The world’s oldest profession may someday be a legitimate career. At least that’s what the Sex Professionals of Canada (SPOC) and their supporters hope to achieve.

SPOC, in partnership with the Toronto Rape Crisis Center (TRCC), the Multicultural Women Against Rape and others, held a rally and march last Thursday to demand the decriminalization of prostitution.

The group of about 30 people began outside of Defence Minister Bill Graham’s office at 365 Bloor Street East, then marched along Bloor to Yonge Street and then south to 10 St. Mary Street, which is the federal Liberal Party headquarters for Toronto.

“Hey, hey, ho, ho, your sexist laws have got to go,” was a common chant as the demonstration progressed along its route.

Once there, the group tried to deliver a letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin, asking him to decriminalize sex work.

But Valerie Scott, spokesperson for SPOC, was denied entry by the building management, who were worried that the group would damage the building. Scott said that the management instead agreed to deliver the message to the Liberal office.

“It really is time for the federal government to grow up,” said Scott after the protest. “Street workers are the ‘visible minority,’ [but] a lot of this business happens inside.” Scott tried to dispel the common perception of the business, which is that of a prostitute standing under a street lamp and approaching potential customers.

“It’s clear, without a doubt, that we’re getting assaulted, raped, and robbed because of our profession,” said Scott. “The issue is that prostitution has to be decriminalized. I think that the best way to proceed with this is law by law.”

Scott clarified that SPOC’s issue is not legalization. Legalization, she said, would imply strict government controls, like that on drinking and smoking; Scott’s aim is to decriminalize sex work, which would mean that prostitution is viewed as any other business and service delivered from a professional to a client.

“We’re human beings just like everybody else and we’re dying because of the job we’ve chosen,” said “Annessa,” who declined to give her full name and works as a Toronto escort. “I’m tired of burying our co-workers…people will think twice [if they assault a sex trade worker] when they know they’ll be held accountable.”

“The police aren’t doing anything,” said Annessa after the rally.

Her view was shared several other speakers during the protest, and by social workers who deal with victims.

“If someone wants to report a rape, their history comes forward and for a sex trade worker it’s like saying ‘ok, you’re a sex trade worker, you deserve to be raped,'” said Harmy Javier, the Latin-American Women coordinator and crisis line worker at the TRCC.

Toronto police services could not be reached for comment by press time.

“It doesn’t really matter that they are sex-trade workers. It’s hard to find someone sensitive to the situation -police or even the courts”