MONTREAL – In 2023, the community group Mile End Chavurah hosted an event to name Jewish Montreal's "new patron saint," culminating in the selection of Maimie Pinzer. Known as an activist, Pinzer founded a community space for her fellow sex workers in 1915, and her legacy has been commemorated through a vibrant black, white, and hot-pink mural in the Mile End neighbourhood. Furthermore, she has inspired the formation of the sex worker advocacy group, Stella, l’amie de Maimie.
Pinzer's recognition aligns with a larger exhibit in Montreal that emphasizes the activism of sex workers, showcasing their contributions not only to their own rights but also to various social causes, including the fight against AIDS and anti-poverty efforts. This exhibit, titled “By and For: 30 Years of Sex Worker Resistance,” marks the 30th anniversary of Stella and is designed to highlight the long-standing resilience of sex workers in the city. Jenn Clamen, the communications coordinator for Stella, stated, “This is to demonstrate our 30 years of resistance and what that looks like, and most importantly, how sex workers in this city have been resisting for so long, beyond the 30 years, of course.”
The exhibit, running until March 15 at the Centre des mémoires montréalaises, presents a mix of artwork, historical photographs, and newspaper articles, along with insights into Stella's mission. Visitors will see black and pink panels depicting sex workers engaged in protest marches, symposiums, and advocacy campaigns, both in Montreal and internationally. Clamen notes that sex workers represent a variety of intersecting identities, contributing to their activism across multiple societal sectors, including two-spirit LGBTQ communities, homeless populations, and various ethnic communities.
Tamara Kramer of Mile End Chavurah expressed that the collaboration with Stella was an educational opportunity, connecting her with Jewish individuals who are part of the sex worker community. She mentioned how the event attracted members from her community who were previously unknown to her. The exhibit also includes a poignant photo from a 2021 march in Montreal's Chinatown, where sex workers rallied against a rise in anti-Asian racism following the tragic deaths of eight individuals, six of them Asian women, in massage parlours in Atlanta.
May Chiu, who helped organize the anti-Asian rally, described the turnout as remarkable, with attendance estimated at four or five thousand, far exceeding initial expectations. She appreciated Stella’s support in organizing a vigil for the deceased, highlighting the double vulnerability of the women targeted due to their racial and occupational identities. She emphasized that the partnership with Stella illustrated that sex workers are not merely victims but also empowered individuals engaged in the fight for their rights.
The exhibit features a patchwork quilt made by inmates from the now-closed Tanguay women’s jail in Montreal, as well as collected matchbooks from strip clubs. One standout installation is a neon pink-lit room displaying personal items from sex workers, symbolizing their lives and experiences. Clamen clarified that the primary focus of the exhibit is on activism rather than sexual content. She emphasized that visitors should not expect explicit material, stating, “This is actually a very not nude exhibit, it’s quite PG-rated.” Instead, the exhibit is a representation of the struggle for bodily autonomy and basic human rights.
Clamen underscored that the fight of sex workers encompasses far more than just the right to engage in their profession; it is also about broader human rights and social justice issues. The exhibit serves to educate the public on these themes, aiming to shed light on the multifaceted advocacy work of sex workers within the larger societal framework.
