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WEDNESDAY, SEPT 18, 2024, 6:00-7:00 PM EDT
Body Autonomy: Decolonizing Sex Work & Drug Use Panel Discussion – Virtual Event
Join us on September 18th at 6:00 PM PST for an enlightening virtual discussion co-hosted by City Lights and Synergetic Press. This special event will feature a panel of remarkable voices, including Justice Riviera, Paula Avila Kahn, Ismail L. Ali, and Aya Tasaki, as they dive into the transformative anthology Body Autonomy: Decolonizing Sex Work & Drug Use.
This discussion will explore the critical themes of bodily autonomy, touching on the intertwined needs for touch, consciousness exploration, and the systemic suppression of these experiences. As we navigate an era where sex positivity and psychedelics are increasingly embraced by the privileged, Body Autonomy sheds light on the harsh realities faced by marginalized communities, who continue to suffer from criminalization and health inequities.
The panelists will unpack the ideological wars on body autonomy, drawing connections between the criminalization of sex work, the War on Drugs, and the violent policing that perpetuates these injustices. By emphasizing healing-centered harm reduction practices and decolonial perspectives, this conversation aims to uplift the right to freedom in one’s own body, paving the way for a future rooted in compassion and embodied liberation.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the authors and contributors of Body Autonomy as they invite us to imagine a world beyond punishment and inequity, where survival, healing, and self-sovereignty are at the forefront of our collective consciousness.
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About the Panelists
Ismail Lourido Ali, JD (he/him or they/them) has been personally utilizing psychedelics and other substances in celebratory and spiritual contexts for over half his life, and has been actively participating in the drug policy reform movement for a decade. Ismail co-founded and co-chairs the Board of the Psychedelic Bar Association and is licensed to practice law in the state of California. Ismail advises, is formally affiliated with, or has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations in the drug policy ecosystem, including Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Chacruna Institute, the Ayahuasca Defense Fund, and Alchemy Community Therapy Center (formerly Sage Institute).
Aya Tasaki, Aya Tasaki, based in Los Angeles, CA, US, is currently a Associate Director of Philanthropic Engagement at National Network of Abortion Funds. Aya Tasaki brings experience from previous roles at National Network of Abortion Funds, Womankind, Rising Above Violence and Community Development Project – Urban Justice Center. Aya Tasaki holds a 2013 – 2016 Juris Doctor (J.D.) @ Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. With a robust skill set that includes Japanese, Social Media, Public Speaking, Teaching English, Immigration and more.
