Montreal Exhibit Celebrates 30 Years of Sex Worker Activism

MONTREAL – An exhibit at the Centre des mémoires montréalaises highlights the enduring activism of sex workers, celebrating 30 years of resistance and advocacy. Titled “By and For: 30 Years of Sex Worker Resistance,” the exhibit showcases the contributions of sex workers to various social causes, including the fight against AIDS and efforts to combat poverty.

The exhibit coincides with the anniversary of Stella, l’amie de Maimie, an advocacy group named after prominent activist Maimie Pinzer. Pinzer, recognized as Jewish Montreal’s “new patron saint” by the community group Mile End Chavurah in 2023, established a support space for sex workers in 1915. Her legacy is celebrated with a mural in the Mile End neighbourhood, symbolizing her impact on the community.

Jenn Clamen, communications coordinator for Stella, emphasizes that the exhibit is an opportunity to demonstrate the resilience of sex workers in Montreal and beyond. “This is to show our 30 years of resistance and what that looks like,” Clamen stated. “Sex workers in this city have been resisting for so long, beyond the 30 years, of course.”

Art and Activism Intersect

The exhibit features a diverse collection of artwork, historical photographs, and articles that document the intersectionality of sex worker activism. The black and pink panels depict sex workers participating in protests and campaigns, revealing their involvement in broader social issues. “Sex workers are part of two-spirit LGBTQ communities. They are part of homeless communities, part of Asian communities, part of Jewish communities, part of Indigenous communities,” Clamen explained.

Tamara Kramer of Mile End Chavurah expressed the value of collaborating with Stella. The partnership not only enhanced understanding of the organization’s mission but also fostered connections within the community. “Jewish people that we never probably would have met at Mile End Chavurah came out because they were drawn by this kind of art and activism,” she noted.

A significant highlight of the exhibit includes a photo documenting a march to Montreal’s Chinatown in 2021. During this event, sex workers joined the community to protest a surge in anti-Asian racism following a tragic shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, where eight individuals, including six Asian women, lost their lives. “We didn’t know that we could find solidarities in Chinese communities necessarily,” Clamen remarked.

Community Solidarity and Advocacy

May Chiu, an organizer of the anti-Asian racism march, praised the collaboration with Stella. “We were only expecting 100 or 200 people, and in the end, the news reported about four or five thousand showed up,” she shared. Chiu highlighted Stella’s role in organizing a vigil for the victims, noting that it served as a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by the women, who were targeted due to both their racial backgrounds and their professions.

The exhibit also features a large quilt made by inmates from the now-closed Tanguay women’s jail, along with matchbooks collected from strip clubs. A neon pink-lit room displays personal items from sex workers, such as an old cellphone and empty hormone medication vials. While some may anticipate explicit content, Clamen reassures visitors that the focus is on activism and human rights rather than sexual themes. “This is actually a very not nude exhibit; it’s quite PG-rated,” she said.

Clamen emphasized that the fight extends beyond the right to work in the sex industry. “People don’t know what sex workers are fighting for. It’s really fighting for basic human rights.” The exhibit runs until March 15, 2024, and aims to educate the public about the multifaceted struggles that sex workers face within society.

This report illustrates the powerful narratives of resistance and solidarity from a community that has long been marginalized. It not only honors the legacy of Maimie Pinzer but also underscores the ongoing fight for equality and recognition within the broader context of social justice.