Vermont event Archives - Decriminalize Sex Work

Coffee With a Sex Worker

On February 5, members of The Ishtar Collective (TIC) launched Coffee With a Sex Worker with their first event at Muddy Waters Cafe in Burlington, Vermont. Henri Bynx, community engagement consultant at Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) and co-founder/co-director of TIC, was a host at the event.

Coffee With a Sex Worker is an ongoing series of events during which TIC will meet with community members to talk about sex work and their mission to advocate for sex worker rights, support survivors of human trafficking, and provide mutual aid for members of their community.

The aim of the events is to demystify sex workers in Vermont by providing a safe point of outreach to sex workers, as well as to compassionately invite dialogue around community concerns and sex work.

TIC member Elle R., who was involved in organizing the event, said the following.

“Sex workers are so stigmatized and dehumanized by society that for us to come out and meet folks for open conversations and dialog around consensual sex work is so important. We become relatable people with rich and diverse lives who deserve rights, respect, and safety in our work. Coffee with a sex worker was such a great event that allowed us to come together, engage with the public and give them a real perspective on what we do and how they can help support us.”

The next Coffee With a Sex Worker event will be held on March 3 at Muddy Waters Cafe in Burlington from 1:00-3:00 PM. All are welcome to attend.

Stop Violence in the Sex Trades Act Reintroduced in New York

February 1, 2023 Senator Julia Salazar has introduced Senate Bill S4396, or the Stop Violence in the Sex Trades Act (SVSTA) in New York. The bill would decriminalize consensual adult prostitution...

Research Finds No Correlation Between Super Bowl and Human Trafficking

February 23, 2023 Fears that large sporting events fuel spikes in rates of human trafficking are unfounded. Every February, the rumor that the Super Bowl is a giant human trafficking hub...

San Francisco Supervisor Issues Statement Calling for Legalization of Sex Work

February 14, 2023 San Francisco officials have installed barricades along Capp Street in the city’s Mission District in an effort to suppress street-based sex work. Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who represents the...

Coffee With a Sex Worker

February 5, 2023 On February 5, members of The Ishtar Collective (TIC) launched Coffee With a Sex Worker with their first event at Muddy Waters Cafe in Burlington, Vermont. Henri Bynx,...

DSW Newsletter Archive

DSW Co-Hosts Anti-Trafficking Event in VT

DSW partnered with The Ishtar Collective (TIC), a local sex worker rights organization in VT, to host a luncheon in Montpelier that brought together state legislators, advocates, sex workers, and trafficking survivors from around the northeast U.S. The event, “Sex Work vs. Trafficking,” centered on a recent VT bill (H.568), which TIC and DSW collaborated on with Representatives Maxine Grad (D-Washington 7) and Selene Colburn (P-Chittenden 6-4), who sponsored the legislation.

This bill would provide limited immunity from criminal prosecution for individuals who are a “victim of or witness to a crime that arose from his or her involvement in human trafficking.” Individuals would be able to report such crimes to law enforcement without fearing arrest or other punitive action. It would also create a Sex Work Study Committee that would review the current state laws governing prostitution to modernize them to promote human rights, public health, and safety for all. Although the legislation passed the House in February of this year, it later died in the Senate.

Despite this setback, DSW was incredibly encouraged by the thoughtfulness of advocates and legislators who participated in the event and are hopeful about the bill’s prospects for the next session. J. Leigh Brantly of TIC and DSW spearheaded the event, with TIC’s Henri Tolbert and DSW’s Frances Steele, Melissa Broudo, Crystal DeBoise, and Kaytlin Bailey all joining remotely to facilitate a discussion of how to identify and fight trafficking, build coalitions to support legislation, and more. Organizational allies from NH were also in attendance, and DSW lobbyist Adam Necrason joined to discuss momentum moving forward. Thank you to all who made this special event possible!

DSW Newsletter Archive

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 human trafficking local to VT. Through advocacy, direct services, and community education, the collective supports the intersectional issues of sex work, LGBTQIA+, race, class, gender, and disability equity.

The organization’s launch party was a five-hour-long, live-streamed music festival that raised money for sex workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lineup included musicians from around the world, as well as presentations on timely policy issues by activists and service providers. Mosaic Vermont, one of the state’s only sexual violence prevention and response organizations, co-sponsored the event. Johanna De Graffenreid, one of its directors, spoke about the importance of decriminalizing sex work in creating a world free of sexual violence. DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey led an irreverent and informative discussion about sex work and the history of Ishtar.

“The Ishtar Collective is the only organization made up of current and former sex workers and survivors in the state of Vermont,” said Brantly following the launch. “We are here to support our communities, both rural and urban. We are working directly with state legislators and anti-violence organizations to have our voices heard and fight against labor exploitation.” The Ishtar Collective is collaborating with state Reps. Selene Colburn (P-Burlington) and Diana Gonzalez (P-Winooski) to pass a bill to create a study commission on the impact of different decriminalization models on the health and safety of sex workers. After that bill is passed, the organization will collaborate with Rep. Colburn on another piece of legislation — repealing the criminalization of adult, consensual sex work in VT.

To support the work of The Ishtar Collective, please visit their donation page here.

Category: Vermont event

February 5, 2023

Emma R., Skylar Axel, Christine R., and Henri Bynx pose for a photo at Muddy Waters Cafe in Burlington, Vermont.

Stop Violence in the Sex Trades Act Reintroduced in New York

Research Finds No Correlation Between Super Bowl and Human Trafficking

San Francisco Supervisor Issues Statement Calling for Legalization of Sex Work

Coffee With a Sex Worker

DSW Newsletter Archive

September 22, 2020

(Photo: DSW/Instagram, 2020)

Luncheon attendees gather for a group photo after the event. (Photo: TIC, 2020)

DSW and TIC members enjoy a socially-distanced drink and dinner to celebrate following the luncheon. (Photo: DSW, 2020)

DSW Newsletter Archive

June 9, 2020

Henri (left) and J. Leigh Brantly, co-founders of The Ishtar Collective, introduce the collective’s Coming Out Livestream Music Festival and Fundraiser. (Photo: DSW, 2020)

J. Leigh Brantly and Kaytlin Bailey discuss Kaytlin’s presentation on the history of sex worker rights and Ishtar.

The Ishtar Collective’s launch raised funds for sex workers who have lost their livelihoods because of the COVID pandemic.

Closing out the event, state Reps. Selene Colburn (left) and Diana Gonzalez (right) led a discussion on the intersectional realities of how laws related to sex work impact our lives.

DSW Newsletter Archive

February 5, 2023

Emma R., Skylar Axel, Christine R., and Henri Bynx pose for a photo at Muddy Waters Cafe in Burlington, Vermont.

DSW Newsletter #45 (February 2023)

September 22, 2020

(Photo: DSW/Instagram, 2020)

Luncheon attendees gather for a group photo after the event. (Photo: TIC, 2020)

DSW and TIC members enjoy a socially-distanced drink and dinner to celebrate following the luncheon. (Photo: DSW, 2020)

DSW Newsletter #19 (October 2020)

June 9, 2020

Henri (left) and J. Leigh Brantly, co-founders of The Ishtar Collective, introduce the collective’s Coming Out Livestream Music Festival and Fundraiser. (Photo: DSW, 2020)

J. Leigh Brantly and Kaytlin Bailey discuss Kaytlin’s presentation on the history of sex worker rights and Ishtar.

The Ishtar Collective’s launch raised funds for sex workers who have lost their livelihoods because of the COVID pandemic.

Closing out the event, state Reps. Selene Colburn (left) and Diana Gonzalez (right) led a discussion on the intersectional realities of how laws related to sex work impact our lives.

DSW Newsletter #15 (June 2020)