Wendy Babcock (May 29, 1979 – August 9, 2011
) was a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
activist for the rights of sex workers. Born in the city of
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
, Babcock became a
sex worker
A sex worker is a person who provides sex work, either on a regular or occasional basis. The term is used in reference to those who work in all areas of the sex industry.Oxford English Dictionary, "sex worker"
According to one view, sex work is d ...
at the age of 15. From 2004 to 2007 she was a key member of
Sex Professionals of Canada
Sex Professionals of Canada (SPOC) is a Canadian activism group. SPOC was formed in 1983 and campaigns through public education and legal challenges to decriminalize Canadian prostitution laws
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identif ...
, an advocacy group whose main objective is to promote the rights of sex workers and the decriminalization of sex work in Canada.
Babcock was found dead at her home on August 9, 2011 from an accidental overdose; foul play was not suspected.
At the time of her death, she was at work on a memoir, to be released in 2013 to coincide with her graduation from law school.
Work
Babcock chaired the Bad Date Coalition of Toronto, a group that produces a monthly
Bad Date Book which publishes reports of violent acts committed against sex workers, including details of the attacker. In 2007, she testified in the Ontario Superior Court in the case of R. v. Bedford, one of
Alan Young's constitutional challenges to decriminalize sex work. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2007.
Babcock co-initiated a partnership with
Toronto Police
The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is a municipal police force in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the primary agency responsible for providing law enforcement and policing services in Toronto. Established in 1834, it was the first local police ser ...
Services to ensure sex workers can report assault without fear of persecution or prosecution, and being a member of the advisory group to the Special Victims Unit. Other projects that Babcock helped to create include Safer Stroll Outreach Project, Regent Park Community Health Centre's Sex Worker Drop In, the Health Bus Sex Workers Stop and
Wen-Do safety training for sex workers.
Babcock took a leave of absence from sex work after her friend and co-worker Lien Pham was murdered on October 13, 2003. In 2002–2003 Babcock began
sex worker advocacy while working for Maggie's, a peer-run organization for sex workers. From 2003 to 2010, Babcock worked at Street Health as a
Harm Reduction
Harm reduction, or harm minimization, refers to a range of public health policies designed to lessen the negative social and/or physical consequences associated with various human behaviors, both legal and illegal. Harm reduction is used to de ...
Worker.
In 2008, Babcock received the Inaugural Public Health Champion Award for her work with sex workers. The award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to protecting and promoting the health of Toronto's residents.
In 2009, Babcock began to pursue a J.D. degree at
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School, commonly shortened to Osgoode, is the law school of York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The law school is home to the Law Commission of Ontario, the Journal of Law and Social Policy, and the '' Osgoode Hall L ...
.
She joined ''Lover Magazine'' (a women's sexuality magazine) in 2011 as a writer on sex work issues.
Films
Babcock participated in three films: ''Sluts: The Documentary'', the 2007 documentary ''Where I Stand'', and the 2010 short film ''Every Ho I Know Says So''. Babcock also appeared on television including the CBC's ''
Connect with Mark Kelley'' twice, and Global TV's ''
16:9 The Bigger Picture''. Babcock can also be seen in a video on a website for Eva's Phoenix
homeless
Homelessness or houselessness – also known as a state of being unhoused or unsheltered – is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and adequate housing. People can be categorized as homeless if they are:
* living on the streets, also kn ...
shelter, where she lived during her youth.
Babcock worked as a consultant to
Kat Dennings
Katherine Victoria Litwack (born June 13, 1986), known professionally as Kat Dennings, is an American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Max Black in the CBS sitcom '' 2 Broke Girls'' (2011–2017) and as Darcy Lewis in the Marvel ...
for her role as a sex worker in the 2009 film ''
Defendor
''Defendor'' is a 2009 Canadian-American vigilante comedy-drama film written and directed by Peter Stebbings in his directorial debut. It stars Woody Harrelson as Arthur Poppington, a regular man who adopts a superhero persona named Defendor, wi ...
''.
References
External links
;News Articles
*
Wendy Babcock: Champion for those without a voiceFormer Child Prostitute Turned Law Student Vows to Change Child Welfare Laws Citynews; 11 November 2009.
From Prostitute to Law Student: Wendy Babcock has a new struggle on her hands - paying tuition Inside Toronto; 19 November 2009.
We can all benefit from Wendy Babcock's fight Toronto Star.
Wendy Babcock Fights for Better Laws McClungs; April 2010.
;Other articles
* Sex Life Canada; October 2010
Wendy Babcock: 24/7 InspirationWhat Stripping Taught Me About Feminism Wendy Babcock; Lover Magazine; May 2011
Solicitation: Sex Worker Round Table Part 1 Eden Fantasys; June 2011
Memorial page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Babcock, Wendy
1979 births
2011 deaths
Sex worker activists in Canada
Activists from Toronto
Canadian female prostitutes
George Brown College