June SWARM Suppers
Screening of 1975 Documentary: Les prostituées de Lyon parlent – The prostitutes of Lyon speak
(45 Minutes, French with English subtitles)
On 3 June 1975, 100-150 sex workers occupied the church of St. Nizier, one of the main churches in the centre of Lyon, France. A banner was hung over the church façade ‘Our children don’t want their mothers in prison.’
The occupation was sparked by the brutal torture and murder of sex workers, and a police crackdown against the women. Instead of supporting the sex workers impacted by this, the police were handing out ‘“two to 10 fines” in a two week period and threatening women with prison. Within weeks churches had been occupied all over France including in Paris.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of this incredible moment in sex worker history, and so we are screening this film as part of a wider series of events around the country.
The film will be followed by a short Q&A with Ray Filar, a writer and SWARM member whose PhD research focuses on the sex worker rights movement; and other speakers TBA.
6.30pm - doors open
7pm - film starts
7.45pm - break
8pm - discussion and Q&A with Ray Filar and others TBA
8.30pm - food and drinks available from the bar
10pm - event ends
Food: We will be ordering some pizza from Yard Pizza which is very flexible. If you have dietary requirements please come early so we can accommodate you in the pizza order!
This event is open to sex workers and allies - however, this is not a space for clients. Please respect our community and do not attend if you are a client of sex workers.
Tickets are free but we encourage non sex workers to pay for a ticket, as a gesture of solidarity for the movement. All proceeds will go to SW groups in the UK.