The current fascinating Exhibit at the LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM  OF GAY & LESBIAN ART in NY. curated by social worker Alexis Heller  is ON OUR BACKS: The Revolutionary Art of Queer Sex Work.  It explores the history of queer sex work culture, and its intimate ties to art and activism.

The expression ‘sex work’ was coined by bisexual activist, Carol Leigh, aka. The Scarlot Harlot in 1978, ‘and is broadly defined as exchanging sex or erotic services for gain and connotes personal agency and politicized action.

The show features artists shawné michaelain-holloway, Shine Louise Houston, Bruce LaBruce, Madsen Minax, Annie Sprinkle,  and David Wojnarowicz, who actually engaged in sex work

What emerges in this exhibit is a demonstration of queer and transgender sex workers’ deep community building, creative organizing, self-empowerment, identity/desire affirmation and healing and the use of pornography as a deft tool for queer and trans liberation.

Since the passing  FOSTA-SESTA, the 2018 law that holds online publishers responsible for ads for consensual sex work found on their sites — the exhibition couldn’t be more timely. As our culture continues to put marginalized populations at risk, On Our Backs celebrates the radical, empowering, and often invisible labor of sex workers.

ON OUR BACKS: The Revolutionary Art of Queer Sex Work
September 28, 2019 – January 19, 2020
https://www.leslielohman.org/project/queer-sex-workers