Various sex worker organizations as well as social service agencies have published a 'Bad Date' book. The first organization to do so was the “Alliance for Safety of Prostitutes” (ASP) based in Vancouver in 1983.
What is a 'Date'?
A ‘date’ is the term sex workers use to describe a meeting with a person for the purpose of sex for money.
What is a ‘Bad Date’?
A bad date is term describing someone who abused or abuses a sex worker.
What is the Bad Date Book?
The Bad Date book is published monthly, it provides sex workers with reports of sex workers who have had bad dates. It's good to get a detailed description of the attacker height,weight, build, tattoo's, peircings, scars, vehicle description, location, date and any other information that can alert other prostitutes as to who the bad date is so that if a prostitute sees him him/her will know that this date has been abusive in the past and that she/he should avoid doing a date with him. This book alerts sex workers about known attackers and removes the power of the attackers anonymity.
Never publish anything about the sex worker or report any information to the police without the consent of the person providing the report.
Why is the Bad Date Book important?
According to the Toronto Police Sex Crimes Unit there are approximately 5-6 assaults against sex workers everyday in the City of Toronto, this works out to an estimated 2000 assaults on sex workers yearly in this city alone. Most of these assaults happen to sex workers that work on the street, and only 2% of these assaults ever make it to the attention of the police. Meaning that these assailants are free to attack again.
What information is in the Bad Date Book?
Absolutely NO identifying information is given out in regards to the sex worker, each report is COMPLETELY anonymous. The only information that is provided is on the attacker, nothing about the sex worker should be printed
How is the Bad Date Book Distributed?
The bad date book is usually either put up on line as well as given out to sex workers on the stroll, or at social service agencies and health centres that are frequented by sex workers.
How does a sex worker give a report?
Reports can be given in person, via email, or telephone. It's good to have a 24 hours voicemail to take messages when you are out.
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