Robyn Few
Encyclopedia
Robyn Few is an American sex worker rights
activist working for the decriminalization of prostitution
, against violence targeted at sex workers, and generally for the improvement of sex workers' working conditions. A former prostitute, she founded and directs the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA (SWOP-USA)
and helped organize the annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
.
She advocates the complete removal of prostitution from criminal codes and disapproves of a legalization model as in Nevada
.
According to her biography on SWOP's website, she had worked as an exotic dancer
, then pursued a college degree in theater, and was active in the medical marijuana movement in California. She has worked as a prostitute since 1996.
In June 2002 she was arrested by an F.B.I. SWAT team. She pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy
to promote prostitution in December 2002 and received a sentence of 6 months house arrest and three years probation in November 2003.
She founded SWOP-USA in October 2003, and the first International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers was organized in December of that year.
In 2004 she designed a ballot initiative
in Berkeley, California
("Measure Q") that would have called for the city government to lobby for the decriminalization of prostitution at the state level, and would have instructed city police to cease sting operations and treat prostitution arrests with the lowest priority. The initiative failed, receiving 37% of the vote.
In an interview in 2007, she defended the decision of prosecuted "D.C. Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey
to name high class clients of her erotic service, arguing that "with the potential to drag many power brokers into the spotlight, Palfrey's revelations could serve as a turning point in the effort to decriminalize prostitution".
Sex worker rights
The term sex worker rights encompasses a variety of aims being pursued globally by individuals and organizations that specifically involve the human and labor rights of sex workers....
activist working for the decriminalization of prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
, against violence targeted at sex workers, and generally for the improvement of sex workers' working conditions. A former prostitute, she founded and directs the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA (SWOP-USA)
Sex Workers Outreach Project USA
Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA was founded by Robyn Few and others in 2003 as a US chapter of SWOP based out of Australia. SWOP-USA is the largest sex worker rights organization in the United States, with chapters in several states...
and helped organize the annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is observed annually on 17 December by Sex workers, their advocates, friends, families and allies....
.
She advocates the complete removal of prostitution from criminal codes and disapproves of a legalization model as in Nevada
Prostitution in Nevada
Nevada is the only U.S. state to allow some legal prostitution, in the form of regulated brothels. Prostitution outside these licensed brothels is illegal....
.
According to her biography on SWOP's website, she had worked as an exotic dancer
Exotic dancer
The terms exotic dancer and exotic dance can have different meanings in different parts of the world and depending on context. In the erotic sense, "exotic dance" is a often used to refer to practitioners of striptease...
, then pursued a college degree in theater, and was active in the medical marijuana movement in California. She has worked as a prostitute since 1996.
In June 2002 she was arrested by an F.B.I. SWAT team. She pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
to promote prostitution in December 2002 and received a sentence of 6 months house arrest and three years probation in November 2003.
She founded SWOP-USA in October 2003, and the first International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers was organized in December of that year.
In 2004 she designed a ballot initiative
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
("Measure Q") that would have called for the city government to lobby for the decriminalization of prostitution at the state level, and would have instructed city police to cease sting operations and treat prostitution arrests with the lowest priority. The initiative failed, receiving 37% of the vote.
In an interview in 2007, she defended the decision of prosecuted "D.C. Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey
Deborah Jeane Palfrey
Deborah Jeane Palfrey operated Pamela Martin and Associates, an escort agency in Washington, D.C. Although she argued that the company's services were legal, she was convicted on April 15, 2008 of racketeering, using the mail for illegal purposes, and money laundering...
to name high class clients of her erotic service, arguing that "with the potential to drag many power brokers into the spotlight, Palfrey's revelations could serve as a turning point in the effort to decriminalize prostitution".
External links
- Short interview with Robyn Few at the International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harms in Warsaw, 2007: part 1, part 2
- SWOP USA website
- Robyn's website