We mourn with great sadness the passing of August Ames, the loss of whom has left many of us devastated and heartbroken. We echo her family’s call for civility and privacy during a difficult time.
As a community, we face routine bias, stigma, discrimination and near-constant attacks on our character by those outside our industry. Social media has only magnified these issues. Given this environment, it’s even more important that those of us within the industry treat each other with respect and compassion.
We are a highly diverse community of people from all walks of life, but that does not mean we can not stand united. We can recognize our differences without shaming one another. We can disagree without harassment, we can have conversations without bullying and threats, and we can address misconceptions and misunderstandings without yelling past each other.
We need to be able to communicate with each other when we are hurting, we need to be able to listen, and we need to be able to find ways to move forward together.
Words have power. We ask in the wake of August’s passing that we renew our commitment to each other as an industry, and work to engage in supportive, civil discussion about issues that affect the lives of performers.
Eric Paul Leue
Executive Director
Free Speech Coalition
Many of us are facing additional grief, depression and anxiety when dealing with the loss of a much-loved colleague. For those who may be struggling to deal with such issues, the resources below can help you navigate and survive.
If you are in search of sex positive/sex worker friendly mental health resources and support groups, please refer to the list below and reach out to FSC should you have questions.
Los Angeles Department of Mental Health (Los Angeles)
Information, counseling, hotlines and access to care and services for Los Angeles residents struggling with mental health issues.
St. James Infirmary (Bay Area)
A peer-based occupational health and safety clinic for sex workers and their families, offering peer counseling and psychotherapy as well as primary care and sexual health services.
Kate Loree, LMFT, ATR MBA (Encino)
Offering Individual, couples, and group therapy.
Dr. Marilyn Lawrence, Ph.D (Beverly Hills)
Clinical Sexologist & Diplomate Certified Sex Therapist
Hernando Chaves MFT, DHS (Los Angeles)
Amie Harwick, PhD, MFT (West Hollywood)
Dossie Easton, MFT (Bay Area)
Adult Performer Advocacy Committee
http://www.apac-usa.com/
The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee advocates to maintain and improve safety and working conditions in the adult film industry by giving adult performers education and organized representation in matters that affect our health, safety, and community.
Sex Worker Outreach Project (Los Angeles chapter)
http://www.swop-losangeles.org/
We are sex workers of all backgrounds who are interested in building support for each other. Sex work can cause feelings of isolation and connecting with someone who has had a similar experience can be comforting. To learn more, send us an email or give our hotline a call. Peers are verified and vetted for security
Abeni (Orange County)
http://www.abeni.org/
Abeni exists to create a safe, confidential place for those working in the Orange County sex trades, as well as those being domestically sex trafficked. We aim to be a present source of relevant, relational, and holistic support for those who are working or have worked in the adult entertainment industry.
The Trevor Project
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
The Trevor Project’s trained counselors are here to support you 24/7. If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the TrevorLifeline now at 866-488-7386.
