We Visited Toronto's Slutwalk

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We Visited Toronto's Slutwalk

For Toronto's Slutwalk 2014, we walked the streets with hundreds of women, trans folk, and a few men who took to the streets of Toronto to actively reject victimization and body policing.
SR

On Saturday, hundreds of women, trans folk, and a few men took to the streets of Toronto to fight for their right to dress as they please without expecting to face sexual violence.

Slutwalk was born three years ago, after a Toronto cop told a bunch of students at York University that: "Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized." Women were like, "nope," and Slutwalk was born. Now, it's taken place in over 200 countries. And in Toronto, it's an annual march in which people come out adorned in fishnets and lots of beautiful bare skin, shouting to the world that "Yes means fuck me, no means fuck you," and "My body, my choice."

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The point of the march is that all people should feel safe on the streets, no matter what they're wearing, what time of day it is, how much they've had to drink, whether they're alone, or whether they are a sex worker, a woman, or trans. We all actively reject victimization, and the idea that we should meekly obey the policing of our bodies and choices in order to be safe.

"I'm here for myself and my friends," Idil Hyder told me during the march. "[Sexual violence] happens all the time. Everybody has a story, and it's fucked up."

The messaging is nothing new, as MPP Cheri DiNovo said in her speech following the march. She said she's been hollering, "My body, my choice" for about 44 years, and still, nothing has changed. But seeing the movement in action on Saturday was soul fortifying nonetheless—there is power in numbers and in taking back our streets. @sarratch
@galit_rodan

"My Clothes are not an invitation for sexual harassment": Artemis Layman and her friends Hannah Wickham and Dylyn Reid shouting the battle cries as the march descends on Queen's Park. (Bonus: cute slut puppies in the background).Galit Rodan

"My clothes are not my consent": As the march went on up University Ave. the streets began to feel safer again, like they really do belong to us. Slut power radiated. Watching elderly men out for an innocent bikeride get caught in the fray was also vastly entertaining.Galit Rodan

Just a segment of the hundreds of powerful, sex positive folks who paraded through the streets on Saturday.Galit Rodan

Alex Rapsoa (left) and Cayla Clarkson, (right), 17. "It's important to make sure we find a way for a woman's consent to be respected," Rapsoa says. Clarkson says rape and sexual assault are too often ignored. "Rape happens so often, but it's swept under the rug. This is a great cause, because a lot of people don't even know it's going on."Galit Rodan

Sophia Banks knows this is no laughing matter. Galit Rodan

Michelle Luu looks over the crowd at Nathan Philips Square, just outside of Toronto City Hall, before he gets marching with the rest of the groupGalit Rodan

Addi Stewart is a sex worker who came out to fight for sex workers' rights and women's rights to walk the streets in safety. He identifies as an artistic sexual revolutionary. "People misperceive my sexuality all the time, because they don't consent to communicating with me," he says. "I'm a proud slut myself, and I support sexual liberation for all people in the world."Galit Rodan

From left: Emily*, Katelynn Aackwood, Sarah Armstrong, Helen Marukh, Natalie Black and Lisa Feingold gather pre-march. When we go over to photograph them, I ask Katelynn for her name first. She says she hates that people pay more attention to her in these scenarios because of how she dresses—that the whole point is to listen to and pay respect to all women, and not just ones who may be dressed like your traditional idea of a "slut."Galit Rodan

Monica Forrester is a 2-spirited, Indigenous trans femme sex worker and outreach worker, and coordinator of Maggie's: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project. She addresses the crowd post-march in front of Queen's Park, sending the message that "we demand that our choices be respected and validated."Galit Rodan

Haters: take note. Galit Rodan

Lori Barker (left) marches with her mum in protest of the court's negligent treatment of sexual assault and violence cases.Galit Rodan

This woman effectively debunks some of the worst myths about sexual assault using a single piece of poster board. Galit Rodan

Carol-Ann Barker should really go into business putting this fantastic slogan on t-shirts. Never have I felt such passion for a woman's set of legs. Galit Rodan

Emily Ballantyne and Erica Hart listen to the speakers on the grass at Queen's Park. Galit Rodan

Talia sits with her partner Djuna, drinking in the love and support. Galit Rodan

Samantha Bekiaris shares her story. I'm sure I've said this before, but Fuck. The. Po. Lice.Galit Rodan

This group means business. They stayed out in the relentless sun all afternoon in protest of the relentless treatment of their bodies and choices to say "No more." Galit Rodan

Tagged:feminismSexCanadaPhotossexual assaultRape CultureVice Blogsarah ratchford VICEsarah ratchfordgender politicslady-businessgalit rodangalit rodan VICESlutWalk 2014Toronto SlutWalkVICE SlutWalk
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