COYOTE Rhode Island records (Ms.2019.019)

This collection contains the organizational records of COYOTE Rhode Island, a group of sex workers, former sex workers, trafficking victims, and allies, who advocate for policies that promote the health and safety of people involved in the sex industry. Materials include administrative records; special project files such as the COYOTE-RI Impact Survey and Sex Workers Outreach Project pen pal letters; subject files regarding other advocacy organizations; public records of court cases, arrests, and legislation relating to prostitution; and informational zines and booklets. The collections dates from 1990 to 2021 and is arranged into 7 series.

Series 1, ADMINISTRATIVE, 2013-2022, includes articles, correspondence, and informational materials related to the mission and advocacy work of COYOTE-RI. Particularly interesting materials include an article on Bella Robinson's advocacy work and a letter to the editor by Robinson regarding myths about the sex industry. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, SPECIAL PROJECTS, 2012-2022, contains planning and outreach files related to special projects conducted by COYOTE-RI and collaborations between COYOTE-RI and outside entities, specifically Brown University and the Sex Workers Outreach Project.

In approximately 2014, Bella Robinson began visiting the Brown campus, speaking about COYOTE-RI at the Sarah Doyle Center, co-hosting advocacy events, and lecturing in classes taught by Assistant Professor of American and Ethnic Studies Elena Shih. Topics included justice for the poor, issues of the carceral state, understanding and critiquing human trafficking, harm reduction, and sex work as a profession. In 2017, COYOTE-RI developed the Impact Survey with assistance from the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University. The survey asked sex workers who advertised their services on Back Page 145 questions about the impact on their lives of the passing of the United States House bill known as FOSTA, the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, and the Senate bill, SESTA, the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act. To date, 1,515 sex workers have responded, providing long form responses. Administrative files related to this survey and response data is available as part of this collection. Original printed survey data is available for research in the Special Collections Reading Room of the John Hay Library. The digital survey data is restricted.

The Sex Workers Outreach Project Behind Bars supports incarcerated sex workers through a monthly newsletter, pen pal program, book program, and paralegal correspondence courses. Files in this series contain letters between Robinson and incarcerated sex workers and touch upon the sex industry, life in prison, and expectations of life upon release. The correspondence has been redacted to protect the identity of incarcerated people and original letters closed. Redacted use copies are arranged alphabetically by correspondent's first and last initials and are open for research.

Series 2 is arranged alphabetically by organization and then by record type.

Series 3, EVENTS, 2013-2022, includes pamphlets, flyers, and schedules related to events hosted by COYOTE-RI or attended by Robinson. Events include The Sex Worker Rights Movement: Addressing Justice Conference, International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, and the Women's March in Providence, Rhode Island. This series is arranged alphabetically by event name.

Series 4, OTHER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, 2010-2021, includes booklets, calendars, flyers, and news articles related to organizations that also advocate for sex worker rights and safety. Organizations include Butterfly: Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network, International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture, and Education, and United States Prostitutes Collective. This series is arranged alphabetically by name of the organization.

Series 5, PUBLIC RECORDS AND RELATED RESEARCH, 2009-2022, includes legislative House Bills, Acts, and Resolutions; arrest reports, and news articles concerning decriminalization of prostitution in Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Of particular note are the written testimonies in support of Rhode Island House Bill 5354 to create a special legislative commission to study the health and safety impact of revising commercial sexual activity laws. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 6, PRINT MATERIAL, 1990-2022, contains magazine, newsletters, note cards and post cards, and zines. Titles include "Assata's Testimony, 1973," "Ladies of the Evening: The Improv 10/27/98," "Prostitutes of New York Press: a newsletter published by and for the New York City sex workers' community." This series is arranged alphabetically by title.

Series 7, RESTRICTED, 2002-2023, is arranged into 2 subseries.

Series 7, subseries 1, BELLA ROBINSON'S PERSONAL PAPERS, 2002-2023, includes awards, clippings, and photos. Additional materials will be added to this subseries. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type and is restricted for 25 years until January 1, 2044, after which date it will open without restriction.

SERIES 7, subseries 2, GENERAL RESTRICTED FILES, 2017-2022, contains the original un-redacted copies of correspondence to and from Bella Robinson through the Sex Workers Outreach Project Behind Bars as well as one file containing event permit applications. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by correspondent's first and last initials and is closed for 50 years, until January 1, 2069, after which date it will open without restriction.