SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The Sex Workers Outreach Project - Sacramento will hold a benefit concert featuring hip-hop artists MariahLynn and Jazzy J on Saturday, Oct. 13.
The event will include five hours of musicians, burlesque and dance performances, comedy, spoken word, a DJ and dancing, as well as a cash bar and catered food.
The Sex Workers Outreach Project - Sacramento is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing outreach, support and educational activism to Sacramento sex workers and sex trafficking survivors,
“Our inaugural Ball will be a rare and wonderful event,” said Tara Coccinelle, who coordinates SWOP Sacramento’s drop-in resource center by and for street-based sex workers and trafficking survivors. “Where else can Northern California fans catch renowned hip hop artist and reality TV star MariahLynn, enjoy hours of high-quality live entertainment from some of the most talented performers in the country, and enjoy decadent desserts—all while supporting SWOP Sacramento’s vital work to provide harm reduction-based outreach and assistance to people in the sex trade and protect their rights and safety? This Ball is not to be missed.”
Sex worker rights activist, porn star and podcast host Siouxsie Q James, whose writing and perspectives have been featured in Wired, Alternet, CNN, Rolling Stone, and National Public Radio will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Musical performances will include the legendary San Francisco songstress Vixen Noir, and L.A. pop/electronica singer/songwriter Elena Rayn. Burlesque artists include Minnesota grown and Internationally known Redbone, as well as the sultry and erotic Bella Bathory. Sacramento’s own dance goddess Kim Bernadette will be in the house representing the art of dancehall. Spoken word artists including Dr. Vanessa Carlisle, who is a queer poly sexworker, writer, sex and gender educator, fierce story and truth teller Jade Phoenix, and social justice advocate Darius Simpson from TEDxDetroit, will perform their work as well. Our own acrobatic clown XXX star Michael Vegas will delight participants with his unique performance.
“Here in Sacramento we see a deepening divide between those who are surviving comfortably and those who are homeless,” said SWOP Sacramento Executive Director Kristen DiAngelo. “With the increase of our homeless population there is also an increase in survival sex work and human trafficking. SWOP Sacramento believes that we can change this through community participation, education and funding. The Ball is a way for us to raise funds in order to continue the work we do in this arena, while at the same time throwing a party to be remembered. We hope that this event will build bridges between us and our community, to raise funds for our marginalized, and to shed light on this often misunderstood problem.”
The SWOP Ball starts with a VIP reception at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) Saturday, Oct. 13. General admission doors open at 8:30 p.m. The Ball will feature music, burlesque, grinding, spoken word, dancehall, DJ and dancing. Jazzy J performers at 11 p.m., and MariahLynn takes the stage at 11:30 p.m.
The Ball take place at the Pagoda Building, 429 J St., Sacramento, CA 95814.
Admission is $100 for VIP; $69 for general admission ($75 at the door). All proceeds to benefit SWOP Sacramento.
For more, visit Facebook.com/events/260493421460874 or Eventbrite.com/e/house-of-swop-presents-the-ball-tickets-49629063866.
