During our preparation to premiere A KISS FOR GABRIELA in New York this year (stay tuned for dates), we have learned so much about organizing and cultural opportunities in the United States. Key deadlines are just around the corner, so read up, apply and then attend these significant events in the calendar for the rights of sex workers and people in the sex trade. 2013 is a year to “be there, or be square”–some events won’t come around again for another two years.

The eighth biennial San Francisco Sex Worker Film and Art Festival will be held May 18 to 26 this year bringing together the best in performances, workshops, visual arts, political organizing,  and skills sharing for sex worker artists, filmmakers and their allies. The Sex Worker Festival–established in 1999–recognizes and honors prostitutes, dancers, porn performers and other sex workers from diverse communities, who have been dynamic and integral members of arts communities since time immemorial. The festival has recently extended the film submission deadline to March 15 and is seeking films in Spanish, about sex work and parenting, and shorts. We are keeping our fingers crossed that A KISS FOR GABRIELA will be in the program.

The 5th Desiree Alliance Conference entitled The Audacity of Health: Sex Work, Health and Politics will be held July 14 to 19, 2013, in Las Vegas. This conference is a key organizing event in the sex worker rights calendar, providing an unparalleled opportunity for activists (both sex workers and their allies) from all across the country to meet in person and for skills building in harm reduction, research/policy, art/culture, organizing and more. Proposals for presentations and workshops are due March 1, 2013 (an option is available to seek and extension of time should you need) and scholarships applications are due April 1, 2013.

These wonderful events are organized primarily by the volunteer energy of sex workers, people in the sex trade and their allies.