In a deplorable and deliberate attack on sex work, Backpage was seized and shut down by American law enforcement, on April 6, 2018.
This is a crisis for sex workers who rely on the site to safely connect with and screen clients.
People doing sex work will be placed in precarious and dangerous situations.
We condemn these attacks on our colleagues.
Because of the advertising restrictions which were implemented in the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act in 2014, Canadian sex workers heavily relied on Backpage. Without BP, and until we can figure out new ways of working, many sex workers will be put in serious financial hardship and our safety will be severely compromised because we will all be taking risks we should not have to.
In this time of crisis, we ask you to support sex workers in our fight for our rights.
-Sex Professionals of Canada