Sex Professionals of Canada Present...

This event is being co-ordinated by Val, friend of mine. It is the major fundraiser for the national union of professional sex workers - I know, who would have thought that they even have a union? But like any group of workers they have recognized the power in organized numbers. Both female and male sex professionals turn to the union for financial, medical, legal, physical and emotional support. Life is tough enough, let alone if you earn your living on the street and I'm glad to know that workers within this profession are represented and that someone, other than their pimp, is looking out for them.

This event has been carefully planned to co-incide with the International AIDS Summit taking place in Toronto this week. While I doubt that Richard Gere or the two Bill's (Clinton and Gates) will be at the Burlesque (although I'm sure there will be more than a few "Johns") there is clearly a connection between sex workers and the spread of AIDS.

Historically, AIDS has been thought of as a gay-man's disease, but we now know that the global infection rate among women is growing exponentially. At this year's Summit, Bill Gates, the Microsoft chairman, explained that in many parts of the world, women are at the mercy of the men in their lives and do not have the right to refuse sex, let alone sex without a condom. "No matter where she lives, who she is, or what she does, a woman should never need her partner's permission to save her own life," Gates said.

Historically, women have been synoymous with the "oldest profession," and therefore it is only logical that women (and men) within this professional group be targeted specifically for AIDS and HIV prevention.

So, for any of you Queen Street Crawlers out there who are looking for some action tomorrow night, I implore you to check out the Bawdy House Burlesque at the Drake...maybe I'll see you there ; )