Prostitutes Selma

Activism for Marginalized Groups

Selma James is a writer and organizer born in 1930 in Brooklyn, New York. She has spent decades campaigning for women’s rights and against racism. Her work focuses on marginalized groups like housewives, single mothers, and sex workers.

English Collective of Prostitutes

In 1975, she became the first spokeswoman for the English Collective of Prostitutes. This group pushes to decriminalize prostitution and protect sex workers’ rights. One major action was the 1982 occupation of Holy Cross Church in London. James documented this event in her book “Hookers in the House of the Lord.”

Intersectional Advocacy

She also co-founded the Wages for Housework campaign. Her writings, like “Sex, Race and Class” (1974), explore how gender, race, and economics intersect. She argues that all women—including sex workers—deserve autonomy and fair treatment.

Selma’s Enduring Legacy

James continues speaking publicly. In 2011, she marked International Women’s Day by noting how quickly social attitudes shift. In 2022, she reflected on the 40th anniversary of the church occupation. Her lifelong stance remains: society must stop punishing sex workers and start supporting them.

*TAGS* – Holy Cross Church occupation, decriminalize prostitution, Wages for Housework