By and For: 30 Years of Sex Worker Resistance

Resistance to oppression often begins where oppression is most pronounced. Such is the case in Montréal's historic Red Light District, where a sex workers' rights movement took shape in the early 1990s. Known for our militant spirit and creativity, Montréal’s sex workers have had an important impact on public and political life – pushing the envelope and demonstrating resilience in a context of moral hypocrisy and repressive social boundaries.

This exhibit will guide you through 30 years of collective resistance for sex workers' rights. As a social movement led by and for sex workers, our activism is dedicated to building visibility while protecting individual anonymity. The different zones highlight our community’s diversity, our resilience in the face of criminalization, stigma, prejudice, and violence, and our connections with other social movements. At Stella, l’amie de Maimie, we have been documenting and telling the stories of sex worker resistance since we opened our doors in 1995. Throughout our history, we have joined forces with movements of 2SLGBTQ+ people, drug users, communities of people experiencing homelessness, migrant communities, artists, feminists, and other groups across the city.

Produced by sex workers who have passed through the doors at Stella, all items in the exhibit are from our archives and collective community projects. They document the ways that sex workers have occupied Montréal city spaces and resisted oppression.