BeeBeeGunns, emcee and organizer with the Sex Workers Outreach Project, sings, leads chants, and hypes up the crowd through the streets of downtown Minneapolis.
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On a humid and rainy Sunday afternoon, a small but mighty parade made its way down the streets of downtown Minneapolis’ adult entertainment district, armed with colorful sex toys, water guns, glitter, and protest signs, marching down across the Hennepin Avenue Bridge and concluding in a pole-dancing contest in the park.
The march was a commemoration of ‘International Whores’ Day’, or International Sex Workers’ Day, a day to honor the dignity of sex work and demand increased protections. While the march was primarily a celebration, protesters also chanted for the decriminalization of sex work.
International Whores’ Day originated in Lyon, France, on June 2, 1975, when hundreds of sex workers occupied a plaza after the murders of two sex workers. The Lyon police had been increasingly pressuring sex workers to work in the margins, which the demonstrators argued led to increased violence and criminalization. The demonstrators in Minneapolis echoed similar sentiments, critical of the ways policing further endangers sex workers.
The march was led by the Minneapolis chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP MPLS), and supported by social justice and advocacy organizations including Black Visions, Our Justice, the Minneapolis Stripper Guild, and the New Moon Network, as well as local adult entertainment shops and venues including Venus Unveiled, SexWorld, and Rick’s Cabaret.
The emcee of the march, BeeBeeGunns, emphasized the importance of including sex workers of all kinds in the movement, from dancers and strippers, to full-service sex workers, sugar babies, OnlyFans content creators, dominatrixes, and more. The emcee added, “If you’ve ever sold a foot pic, you’re a sex worker!”, emphasizing the ubiquity of sex work. “Someone you know is a sex worker!” she chanted.
The marchers continued on through the rain, and concluded at Father Hennepin State Park, where there was a pole-dancing contest and variety show.
Lexi Collins, a sex worker and organizer with Black Visions and SWOP MPLS stressed the importance of the march as a worker rights struggle: “Sex workers desire the same respect as any other worker. So many industries are making money off our work but they can’t provide a safe environment. I have to make sure that our voices are heard.”
Isabela Escalona
The “Dancing in the Streets” march began in front of SexWorld, a sex shop in downtown Minneapolis and one of the co-sponsors of the event.
Isabela Escalona
A sign reads, “No Bad Whores, Just Bad Laws” a call to decriminalize sex work and decrease stigma and end the criminalization of sex workers.
Isabela Escalona
Marchers gather before the start of the parade. The event was celebratory, filled with singing and dancing.
Isabela Escalona
Sex workers and allies convened before the parade, many dressed in bikini clad outfits, cowgirl hats, adorned with rhinestones, glitter, and sparkles.
Isabela Escalona
A parade-goer waves at the camera as marchers convene in downtown Minneapolis. Many passerbys stop to take photos, show support, honk their horns, and dance with the marchers.
Isabela Escalona
A marcher holds a sign that reads “Honk! If you love strippers” with a high heeled, leopard pleaser shoe drawn on. Many cars passing by showed their support for the parade.
Isabela Escalona
A hot pink truck with a purple sex toy attached trailed the parade, offering a cool, dry place for marchers to take a break and help block traffic.
Isabela Escalona
BeeBeeGunns, emcee and organizer with the Sex Workers Outreach Project, sings, leads chants, and hypes up the crowd through the streets of downtown Minneapolis.
Isabela Escalona
The parade was joyful and celebratory in its tone, while also demanding decriminalization of sex work. Marchers held pink umbrellas that read “Decrim MN.”
Isabela Escalona
Along the march route, the parade stopped for various dance breaks.
Isabela Escalona
A marcher’s sign reads “Rights, not rescue” over an illustration of a cherry. Attendees emphasized the needs for worker protections, rather than outsiders swooping in to “save” them or push them to leave the profession.
Isabela Escalona
The marchers block traffic and make their way across Hennepin Avenue Bridge, one of the busier corridors of downtown Minneapolis.
Isabela Escalona
A protest sign reads “Support Sluts” while the parade made its way across Father Hennepin Bridge. Many allies, including the spouses and family members of sex workers, were in attendance to show support for their loved ones.