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Sex work advocacy in the United States has a powerful champion in the Desiree Alliance – a national social justice organization led by current and former sex workers. Blending professionalism with grassroots passion, Desiree Alliance works to advance the human, labor, and civil rights of sex workers. This coalition unites sex workers, allies, and academics under a common mission of empowerment and solidarity, making its work especially relevant to adult content creators and online performers. In this post, we’ll explore the history and mission of Desiree Alliance, highlight their key programs and advocacy efforts, and explain why their fight matters for U.S.-based creators on platforms like Cambunny. By the end, you’ll see how getting involved with organizations like Desiree Alliance can help empower your career and community.

History and Mission of Desiree Alliance

Formed in 2005 by a collective of sex worker rights advocates, Desiree Alliance emerged to create a national space for sex workers to organize and be heard. The name “Desiree” honors a shared aspiration for dignity and rights in the sex industry, and the alliance was initially known for hosting conferences that brought together sex workers from across the country. Over time, what began as an annual conference in 2006 transformed into a year-round nonprofit network by 2010, expanding its reach to include harm reduction, healthcare, and political advocacy initiatives. This evolution was spearheaded by community leaders like Cris Sardina (a long-time sex worker activist who now serves as Director) and the late Sharmus Outlaw, a revered transgender rights advocate – both of whom helped turn Desiree Alliance into a broad coalition of organizations, communities, and individuals working for sex worker justice.

Desiree Alliance’s mission is grounded in the belief that sex work is work and that sex workers deserve full human rights. As stated on their official website, the Alliance is “a national coalition of current and former sex workers working together with supporting networks for an improved understanding of sexual policies and [their] human, social and political impacts.” In practical terms, this means building local, regional, and national leadership among sex workers to advocate for human rights, health, labor, and civil rights in the industry. The group explicitly advocates for the full anti-criminalization of sex work, opposing laws that criminalize consensual adult services. Four core values guide all their efforts – equity, equality, empowerment, and agency. These values reflect a commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and ensuring sex workers have control over their own lives. Desiree Alliance also emphasizes nonviolence and education as pillars of its approach, recognizing that much of the oppression sex workers face is fueled by misinformation and stigma. By promoting accurate understanding and rejecting dehumanizing narratives, the Alliance aims to “change fundamentally the way sex workers are perceived by society.”

In essence, Desiree Alliance’s history is one of sex workers organizing for themselves. It is a coalition led by those with lived experience in the sex trade, alongside supportive allies like health professionals and educators. This “nothing about us without us” ethos ensures the Alliance’s mission isn’t just about policy on paper – it’s about empowering sex workers to take the lead in the fight for their own rights. For adult entertainers and content creators, this legacy sends a clear message: you have a rightful voice in shaping the conditions of your work and the narrative around your profession.

Advocating for Human, Labor, and Civil Rights

Desiree Alliance works on many fronts to secure basic rights and protections for sex workers. At the heart of their advocacy is the idea that sex workers’ rights are human rights. In fact, the Alliance recently reminded the public on social media: “It’s not just about sex workers’ rights – it’s about human rights.” This inclusive framing positions sex worker justice within broader struggles for civil liberties, bodily autonomy, and labor rights. The Alliance consistently pushes back against harmful misconceptions that conflate consensual sex work with trafficking or exploitation. As they’ve emphasized publicly, “Sex workers are against trafficking in any form… ‘We are against trafficking and exploitation in any form.’ Let this be on public record.” In other words, Desiree Alliance makes it perfectly clear that supporting sex workers’ rights goes hand-in-hand with opposing violence and coercion. They demand that policymakers and the public stop treating all sex work as a crime to be eradicated and instead recognize the agency of those who choose this work.

One of the Alliance’s key goals is decriminalization – removing criminal penalties for consensual adult sex work. Criminalization not only forces sex work into dangerous underground conditions, it also strips sex workers of labor protections and recourse against abuse. Desiree Alliance advocates for laws that treat sex work as legitimate work, so that performers and providers can access basic rights like safe working conditions, healthcare, and legal protection from violence. The organization has spoken out against laws such as the controversial FOSTA/SESTA package, which they argue has endangered sex workers by driving them off online platforms without actually stopping trafficking.

In a public statement, Desiree Alliance’s director Cris Sardina urged understanding of sex workers’ realities: “What we do with our bodies is a choice,” she noted, linking sex worker rights to “reproductive rights, queer rights, trans rights, POC rights, and poor people’s rights.” This intersectional perspective highlights how the fight for sex worker rights connects to multiple social justice issues – from LGBTQ+ equality to racial justice and economic empowerment.

Importantly, Desiree Alliance centers the voices of those most affected. The coalition stands in solidarity with transgender sex workers, sex workers living with HIV, migrant sex workers, and others who face overlapping discriminations. “We stand in love and solidarity with our trans communities… with our HIV and AIDS communities… with our immigrant and migrant communities,” reads one passionate note on their site. By acknowledging these intersections, the Alliance ensures its human rights advocacy is inclusive. They also uphold principles of nonviolence and dignity in activism – believing that while sex workers have been dehumanized by society, their movement must strive to re-humanize and create change through compassion rather than through anger alone.

Overall, Desiree Alliance’s advocacy is both radical and pragmatic: radical in demanding full rights and respect for sex workers, yet pragmatic in engaging lawmakers, international bodies, and media with well-founded arguments and real stories from the community.

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Key Programs, Events, and Campaigns

One of the hallmark efforts of Desiree Alliance has been its national conferences – groundbreaking gatherings of sex workers and allies for education, community-building, and strategy. The first Desiree Alliance Conference took place in Las Vegas in July 2006, themed “Re-visioning Prostitution Policy,” and marked one of the first times in U.S. history that sex workers convened openly on a national stage. These conferences, usually five-day events held every few years, grew to become the largest and most important sex worker rights gatherings in the United States. Workshops ranged from know-your-rights trainings and harm reduction in the field, to panels on art, business development, and academic research related to the sex trade. By the 2010s, the Desiree Alliance Conference was widely recognized as “the only recurring event of its kind in North America — a conference organized by and for sex workers” and a crucial space for empowerment. Attendance swelled as the movement gained momentum: at the 6th national conference in 2016 (held in New Orleans), around 300 attendees gathered – roughly 50% more than the previous conference in 2013. About three-quarters of participants were current or former sex workers, joined by supportive allies. For many, these conferences were life-changing – providing a sense of community, safety, and pride that is often denied in day-to-day life.

Sadly, an abrupt policy shift in 2018 forced Desiree Alliance to put these conferences on hold. In the wake of FOSTA/SESTA — federal laws that introduced severe liabilities for online content related to sex work — the Alliance’s leadership made the difficult decision to cancel future large conferences out of concern for attendee safety and organizational liability. “It is with great sadness… that Desiree Alliance announces the cancellation of any future conferences until it is safe for us to do so. Due to FOSTA/SESTA enactments, our leadership made the decision that we cannot put our attendees and our organization at risk,” the group announced in 2018. This announcement, coming from a place of care and caution, underscored how hostile laws can directly stifle even non-profit community events. Cris Sardina described the decision as heartbreaking, after seeing how empowering the conferences had been: “We had our space and we are out and we are loud and we hold no shame… How are we going to get our message out now?” she lamented.

The halt of the conferences was a blow to the community; however, Desiree Alliance quickly adapted its strategies to continue its work through other means. One major initiative that rose from the ashes of the conference was the creation of the National Sex Worker Anti-Criminalization Principles – essentially a manifesto for the sex worker rights movement. In late June 2018, Desiree Alliance organizers and supporters (including notable figures like adult performer/activist Siouxsie Q and veteran escort rights advocate Maggie McNeill) met in Los Angeles to draft this statement of principles. Hosted at the ACLU’s L.A. office, this national summit produced a powerful one-page document that lays out a platform of demands and values for sex worker rights.

The Principles include clear recommendations: they call on the public to respect sex workers as the experts of their own lives, to support sex workers’ struggles for justice, and to reject any intervention that is punitive or non-consensual. They affirm sex workers’ rights to make their own sexual and relationship choices, to control their health, and to access social, medical, and legal services without discrimination. In short, the manifesto insists that sex workers deserve the same rights and dignity as anyone else, and that sex workers must have a seat at the table in all policy decisions affecting them. “We’re national voices, and we came together with a collective mission to put forth a statement of how we are to be interacted with,” explained Cris Sardina at the close of the summit, noting proudly that “that was accomplished today.” The Principles also directly address pressing issues like FOSTA/SESTA and the frequent conflation of consensual sex work with trafficking, pushing back against these as obstacles to safety and rights. The National Sex Worker Anti-Criminalization Principles now serve as a guiding document for advocates across the country, and Desiree Alliance encourages all sex worker communities to use and share it as a template for advocacy.

Beyond conferences and manifestos, Desiree Alliance engages in various campaigns and events that further its mission. They have organized community service drives – for example, partnering with local groups in Arkansas and Texas for a “Winter’s Coming” event to support unhoused community members with supplies, showing that their commitment to social justice extends to helping neighbors in need. In early 2018, Desiree Alliance made history by participating in the Women’s March anniversary events in Las Vegas, where for the first time sex worker rights were explicitly recognized by march organizers. Cris Sardina spoke on stage to thousands, declaring, “I am a sex worker. And I have the right to be here,” which symbolized a breakthrough moment of visibility – the Women’s March crowd cheered as the movement for gender equality embraced the idea that sex work is work.

Desiree Alliance also issues open letters and media statements to educate the public. For instance, they published an Open Letter to the Media – Educate Yourselves! to correct misguided information linking sex workers and HIV, challenging journalists to do better. And when events rock the sex worker community – such as the arrest of a serial killer targeting sex workers – the Alliance responds with press releases centering the voices and safety of sex workers. Through summits, public speeches, collaborative campaigns, and rapid responses, Desiree Alliance has built a multi-faceted movement. Even without the marquee conference for now, the organization continues to educate, agitate, and organize in creative ways that keep sex worker issues in the public eye.

U.S. Impact: Sex Work Rights, Policy Change, and Peer Support

On the domestic front, Desiree Alliance has made significant strides in bringing sex worker perspectives into policy and public health discussions. A notable victory came in recent years with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) – the U.S. government’s roadmap for addressing HIV. Since 2010, Desiree Alliance and its partners had been pushing federal officials to acknowledge sex workers in HIV policy, given that criminalization and stigma greatly increase HIV risks for sex worker communities. For a long time, U.S. HIV strategy ignored sex workers entirely, but persistent advocacy paid off. In the 2022–2025 NHAS released by the White House, sex workers were finally included in the national conversation. Desiree Alliance proudly announced “We did it!” upon seeing this change – a testament to how collective pressure can influence policy. By insisting that “sex workers are implemented in policy-making and overall healthcare,” the Alliance helped ensure that HIV prevention and treatment efforts will no longer leave this key population behind. This is a concrete example of how Desiree Alliance fights not only for abstract rights but for life-saving inclusion in programs that affect sex workers’ health.

Desiree Alliance has also been a driving force in holding the U.S. accountable on the international stage for its treatment of sex workers. The Alliance often works in coalition with groups like the Best Practices Policy Project, the Black Sex Workers Collective, and regional orgs (e.g., New Jersey Red Umbrella Alliance, the Outlaw Project) to submit reports to United Nations bodies about human rights violations against sex workers in America. In 2020, for instance, this coalition provided input to the U.N. Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United States, detailing how criminalization and policing of sex work violate human rights. After the U.S. government responded to the UPR recommendations, Desiree Alliance and its partners issued a follow-up report and press release in 2021 to keep the pressure on. “The current U.S. administration has the opportunity to take progressive measures in identifying how people labor, how people survive, and their lived realities,” Cris Sardina noted, emphasizing that “there should be nothing about us without us,” i.e., the U.S. must consult sex worker rights leadership when implementing any accepted human rights recommendations. This kind of advocacy is crucial – it forces U.S. officials to acknowledge sex worker voices in discussions about trafficking, violence, and discrimination at an international level. It’s also empowering for sex workers domestically to know that their testimony is reaching the halls of the U.N. and prompting scrutiny of U.S. laws.

On a community level, Desiree Alliance’s impact can be seen in the stronger peer networks and support systems that have developed among sex workers over the past decade. By prioritizing leadership development, the Alliance has trained and mentored new activists who go on to start local initiatives, speak at universities, and advocate in their own cities and states. Many attendees of Desiree’s conferences and workshops have taken the knowledge back home – whether it’s knowing how to demand respect from law enforcement, how to run a support group, or how to lobby a city council for harm reduction programs. In Honolulu, for example, a local activist recounted lessons from the national conference, linking them to Hawaii’s efforts and calling the sex workers’ rights movement “the next great civil rights effort in the United States.” The idea that sex worker rights are a civil rights issue has started to enter mainstream discourse, thanks in part to the Alliance’s consistent messaging that sex workers are part of our communities deserving of safety and dignity, not disposable people. Their work has also helped debunk some damaging myths in the U.S., such as the overblown panic around “trafficking” that is often used to pass broad anti-prostitution crackdowns. As one community voice highlighted, fears over trafficking have fueled “a massive anti-prostitution moral crusade” where sex workers are seldom allowed media access to rebut falsehoods. Desiree Alliance, by getting sex workers into press articles, academic research, and public forums, has been steadily injecting truth into the conversation – namely that criminalizing sex work harms the very people anti-trafficking laws purport to help.

In U.S. policy debates, Desiree Alliance consistently champions approaches that are rooted in public health and human rights instead of punishment. They push for things like safe harbor laws, immunity policies so sex workers can report crimes committed against them without fear of arrest, and labor regulations that would give sex workers recourse against exploitative bosses or third parties. Their partnerships with legal and health organizations amplify these calls. For instance, Desiree Alliance contributed to a 2014 report documenting widespread police abuse of sex workers (including physical and sexual assault by officers) – research used to advocate for law enforcement accountability. The Alliance’s presence has also been felt in the fight against harmful state laws. Members often testify or organize around bills that would further criminalize advertising or outreach to sex workers. Through these efforts, Desiree Alliance has built a formidable coalition that includes not just sex workers, but also civil liberties groups, LGBTQ+ organizations, and even some anti-violence and women’s rights groups that now understand the importance of decriminalization. The cultural impact is noticeable: more Americans today have heard the phrase “sex work is work” and encountered the red umbrella symbol of sex worker solidarity than was the case a decade ago. This shift owes much to sex worker–led advocacy that Desiree Alliance helped spark and coordinate.

Global Connections and International Relevance

While Desiree Alliance’s focus is U.S. policy and community, the organization firmly situates itself within the global sex workers’ rights movement. In fact, their mission statement explicitly mentions working with “national & global allies” to achieve rights for all sex workers. The challenges faced by sex workers – stigma, criminalization, violence – are worldwide issues, and Desiree Alliance both learns from and contributes to international efforts to address them. The Alliance has relationships with global networks such as the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP), and representatives have appeared at international conferences. For example, Desiree Alliance leaders participated in the International AIDS Conferences (where sex worker rights have been a topic) and in dialogues like the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, bringing U.S. perspectives to a global stage. This cross-border exchange is important because the U.S. has historically lagged behind some other countries in adopting rights-based approaches. By aligning with sex worker groups abroad, Desiree Alliance advocates can point to models like New Zealand’s decriminalization of sex work (enacted in 2003) or Amnesty International’s 2016 recommendation to decriminalize globally, to show that what they seek is both reasonable and proven to improve lives.

Moreover, Desiree Alliance engages with international human rights mechanisms to hold the U.S. accountable, via U.N. submissions to committees like the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and Committee on the Status of Women (CEDAW). By doing so, they connect the struggle of an online erotic content creator in California, a street-based sex worker in New York, or a migrant brothel worker in Nevada to the broader principles laid out in human rights treaties. This global framing strengthens the legitimacy of sex worker rights: it’s not just a niche issue, but part of the universal human rights agenda. Internationally, December 17th is marked as the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers (a day of remembrance and action founded by U.S. activists which has spread worldwide). Desiree Alliance joins in these commemorations – for instance, sharing messages like “someone I love is a sex worker” to humanize sex workers and call for an end to violence. They raise the red umbrella banner on days like this and June 2nd (International Sex Workers’ Day), standing in solidarity with colleagues from Nairobi to Amsterdam to Bangkok.

Coalition-building is another way Desiree Alliance echoes global movement tactics. Just as sex workers in Europe have unions and in Asia have collectives, the Alliance has fostered a united front among diverse U.S. groups (Black and brown sex worker collectives, trans-led projects, health initiatives, etc.). This mirrors the inclusive, big-tent approach seen in global convenings like the International Congress on HIV/AIDS and sex work, where all genders and sectors (street, indoor, online) come together. One poignant example of global alignment was when Desiree Alliance co-founder Sharmus Outlaw joined the International Harm Reduction Conference in Poland and later spoke at the U.N. on behalf of U.S. sex workers. She carried stories from D.C. strolls to a world forum, embodying the idea that local activism and global advocacy are two sides of the same coin.

For online creators and cam performers, these global connections might seem distant, but they have tangible effects. Internationally developed best practices (on issues like tech and privacy for online sex workers, or fighting financial discrimination by banks) often inform Desiree Alliance’s resources. The Alliance can tap into a worldwide knowledge base – for instance, learning from European webcam unions or Australian online safety campaigns – and adapt those insights for U.S. creators. Also, if you travel or interact with fans internationally, you benefit from the increasing normalization of sex work in other parts of the world. Each time sex workers win rights in one country, it adds momentum to the movement elsewhere. Desiree Alliance stands as the U.S. conduit in that feedback loop, ensuring American sex workers don’t advocate in isolation. In summary, the Alliance’s global relevance lies in its role as part of a transnational fight: it brings American sex workers’ issues to the world and brings the world’s solidarity back home.

Relevance to Online Creators and Cam Performers

If you’re an online content creator or cam model in the U.S., you might wonder how an organization like Desiree Alliance relates to your work. In truth, Desiree Alliance’s advocacy is highly relevant to online adult performers – perhaps now more than ever. The digital nature of your work does not shield it from the effects of laws and stigma aimed at sex workers; in fact, it often puts you on the frontlines. The Alliance understands that sex work takes many forms (stripping, full-service, camming, clip-making, professional BDSM, etc.) and it fights for the rights of all who trade in consensual erotic labor, online or offline. When FOSTA/SESTA was passed in 2018, its impact was felt most immediately in the online sphere: platforms shut down sections or whole sites, social media networks tightened bans on adult content, and payment processors started dropping accounts – all in the name of “fighting trafficking.” This law, intended to curb exploitation, ended up cutting off online workers’ income streams and safety resources. Desiree Alliance was among the groups sounding the alarm about these harms. By pushing back against FOSTA/SESTA and similar proposals, they are defending the digital workspace that creators like you rely on. For instance, the principles drafted at the 2018 summit include calls to address the fallout from FOSTA, emphasizing that penalizing online platforms only makes sex workers more vulnerable by erasing their safer options.

Beyond legal battles, Desiree Alliance’s broader mission to destigmatize sex work directly benefits online creators. Many cam performers and clip artists may not initially identify with the term “sex worker,” especially if their work is solo and online. But society and regulations often lump all adult industry professionals together. The banking difficulties, social media shadow-bans, or prejudices you might face as a Cambunny creator stem from the same stigma that street-based workers face. Desiree Alliance’s public education efforts – whether correcting myths in the media or asserting that sex work is a legitimate choice – help improve public perception for everyone in the industry. Each time they succeed in convincing a journalist to treat an OnlyFans model’s story with respect, or a lawmaker to consider the rights of an escort, it creates a ripple effect that can make your own interactions (with customers, with platforms, with the law) safer and easier. When the Alliance tweets, “Sex workers have been screaming this for decades!” in response to a news story about banking discrimination, or when they quip about politicians’ hypocrisy on Twitter, they are not just speaking for one segment – they’re validating the experiences of cam girls, clip sellers, phone sex operators, and all erotic laborers who often face unjust obstacles.

Another way online creators intersect with Desiree Alliance is through community and peer support. Isolation can be a big challenge in online sex work; many Cambunny or fan-site creators work independently from home. Organizations like Desiree Alliance offer a bridge to a larger community of sex workers, so you don’t have to navigate the ups and downs of the industry alone. By engaging with the Alliance (even if just following their social media or attending a virtual panel), you connect with a sisterhood/brotherhood/siblinghood of people who have similar concerns – be it dealing with censorship or finding legal advice for content creation. Desiree Alliance’s network includes veteran performers who have weathered industry turbulence and can share advice on staying resilient. You might discover resources about digital security, content platform alternatives, or mental health support simply by tapping into what Desiree Alliance and its coalition partners publish. Essentially, the Alliance can serve as a resource hub and a support group for online sex workers, even if it’s not explicitly branded that way.

Finally, consider the long game: Desiree Alliance is advocating for a future in which all sex workers are fully decriminalized and destigmatized. For an online creator, this future would mean you could create, promote, and profit from your adult content without fear of sudden platform bans, without being at the mercy of capricious payment processors, and without worrying that your perfectly legal online job could be used against you by landlords, banks, or custody courts. Achieving that future requires collective action now. By aligning yourself with sex worker rights activism, you’re helping secure your own career’s stability. Cambunny itself exists because entrepreneurs saw a need for a stable platform amid an unstable landscape – in much the same way, Desiree Alliance works to stabilize and legitimize the profession that underpins all these platforms. In short, what’s good for sex worker rights is good for content creators. When sex work is seen as valid labor, camming and clip-making are seen as valid entrepreneurship. When laws protect sex workers from violence and exploitation, they also protect a cam model from a predatory client or an abusive content broker. The fights that Desiree Alliance takes on – be it opposing a bad law, or rallying around a sex worker who faced injustice – lay groundwork that helps every adult creator to thrive with dignity.

How to Access and Engage with Desiree Alliance

Getting involved with Desiree Alliance or utilizing their resources is easier than you might think, and it can be incredibly rewarding. Here are a few ways creators and allies can connect with their work:

• Visit Their Website: The official website (desireealliance.org) is a treasure trove of information. You can read their full mission statement and values, check out announcements and press releases, and find important documents like the National Sex Worker Anti-Criminalization Principles. The site also lists an email contact for the Alliance (About Us | DesireeAlliance). If you have questions or ideas – whether it’s seeking advice on starting a local meetup or inviting a speaker for an online event – you can reach out directly. Keep an eye on the “In the News” section of their homepage for updates on their latest advocacy (for example, submissions to the United Nations or open letters to policymakers) (DesireeAlliance | Civil, Labor, and Human Rights for All Sex Workers). This can keep you informed about issues that might affect you as an adult performer.
• Follow on Social Media: Desiree Alliance is very active on Twitter (X) under @DesireeAlliance. Their feed is an accessible way to plug into the day-to-day pulse of sex worker activism. They share a mix of educational content, policy news, and candid commentary – from debunking myths (like clarifying that sex workers oppose trafficking) (Desiree Alliance @DesireeAlliance – Twitter Profile | Sotwe), to rallying support for sex workers facing discrimination. Following them can also lead you to other sex worker advocates, as they often retweet or converse with allied organizations (such as SWOP USA, Sex Workers Outreach Project chapters, and international accounts). If you’re not on Twitter, they have a presence on alternative platforms like Bluesky as well (Desiree Alliance (@DesireeAlliance) / X). Engaging with their posts (or simply listening in) can help you stay informed about legislation, find petitions or calls-to-action to support, and feel connected to a larger movement. Many creators find empowerment in knowing that an entire community is out there fighting for the same rights – it can turn frustration into action.
• Join the Community & Membership: Desiree Alliance welcomes both individuals and organizations as members, so long as you believe in their mission (Membership | DesireeAlliance). Membership is less about formal perks and more about solidarity – it means standing up and saying you support their vision of rights and equity for sex workers. By becoming a member or simply aligning yourself publicly with the Alliance’s cause, you help reduce the isolation and stigma that sex workers often face. There may also be opportunities to volunteer. For example, in the past, they have had volunteer roles for conference planning, and even though large conferences are paused, smaller projects or virtual efforts could always use helping hands. If you have skills (like writing, graphic design, legal knowledge, etc.), offering them to an organization like Desiree can amplify their impact and give you experience in activism. Keep an eye out on their site or social media for any calls for volunteers or collaborators.
• Utilize Their Resources and References: Over the years, Desiree Alliance and its coalition have produced reports and toolkits that can be highly useful. One example is the report “Nothing About Us Without Us” (2015) which was the first sex worker-led national analysis of HIV policy impacts (Sharmus Outlaw is #2 of Our Most Amazing HIV-Positive People of 2016) – reading such reports can give you solid talking points to educate others or advocate for yourself (say, if you need to explain to a policymaker why excluding sex workers from health programs is harmful). The National Principles document is essentially a code of rights – you might draw from it when setting your own boundaries with clients or platforms, or when writing to your representative about sex work laws. Additionally, Desiree Alliance often collaborates with groups like Best Practices Policy Project to publish know-your-rights info (for instance, guides on what to do if you’re approached by police, or how to stay safe online post-FOSTA). These practical resources are usually shared through their networks and can be found via links on their site (DesireeAlliance | Civil, Labor, and Human Rights for All Sex Workers) or by inquiring through email.
• Support and Donate: As a nonprofit project under a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, Desiree Alliance relies on donations and grants to continue its work (About Us | DesireeAlliance). They had to remove their public donor list due to harassment (showing the unfortunate risks activists face) (About Us | DesireeAlliance), but they still have a donation link on their site. Even small contributions or fundraisers (for example, donating a portion of a cam show’s tips on International Sex Workers’ Day, or raising funds via a clip sale) can help. Besides money, “support” can mean simply boosting their messages, attending events, or educating your fan base about why these issues matter. Perhaps you can write a blog post (like this one!) or stream a chat about sex worker rights, citing Desiree Alliance’s work. The more visibility and normalization, the better.

By engaging with Desiree Alliance, you’re not just helping them – you’re helping yourself and your peers. You’re tapping into a well of knowledge and solidarity that has been built by sex workers for sex workers. Whether you quietly use their research to inform your content, or loudly champion their cause in your community, you become part of a movement that is shaping the future of the adult industry for the better.

Desiree Alliance stands as a beacon of empowerment in a world that often tries to silence or marginalize sex workers. Through a blend of professional advocacy and raw, real community organizing, they have changed laws, minds, and lives. From its origins as a small coalition in 2005 to its role today as a respected voice in national and global forums, the Alliance’s impact is a testament to what sex worker-led leadership can achieve. For adult performers and creators, the work of Desiree Alliance carries a message of hope: your rights are worth fighting for, and there is an entire network of people dedicated to that fight. The tone of Desiree Alliance’s activism – unapologetic yet inclusive, serious yet accessible – makes it clear that everyone has a place in this movement, whether you’re a veteran escort, a cam newcomer, or an ally who cares about human rights.

In the spirit of solidarity, Cambunny creators can take inspiration from Desiree Alliance’s mantra that “We are the experts in our own lives.” Sex workers refusing to be spoken for or pushed aside is an empowering example for any creator who’s been told their work is illegitimate. By aligning with organizations like Desiree Alliance, you affirm that your livelihood and safety matter, and you join a community striving to make the adult industry a more accessible and respectful space. There’s still much work to be done – stigma to dismantle, laws to change, platforms to improve – but as the Alliance has shown, when sex workers unite and raise their voices, real change happens. In the end, Desiree Alliance embodies the idea that “sex work rights are human rights,” and their journey of activism invites all of us to stand together for dignity, justice, and solidarity.

In a world that too often tries to divide or dismiss adult workers, Desiree Alliance reminds us that we are stronger together. Whether on stage at a march proclaiming “I have the right to be here,” or behind the scenes drafting policy principles, they are carving out a future where sex workers – cam performers and escorts alike – can work without fear and live with pride (DesireeAlliance | Civil, Labor, and Human Rights for All Sex Workers). That’s a vision every creator can get behind.

Sources:

1. Desiree Alliance – Official Website (Mission Statement and Updates) (About Us | DesireeAlliance) (DesireeAlliance | Civil, Labor, and Human Rights for All Sex Workers)
2. Vice News – Largest Sex Worker Conference in the US Is Canceled Amid FOSTA Fears (2018) (Largest Sex Worker Conference in the US Is Canceled Amid FOSTA Fears) (Largest Sex Worker Conference in the US Is Canceled Amid FOSTA Fears)
3. Honolulu Civil Beat – Sex Workers Organize For Right To Work Safely, Legally (2016) (Sex Workers Organize For Right To Work Safely, Legally – Honolulu Civil Beat) (Sex Workers Organize For Right To Work Safely, Legally – Honolulu Civil Beat)
4. HIV Plus Magazine – Sharmus Outlaw: Most Amazing HIV-Positive People of 2016 (history of Desiree Alliance) (Sharmus Outlaw is #2 of Our Most Amazing HIV-Positive People of 2016)
5. Reason Magazine – Sex Workers Meet in Los Angeles To Draft Statement of Principles (2018) (Sex Workers Meet in Los Angeles To Draft Statement of Principles) (Sex Workers Meet in Los Angeles To Draft Statement of Principles)
6. Desiree Alliance – Twitter/X (Selected statements from @DesireeAlliance) (Desiree Alliance @DesireeAlliance – Twitter Profile | Sotwe)
7. Desiree Alliance – Official Press Release (2021 UPR follow-up, quotes by Cris Sardina) (DesireeAlliance | Civil, Labor, and Human Rights for All Sex Workers)
8. Desiree Alliance – Community Page (Women’s March 2018 participation)