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Sex, Scandal and Scapegoats: Canada's Blood Donation Ban for Selling Sexual Services
NEWS UPDATE: Triple-X Submission to Health Canada regarding the Application by Canadian Blood Services for a one-year donation deferral for people selling sexual services
In Canada currently, if you have "traded sex for money or drugs since 1977," there is a lifetime ban from donating blood. On May 27, 2022, Canadian Blood Services announced that the indefinite deferral on blood donations for trading sex for money would be reduced to one year pending approval from Health Canada.
Triple-X has submitted a brief to officials at Health Canada in support of removing the lifetime ban for sex workers. In the submission, Triple-X calls for the removal of all questions regarding sexual services transactions. "Sexual activity, not commercial activity, contributes to increased risk of sexually transmitted blood-borne infection (STBBI). Questions need to focus on sexual acts only."
Triple-X also asks that Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada endorse and advocate for the decriminalization of the purchase of sexual services (Criminal Code Section 286.1). "Occupational health and safety, and sex workers' role in the safe sex education of their clients, are important avenues to promote STBBI prevention."
Triple-X's submission to Health Canada includes a Special Edition full-colour insert featuring sex worker safe sex education in Canada from 1985 to 1995 to commemorate the 24th International AIDS Conference Montreal, 29 July - 2 August 2022. Triple-X is also distributing a commemorative enamel pin as part of their education campaign about Canadian blood donation policies for sex workers.
You can read the submission to Health Canada, here: Sex, Scandal and Scapegoats: Canada's Blood Donation Ban for Selling Sexual Services.
Triple-X Press Release: "Sex, Scandal and Scapegoats: Canada's Blood Donation Ban for Selling Sexual Services", July 27, 2022
Canada's Justice Committee Recommends Parliament Repeal Sections of Criminal Code
June 22, 2022, the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Human Rights tabled their report: "Preventing Harm in the Canadian Sex Industry: A Review of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Act." Parliament is on summer recess since June 23 and will not resume until September 19.
The Justice Committee has recommended parliament repeal two laws: Criminal Code s.213 [Communicating to Provide Sexual Services] and s.286.4 [Advertising Sexual Services]. The Justice Committee has also recommended the repeal of four sections of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations that make migrants working in the sex industry unable to report incidents without fear of deportation. There are 17 recommendations total.
Triple-X submitted a brief which received mention on pg. 31 (pg. 41 of PDF):
"Triple-X Workers' Solidarity Association of B.C.'s brief states that the law does not contemplate sex workers organizing unions or professional associations or the possibility of such organizations collecting membership dues, and providing services such as advertising and promotion of the industry. They call for amendments to clearly permit such organizing by sex workers."
Triple-X Press Release: Canada's Justice Committee Recommends Parliament Repeal Sections of Criminal Code, June 23, 2022
Read more about how the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act violates sex workers' Freedom to Associate: triple-x.org/freedomtoassociate.
10th Annual RED UMBRELLA MARCH For Sex Work Solidarity
Saturday, June 11, 2022, marked the 10th annual Vancouver Red Umbrella March for Sex Work Solidarity. This year, the Red Umbrella March was more important than ever, because the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Human Rights is set to release its report on Canada's new laws that prohibit the purchase of sexual services (Criminal Code s. 286) before June 23. For more information: triple-x.org/freedomtoassociate
The annual Red Umbrella March is held in Vancouver every second Saturday in June to commemorate the first Red Umbrellas March in Venice, June 8, 2001. Just as the Venice Red Umbrellas March was determined to disrupt the public sphere and draw attention to the historical and geographical social history of sex workers, Vancouver's Red Umbrella March for Sex Work Solidarity strives to draw lines through time and space that show that sex workers are loved and revered in our communities, regardless of perceived stigma and prejudice.
