DSW Supports Criminal Justice Reform Bills in New York
DSW’s Melissa Broudo and Frances Steele attended a rally in New York City supporting five state-level criminal justice reform bills that will be voted on — and hopefully passed — this legislative session. The rally featured impacted community members who shared personal experiences and state-wide data to explain the critical issues addressed by each bill….Continue reading DSW Supports Criminal Justice Reform Bills in New York
Fighting and Winning: Ceyenne Doroshow and the state of TGNCNB rights
DSW consultant, cornerstone figure of the transgender, nonconforming, nonbinary rights movement, and founder of Gays and Lesbians Living In a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.), Ceyenne Doroshow set out to raise a million dollars to support trans women of color last month. The fundraiser reached its goal in one short week and the momentum has not stopped. The…Continue reading Fighting and Winning: Ceyenne Doroshow and the state of TGNCNB rights
Black Lives Matter
Black people nationwide continue to be harassed and murdered by law enforcement, with little to no consequences. We know that this systemic disregard for Black lives is neither new nor accidental, but rather a symptom of the endemic racism that shapes the society we live in. The movement to decriminalize sex work is all too…Continue reading Black Lives Matter
Hero of the Month: Ceyenne Doroshow, Celebrating Pride Through Justice
DSW’s Hero of the Month for June is Ceyenne Doroshow — activist, organizer, and a cornerstone of the international sex worker and transgender, gender nonconforming, non-binary (TGNC) rights movements. Ceyenne, a Black transwoman, is also the founder and executive director of Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (GLITS) in NYC. GLITS helps to…Continue reading Hero of the Month: Ceyenne Doroshow, Celebrating Pride Through Justice
DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly Co-founds Sex Worker Group in Vermont
A new sex worker rights organization was co-founded in VT by J. Leigh Brantly of DSW, along with local human rights advocate Henri. The Ishtar Collective is the first-ever anti-trafficking and sex-worker-rights organization to be based in Vermont. The organization is run by and for current and former sex workers, industry allies, and survivors of…Continue reading DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly Co-founds Sex Worker Group in Vermont
International Whore’s Day 2020: Virtual and Vibrant
The 45th annual celebration of International Whore’s Day (IWD) departed from the usual, where sex workers and their allies don red attire and march through city streets across the country. This year, the IWDNYC Coalition collaborated with Kink Out Events to launch an online rally and social media takeover honoring protests for sex worker rights…Continue reading International Whore’s Day 2020: Virtual and Vibrant
DSW Debates Human Trafficking in the News
An opinion piece by DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey was published in the New Hampshire Union Leader in response to an opponent’s op-ed published days before. The original opinion piece was written by Jasmine Grace, a NH resident and trafficking survivor, who challenged the intentions of those, like DSW, who are fighting for legislation to defend the…Continue reading DSW Debates Human Trafficking in the News
“Six Feet Apart” Podcast With Alex Wagner Features J. Leigh Brantly
DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly was a guest on the Crooked Media podcast “Six Feet Apart With Alex Wagner,” discussing sex work amidst the pandemic. Six Feet Apart is a weekly show that explores every aspect of the human experience during COVID-19 and how people are surviving this extraordinary and life-defining event. In the episode “Sex,”…Continue reading “Six Feet Apart” Podcast With Alex Wagner Features J. Leigh Brantly
Lobbying in the Time of COVID?
DSW participated in Equality New York’s LGBTQI Virtual Day of Action. Community experts led panels and webinars on the movement’s policy priorities for this legislative session to improve the lives of LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families. After opening remarks from elected officials, including Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) and…Continue reading Lobbying in the Time of COVID?
DSW Joins Virtual Town Hall With Movement Experts
DSW’s Melissa Broudo and J. Leigh Brantly were featured in the latest edition of New Pride Agenda’s virtual town-hall series entitled, “Let’s Talk Sex & Sex Work.” The webinar brought together activists, policy experts, and community members to explore the economic and cultural impacts of social distancing for LGBTQ+ people in response to the COVID-19…Continue reading DSW Joins Virtual Town Hall With Movement Experts
DSW Participates in TGNC/NB Advocacy Day in NY
The New York State legislature is following social distancing protocol, and advocacy groups have organized virtual lobbying meetings to continue their activism. Through their work with the New York Gender Diversity Coalition and other organizations, DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly helped organize an historic day of activism. Transgender, Gender-Non Conforming, Non-Binary (TGNC/NB) Advocacy Day is an…Continue reading DSW Participates in TGNC/NB Advocacy Day in NY
Our Bodies, Our Labors, Our Streets: International Women’s Day in NYC
The International Women’s Strike, also known as Paró Internacional de Mujeres, is a global movement of coalitions in more than 50 countries, organizing around International Women’s Day each year. The movement began in 2017 to honor the work of women across the world, organizing against the criminalization of abortion, femicide, and gender-based violence. This year’s…Continue reading Our Bodies, Our Labors, Our Streets: International Women’s Day in NYC