Intimate Access
Nominated by Alison Barnett, Component 1, PHSP
I am writing to nominate INTIMATE ACCESS – a small collective of sex workers, disability justice-informed organizers and our co-conspirators based on lək̓ʷəŋən Traditional Territory. Intimate Access is an accessibility-focused, community-driven project aimed at facilitating peer-led advocacy, education & financial relief for chronically-ill & disabled sex workers living & working on Vancouver Island. Intimate Access seeks to promote much needed solidarity between the disability community and the sex worker community, both of which face intersecting challenges and systemic barriers that often go unrecognized or unaddressed due to societal stigmas and misconceptions. They hope to bridge this divide by creating a platform for mutual understanding, collaboration and coalition. By fostering dialogue and building trust, they believe that they can amplify common goals of autonomy, dignity, and justice.
Sick & disabled sex workers are at a compounded risk of isolation stemming from whorephobia, stigma, ableism & eugenic state policies, all of which can push workers further into the shadows in an effort to avoid being outed and/or doxed. Medically high-risk sex workers who’ve been shut out of society due to COVID-19 minimization and pandemic denialism makes attending in-person events inaccessible. Intimate Access offers a more accessible way of being in community and fostering connection that doesn’t put workers at an increased risk of exposure while doing so. The CUPE Social Justice fund would enable Intimate Access to offer more skill shares to their members, at this time they desire to offer more online skillshares ranging from applying for the disability tax credit to creating comics together.
Thank you for your consideration,
Alison Barnett
