If you grew up in church, you probably met Mary as a porcelain figure in a nativity scene - head bowed, hands folded, bathed in blue light and docile silence. But that sanitized version leaves out the real scandal of her story.

For more than two decades, December 17 has stood as a beacon of remembrance and resistance - the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

December 17 is a day of remembrance - but it has always been more than mourning.

If we want to end violence against sex workers, we need to start following the money.

Solidarity is not abstract - it’s something you practice.

The Power of Creation in the Face of Erasure Art has always been one of the fiercest weapons of survival for sex workers. When our histories are erased, art rewrites them. When the world refuses to see us, art makes us visible. When grief threatens to swallow us whole, art transforms it into something we can hold, share, and use to fight back. On December 17, as we remember those taken by violence, we also honor the beauty and power that emerge from within our communities - t

For many sex workers, “family” is not a word that brings comfort. Too often, biological families, faith communities, and social institutions turn their backs on us. Some reject us for the work we do, others for our gender, sexuality, or survival choices. What’s left behind is a painful truth: sometimes, the people who were supposed to love us unconditionally are the first to abandon us.

In every conversation about sex work - whether it’s policy, research, or “rescue” - one question should guide us: who is speaking, and who is missing?

As we move toward December 17 - the 22nd Annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers - we remember those we’ve lost and honor the fight that continues.

Let’s be honest - love ain’t always what we see online. It’s not matching outfits, perfect smiles, or those “couple goals” reels that make everything look flawless.

Let’s talk about hunger.

What if the power to end violence wasn’t locked inside a politician’s office or a police budget - but sitting right in your hands?

The morning after the 2025 election feels a little like waking up after a storm - the sky’s clearer, but the debris is still everywhere.