By Hannah Saunders

Today is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, and was started in 2003 by Annie Sprinkle and Robin Few, who held a vigil to honor and mourn the lives taken by the Green River Killer.

The Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway (who is reportedly in palliative care), targeted and killed at least 49 sex workers and teenage runaways because of their vulnerabilities, like being able to pick them up more easily and fewer missing persons reports. The widespread devaluization of the lives of sex workers allowed Ridgway to committ atrocities in King County for years.

We’ve come a long way in understanding the experiences and needs of sex workers in the past 22 years, and one thing is for certain: they remain a targeted population for abusers of all types, and Black Trans women are at highest risk.

If there are any sex workers in your life, reach out to them to let them know you love and care about them.

Graphic by Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement.