The Off-beat Profession (Press, 20 November 1975)

On 19 November 1975, Paris hosted its first “national congress” for prostitutes, drawing between 1500 and 2000 participants, including notable figures such as a churchman, a family planning leader, and sociologists. The event took place at the Mutualite, a historic venue known for political gatherings, and was marked by a pronounced scent of perfume. The conference was symbolically titled with a banner reading, “Prostitutes yes, whores no.” Ulla, a well-known figure from Lyons, who gained prominence from a previous sit-in protest at the Church of St Nizier, presided over the proceedings. She was joined on stage by the Rev. Louis Blanc, the vicar of St Nizier's Church, and Mrs Simone Iff, the president of the French Family Planning Association. The atmosphere of the meeting was described as rowdy, predominantly featuring women, alongside some elegantly dressed transvestites. As the chairman, Ulla displayed her authority, overseeing a crowd eager to express their views. Many women voiced their frustrations regarding the "pimping State," accusing it of taxing them heavily, imposing significant fines, and subjecting them to police violence. The congress marked a significant moment for the participants, providing a platform for them to articulate their grievances and demand recognition and rights within society.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand