Grant #254

SF BAY BAD DATE LIST

July 24, 2017

Fearlessly protecting and empowering a vulnerable community.

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.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT AWESOMENESS!

After 11+ years, we’re signing off and closing applications for good. We’ve supported 571 projects with $571,000 in grant dollars. We’re so proud to have celebrated such incredible work. Please visit https://www.awesomefoundation.org/ for more information on other AWESOME chapters! And thanks for sharing so much awesomeness with us.

Cheers,
Team Awesome Without Borders