Known as the mother of the contemporary sex worker rights movement in the United States, Margo St. James’ enduring impact is immeasurable.
In 1973, Margo St. James founded COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics), a pioneering organization that championed the rights of sex workers. Margo organized the first and second World Whore’s Conference in 1985 and 1986 and helped to establish the St. James Infirmary in 1999. She also supported the founding of SWOP-USA and supported the first International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers in 2003.
Born September 12, 1937, Margo St. James grew up in a conservative family of dairy farmers in Bellingham, Washington. As a young woman, she attended Fresno State College and later moved to San Francisco to pursue a career as a visual artist. After being falsely arrested for prostitution in 1962 she began questioning society’s prevailing attitudes towards sex work and started a career in advocacy that would shape the rest of her life.
Today, Margo St. James’s trailblazing spirit continues to inspire activists and advocates. Her dedication to the rights and dignity of sex workers serves as a guiding light for those who carry on the work she started. As we celebrate the extraordinary life of Margo St. James, we are reminded of the importance of challenging unjust laws and advocating for the rights and dignity of all people. By standing together in solidarity, we can continue the journey towards a more just and equitable society that respects the rights and dignity of all, regardless of their occupation.
Margo St. James passed away on January 11, 2021. Although we at The Oldest Profession Podcast, never had the opportunity to meet Margo St. James personally, host Kaytlin Bailey has been honored to collaborate with many of Margo’s contemporaries, mentees, and those whom she inspired. Margo’s impact reached far beyond her immediate circle, inspiring countless individuals to stand up and fight for sex worker rights. Through her media savvy and relentless advocacy, she brought sex worker issues into the mainstream, challenging unjust laws and prejudices.
Learn More: Watch our memorial film for Margo St. James.
The Oldest Profession Podcast reminds listeners that sex workers have always been part of the story. Each episode focuses on an “old pro” from history, contextualizing that figure in their own time and connecting their story to the ongoing struggle for sex worker rights. Kaytlin Bailey created The Oldest Profession Podcast to be an accessible and entertaining resource for anyone who wants to learn more about sex workers and our place in history.
Pheterson, Gail. A Vindication of the Rights of Whores: The International Movement for Prostitutes’ Rights. Seattle, WA: Seal Press, 1989. Download link.
An intensely personal work, A Vindication of the Rights of Whores contains the history of prostitute self-organization in the words of pros, ex-pros, and non-pros. In the preface, Margo St. James recounts her role as the first prostitute to speak out publicly for sex worker rights and her subsequent work building international solidarity among sex workers and feminists. Featuring accounts of the First and Second World Whores Congresses’ as well as personal essays and conversational transcripts, this collection is the foundational work of the movement for sex worker rights.
Toce, Sarah. “Coyote beautiful Margo St. James: prostitute, politician, and warrior.” Windy City Times, July 20, 2011. ProQuest link.
In this riveting 2011 interview with the Windy City Times, Margo St. James discusses her life story, her politics, and her goals for whores everywhere. Covering topics ranging from AIDS to OJ Simpson to Harvey Milk to the Obama Administration, this article makes Margo come alive as not just a historical figure but a whip-smart activist on the front-lines of change.
Margo St. James’ full papers, “Papers of Margo St. James, 1963-2010,” are housed at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Learn more here.
Though these archives are only accessible for in-library use, they are currently being processed and may be accessible online in the future.
Obituaries & Celebrations of Life for Margo St. James
Old Pros. “Remembering Margo St. James.” Recorded May 1, 2021. https://margostjames.com/
Gentile, Dan. “Legendary SF sex worker activist Margo St. James dies at age 83.” TCA Regional News, January 14, 2021. Link to the obituary.
Seelye, Katharine Q. “Margo St. James, 83, Ally to Sex Workers, Is Dead.” New York Times, January 22, 2021. Link to the obituary.
Brown, Elizabeth Nolan. “Celebration of Life for Margo St. James: St. James fought for sex workers at a time when the mainstream U.S. feminist movement was hostile to them and leftist organizers portrayed them as victims.” Reason, July 2, 2021. Link to the post.