The 6th annual Slutwalk in Queens, NY is a public denunciation of all forms of violence suffered by Trans-Latinx, Trans-Black, Trransgender and gender expansive Sex Workers of color, as well as  the social and institutional structures that reinforce that violence. Condemning this violence is an urgent, because violence against our communities is often justified and normalized by our society, perpetuating a culture that supports the oppression of transgender sex workers of color in public and private.

 

The violence and persecution experienced by transgender sex workers of color includes any actions that causes death, harm, or physical, sexual, psychological, and/or symbolic suffering.

 

SlutWalk Queens is a political action that demands recognition of our rights as trans-Latinx people, trans-Black people, and transgender people of color. Sex workers demand immediate changes in this system of oppression, machismo, and patriarchy that makes our existence invisible and threatens our rights and our bodily autonomy.

 

We are judged for being sex workers, we are condemned for making our own choices about our bodies and identities, and many times we are murdered.

 

In New York, you are called a whore when you dress a certain way, you are a whore when you speak a certain way, you are a whore when you make up your mind, and you are a whore when you don't do what  society "wants" you to do.

 

As Trans-Latinx, Trans-Black, Trransgender and gender expansive Sex Workers of color, we carry a heavy social burden and live in a system where our agressors escape punishment and their violence is justified by society. 

 

The Slutwalk has a clear objective. It is not only about defending the rights of sex workers, but it is also a public demonstration that reclaims the label of “whore” and the sex worker trade to empower trans sex workers of color to be able to make free decisions about our bodies. We dress as we want, dance with whoever we want , act the way we want, and work on whatever we want to work on.

 

We do not want to continue experiencing the discrimination, exclusion and oppression that has historically been weaponized against us by society. 

 

The system punishes us for having the courage to decide about our bodies and our lives. You punish us for not being submissive, for being trans feminists and feminists, for being independent, for enjoying our sexuality, for being at the disco dancing and having fun, for dressing as we want, and for walking the streets ... you kill us for being free.

 

With this march, we reclaim the word "whore" and reject all forms of  violence that are exercised against us based on our attitudes, appearances, and behavior. No person should ever be raped. "No means no."