Whore’s Manifesto Vancouver Launch Event

Join us at Massy Books as Kay Kassirer reads from “A Whore’s Manifesto: An Anthology of Writing and Artwork by Sex Work.”

Sex work was once thought to be anathema to women’s liberation. Now, to some, we represent the tenacity of women’s struggles under patriarchy and capitalism—that is, at least, the white, straight, cis, able-bodied sex workers who don’t engage in actual sex with clients. These are the workers who get the glossy media profiles and get touted as feminist icons. But the red umbrella is wide and covers so many: escorts, sugar babies, strippers, session wrestlers, cam performers, fetish models, DIY queer porn stars, and the full range of gender, race, and ability. Our work and our identities are as vast and variable as the spectrum of sexuality itself. We do the work. In the streets, in the clubs, in hotel rooms, and in play party dungeons. We make dreams come true so we can afford a place to sleep. We do business in a marketplace that politicians and police are constantly burning down for our “own safety and dignity.” We have high heels and higher anxiety. This isn’t a collection of sob stories of heartbroken whores. This is a testament of life at ground zero of sexual discourse, the songs of canaries in the coal mines of sex, gender, class, race, and disability. We may dance on the table, but we still demand our seat at it. Sex workers of the world unite. This is A Whore’s Manifesto.

Kay Kassirer (they/them) is a poet, activist, youth advocate, community organizer, and sex worker. They have toured internationally with the chapbooks Confessions of a Queer and Unbandage the Wounds, and have earned their place on several competitive final stages – notably the Capturing Fire International Queer Slam (2016), the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (2016, 2017), and the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word where they placed third nationally (2018). Kay currently resides on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations – colonially known as Vancouver.

This event is taking place on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tseil-Waututh Nations.

Massy Books’ downstairs event space is accessible! You can view the floorplan here: http://www.massybooks.com/accessibility/
Please feel free to reach out with any inquiries.

Massy Books is easily accessible by transit! Close to the 22, 3, 8 and 19 bus lines at Main and Georgia/Gore and Georgia. There is metered street parking along Georgia, or lot parking at the Sun Wah Centre around the corner (268 Keefer)