11th Annual RED UMBRELLA MARCH
For Sex Work Solidarity, June 10, 2023
Eighty participants took part in this year's Red Umbrella March for Sex Work Solidarity on Saturday, June 10 in Vancouver.
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
The event began at 2 p.m. at the West End Sex Workers Memorial on Jervis Street (in front of Saint Paul's Anglican Church).
The Victorian-style street lamp post has an embossed message cast into each face:
"Dedicated to a diverse community of sex workers"
"People who lived and worked here from mid-1960s-1984"
"In memory of their ongoing struggle for equality"
"Today we commemorate and honour their lives."
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
The only one of its kind in Canada, the sex workers memorial was erected by the City of Vancouver in 2016 along with an official apology for seeking and enforcing unconstitutional laws designed to drive sex workers from the West End residential neighbourhood in the early 1980s.
The West End Sex Workers Memorial project began in 2008 and was led by indigenous transgender sex-worker activist Jamie Lee Hamilton (who passed away in 2019) and UBC professor Becki Ross.
As RUM2023 mustered at the memorial, Triple-X president, Andrew Sorfleet read a statement from Becki Ross, who sent her regrets that she was unable to attend. Susan Davis, from B.C. Coalition of Experiential Communities, a RUM2023 co-sponsor, also gave a speech.
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
At 2:30, the red umbrella marchers embarked on to Davie Street and were met with cheers, horn honking and applause. As always, the parade was a loud and colourful event. Triple-X gave away 25 red ACME Thunderer whistles, 10 cheer horns, as well as cow bells, red feather boas and red floral leis. Packs of postcards featuring the West End Sex Workers Memorial were also given away to RUM2023 participants.
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
From Davie Street the Red Umbrella March took Hornby Street north past the law courts as marchers made their way to Victory Square Park. Arriving at the destination, marchers were greeted with a community fair that featured a barbecue, a DJ tent as well as tables from various local groups that provide services and advocacy for folks in the downtown eastside. The Victory Square community fair was organized by PACE Society, who were also co-sponsors of RUM2023.
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
Other RUM2023 co-sponsors included SWAN Vancouver and Pivot Legal Society. The Red Umbrella March for Sex Work Solidarity is organized by Triple-X Workers' Solidarity Association of British Columbia.
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
Inspired by a video by STAR STAR of the Red Umbrella March in Skopje, Macedonia in 2021, Triple-X hired a local film studio for aerial photography. The studio produced this 37-second promotional clip to share with news stations and on social media.
RUM2023 – Video footage by Jon Ross Films, Saturday, June 10, 2023
Thank you to everyone who volunteered, chipped in and came out this year and made Red Umbrella March 2013-2023 such a great success!
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
11th Annual Red Umbrella March, Vancouver, June 10, 2023
