May 4, 2011 - AIDS Calgary Awareness Association (ACAA) would like
to formally announce their support of the decriminalization of prostitution. ACAA has recently created a position statement which carefully
examines both sides of the decriminalization of prostitution argument including issues such as stigma, public health concerns, deterrence
and moral arguments.
ACAA's Executive Director Simonne LeBlanc has hope that this new policy statement will encourage others to think about valuing
all people and broaden conversation of the issue to include males and trans-gendered individuals involved in the sex trade. LeBlanc also
states, "We [ACAA] fundamentally believe that those individuals involved in the sex trade who wish to exit should be given every
opportunity to do so, and those individuals who choose to stay in the trade should also be allowed the right to do so with
their health and safety protected. Our new position statement adopted by our Board of Directors safe guards this belief.
We are proud to make our organization's view points on this issue available to the community."
ACAA's recent declaration for the support of the decriminalization of prostitution is also congruent with the beliefs of the
Shift program; a program under the ACAA organizational umbrella. Shift is dedicated to providing support, education, outreach and advocacy
for those individuals who are currently involved or were previously involved with the sex trade.
This new position statement in support of the decriminalization of prostitution along with ACAA 's position
statements on other issues is available online at: http://www.aidscalgary.org/resources/publications.cfm .
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AIDS Calgary is a local not-for-profit AIDS service organization that offers support services to individuals who are at-risk for, infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted
Infections and Hepatitis C and provides prevention and education throughout the Calgary, Bow Valley and Medicine Hat region. For more information, please contact AIDS Calgary at (403) 508-2500 or
online at www.aidscalgary.org .
The Shift program provides support services for people in the sex trade. Utilizing a harm reduction and rights based approach, Shift works with adults involved in the sex trade to assist in improving quality of life and reaching individualized goals. For more information please visit www.shiftcalgary.org .
For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Thompson-Goldberg
Communications Coordinator
AIDS Calgary Awareness Association
AIDS Calgary Awareness Association
110, 1603 - 10th Ave SW Calgary, AB T3C 0J7
P: 403-508-2500 ext.120 F: 403-263-7358
Toll Free: 1-877-440-AIDS(2437)
www.aidscalgary.org http://aidscalgary.blogspot.com
Reproduced with permission -
"AIDS Calgary Awareness Association"
AIDS Calgary
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