Sidewalk Project Creates “Bad Date List” for Sex Workers in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California — The Sidewalk Project, a Los Angeles-based lived-experience arts and public health harm reduction organization for those who live outdoors, has created a ‘Bad Date List’ to distribute to those who are providing sexual services and need to know about predators to avoid. The Sidewalk Project does not work with the police; recognizing the tremendous role that criminalization and stigma plays in the continuation of violence against sex workers but instead rely on peer-to-peer information sharing about who to avoid.

“The bad date list is an incredible tool of empowerment, created by current and former sex workers for sex workers. We use a trauma informed approach to every report taken with an emphasis on anonymity, autonomy, and the utmost respect for every person sharing their story,” says Jen Elizabeth (she/her), a Certified Trauma Recorvery Coach, Harm Reductionist and former sex worker who serves as the lead at the Specialized Women’s Program at the Sidewalk Project.

“The bad date list is a compiled list of experiences reported by workers that include violence, robbery, rape, assaults, and anything that will protect each other from being further victimized by dates who are known to mistreat them,” said Soma Snakeoil, Executive Director of The Sidewalk Project. “We take down important details of the experience that the worker is comfortable sharing with us and provide a way to pass on the lifesaving information. These lists are invaluable in helping workers protect, support, and empower each other. We support basic community sharing tactics to foster familiarity and wisdom from sex workers who have come before.”

In sharing the information about predators, we also share about SB233, a law signed by the Governor in 2018 that grants immunity from prostitution arrest when reporting being a victim or witness to violent crime. SB233 also prohibits using condoms as evidence in prostitution arrests.

The Sidewalk Project insists that the State of California immediately decriminalize sex work. Our organization sees how marginalization and criminalization allows violent predators to more easily prey on street-based sex workers. Our work is towards reducing the harm caused by criminalization by hosting the bad date list.

The Sidewalk Project stands in solidarity and love with all sex workers and their organizations, including the Asian massage workers and clients who recently lost their lives in Atlanta. We will join in the banner drop across California to raise awareness on June 2, 2021.

For more information on the bad date list and other harm reduction services provided by The Sidewalk Project feel free to contact:

Soma Snakeoil (she/her)

Sex Worker of 18 years

Executive Director and Co-Founder of

The Sidewalk Project

To report a street based LA bad date email: baddates.la@gmail.com

www.SexAndSubmission.com