Spring has Sprung!

Would you like to join us for a St James Infirmary Board Meeting for SJI updates?

This coming Thursday, May 11th, there will be a zoom open to the public from 5:30-6:15pm Pacific Time.
Agenda to come! CLICK HERE FOR ZOOM LINK

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Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE) was founded 50 years ago &
Exotic Dancers Alliance (EDA) began 30 years ago in May

On May 13, 1973, Margo St. James founded the first prostitute’s rights organization in the United States. After her friend Tom Robbins dubbed her the Coyote Trickster, her best friend, wordsmith, musician, and Pot Opera composer, Johnny X, coined the acronym – Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics. COYOTE was born.

It had been eleven years since Margo was arrested on trumped up charges for prostitution. As she described the event years later, she was in her North Beach apartment listening to records, and there was a knock on the door. A young man had a few records of his own under his arm and convinced Margo to let him in, because he liked the sounds pouring out of her pad onto the street below. He didn’t happen to mention that he was a rookie undercover cop. As it happened, Margo had let the runaway sister of a neighborhood acquaintance stay in her flat. The girl was underage. When charges were br ought against Margo, the cops threw in “Keeping a Disorderly House.” In reality, Margo was a hip young artist, playing jazz records, all the while keeping a young girl safe from the streets in North Beach. For the honor, Margo was accused of being a madam and a whore. She told the judge, “I’ve never turned a trick in my life.” But to Judge Glickfeld, just knowing the term “trick” meant that she was a professional. He found her guilty. Margo later explained, “My crime? I knew too much to be a nice girl.” Years later, her old friend John Burton, the bartender at North Beach’s Bimbos, who went on to represent San Francisco and Marin in the state legislature and congress, would say, “She should have hired me instead of George Choppelas. I was friends with the judge.” But that’s getting ahead of things.

After her conviction, she attended law school expressly to overturn the conviction. The misdemeanor conviction prohibited her from working in bars so she lost her job as a hostess. The conviction was relayed to the phone company, who tore her phone line out. She changed her address by adding an “A,” or a “1/2” to the 1312, but the phone company got wise. The FBI remarkably, never did, documenting her address incorrectly for years in their files. Out of work, and cut off, Margo took a job serving summonses for famed defense attorney Vincent Hallinan and got to be known around the Hall of Justice (she would forever call it, the “Hall of Injustice,”) as the “the kid who got a bum rap.” Her appeal was successful, the only known misdemeanor successfully challenged in the California Court of Appeal. She dropped out of law school shortly thereafter.
  
Margo moved to Marin, and came to know lesbian poet Elsa Gidlow, who with Roger Sommers and Alan Watts, owned acres on top of the Marin Hills, they called Druid Heights. In later years, she explained how politicians who didn’t want San Franciscans to know about their dalliances, hung out in Roger’s hot tub overlooking the hills. One such politician was the local Sheriff, Dick Hongisto. In a hot tub o e night, Margo confronted him about the lack of support for women accused of prostitution. He told her someone from the “victim class” had to speak up. So, she became that someone; she became politicized. Her first organizing meeting of WHO (Whores Housewives and Others), the forerunner to COYOTE, was held on Watts’ houseboat, the Vallejo. Years later, COYOTE operated with the help of volunteers like Priscilla Alexander, who published COYOTE Growls, and then COYOTE Howls; Molly Rodriguez ran the office on the San Francisco Port; and Margo produced the Hooker’s Balls to pay for her rabble rousing. With the help of Jennifer James, Jean Withers, Sara Theiss, Mary Owen, National Organization for Women (NOW), and Marilyn Haft of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – who was assigned to the cause by her boss at the time, Ruth Bader Ginsburg – ‘The Politics of Prostitution’ was published. Margo and members of COYOTE went on the speaking circuit, attended conferences around the world, including presenting at UNESCO. Sister organizations popped up across the country, and by the 1980’s, with an international network built over years of giving testimony in criminal courts, at government conferences, to politicians, doctors, lawyers, and to the press, Margo and Gail Pheterson set off on the most ambitious plan of all – a World Whores Congress. The first was in Amsterdam, and the second was held at the European Parliament in Brussels in 1986.

More prostitute rights activists emerged, like Carol Leigh, aka Scarlot Harlot, who coined the term, ‘sex work,’ and Gloria Lockett, who later formed CAL-PEP in Oakland. Margo retired to the south of France, but she couldn’t be held back forever, and in the mid-1990’s returned to San Francisco. For a brief period, COYOTE was back in the spotlight, due in no small part to Margo’s candidacy for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She came in 7 th  in a field of 28 candidates, vying for 6 open seats. When one of the victors immediately vacated his seat for a state appointment, then mayor Willie Brown tapped a complete outsider to fill the seat instead of Margo – Gavin Newsom. Margo later told her campaign manager, “I never wanted that job anyway,” but it didn’t matter. As usual, Margo succeeded in getting her message out: the word “prostitute” was the pejorative; Sex Workers were not vectors of disease; and for STI and HIV programs to succeed, they had to partner with Sex Workers, the most educated population on the subject. Through her candidacy, all the complicated and sticky issues of sex work came to the fore. She built up enough political support for the San Francisco Department of Public Health to enthusiastically partner with COYOTE and Exotic Dancers Alliance to create St. James Infirmary. The Infirmary is Margo’s final legacy, and the organization continues to provide compassionate and nonjudgmental health and social services by and for Sex Workers, uplift the Sex Worker community through advocacy and outreach efforts, and maintain a safe space for Sex Workers to be seen and heard.

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On May 15, 1993, dancers from Market Street Cinema attended a meeting at a restaurant a few doors down from the club, organized by Dawn Passar and Johanna Breyer. COYOTE was invited to offer insight and support during the meeting, and Margo would later serve on the Board of Exotic Dancers Alliance, and become a long-time mentor to Dawn and Johanna. During the meeting, dancers spoke about the increase in mandated stage fees (from $10 to $15 per shift), unwelcomed behavior from managers, and improvements needed throughout the club.

Afterwards, Dawn and Johanna drafted a proposal on behalf of the dancers and sent it to management, certified mail. Unsurprisingly, management never responded. Two months later, Dawn and Johanna filed sexual harassment and discrimination complaints with the CA Department of Fair Employment & Housing and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and wage and hour claims with the CA Labor Commission against the owners of Market Street Cinema. Exotic Dancers Alliance (EDA) was officially set in motion. The filed claims would eventually progress to the San Francisco Superior Court, and take 5 years to settle, so EDA initiated community outreach efforts to gain more support. In September 1993, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted The San Francisco Task Force on Prostitution, sponsored by Supervisor Terence Hallinan, with the unofficial goal of commandeering political support for decriminalization and re-allocating “criminal justice” resources to fund health and social services for Sex Workers. COYOTE members were active participants in the Task Force and EDA was invited to meetings to highlight the working conditions for dancers in the strip clubs. The final report, which was released in 1996, included recommendations for SF adult entertainment theaters – compliance with wage and hour laws, and health and safety codes; provision for sick leave; workers' compensation and disability insurance; access to health insurance; and other local and State labor regulations. Unfortunately, most of the final recommendations were never implemented in San Francisco, with the exception of prohibiting the San Francisco Police Department from using condoms as evidence in solicitation crimes.

EDA continued to reach out to SF City Departments for assistance, including the Commission [Department] on the Status of Women, Human Rights Commission, and the Mayor’s Office. In June of 1994, several COYOTE and EDA members established the Sex Worker’s Caucus of the Harvey Milk Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Democratic Club. The Harvey Milk Club publicly supported the decriminalization of prostitution. This proposition was not necessarily met with elation by political candidates seeking endorsements, or general members of the club, yet, it forced the issue to remain visible in local politics, which it has to this day. During the same year, EDA collaborated with COYOTE members to start Bay Area Sex Workers Advocacy Network (BAYSWAN), to advocate on behalf of Sex Workers and improve communication between Sex Workers and government agencies, community organizations, and service providers throughout the Bay Area. Starting in 1999, BAYSWAN sponsored the San Francisco Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival, under the direction of Scarlot Harlot.

Over the years, EDA was awarded several grants to fund community outreach and organizing activities; workshops on topics including labor laws, career development, financial planning, and health care; and monthly support groups. EDA connected Lusty Lady workers with Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 790 and supported their unionizing campaign, and worked with SEIU Government Relations staff and the CA Department of Labor Standards and Enforcement to pass CA Assembly Bill 2509 in January 2001, making it illegal for employers to collect any portion of gratuities given to dancers from their customers (not that it permanently stopped the shakedown by management). EDA provided assistance to dancers locally and nationally until St. James Infirmary was up and running. Bay Area dancers filed more class- action lawsuits and wage and hour claims. The Lusty Lady employees took over their club and formed a co-op after unionizing, that ran successfully for a number of years before it closed in 2013. The original strip club owners and managers in San Francisco eventually died, Market Street Cinema was demolished, and the infamous Mitchell Brother’s O’Farrell Theater closed in 2020 due to COVID-19. A new generation is now active and kicking down doors in their platform stilettos, including NYC and North Hollywood strippers who are willing to strike, unionize, and buy out their bosses in order to receive fair treatment in the workplace.

We celebrate the achievements and milestones of COYOTE and EDA in the midst of bodily autonomy being threatened on a daily basis. And if Margo was still among us, what would she say today? She would be outraged that Roe v. Wade was overturned. She would be disgusted by the incessant hate-fueled attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community. She would call out the rampant sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and whore-phobia that continues to exist within our society. But with cool, razor-sharp focus, she might suggest that while control over women’s bodies, destiny, and agency is what the fight was originally about, the playing field got a little bigger. “Unite,” she would cheer us on, because, “Divided we fall.”  

There are a great number of people who have not been mentioned by name, only for lack of space, all of whom are heroes in their own right, and each with a remarkable story that deserves to be told. They were a part of the evolution of a movement, its colorful, humorous, and often heart-breaking history. Omitted too are the names of the young proud activists who Margo will never know, but whose achievements may not exist, were it not for Margo’s courage in standing up, speaking truth to power, and giving face to the accused.

Happy anniversary COYOTE and EDA!
Rest in Power beloved Margo and Scarlot!

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SATHYA

Welcome the new OurTransHome Director at St. James Infirmary, Sathya Baskaran!

Sathya is bringing to this role a passion for advocacy, housing and economic justice, and community care. His background in community mental health and case management, as well as his life experiences as a trans person who grew up in the Bay Area, both inform his commitment to creating measures of safety and hope for the trans community.

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ST. JAMES TEAMS UP WITH BAWS IN THIS RESPONSE TO SF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Click image below to read the full statement!
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In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations. They provide guidance for public health and rights-based responses to HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for key populations. The guidelines can be used by sex worker and other key population-led organizations to advocate for rights and evidence-based HIV, STI, and hepatitis programs, and by managers, policymakers, donors, and others to inform rights and evidence-based HIV, STI, and hepatitis policies and programming.

This Smart Guide summarizes and discusses the guidelines’ key recommendations for sex workers in plain English. The Smart Guide can be used as a tool when advocating for rights-based services. It is available now in English and will soon be available in Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese and Arabic.

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Rest In Power

Ivory

Ivory Nicole Smith

Ivory was a Site Supervisor at Taimon Booton Navigation Center, a shelter for TGNC people and sex workers. She previously worked as a Program Associate at the Transgender District where she helped organize events to promote the visibility and brilliance of the Trans community. Born and raised in the Tenderloin in San Francisco, Ivory supported the unhoused and most vulnerable people in her city and built community strength both in her career and her day-to-day. Her smile and love for her community will continue to shine in our memories of her.

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Carol Leigh
AKA Scarlot Harlot

The mother of the sex worker movement. She coined the term "sex worker" to build solidarity and to bring respect to the profession. She was a tireless activist and advocate, our community's archivist, and brilliant artist and writer. She co-led the Sex Worker Film and Art Festival that always brought sex workers near and far to our fabulous city. She loved her mom and loved her many mentees and unrepentant whores of our community. She brought warmth and light everywhere she went while maintaining a fierce fight for decriminalization of prostitution and advocacy for the most marginalized. Thank you Carol, for supporting St James Infirmary. Thank you for everything you did to further the cause for civil rights for sex workers.

Check out BAYSWAN for her archives and links to her writings and videos http://www.bayswan.org

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Community Support Line for Sex Workers Seeks Volunteers

SWOP Behind Bars is seeking volunteers for their Community Support Line especially for people located on the West-coast.

If you are a sex worker in need of support check out the link for online chat functions or

call 1-877-776-2004 ext. 1

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Amanda Priebe art for St. James_ Color_ with flowers _1_

artwork by Amanda Priebe

DEAR SEX WORKERS: WE LOVE YOU

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What We Believe

There are many factors which affect the working conditions and experiences for all Sex Workers including the political and economic climate, poverty and homelessness, stigmatization, violence, as well as the overwhelming intricacies of the legal, public and social systems. It is the philosophy of St. James Infirmary to build upon existing skills and strengths in order to allow individuals to determine their own goals.

  • We are fundamentally against the criminalizing of Sex Workers—regardless of our different perspectives on decriminalization or legalization, the collective view of the St. James Infirmary is that incarceration of our community further marginalizes and disenfranchised us, which creates barriers to capacity building, and exacerbates a public health crisis.
  • We believe in revolution through healthcare. We challenge the conventional healthcare model that divides patients and providers and fosters unhealthy power dynamics. Our peer-based model creates a safe, trusted, and honest environment in which to provide services, and empowers our community to define our own well-being.
  • We are founded on the principles of harm reduction—St. James Infirmary supports Sex Workers being treated with dignity and respect, in every aspect of their lives

Our Impact

  • We increase access to primary healthcare and social services for Sex Workers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
  • We formalize communication and collaboration among individuals and agencies who serve Sex Workers to better serve our community.
  • We promote peer-based public health initiatives on behalf of Sex Workers, which may be used as a model for improving occupational health and safety standards and developing comprehensive medical and social services for Sex Workers around the world.
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From Our Blog

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A Wonderful NY Times Article About Margo!

By StJames | January 22, 2021

Margo St. James, Advocate for Sex Workers, Dies at 83 Katharine Q. Seelye. “Margo St. James, Advocate for Sex Workers, Dies at 83”. New York Times, January 20th 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/us/margo-st-james-dead.html 2021-01-20

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San Francisco’s Own Legendary Margo St. James Dies

By sjidirector | January 14, 2021

Margo St. James, founder of COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics), has died.  Born in Bellingham, Washington on September 12, 1937, St. James moved to San Francisco on  St. Patrick’s Day in 1958, securing a room above the El Matador on Broadway. She would later join the beatnik scene, hanging out in jazz clubs […]

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A portrait Margot St. James flexing her left bicep

Margo St. James

By StJames | January 12, 2021

With profound sadness, the St. James Infirmary announces the death of the most storied among our founders, Margo St. James. The St. James Infirmary is a part of Margo’s legacy. So too are her deeds and words that exposed hypocrisy with extraordinary wit. Much can be said of Margo, but her own words offer the […]

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Request for Community Participation: New SJI Advisory Board

By StJames | July 16, 2020

Hello beloved community! St James Infirmary is in the process of forming an advisory board. We will be comprised of staff, volunteers, participants, and community. We hope to gain perspective on the needs and desires of sex workers who are trans, Black, POC/Indigenous, immigrant, youth, homeless, working on the street, organizers and anyone with great […]

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Trans Home SF Orientation at SF Public Library on 1/29/2020

By StJames | January 30, 2020
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End the epidemics march Jan 18th

By StJames | January 9, 2020

Join the End the Epidemics Coalition at the women’s march to bring awareness to our campaign to end HIV, HCV & STD epidemics

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Trans Rental Subsidies Orientation and Signup 

By StJames | January 8, 2020

Join us for Our Trans Home SF housing subsidy program launch and orientation on Wed. January 29th! Are you at risk of losing your housing? Do you need additional support to keep your housing? Do you need additional support finding a safe and supportive place to live? The Our Trans Rental Support Program is here […]

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Last notes from the naughty nurse mobile of 2019

By StJames | January 7, 2020

Hi y’all! This is the last Notes from The Naughty Nurse Mobile of 2019! I can’t hardly believe it’s the two year anniversary of the van outreach program and almost 2 year anniversary of the naughty nurse mobile! We have an awesome community of dedicated, brilliant, hardworking and sexy volunteers and staff. It’s also my […]

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St. James Infirmary is a 2019 grant recipient of Twilio.org for $100,000

By StJames | December 17, 2019

St. James Infirmary is a 2019 grant recipient of Twilio.org for $100,000 supporting sex workers and their families. Thanks for the support! www.twilio.com/blog/twilio-org-awards-grants-nonprofits-crisis-communications

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Our Trans Home SF

By StJames | December 14, 2019

Our Trans Home SF is a coalition campaign working to address & raise visibility of trans homelessness & housing instability. Led by St. James Infirmary and Larkin Street Youth Services we need your support. Make a donation today! OurTransHomeSF.org      

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