SF BAY BAD DATE LIST

We know, we know, some people think that if a person’s work involves sex, that violence is just a condition of the job they have to accept. And it’s worse for those who are not white, who were not born in the USA, who are not heterosexual, who are trans, who are poor.

Today, we recognize that nobody deserves to be threatened, beaten, robbed, extorted, or otherwise assaulted. That’s why we think The SF Bay Bad Date List is so awesome. This initiative, launched by the St. James Infirmary, helps sex workers in and around the San Francisco Bay Area protect themselves — and each other.

Through the SF Bay Bad Date List, the sex work community shares information about the customers who violated the agreed-upon terms and boundaries of the exchange, the ones who treat sex workers like fair game for unfair treatment. Detailed physical descriptions warn others to steer clear and stay safe.

The SF Bay Bad Date List also helps create a network of support and sense of community. Sex workers are able to make anonymous reports of violence by phone, email, in-person, or online line in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

The Awesome Without Borders grant will support The SF Bay Bad Date List’s current infrastructure and help to expand their outreach. Curious? Check out their Facebook page.