From the Village: Chanelle Gallant on the 23rd anniversary of the Pussy Palace raid.
The 519: On September 14, 2000, Pussy Palace – a bathhouse event for women and trans folks – was getting into full swing…. That night, the party – held at Club Toronto, the space known today as Oasis Aqualounge – met a similar fate other establishments had recently endured when they were raided by police…
Sex Work, Policing, and Border Abolition
For over a century, Western states have scapegoated Asian migrant sex working women as “temptations” or victims to justify tighter borders, anti-immigrant restrictions and more policing–yet these workers have been left out of social movements. We explore how solidarity with migrant sex workers can strengthen movements for migrant justice, and the abolition of police, prisons, borders and racial capitalism.
‘When we organize together, we win,’ Queer activists share their experiences during the Toronto bathhouse raids and remind us why we need Pride
Now Toronto: In honour of Pride 2023, Queer & Now spoke with several of the people involved in various protests against bathhouse raids that took place in the GTA.
London School of Economics Symposium: Alternative readings of care, coercion, pleasure, & labour
Locating Sex Work in Conversations on Care
Fighting Fascism within Feminism: Sex-Worker Feminist Activism
Anti-sex work “feminists” are well-organized, funded and legitimized right-wing forces. Join sex worker activists as we discuss the TERF agenda and how leftists can fight the sneaky forms of fascism that today pose as “feminism”.
Fighting Fascism within Feminism: Trans Feminist Activism
Hate and exclusion of sex workers and trans people is not a feminist position; it's a threat to democracy and justice for everyone. Join sex worker and trans activists thinkers in conversation on how leftist feminists are fighting the sneaky forms of fascism that today pose as “feminism”.
Top Ten Reasons Why Defunding the Police is Good for the Health of Marginalized Communities
What does LGBT2S+ health-care have to do with defunding the police?
Women at centre of Pussy Palace bathhouse raid decry Myron Demkiw's appointment as Toronto's next police chief
CTV News: Chanelle Gallant is one of two original members of the Toronto Women's Bathhouse Committee, Along with JP Hornick, she has created an open letter to Toronto Mayor John Tory and TPS Board Chair Jim Hart opposing the appointment of Myron Demkiw as the city's next chief of police.
Women impacted by 2000 bathhouse raid voice opposition to new police chief
Toronto Star: Group of women affected by the crackdown — described as a “flagrant” violation of charter rights — writes open letter to mayor and TPS board members decrying Myron Demkiw’s appointment
AWID Feminist Festival: Prison Isn’t Feminist - Exploring the impact and alternatives to reliance on police and incarceration
Presented with Kai Cheng Thom
Sexual Liberation, Racialized Capitalism and Patriarchal Violence
What is the role of sexual liberation in the fight against racialized capitalism and patriarchal violence? Presented with Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson and M. Adams.
SURJ National: White Backlash - Why it happens and how we fight
The far right mob storming the US Capitol building on January 6th caused outrage across the world, but this kind of event is part of a long history of white organized backlash to Black-led struggle and victories. Join Showing Up for Racial Justice to learn more about this historical trend and to join the work of fighting back.
Columbia School of Law: From Criminalization To Liberation -Organizing Migrant Sex Workers Across Oceans
Why do so many people assume that migrant sex workers are all victims of human trafficking? What would it take to move from a "criminalization approach" to migrant sex work to a liberatory approach?
Charging incels with terrorism won’t protect sex workers
NOW Magazine: Channelle Gallant, fundraising director at Butterfly: Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network, says, “I have been working with and advocating alongside migrant sex workers for years now and none of them have ever expressed the need for the protection from a federal counter-terrorism unit. But they have been very clear about the need for better labour and human rights protections in their workplaces.”
TRANScend/TRANSform: A Teach-In with Trans Folks and Allies
Another Story Books, in collaboration with The 519, organized a teach-in about trans folks and allyship, as a response to transphobic actions at major institutions within the unceded indigenous territories currently known as Toronto.
Want to figure out the rules of sexual consent? Ask sex workers
The Washington Post: Negotiating consent is central to the actual work of sex work.
Decolonizing Solidarity
Conversation and filk screening with Leanne Simpson, Zainab Amadahy, Chanelle Gallant and special guest, Kerieva McCormick Glasgow-based Romani activist. Moderated by Carol Lynne D'Arcanglis and emceed by Sheryl Lindsay.
Will the Backpage Shutdown Make Sex Workers Less Safe?
Esquire Magazine: Women in the industry say now they'll have no choice but to work the streets.
Why these queer women stand in solidarity with gay men opposing Project Marie
Xtra: On Nov 30, 2016, Xtra Spark received this letter from a group of LGBTQ women in Toronto, demanding accountability from police and elected officials for the recent Project Marie sting operation.
Was Apology From Toronto Police to LGBT Community Too Late?
The Advocate: Pride Toronto's clash with Black Lives Matter brought up some old skeletons in the closet of the city's LGBT history.