Happy Mothers’ Day! On this day in 1973, the group COYOTE was officially founded. COYOTE stands for Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics and was also the nickname for its founder and Madam chairperson Margo St. James.
Based in San Francisco, COYOTE provided a much needed organizing space. They held support groups, rap groups and organized national and international wh*res conferences. They operated a hotline, offered legal services, court support and bail funds and published a newspaper that was equally informative and entertaining. They also provided support services for people wanting to exit the industry. Their goal was the decriminalization of s*x work and they were instrumental in overturning the mandatory STI testing of people accused of pr*stitution by the SFPD.
COYOTE was volunteer run and funded by membership dues, merch sales, newspaper subscriptions, fundraising events and their infamous H00kers Balls, the largest of which allegedly attracted 20,000 attendees.
After St. James moved abroad in 1985, Gloria Lockett and Priscilla Alexander continued to head COYOTE. Gloria also co-founded CAL-PEP which still operates today in Oakland, California.
In 1999, members of COYOTE and the Exotic Dancers Alliance seized an opportunity to create the St. James Infirmary, the first peer-run clinic by and for s*x workers. SJI provided in-house and outreach services in the Bay Area for 24 years before closing in 2023.
COYOTE was born to address the needs of the community and its story showcases the importance of adaptability, wit and movement building. While the original no longer exists today, its legacy lives on in those continuing this work.
Inline with COYOTE’s commitment to cross-movement solidarity, we would like to share the work being done by
@peopleoverpapers cofounded by
@celestiedabestie . Their work is urgent, much needed and a reminder of the power in community.
Interested in COYOTE merch? Check out our shop for t-shirts, stickers and more!
#oldpros #theoldestprofession #margostjames
