Sun 01 Jun
|The Scarlett Letters Bookshop
Pride and Protest: Celebrating 50yrs of International Sex Workers' Day
Time & Location
01 Jun 2025, 18:30 – 20:30
The Scarlett Letters Bookshop, 140 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E1 5QJ, UK
About the event
Join us at The Scarlett Letters bookshop to celebrate the first day of Pride month and mark the 50 year anniversary of International Sex Workers' Day, which began on 2 June 1975 with the occupation of the Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon.
More than 100 sex workers occupied the church to protest against police harassment, unsafe working conditions, and the lack of legal protections.
We'll look back on how events unfolded over their ten-day occupation, the solidarity they received and the other activism they inspired - including the 1983 takeover of the Holy Cross Church in King's Cross, London.
We'll also ask: how much progress has been made? How relevant do the demands of fifty years ago remain today? And what do sex worker rights have to do with Pride?
Full line-up to be announced! Doors will open at 6:30pm for a 7pm start.