Here's an article about the story. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/05/19/salvation-army-pulls-donation-campaign-over-depiction-sex-workers
It appears the Salvation Army was doing a fund raising drive using horrific images of sex workers as being abusive parents. They were contacted by people within the industry who told them it was offensive and the Salvation Army responded by withdrawing the campaign. This was not the first time the Salvation Army has done this either.
This is an ad that was used and pulled in 2009.
It appears the Salvation Army was doing a fund raising drive using horrific images of sex workers as being abusive parents. They were contacted by people within the industry who told them it was offensive and the Salvation Army responded by withdrawing the campaign. This was not the first time the Salvation Army has done this either.
This is an ad that was used and pulled in 2009.
This is a recent ad they used which they were asked to stop using in 2016.
This organizations and sex workers who asked the ads be withdrawn included the Sex Workers Outreach Project CEO Cameron Cox, the Australian Sex Worker Association, and the Scarlet Alliance.
Major Bruce Harmer is the man at the Salvation Army who made the decision to pull their "Red Sheild" campaign. He was told the use of the term "prostitute" vs. "sex worker" was not only "offensive", but that it might even prevent sex workers from seeking medical attention. But he reported the stories they were using, such as Rick's, were true stories of their work.
The campaign in 2009 was pulled after the Scarlet Alliance came to the luncheon launching the campaign to register their offense. http://swannet.org/node/1519
The 2016 campaign was pulled after a march upon the Salvation Army Headquarters in Sydney. https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/dating/soooo-why-are-sex-workers-protesting-against-the-s/a1813fa4-1673-47df-abb1-27f9d53e717f.htm
Miss Larabelle was on Twitter helping to organize the March https://twitter.com/MissLaraBelle
It's noted that at two fund raising campaigns - sex workers themselves were not present or involved. Their involvement had to be coming as protesters. In other words, this was not a "united" campaign of both the Salvation Army AND sex workers working together to find a solution. I also failed to see that the "Rick" they saved was involved personally. In other words, the Salvation Army was using his story to raise funds for their work which helped him.
We'd like to hear from you what you think about this use of images and words to raise money by the Salvation Army, or anyone for that matter. Do you find the use of the word "prostitute" instead of "sex worker" offensive? Remember - you can be a sex worker WITHOUT being a prostitute, but you can't be a prostitute without being a sex worker. So how do you as a sex worker feel when the word "prostitute" is used INTERCHANGEABLY with what you do?
We'd also like to hear what you think about the fact "Rick's" experience was Rick's experience presented to possible donors. A voice which was essentially silenced by these sex worker groups' protesting. No one is arguing "Rick's" experience wasn't true. Just that it shouldn't be broadcast as it could be detrimental and it was "offensive". One blog even argued that it's now become "politically incorrect" to help prostitutes. http://www.daniellestrickland.com/2009/05/25/helping-prostituted-persons-politically-incorrect/ Remember, the money which was being raised was to use to help more people who are in situations like the "Rick" they did help. While I saw these groups protesting the fund raising campaign - I don't see these groups do similar work for the same types of victims. In other words, was this about the type of ad used? Or was this a way of cutting funds for projects to provide exit help for people like "Rick"?
What do YOU think about this? Instead of hearing from "organizations" we want to hear from YOU. Please comment below.
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