Wow! What a conversation! We started out talking about the physical and digital archives of sex worker assets that have been collected by Jelena and are housed at the Hamilton Library for the benefit of sex workers and our allies. Then we talked about several very sensitive subjects that most people don’t discuss because it causes confrontation, including the division during COVID, medical transition of children, addiction on the streets and in our communities, and discrimination in health care. This woman is a brilliant, compassionate, driver of change. I am absolutely honoured and grateful to call her a friend.

Jelena Vermilion is the Founder and Executive Director of SWAP Hamilton which stands for Sex Worker’s Action Program. She is an award-winning sex worker and advocate of over a decade. Jelena has been featured in several national media outlets advocating for the decriminalization of the sale/trade of sexual services and the repeal of PCEPA / Bill C-36. She provides professional best practices workshop trainings and public speaking engagements for organizations and agencies who wish to affirm the rights and dignity of sex workers. She also advocates more broadly for marginalized women, intersex and non-binary folks, particularly those living with or at risk of contracting HIV. She is a consultant with Trans Pulse Canada and has helped co-author academic articles and research reports for community members and policymakers, as well as guest lecturing at multiple universities.

We’ve been following each other on socials for years and finally met in 2022 at the Answers Assembly Conference in Edmonton where Jelena, out of everyone, made me feel safe and welcomed in an environment where I had a lot of anxiety. I was coming out of the trauma of covid and didn’t trust anyone at the time. But Jelena invited me to sit with her and included me at every opportunity. It really meant a lot.

www.rightsnotrescue.ca

www.isis-intrepid.com

Twitter: @Isisintrepid

Twitter: @SWAPHamilton

Twitter: @SexWorkerFestCanada

Twitter: @Rights_not_resc