You Are Cherished: Care Workshop for East and Southeast Asian Communities to Honour Women Killed Due to Anti-Asian Violence 

On March 16th, 2021, 7 women and one man were murdered in Atlanta, Georgia. 6 of the women whose lives were taken were East Asian, and the three places attacked were massage parlours run and staffed by East Asian women. They were targeted because they were sex workers and because they were East Asian. Our communities continue to be harmed through harassment, violence and discrimination including targeted attacks against Asian massage parlours workers.

One year after the mass killing, we are creating space for our communities to remember those women and all East and Southeast Asian women who have been harmed because of anti-Asian racism or whorephobia. Join Butterfly, Asian Migrant Sex Workers Network and Consent Comes First as we gather online to remember those lost to Anti-Asian violence and whorephobia. We’ll take time to celebrate our strengths as a community, cherish the living, and remember those no longer with us. Join us in this safer space to grieve, heal, and give care through writing. This space is open solely to East and Southeast Asian community members. We want our community to know they are cherished, loved and cared for.

Butterfly, Asian and Migrant Sex workers Network (external link)  was formed by sex workers, social workers, legal and health professionals. It provides support to, and advocates for, the rights of Asian and migrant sex workers. The organization is founded upon the belief that sex workers are entitled to respect and basic human rights. Butterfly asserts that, regardless of their immigration status, Asian and migrant sex workers should be treated like all other workers.