its final decisions regarding the proposed revisions.
-section (d)

 

[susi]

thanks!!

i see what you mean....we need to adress confidentiality still as i'm sure it's a barrier to people getting thier business license. but it isn't the point of that section.......

 

[Jodie]

Wow, I hadn't really thought about the implications of some of those bylaws. You guys are doing some great work

 

[treveller]

The Vancouver Club

City Bylaw
"Section 13
It shall be unlawful for the manager of any Club within the City to knowingly suffer or permit any prostitute or person evil repute to enter or remain upon the club premises."

If this were enforced half our politicians and bureaucrats would be banned from the Vancouver Club.

Our Premier is a convicted drunk driver. That makes him a person of evil repute in my books.

Demanding that this bylaw be enforced may be the best way to get rid of it.

 

[WHOA]

Although I support the general reduction of fees (especially for independent escorts), I see a problem with the section about not having to have a zoned 'office,' etc.

I work in a trade which I could easily conduct from my home. This trade does involve clients coming to wherever I operate, every day. Many people in my trade operate from their homes, and I'm not sure how/if they properly do their taxes (they would have to either lie or not do them, I'm quite sure)... anyway, since I want to keep in the clear (and because I have to, as some of my clients require that I be fully insured and other thing, therefore I can't do business without a paper trail that could be easily followed by the tax agency) I am required to, unfortunately, pay rent and related fees for a place of business.

Does it annoy me to have to pay so much because of a bylaw? Yeah. Could I run my entire business from 1 larger-ish room in my home without disrupting my neighbors? Yeah.

So really, if you're fighting to make the sex trade a more over-the-counter, non-backstreet business... I think you should be following the same rules that other small business owners are having to follow in your community. I probably don't make more (in some cases, less) than your average escort, so why should they be able to run businesses out of their home?

(also note that I do not have employees coming to 'work,' it's just me, and an occasional assistant - same as an escort may occasionally use a partner)

 

[neverwas]

That is very interesting information Susi.
Although you would find a sympathetic audience on this board I suspect that some members of council may not be so understanding.
I am surprised that an individual working as an Indy is required to have both a social escort licence and an escort service licence. In some other municipalities (eg Barrie, Ontario) each individual escort is reqired to have a licence but only an agency ( a sevice with more than one "employee") is required to hold the additional licence.
The very high licence cost for a body rub parlour may not be fair or reasonable, but, since this is an activity that is contrary to the Criminal Code (although sanctioned by the city and some of broader society) you are likely going to have opposition to the proposed changes that would make it easier and cheaper to obtain licences for MPs.
Because it is not a legal activity you don't have as strong an argument for equal licence cost for MPs as you do for the other examples such as escort agency licences and social escort licences where the activity is legal. Those licence fees should be the same as similar businesses.
One interesting problem is one of confidentiality. If you want sex trade businesses to be treated the same as other businesses when licence fees are set, you will probably get council objections to "special" provisions to ensure confidentially greater than the extent of confidentiality accorded to owners/operators of other licenced businesses. Marginal confidentiality provisions would certainly be seen as a disincentive for escorts to apply for licences and negative members of council would realize and exploit that.
It is startling to see how out-dated your current by-law is. The fact that it badly needs an update anyway probably gives you a good opportunity to try for an update with more reasonable provisions.

 

[Jessikaxxx]

bylaws 6373-6466

I add my 100% support to this revision of the cities bylaws.
I havent been able to renew my social escort license as an independent escort, I can only be licensed as an employee of an agency under the current outdated bylaws...
This has left me with no other choice than to be in the "grey area" as I no longer work for an agency, I am independent of an employer.
I can not afford the current agency licensing, and commercial space. I dont have any other escorts working for me either.
Theres a space between being an employee of an agency or an agency, the huge grey area where many are forced to be off the record.
Our statistics are ghosts.
I would like to be a licencesed independent escort.

Add me to the yes list please.

jxxx
604-961-6260

 

[treveller]

Living off the Avails

If a local government like the City of Vancouver charges escorts extra fees because the escort is doing something illegal then the City is profiting from the avails of prostitution. If the City can't be attacked in court then the councilors can be attacked in public for exploiting women and pimping.

You should only pay government fees or taxes where and in the amount that you either receive a service or incur an expense.

Charging the sex industry fees that are five or ten times higher than the fees charged against other businesses without clear evidence that the sex industry receives more services from or incurs higher costs on the City amounts to theft and extortion.

 

[WHOA]

Why would you think that tax laws would prevent you from working from your home? Lots of consultants (my brother in law for one) and others (farmers, independent truckers, private hot shot deliverymen, etc.) operate out of an office in their homes. The area used for my brother in law's business and its costs (utilities, maintenance, etc.) are recorded and written off his taxes as business expenses. One should review the tax implications with a qualified finacial consultant as part of setting up a consultancy or other business to discover the pitfalls and the oportunities offered by your business plans and the tax laws.

Municipal zoning might be the bigger issue here and would be something to be sure to investigate to make sure that your dwelling is in an area that is zoned to permit an appropriate type of home based business. As one would generally apply for some form of business licence, that would be an oportune time to look into the zoning bylaws before deciding on where to locate your "office".

Sorry I'm late replying...

it goes like this.

The bylaws tell me I can't run the business I run from my home.
Many people in the same industry run their business from home, but then don't declare what they actually do on their taxes.
I have to be proper with my taxes, operating permit, etc. because I have several clients that require receipts with gst charged, for me to be insured (and thus the insurance company needs operating permits), etc.

So, while many people run the same kind of business I run under the table because their clients are okay paying cash (as are most of mine), I can't do that because some of my clients require me to be insured and -essentially- tell the government what kind of business i'm running from my home, when that kind of business isn't allowed to be run from my home in it's current zoning, so therefore I'm forced to use a properly zoned retail space. If I was to drop the clients who require me to be insured and/or charge gst, I could run from my home, however at this point in time the revenue generated from those clients is more than the costs of operating a separate studio, so I come out farther in the green by keeping them and continuing to rent.

 

[vanboy0]

So what's the latest? Did the bylaws get revised to your satisfaction?

Why is there a distinction between Massage Parlour and Health Enhancement Center?

Under the Massage Parlour Act (Section 3), a masseuse can't rub down a person of the opposite sex.

That make NO sense as it's common practice.

So a massage parlour is different from a Health Enhancement Center (Section 4)? Why should a Health Enhancement Center also not have a stipulation that one cannot rub down another of the opposite sex?

Please explain.

As far as advertising, Edmonton has a new bylaw that prohibits images of nude women from appearing on MP websites. Go through the Edmonton MP websites (PM me for a list) and you'll see that the images, while sexy, are clothed.

 

[susi]

city council passed a first of its kind motion directing all departments to adress stability and safety for sex workers and social planning contacted me. i answered some questions and talked to them for 1 1/2 hours by phone. it seems we will be given an opportunity to negotiate by law revisions and perhaps some implementation of some policies and procedures to ensure fair treatment ....as follows;

DRAFT Interview Questions –COV Role in Sex Trade Issues

Considerations

• There is a lot of materials and literature on sex trade (and/or sexual exploitation of children and youth) – so some of these questions may seem general. We’re after your opinion and professional expertise with respect to the issues at hand.
• Please focus, where possible, on the situation in the municipality of Vancouver (vs. region, province, national)
• The sex trade can be understood in a number of different ways and with corresponding populations associated with each. For example, it can be broken down in terms of age related considerations, the location of activity (indoor, outdoor), the point of involvement (entering/at-risk; involved; exiting), ethnocutural and gender-based considerations, the type of involvement, and also the degree of involvement (i.e. survival sex vs. non). Feel free to provide material as many of these distinctions in your answers as you like -- but please ensure that you clearly identify distinctions so that we know which populations you’re referring to in particular.
• City involvement in social issues can take a variety of forms – roles typically include: policy development, advocacy, research, service delivery, funding, networking and convening, and more.
• For your reference, the particular motion before City Council can be found here.



(1) Please describe the work you and/or your organization does with regard to Vancouver’s sex trade

BCCEC- The British Columbia Coalition of Experiential Communities (BCCEC) is a consortium of sex worker activists who work to eliminate the oppressive systems and forces that create harm for individuals within the sex industry. We operate under the principle that members commit to creating an environment of inclusion and change.

WCCSIP- Vancouver sex workers expressed their desire to explore cooperative business models as a way to generate alternative sources of income, increase health and safety, build community capacity and begin to take control of our collective destiny. The cooperative cooperation was formally incorporated in February 2008 and is known as the West Coast Cooperative of Sex Industry Professionals.

CAEC- The Canadian Adult Entertainment Commission is a consortium of people who have experience either working within, providing services to, running a business in, or purchasing services/products of the sex industry and agree to work towards the common goals of health, safety and stability in the sex industry

I am an active sex worker working as an independent or sole proprietor escort. 1987 til present.

2005-BC Coalition of Experiential Women-“a broad perspective on the portrayal of sex workers in the media.”- author.
2005- PACE Society-“Research Ethics: A guide for Community Organizations”- policy development team members
2005- PACE Society Organizational Policy Manual- policy development team member
2006- PACE Society- Media Liaison
2006- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “From the Curb”- Sex Worker’ perspectives on Violence and Domestic Trafficking- data collection
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “Developing Capacity for Change” exploring the potential of cooperative business models to address certain issues and barriers facing sex industry community members.- project coordinator, author
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “Labor on the Margins”- project coordinator, author
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “Vancouver City Sex Industry By-laws Revisions”- project coordinator, author
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities “411- Victim Services Info Sheet for sex workers” development team members
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities “Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Workshops”- contributor
2008-BC Coalition of Experiential Communities-“Leading the Way: Strategic Planning Toward Sex Worker Cooperative Development. -project coordinator, author
2008- Canada’s First Sex Worker Cooperative Incorporated- West Coast Cooperative of Sex Industry Professionals- project coordinator
2008- WCCSIP –“Building Choices for the Future”- Sex Worker Cooperative Consulting Enterprise Development. Project coordinator, author
2008- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “Trade Secrets: Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines for Sex Industry Workers- a collaborative project engaging diverse sex industry constituencies in occupational health and safety community development activities: data collection
2009- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “CAEC- Industry Association draft Terms of Reference” project coordinator, author
Presentations/ Panels/ Committees


2003-2006- PACE Society Board of Directors
2004-2006- Chairman of PACE Society Board of Directors
2004- Present- Living in Community Steering Committee Member
2005-2007- LIC communications sub committee
2005-2007- LIC recommendations sub committee
2006- International harm reduction conference “from the curb” research presenter
2006- PIVOT Legal Society panel presenter- “Beyond Decriminalization”
2004-2009- UBC, SFU, Rhodes College- Lecture on issues facing sex industry community members, decrim, PTSD, history of sex industry, hate crimes, sex industry as a distinct culture, impacts of enforcement, sex industry labor organizing, ethics in research, street medicine, working with addiction within abstinence based funding environments.
2005-2007- Vancouver Police New Recruits sensitivity training- issues facing sex workers, lack of trust in police as it relates to reporting violent offenders, collecting evidence, street medicine, available resources.
2007-Present-Sex Industry Worker Safety Action Group- SIWSAG- a partnership between Vancouver Police, sex industry support agencies, sex industry consumer groups, sex industry workers the over all sex industry.
2006- Present- Sex Industry Community Policing Partnership Car sub committee
2006- 2009- 2010 Games Impacts sub committee
2006- Present- VPD Policy and Procedure Manual Revisions sub committee
2006- Present- VPD Professional development package sub committee
2006- Present- Defining the VPD Sex Industry Liaison Officer position sub committee

Current Actions in Planning

May 2010- “Protection for All” Sex Industry Stakeholders conference on human rights.
2010- “Filling the Gaps”- a project in partnership with all stakeholders to design meaningful supports for sex industry community members who are trauma survivors.
2009-2010- “Building Choices for the Future” cooperative sex worker café enterprise business plan development
2009- Indefinitely- recruiting organizations into the CAEC and working toward industry consensus on our collective futures.


(2) How would you describe the situation/landscape/conditions within the Vancouver sex trade? Are there current trends or issues that you would like to identify?
Sex Industry Workers- Genre diverse-On and off-street sex industry workers; Exotic dancers; adult film actors; limited contact sex workers (peep shows, phone operators, sex shows, etc); and fetish workers; Hustlers (male sex workers); racially diverse (First Nations, Caucasian, Asian, African American, etc), and gender diverse (male, female, and trans)
Sex Industry Stakeholder - A person who has experience either working within, providing
services to, running a business in, or purchasing services/products of the sex industry.

I am worried about the ever increasing elimination of safe work environments as a result of anti trafficking campaigns, less and less businesses are taking the legal route, we should be making it easier to be legit not putting up barriers.

Closure of 20 exotic show lounges in Vancouver has forced dancers to work as escorts and escorts services, massage parlours closing is limiting numbers of jobs available to people indoors and forcing more to engage at the dangerous street level.

Neighbourhood integrated services teams were absolutely awful to sex industry workers during raids on exotic show lounges contributing to shaming and morally judging workers during operations designed to “get rid” of gangsters….?

NIST need clear concise policies to govern their treatment of sex industry workers and community members during these types of activities and I would also like to see a shift away from eliminating sex industry businesses towards protection of safe work environments.

The only way to impact numbers on the street is to ensure jobs are available in the safer indoor work environment.

Olympic “clean up” is also a concern as are security zones for games.

Lack of safe work space for exotic dancers has forced a new work space to evolve….a party bus….no security…no seat belts….2 inches from drunk men’s faces…it’s dicey.

 

[susi]

Raids against massage parlours searching for “trafficked women” which were blatantly racist and anti immigrant in focusing on only sex industry community members of asian background.

Murders of 3 asian sex industry community members in less than a year.

(3) In your estimation, how many people are involved in the sex trade in the city? Are there distinctions that can be made in terms of the different populations identified above?

No idea but I do know the minority are what we see on the street. Maybe 100 massage parlours, 4 exotic show lounges rotating employee population…soon to be 2, adult film…not sure…web cam….not sure, maybe 150 independent escorts or part time workers, 100 male hustlers….150 on street workers….1500 in massage parlours….micro brothels, not sure…too far under ground….

If we move towards transparency and inclusion we would know more about our numbers. We must create a safe environment for sex industry community members to express their needs or complaints and for us to be included in decisions affecting our stability and safety.

(4) Among the current responses to the sex trade (governmental, non-profit, etc.) (a) What is working well?
Collaborative approaches such as were highlighted in living in community and include all community stake holders are working well. By including sex industry community members, support services, criminal justice and municipal departments we will be ensured the best most complete out come and hopefully limit the numbers of gaps that emerge as we move forward.

(b) What needs to be improved?
We must try to move away from elimination of the sex industry based on moral feelings on it and work towards protection of sex industry employees and communities dealing with the disruptive street level trade. We must try to include all perspectives when considering any actions which may impact the sex industry.

Accessibility to information about how to legally engage in sex industry businesses must be supported. Information related to occupational health and safety for workers, info on being an ethical business owner and info on how to be an ethical and considerate consumer must be promoted. As it stands city business licensing staff are left to answer questions and make decisions affecting our industry and do not have enough knowledge to inform people of their rights, the benefits or the risks of engaging in the sex industry.

(c) What are the gaps?

City policies and practices currently don’t seem to take a clear position as far as sex industry inclusion. All throughout the by-laws for instance there are moral statements and exclusionist terms of licensing…ie-

Governance of Clubs within the City of Vancouver By-Law 2647

Section 13
It shall be unlawful for the manager of any Club within the City to knowingly suffer or permit any prostitute or person evil repute to enter or remain upon the club premises.

Or….

By-law 5156

A by-law to prohibit the carrying on of sundry businesses, trades, professions and other occupations;
1.”nude encounters”- or synonymous word or phrase
2.”out call” body massage service
3.”erotic telephone call” service

We must establish a starting point from which sex industry stake holders can defend themselves from actions taken from a moral stand point. Clear and concise policies and procedures for fair treatment of sex industry business owners, workers and consumers by city agents or employees.



(5) Given the mandate and jurisdiction of municipal governments, what role(s) do you think the City of Vancouver should play in
(a) addressing sex trade issues (in general);

Vancouver should be working towards an open and transparent environment between them selves and local sex industry community members. Only through a clear, well defined and transparent process will we be able to protect long standing safe work environments, eliminate areas where exploitation is occurring and stem the tide of workers forced to work in the dangerous and disorderly street level trade.

We must as a city take responsibility for allowing the dangerous street trade to evolve.

Labor Standards and occupational health and safety have been the rights of Canadian Workers for over 100 years. The sex industry and its workers have however never enjoyed the privileges of being acknowledged for providing a safe work space or been able to complain about dangerous conditions. This has forced the system at large to impose what it believes is right for sex industry workers with disastrous results for decades in the BC/Yukon region.

In the Vancouver area from the 1920’s all the way up until the early 1970’s the sex industry enjoyed peaceful and profitable times. The industry for the most part existed in what were called “Supper Clubs” where a lonely gentleman could be entertained with a nice diner, an escort to keep him company, and a Las Vegas style exotic dance performance. Dancers, escorts, cigarette girls, waitresses, and bartenders all worked together under one roof. A community where everyone worked within their own physical boundaries and relative to today in safe, stable and supportive work environments. In 1973, the Penthouse Show Lounge was shut down and the owners, the Philiponi Family, charged with living off of the avails of prostitution for allowing the escorts to come to the club to meet customers.

As a result, NO supper club owners in Vancouver were willing to work with escorts anymore. Immediately, the visible street level trade in Vancouver emerged and the first recorded murder of a sex worker in Vancouver took place, a direct result of a well meant action taken without clear understanding of the sex industry and without any consultation with the community affected sex workers.

In 1985 the federal criminal code law revisions governing sex work had equally disastrous effects seeing the mortality rate of Vancouver sex workers jump 500%. In 1990/91 the City of Vancouver threatened Downtown Eastside Hotel owners with criminal charges and the loss of their businesses for allowing sex workers to use hotels rooms on an hourly basis. The hourly room rentals allowed sex workers to be safe and at least wash after entertaining a client but with the City applying pressure the hotel owners were no longer willing to do business with sex workers.

This left nowhere for sex workers to meet their clients except for the dark, isolated industrial area down by the Port of Vancouver. The number of sex workers going missing jumped sharply in that year and since 2 serial murders have been arrested for killing and torturing Vancouver sex workers. Once again a direct result of a well meant action causing prolific harm to Vancouver sex workers through the loss of this relatively safe work environment.

Recently the targeting of Health Enhancement Centers and increased enforcement against Exotic Show Lounges has once again jeopardized the safety of Sex Industry Workers. The need for a community based process through which the sex industry can govern itself and have input to it’s future and stability has never been more urgent.

We as a community must remember where we've come from, how we are all connected, that together we are stronger and can reclaim peace and stability for ourselves and future generations.


(b) street sex work?

No solution will be instant or complete. It’s taken 100 years for vancouver’s sex industry to become as unstable as it is. We must ensure the continuum of supports remain in place to serve casualties of sex industry prohibition. Exiting opportunities, counselling, housing and access to health care as outlined in LIC report/ action plan.

(6) Referring to your answer for (5), what do you think the priority areas of action are for the City government?

- to create clear policies and procedures for ethical treatment of sex industry community members and ensuring inclusion in any future actions related to sex industry and it’s stability.
-
- to initiate a revision of all city by laws in partnership with all stake holders that reflect a “spirit of inclusion” and ensure fair treatment for businesses or individuals engaging in vancouver’s sex industry.
-
- to develop material related to/ embrace material already produced by the sex industry related to occupational health and safety for employees and material specific to business owners and consumers who wish to engage in the sex industry in an ethical manner. Ie- Trade Secrets project funded by vch- we are almost done…
-
- Communications……
- To ensure all city departments are aware of new policies and their “spirit of inclusion”
- To ensure sex industry community members are aware of new city policies and procedures and their “spirit of inclusion”
-
- To ensure a fair process for sex industry businesses under scrutiny by the city based on a morale judgement of the type of business they run but who engage in legal sex industry businesses such as exotic show lounges, adult film theatres, escort services, sex toy stores, etc. and make sure no targeting by city staff of such legal and legitimate businesses based on morality occurs.
-
- To develop an all community stakeholders complaints process (Sex Industry Review Board) for governing the sex industry in Vancouver to hear complaints related to bad business practices, bad working conditions, exploitation of youth, trafficking in persons, complaints against city employees unfairly targeting sex industry business owners…etc to ensure balanced action is taken in cases where required but industry stability is respected. Including but not limited to; criminal justice, sex industry community, residents representative, support services and mainstream business owners representatives, city staff, NIST
-
- To encourage city staff to pressure other levels of government to implement permanent funding for sex worker supports and where necessary bring to attention of council any potential problems or issues arising from lack of funding, lack of support or political agendas of other levels of government.

 

[treveller]

Payback

Susi, the passed motion and questions from the City look like a good start for the payback on the work you have been doing. Congratulations.

Your responses are excellent.

I assume "COV" is City of Vancouver?

 

[susi]

yup city of vancouver....tanx babe!!

 

[susi]

bump!!

i am meeting city staff at 1 o'clock to begin this process.

i will keep people updated!!

love susie

 

[susi]

well, it went really well. they were totally receptive!!
social planning, vpd and business licensing were all in attendance and everyone agrees on an inclusive process. it will be over a few months so nothing immediate and i will be sure to keep everyone updatd on progress or potential problems. i will also let everyone know when the consultation on bylaw revisions will take place.

love susie

 

[vanboy0]

so why doesn't City Council want Madame Cleos to reopen before the Olympics?

 

[susi]

what are you talking about?if there is a problem, tell me and i will advocate. if they are being stalled, that's unacceptable. if the madame cleo's need representation at the city, please tell them to contact me.

susie