Emergency Covid19 Relief for Sex Workers in Austin

THIS FUNDRAISER IS NO LONGER ACTIVE.

TO SUPPORT OUR CHAPTER, PLEASE VISIT SWOPATX.ORG OR CONTACT US AT [email redacted]















If you are in need of assistance and would like to apply to the relief fund or need access to our community food and supplies pantry, please contact us or fill out our online form here: atx.swopusa.org. Please note that we prioritize funding for those affected by racist and transphobic violence, but we encourage all sex workers in need of emergency assistance or community support to apply. Funding is given according to need and in the order we receive applications.

Sex Workers Outreach Project of Austin (SWOP ATX) is raising funds to support survival sex workers in Austin TX who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many sex workers who rely on in-person clientele are seeing a dramatic decrease in availability of work as the spread of the coronavirus continues. Those who are already struggling with financial instability, health concerns, racism, and transphobic violence are most vulnerable to the widespread impacts of the current situation, and are unable to stay afloat without support through this crisis.

Everyone in Austin is feeling the heavy impact of SXSW being cancelled, but few have considered how deeply the local adult industry's economy depends on our city's largest international festival.  The isolation caused by social distancing has an extreme impact on contact sex workers - including full service sex workers, strippers, masseuses, and professional BDSM providers - who are unable to take time off and are either forced to continue working despite exposure risk, or unable to find work at all.

The funds raised here will go directly to sex workers who have been hit the hardest, so the more we raise, the more individuals we will be able to help and higher stipends we'll be able to offer. This relief fund will help those of us who are unable to stay housed and fed, and provide the mutual aid needed for us to survive this indefinite time of emergency. We cannot do this without the support of our friends and community! We are asking for donations and help from allies, clients, organizations, and workers not impacted  or less impacted by the pandemic so that we can take care of the most vulnerable members of our local industry during this uncertainty.

We are also accepting in-person or mail donations of food, personal hygiene, and sanitation/cleaning supplies. For more information on how to donate or receive, email [email redacted].