MONTREAL/September 30, 2004 - Sex Trade Advocacy and Research (STAR) today unveiled the results of a four-year study examining the role of Canadian public policy in the health and well-being of sex workers during concurrent events at the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre of Montréal (CCGLM), 2075 Rue Plessis, and at the 519 Church Street Community Centre in Toronto.

STAR is comprised of Concordia University sociology professor Frances Shaver and University of Windsor sociology professors Jacqueline Lewis and Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale, community partners Region of Peel Health and sex worker advocacy groups the Exotic Dancers' Alliance of Canada (EDAC), Maggie's and Stella. The research team examined how public policy regarding health, social service, employment, policing, municipal regulation and federal laws affect the health and safety of sex workers. These workers include escorts, masseuses, dancers, dominatrices and street workers. The $352,424 study was funded by a research grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). An additional $15,000 grant from the National Network on Environments and Women's Health (NNEWH) enabled the team to hire and train community partners as research assistants.

Research results were used to develop a series of informational brochures for sex workers and a research report, Exotic Dancing: Health and Safety, which were made available to the public at the launch. The brochures are available in both English and French and cover issues tied to law, security, money and health.