Buying Sex is Not a Sport
We are in solidarity with women both inside and outside of the sex industry. This campaign is to challenge and impact the male demand for sexual access to women's bodies.
Buying Sex Is Not a Sport is a grassroots campaign to raise awareness and effect change around sex trafficking and the 2010 Olympic games. The demand for sexual access to the bodies of women and children fuels human trafficking. Women and children in Metro Vancouver and Whistler are routinely coerced into the flesh trade to meet this demand, and a large sporting event such as the 2010 Olympics will only further exploitation through a rise in the demand for paid sex.
Demand is an issue we have already flagged in Canada and have been working against for years.
The very workings of human trafficking are a market-based model of supply and demand. There is an uncontrolled male demand for sexual access to the bodies of women (and children) and the supply for this demand is met through violating the dignity of women. It is our conviction that in order to stem the tide of human trafficking we must end the demand for paid sex. Demand flourishes in an atmosphere of anonymity.
This campaign will spread the message broadly through community-based public forums, postering campaigns, t-shirts, buttons and your creative ideas. Join our Facebook group as well!
Buying Sex Is Not a Sport is organized and supported by a broad base of community members including formerly prostituted women, feminists, faith-based organizations, Aboriginal women's groups, teachers, activists, frontline workers, students, anti-capitalists, academics, and women currently exploited in the sex industry both locally and globally.
If you are coming to Vancouver for the Games, don't buy sex.
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Buying Sex Is Not a Sport is coordinating several silent direct actions during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. All will be held in public spaces and marked by peaceful action. Come join us as we stand together for the dignity of women!
Contact us at marylee@embracedignity.org if you are interested in participating. Each participant will need to be wearing a Buying Sex Is Not a Sport t-shirt (available below).
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February 21: BSNS Seen at the Games!
Olympic fans streaming to the arena for the men's hockey face-off between the USA and Canada were greeted by silent, peaceful witnesses for the dignity of women and against the male demand for paid sex. Partipants stood along a fence wearing bright t-shirts in Olympic colours emblazoned with teh message, "Buying Sex Is Not a Sport," and holding signs saying, "Men: Don't Buy Women" and "For Prostitutes, Against Prostitution."
Leaflets with a brief explanation of how the demand for paid sex is based on gender inequality and fuels the exploitation of women were handed out upon request. Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of the action was the spirit of love and nonviolence that infused such a powerful critique of gender-based violence.
Buying Sex Is Not a Sport is organized and supported by a broad base of community members including formerly prostituted women, feminists, faith-based organizations, Aboriginal women's groups, teachers, activists, frontline workers, students, anti-capitalists, academics, and women currently exploited in the sex industry both locally and globally.
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Recently tweeted by someone walking by...
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February 13: Action at the No. 5 Orange against the male demand for paid sex. We stand in silent solidarity with the women inside and outside of the club.
Buying Sex Is Not a Sport!
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Hussein Ev A-slam wrote and produced this song and made a video about sex trafficking. What are you doing to engage in Buying Sex Is Not a Sport?
Hussein Ev A-slam rockin his shirt on stage during his performance!!
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Join us for our Buying Sex Is Not a Sport forums at various locations throughout Metro Vancouver.
October 14, 4-6pm
University of British Columbia
Sponsors: UBC Faculty of Law and REED (Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity)
Location: Geography 200, 1984 West Mall
Panelists:
Janine Benedet - UBC Faculty of Law
Cherry Smiley - Aboriginal Womens' Action Network (AWAN)
Michelle Miller - Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity (REED)
Trisha Baptie - Experiential Voices Educating (EVE)
Lee Lakeman - Candian Association of Sexual Assault Centres
October 21, 7-9pm
Edmonton
Sponsors: Sherwood Park Alliance Church and Alberta Coaltion Against Human Trafficking (ACT)
Location: Sherwood Park Alliance Church, 1011 Cloverbar Road
Panelists:
Michelle Miller - Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity (REED)
Trisha Baptie - Experiential Voices Educating (EVE)
Cherry Smiley - Aboriginal Womens' Action Network (AWAN)
November 4, 12:30-2:30pm
Simon Fraser University
Location: MBC Atrium Cafeteria, Burnaby Campus
Panelists:
Janine Benedet - UBC Faculty of Law
Michelle Miller - Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity (REED)
Trisha Baptie - Experiential Voices Educating (EVE)
Aboriginal Womens' Action Network (AWAN)
Daisy Kler - Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter
November 18, 7-9pm
North Vancouver
Sponsor: Vancouver Archdiocese
Location: St. Stephens Church, 1350 24th Street, North Vancouver
Panelists:
Michelle Miller - Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity (REED)
Trisha Baptie - Experiential Voices Educating (EVE)
Ben Perrin - UBC Faculty of Law
Aaron White - 614 Vancouver
November 27, 7-9pm
East Vancouver
Sponsor: Grandview Calvary Baptist Church
Location: 1801 E. 1st Ave. (1st and Salsbury)
Panelists:
Michelle Miller - Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity (REED)
Trisha Baptie - Experiential Voices Educating (EVE)
Aboriginal Womens' Action Network (AWAN)
January 19, 7-9pm
SURREY
Relate Church
6788 - 152 Street
Surrey, BC V3S 3L4
Panelists:
Trisha Baptie - Experiential Voices Educating (EVE)
Aboriginal Womens' Action Network (AWAN)
Craig Greenfield, Servants Vancouver
Michelle Miller - Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity (REED)
January 22, 7-9pm
DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER
First Baptist Church
969 Burrard St.
Vancouver, BC
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y1
Panelists:
AWAN, Aboriginal Women's Action Network
Michelle Miller, REED (Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity)
Trisha Baptie, EVE (Exploited Voices Educating)
Aaron White, 614 Vancouver
January 30, 8pm
DOWNTOWN TORONTO
Walmer Road Baptist Church
188 Lowther Ave.
Toronto, ON M5R 1E8
Panelists:
Trisha Baptie, EVE (Exploited Voices Educating)
Michelle Miller, REED (Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity)
Cherry Smiley - AWAN (Aboriginal Womens' Action Network)
February 1, 8pm
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Health Sciences Building
155 College Street
6th Floor, Room 610
Panelists:
Janine Benedet, UBC Law Faculty
Trisha Baptie, EVE (Exploited Voices Educating)
Michelle Miller, REED (Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity)
Cherry Smiley - AWAN (Aboriginal Womens' Action Network)
Spread the Buying Sex Is Not a Sport message….purchase buttons and t-shirts through our PayPal store:
Order Buttons:
* Non-local button orders will be mailed on March 1, 2010*
Buttons are $1.00/each, ordered in bulk amounts. All orders will consist of assorted sizes (1.25”, 1.5” and 2.25”) and colours (Green, Blue, Red):
Assorted Buttons: [Add to Cart]
Order T-Shirts:
$15.00 each
T-shirts are available in three colours (Green, Blue, Red), and in men's sizing only (Alstyle, fit is on the small side). Shipping costs are automatically included in the PayPal check-out, all items are shipped Ground Service. Estimated Time of Arrival 3 - 9 business days from date of shipment. All prices are in CDN dollars.
| Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | |
| T-shirt - Green | Sold Out |
Add to Cart | Add to Cart | Add to Cart |
| T-shirt - Blue | Sold Out |
Add to Cart | Add to Cart | Sold Out |
| T-shirt - Red | Sold Out |
Add to Cart | Add to Cart | Add to Cart |
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* Shipping costs: (Ground Service) 1 shirt = $4, 2-5 shirts = $6, 6-20 shirts = $10
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Order Stickers:
(details coming soon)
10 Things You Can Do Today…
Address the brokenness in your own life.
Oppose the legalization (or total decriminalization) of prostitution.
Support gender equality and human dignity in your daily life.
Directly ask the men in your life if they pay or sex.
Challenge those who make sexist "jokes".
Educate others about human trafficking.
Question the norm of "sex for sale".
Seek freedom from a lifestyle of consumerism.
Support groups working with trafficked persons.
Advocate for laws to decriminalize the selling of sex and criminalize the buying of sex.
Campaign Resources
"It's Just Like Going to the Supermarket." - Report from CWASU
"Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons" - Sigma Huda
"Faster, Higher, Stronger" - Trafficking and the 2010 Oympic Games
"Prostitution: Violating The Human Rights of Poor Women" - Shelagh Day
Community Forums
You will be engaged through film and narrative from women who have exited prostitution, frontline workers, Aboriginal women, men who have contributed to the demand for paid sex or are willing to speak out from the male perspective, feminists, Christ followers and academics. After the forum you are encouraged to engage in a variety of meaningful actions to deter the demand for paid sex and stand for the dignity of marginalized women and children.
Postering Campaign
Order Buying Sex Is Not a Sport posters and do a postering campaign in your area.
Contact us if you are interested!
michelle@embracedignity.org