Events

RedUP produces public storytelling events and also collaborates with colleague organizations on events that strengthen our community and show the world that people involved in the sex trades are amazing, complex, strong individuals who will not be defined only by the work they do.

Every Month: On the first Thursday of every month RedUP produces the Red Umbrella Diaries, a live storytelling event in New York City, which features people telling true stories about their experiences in the sex industry. In 2010, the Red Umbrella Diaries was named to the Village Voice’s Best of NYC list. Since launching in July 2010, we have featured nearly 100 performers, many of whom have never told their stories in public before. The stories are documented in our audio podcast, which is available for free on iTunes. Check out the Red Umbrella Diaries website for details of all the past and future events.

Annually: The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, which takes place on December 17, was first organized nearly a decade ago by sex workers in San Francisco to memorialize the people murdered by serial killer Gary Ridgway. Ridgway captured the attitude that cultivates violence towards sex workers: “I picked prostitutes because I thought I could kill as many of them as I wanted without getting caught.” At the event, we create a space that challenges this assumption by demonstrating that we have a caring community.