Priscilla Alexander
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Priscilla Alexander | |
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| Born | January 27, 1939 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | November 23, 2023 (aged 84) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Bennington College (BA) |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Movement | Sex workers' rights |
Priscilla Alexander (January 27, 1939 – November 18, 2023) was an American activist, researcher, feminist, and writer recognized for her pioneering work in the sex workers' rights movement and public health advocacy. As a foundational figure in Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE), one of the first organizations advocating for the decriminalization of sex work in the United States, Alexander played a crucial role in shifting discourse around sex work from criminality to labor rights. Alexander is best known for co-editing the book Sex Work: Writings by Women in the Sex Industry (1987), which popularized the term "Sex Work".[1] She was also instrumental in co-founding the San Francisco Bay Times, the first LGBTQ newspaper jointly produced by gay men and women, reflecting her broader commitment to civil rights and gender equality.
Early Life and Education
Priscilla Alexander was born on January 27, 1939, in Boston, Massachusetts. Her early years were spent in New Hampshire before relocating to New York. Her father, Michael Alexander, was a business owner, while her mother, Eleanor (“Nell”) Rogers Alexander, was an artist and retreat organizer.[2] Alexander attended the High School of Music & Art in New York before graduating from Bennington College with a degree in set design. In 1968, she moved to San Francisco, where she became immersed in the city's politically charged atmosphere and its evolving rights movements.
Activism and Leadership in the Sex Workers' Rights Movement
Alexander’s involvement in sex worker advocacy was rooted in her broader activism for social justice, particularly concerning poverty, racial inequality, xenophobia, homophobia, and incarceration. In 1975, she met Margo St. James, the founder of COYOTE, an organization established in 1973 to combat the criminalization and stigmatization of sex work. Recognizing the broader implications of the movement, Alexander joined COYOTE in 1977 and became a key strategist in expanding its reach. Through COYOTE, Alexander helped bring sex workers’ rights to mainstream feminist discourse.[3][4] In 1982, she successfully lobbied the National Organization for Women (NOW) to establish a committee on prostitutes’ rights, one of the first such acknowledgments by a major feminist organization. She also played a pivotal role in influencing national and international conversations about sex work, human rights, and public health. Alongside Gloria Lockett, Alexander co-directed COYOTE, the California Prostitutes’ Education Project (Cal-PEP), and the National Task Force on Prostitution, focusing on AIDS prevention and human rights advocacy. She was a leading figure in organizing the first and second International Whore’s Conferences in Amsterdam (1985) and Brussels (1986), events that catalyzed global sex worker activism.
Co-Founding the San Francisco Bay Times
In 1978, Alexander co-founded the San Francisco Bay Times, the first LGBTQ newspaper collaboratively produced by gay men and women.[5] Serving as the features editor, she established a dedicated "Women’s Page," providing critical representation of queer women in a media landscape that often marginalized them.[6] Her role in the newspaper underscored her broader commitment to intersectional activism, addressing gender, sexuality, and labor rights.
Publications and Contributions
Alexander is best known for co-editing the seminal book Sex Work: Writings by Women in the Sex Industry (1987) with Frédérique Delacoste.[1] The book was instrumental in popularizing the term "sex work" and reframing discussions around the industry as a labor rights issue rather than a moral or criminal concern. Contributions from leading activists, including Carol Leigh, Gloria Lockett, and Gail Pheterson, helped shape contemporary discourse on sex work policy. Her research and writings have been widely cited in academic and policy debates on sex work, public health, and human rights, cementing her reputation as a thought leader in the field.
Public Health Advocacy and Global Impact
Recognizing the intersection between sex work and public health, Alexander expanded her work beyond activism to research and policy development. She joined the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was an expert on sex work, human rights, and HIV/AIDS prevention. At WHO, she played a key role in designing global programs aimed at reducing health disparities for sex workers and promoting harm reduction strategies worldwide.[7] Upon returning to the U.S., Alexander continued her public health work as the Director of Research and Evaluation for FROST’D and as co-coordinator of the North American Taskforce on Prostitution. She remained a leading advocate for evidence-based approaches to sex work policy, emphasizing harm reduction, decriminalization, and the protection of workers' rights.
Legacy and Historical Significance
Priscilla Alexander’s impact on the sex workers’ rights movement and public health advocacy was significant. At a time when sex work was heavily stigmatized, her work provided legitimacy to the movement, bridging the gap between grassroots activism and mainstream policy discussions. Her efforts helped integrate sex workers’ rights into feminist and public health frameworks, challenging both societal prejudice and institutional neglect. Alexander’s work contributed to landmark shifts in how sex work is viewed in policy and human rights circles, paving the way for future generations of activists and researchers advocating for decriminalization, labor rights, and harm reduction strategies. She is remembered by colleagues, activists, researchers, and educators and memorialized by leading sex workers' advocacy nonprofit Old Pros.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Alexander, Priscilla; Delacoste, Frederique (1987). Sex Work: Writings by Women in the Sex Industry (2nd ed.). San Fransisco: Cleis Press. ISBN 9781573447010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Priscilla Alexander Memorial". Old Pros. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ↑ "Sex worker advocate Priscilla Alexander dies". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ↑ Leite, Gabriela (2024). Daughter, Mother, Grandmother, and Whore: The Story of a Woman Who Decided to be a Puta. Duke University Press. doi:10.1353/book.126799. ISBN 978-1-4780-5951-6.
- ↑ "Priscilla Alexander (1939–2023), Co-Founding Editor of the San Francisco Bay Times". San Francisco Bay Times. 2023-12-22. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ↑ "Priscilla Alexander (1939–2023), Co-Founding Editor of the San Francisco Bay Times". San Francisco Bay Times. 2023-12-22. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ↑ Walkowitz, Judith R. (2024-05-01). "From Activist to Ally: Interview with Priscilla Alexander". Radical History Review. 2024 (149): 57–60. doi:10.1215/01636545-11027418. ISSN 0163-6545.
External links
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