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Sex Workers Strike in Montreal During F1, Demand Decriminalisation

5/24/2026

28 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

On May 23, sex workers staged Quebec’s first-ever strike in Montreal during the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Dozens of workers demanded abolition of bar fees, employee status for dancers, and full decriminalisation of sex work.
Around 200 demonstrators carried signs such as “No to whorephobia” and “This slut deserves safety.”
CATS co-founder Melina May said the strike opposes a criminalisation model that forces workers to pay up to C$150 for event access.

History

Historical Context

The 1975 Red Light protest in New York echoed the earlier women’s-lib activism that birthed the Women’s Liberation Center in 1970, which housed groups such as the New York Feminist Credit Union and offered space for feminist and lesbian collectives. That center rented its firehouse for just $1 a month, illustrating how low-cost community hubs enabled grassroots campaigns that later inspired labor and rights actions.

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Story summary

On May 23, sex workers staged Quebec’s first-ever strike in Montreal during the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Dozens of workers demanded abolition of bar fees, employee status for dancers, and full decriminalisation of sex work.
Around 200 demonstrators carried signs such as “No to whorephobia” and “This slut deserves safety.”
CATS co-founder Melina May said the strike opposes a criminalisation model that forces workers to pay up to C$150 for event access.

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