In this episode we bust open the troll inspired myth that Marwa Elselehdar, the recent first female appointed sea captain in Egypt was NOT responsible for the Ever Given damn jam in our Patriarchy Alive and Well segment and then we are chatting with Jelena Vermilion from the Sex Workers Action Network (SWAN) Waterloo Region about their work within the Charter Challenge to the majority of sex work laws in Bill C-36. This is important work to ensure that women and gender diverse folks working in sex work receive the support and protection they need to stay safe in their work.
All about Jelena:
Jelena Vermilion (she/her) is a trans-femme full-service sex worker, porn performer, and activist of almost a decade, who lives with disabilities. She has limited experience being incarcerated, being homeless, working outdoors and on the street, and as an undocumented migrant. She now works primarily out of her rented residence. She has been featured in several national media outlets speaking about decriminalization.
Jelena is the Co-Chair of the Sex Workers Action Network (SWAN) Waterloo. She provides professional trainings and public speaking engagements for organizations and agencies who wish to affirm the rights and dignity of sex workers. Notably, Jelena has spoken at McMaster University’s School of Labour Studies and the University of Guelph’s School of Social Work.
In 2018, she was subpoenaed as an expert witness in the R v. Boodhoo case, a Constitutional Challenge to certain sex work laws in Canada.
As of March 30, 2021, SWAN Waterloo joined 24 other member groups from all over Canada along with the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform to launch another Charter Challenge to the majority of the sex work laws (Bill C-36) currently in place.
Episode Links:
Toolbox: What works for sex workers