On the 2nd of June 1975, over 100 sex workers began an 8-day occupation of Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon, France. They demanded an end to fines, stigma, police harassment and the removal of their children, demanded justice for those who had experienced harm and violence only to be ignored by the police, and expressed anger … Continue reading International Sex Worker Day 2025 »

On 25th February 2025, the Leeds Women’s Homelessness and Housing Frontline Network hosted a powerful training session led by Amber Wilson from Basis Yorkshire: “Introduction to Working with Women Who Sex Work” as we know sex workers are over-represented in hidden homelessness and experience stigma in all systems including housing and health. The Leeds Women’s Homelessness and … Continue reading Supporting Women Who Sex Work: Why Frontline Training Matters »

This year is Basis Yorkshire’s 30th anniversary!  In 1989, a few church volunteers came together to support sex workers in Leeds by forming Genesis Leeds. But in 1995, Genesis Leeds became constituted as a charity, and in 1997 a young people’s service was established to support young women and girls being sexually exploited. In 2015, … Continue reading Basis Yorkshire’s 30th Anniversary »

For Transgender Visibility Day 2025, we look at how widespread transphobia affects young people’s mental health and can potentially make them seek validation and security from unknowing predators.  Being transgender is not a mental illness. But transgender people are disproportionately affected by mental health difficulties due to widespread and deeply entrenched transphobia in many aspects … Continue reading Trans Visibility Day 2025: Unseen Struggles and Risks for Young Trans People  »