Editor,
As the anniversary of January Marie Lapuz’s tragic death on September 29, 2012, approaches, we are reminded of the life and spirit of the beloved social coordinator of Sher Vancouver. January was a vibrant Filipina transgender woman who was tragically taken from us and stabbed 18 times. She was also engaged in survival sex work. Since her death, many have commented that her "high-risk lifestyle" was to blame, as though the circumstances of her work excused the brutality of her murder.
I'm afraid I have to disagree. January would be alive today if our laws, policies, and societal attitudes truly supported and protected sex workers. The danger sex workers face is not a product of their choices but of a society that refuses to offer them basic protections.
Many reforms could be enacted to protect sex workers. Still, one practical, immediate solution I propose is the establishment of safe houses for sex workers, providing them with the security and dignity they deserve.
What would a safe house for sex workers look like?
• Screening and accountability: Clients must present valid identification and a credit card before entry. They would be monitored by security and on camera from entry to exit, providing accountability for both parties.
• Safety features: The facility would offer showers, condoms, and private rooms where clients and sex workers could interact mutually. In case of danger, trained staff and security would readily intervene. Additionally, staff could have universal access to all rooms, ensuring a swift response to emergencies.
• Safer conditions: This regulated, decriminalized environment would be infinitely safer than the margins of society where many sex workers are forced to operate— places where violent clients and predators lurk. Drugs and pimping could be banned within these establishments, allowing sex workers to ply their trade in safe, hygienic, and well-maintained spaces.
This common-sense approach would drastically reduce the risks that sex workers face. It would also serve to eliminate the dangerous underground nature of the trade that too often leads to violence and tragedy, such as what happened to January.
How we treat the most marginalized members of our society reflects the health and humanity of society as a whole. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the violence, exploitation, and dehumanization that sex workers face every day. It is time for our political leaders to act and protect the lives of those like January.
As a nation, we must recognize that sex work is work. And just like every other worker, sex workers deserve dignity, safety, and the chance to live without fear of violence.
It's time to stop ignoring the lives of the most vulnerable. It’s time for action.
Alex Sangha is a Registered Clinical Social Worker and Registered Clinical Counsellor in North Delta. He is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada.
