This year marks 50 years since the historic Saint-Nizier Church occupation in Lyon — the protest that initiated International Sex Workers’ Day one June 2nd we celebrate to this day.
On June 2, 1975, sex workers took over a church to demand safety, dignity, and labour rights. Their bravery ignited a global movement.
Sex worker-led groups across Europe will reclaim churches and other symbolic spaces, demanding justice, safety, and rights — just as they did 50 years ago.
🎥 Join us on June 2nd - online or offline! RSVP to sign up for updates!
Below you find an overview of the different activities:
|
Location |
Organiser |
Activity |
|
Lyon, France |
Rally, Roundtables, Party |
|
|
Venice, Italy |
Church Occupation, Roundtable, Performance |
|
|
London, United Kingdom |
Campaign, Conference, Activist Training |
|
|
Barcelona, Spain |
Art Workshop, Performance, Activist Action |
|
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Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Panel Discussion, Art, Performance |
|
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Kyiv, Ukraine |
Art Workshop, Community Event |
|
|
Yerevan, Armenia |
Art Installation, Symbolic Action |
|
|
Malmö, Sweden |
TBD, stay tuned! |
|
|
Berlin, Germany Leipzig, Germany |
Workshops, Performances, Parties Discussions, Art, Readings |
|
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Warsaw, Poland |
Workshops, Panel Discussion, Concert |
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Brussels, Belgium |
Activist Stands, Conference, Concert |
|
|
Zurich, Switzerland Bern, Switzerland |
Church Occupation, Book Reading, Discussion |
Here you can find a more detailed description of each action:
STRASS - Lyon, France:
A Sx Worker festival from May 29th - June 2nd. Including demonstrations with booklets of grievances & demands, a popular assembly, a press conference, round tables, open workshops, a commemoration, a rally, an association village with stands, a party and shows. Providing solidarity housing, canteens and strike funds.
CDCP - Venice, Italy:
A day of actions, debates, community-building and performances: starting with a rendezvouz of a Church with a feminist choir & a red umbrella promenade through the city. Followed with an in-house discussion between sx workers’ collectives and a round-table conversation. Ending with performances & displaying archive materials.
Xtalk - London, UK:
2 days of launching a National Alliance: inviting collectives from around the country to coordinate cross-sector campaigns. A platform for community-organising, capacity-building and leadership-development. Ending with a public conference & a research and report presentation.
Aprosex - Barcelona, Spain:
3 days of action from May 31st to June 2nd. Going from a photo and content editing workshop to a potting workshop for migrant trans sx workers. From a community meal for strategic development to a banner painting and manifestation action, projections on the Church, with live percussion and audiovisual material.
PIC & Red Insight Media - Amsterdam, Netherlands:
Sanctuary, Solidarity and Resistance: Sx workers reimagining church space on June 2.
A peaceful occupation inviting activists, sx work performers, artists and writers to create art installations, roundtable talks and a pop-up church! Added to this, an article will be written which honours this historical protest. Event between 18:00-22:00, to attend email PIC.
HPLGBT - Kyiv, Ukraine:
Even in the midst of a war, sx workers’ find a way to celebrate their voices and history. A coordinated day of action on June 2, where a safe(r) space is created for trans sx workers to tell personal stories through artwork. The results will be digitised and published online.
National Trans Coalition - Yerevan, Armenia:
A beautiful symbolic action - info limited for security reasons. Follow for updates and a video about the event.
Red Umbrella Sweden - Malmö, Sweden:
Despite a crisis for Swedish sx workers in which digital adult content is at risk of being criminalised, RUS will still show up and organise an event. More info coming soon.
The Black Sex Worker Collective & Sex Worker Action Group - Berlin, Germany:
The Black Sx Worker Collective will transform the dancefloor into a digital sanctuary with CTRL+ALT+RESIST: a Black Magic Party for Encrypted Desires & Cybersecurity.
SWAG has a 5-day program for coalition-building: communal meals, workshops, speeches and performances spread around the church and city.
Bündnis Hurenaufstand 1975 - Leipzig, Germany:
HUREN IM HAUSE DES HERRN PETERSKIRCHE LEIPZIG
Conversations with sex workers, talks & discussions, art, readings, music & reflections
Daily from 10 AM – 9 PM
Leipzig, June 1–4, 2025
Kamelia Collective - Warsaw, Poland:
A threefold event: ranging from educational workshops on safety strategies, in-person work and content creation, to a closed panel, and community celebrations with a concert, food, karaoke, performances and a photo wall.
UTSOPI - Brussels, Belgium:
A conference that will showcase archives and key moments in the struggles of sx workers in Belgium and internationally. There will be activist stands, a roundtable, a conversation with a sx work activist and a concert to celebrate this historic occasion.
