People celebrating at an event, holding a sign reading "Seks werk is geen misdaad" and "Vrijheid van seksuele arbeid."

Vera Rodriguez has been documenting many aspects of sex work, drawing from her own experiences and that of the community, for the past twenty years. Her new website showcases a personal selection of videos and photos, spanning sex work experiences, art and activism across Europe.

Her photos detail how the industry has changed over the years, capturing unique historical moments as sex work venues are gentrified out of existence and new technology steps in to move the work online.

The portfolio features behind the scenes shots from working in peep shows, strip clubs and brothels, along with an exploration of fetish and BDSM subcultures, and the creation of sex worker collectives who go on to protest and party together. Vera’s work has been featured in many events, exhibitions, and media outlets, and Red Insight is proud to present this retrospective online collection from twenty years of documentation in the industry.

Pictured below is a selection of images from the boat for LGBTQ+ sex workers and allies, at Amsterdam Pride in 2018. The fight for LGBTQ+ rights and sex worker rights often goes hand in hand, since our community is made up of many queer people, trans people and gay men standing alongside women workers. Vera adds: “I wanted to show the joy of being visible, queer and a sex worker. We are bright red and full of pride and love, together in front of around 500,000 people. It was a very joyous day, and I hope the pictures capture that.”

Person wearing a red cap and white T-shirt with text "The Swedish Model is Ugly" at an event.
People celebrating at an event, wearing festive red feathered headdresses and accessories, with one person licking their lips.

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People at an event, one person in a sleeveless top with red lipstick and a tattoo, standing in front of red banners.

A person in a red festive costume with a mask and hat raises their arms joyfully during an event.

People at a pride event celebrating sexuality diversity, one person holding a rainbow flag, wearing colorful attire and accessories.
People at a sex workers' rights demonstration hold red umbrellas and signs reading "#delegalefacade" and "Respect sex workers’ rights to self-determination."

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Person holding sign reading "WHORE POWER! Decriminalise sex work now!" at a sex workers' rights demonstration.
People celebrating at an event, holding a rainbow flag and red umbrellas, wearing festive red attire and accessories.
Photos by Vera Rodriguez. Words by Cass Traitor.
Pixelated portrait of Vera Rodriguez wearing a patterned headscarf and dark lipstick against a peach background.
Vera Rodriguez

Vera has been in and out of the adult industry for over 20 years, often with her camera. She is a cast member of the Sex Worker's Opera and works at Red Umbrella Fund. She shares her life with Lola, a charismatic chihuahua.

www.verarodriguez.art

Marin Scarlett logo featuring an abstract, stylized tree-like design with branching lines.
Cass Traitor

Cass Traitor is a sex worker, artist, and freelance writer and editor. They create work with the Sex Worker’s Opera and the Sexquisite Collective, and carry out research for various sex worker rights organisations.