Savannah Sly, founder and co-director of New Moon Network, has been profiled for her work in sex worker advocacy, which includes channeling over $2.5 million to grassroots organizations and developing leadership programs for individuals in the sex trades. Her advocacy is driven by personal experience and a commitment to strengthening the movement for sex workers' rights.

From Personal Experience to Advocacy

Savannah Sly's journey into sex work advocacy began with a personal transformation of understanding. At 18, while an art student in Boston and working part-time, Sly browsed Craigslist's adult ads, initially holding judgmental views about sex work. This perspective shifted after she responded to an ad for erotic massage, unaware of the full scope of the service. After being encouraged to try a session, Sly found the experience surprising, feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction from the service provided.

This experience led Sly to embrace a career she had previously misunderstood. She now serves as founder and co-director of New Moon Network, a nonprofit established in 2023. The organization focuses on strengthening the movement for sex workers' rights through funding, education, and leadership development. Sly states that her advocacy is fueled by "anger and love," stemming from frustration over how sex workers are treated by society and a commitment to channeling that anger into organizing, advocacy, and philanthropy.

Since its launch, New Moon Network has channeled more than $2.5 million to over 150 grassroots organizations supporting sex workers and survivors across the United States. Sly is also the co-director of New Moon Network and has been advocating for the rights and welfare of people in the sex trade since 2013. She speaks from lived and studied experience, addressing the impacts of criminalization, surveillance, discrimination, and stigma on sex workers and promoting holistic solutions to mitigate sex trade exploitation. Sly's commentary has been published in Brookings, Teen Vogue, and Psychology Today. She is recognized as a globally recognized advocate and thought leader for the rights and welfare of sex workers.

Initiatives and Collaborations

Beyond funding, New Moon Network invests in developing future advocates through initiatives like Spokes Hub, a leadership academy for people in the sex trades. This program offers education, networking, action opportunities, and encouragement to advocates with lived experience, combining practical skills training with discussions on advocacy. Graduates who continue in public education receive stipends, with nearly $60,000 distributed to participants advancing sex workers' rights in their communities. Spokes Hub is hosted by New Moon and Woodhull Freedom Foundation, and Sly created and launched it to address the need for mentorship in the movement for sex workers' rights. Spokes Hub Graduation events were held in Winter 2023 and Summer 2022.

New Moon's newest initiative, Common Cause, aims to foster dialogue across existing disagreements surrounding sex work. While New Moon Network supports the full decriminalization of sex work, Sly emphasizes the importance of opening communication with opponents to achieve incremental reforms, especially in times of rising authoritarianism. Sly has also played a convening role as a coalition organizer for ACLU-WA (Tech Equity Coalition) and numerous grassroots sex worker initiatives, including #OldProProject, SWOP-Seattle, and the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA, where she served as board president from 2015-2017. As board president of SWOP USA, Sly coordinated over 40 sex workers from across the U.S. to appear on the cover of New York Times Magazine. She also served as an advisor to Third Wave Fund’s Sex Worker Giving Circle and was lead coordinator for the Seattle Sex Work Symposium, an annual arts and education festival held between 2016-2019.

Sly's work has expanded to include involvement with organizations serving the broader adult industry, driven by a desire to bridge the gap between the adult industry and the sex workers' rights movement. She has attended industry events, connecting with creators, performers, and leaders, and learning about organizations like the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and Pineapple Support. This led to her joining the FSC Board of Directors, where she contributes her perspective as a sex worker rights advocate and works on efforts to mitigate banking discrimination. Sly serves on the board of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, which is dedicated to defending sexual freedom as a fundamental human right, and is serving a second term on the global steering committee for the Sex Work Donor Collaborative.

Advocacy and Future Outlook

Sly distinguishes between allyship and solidarity, defining allyship as standing alongside someone experiencing injustice, and solidarity as recognizing that injustices against one group affect all. She views both as complementary, with solidarity often involving taking direct action such as volunteering, donating, contacting lawmakers, or offering professional skills to front-line organizations. Sly encourages supporting existing organizations through membership, donations, volunteering, or amplifying their efforts, emphasizing that making a difference does not require having all the answers.

Outside of her advocacy work, Sly engages in activities such as jiu-jitsu, writing music, yoga, and attending live music events. She describes grappling as a favorite hobby for clearing her mind, teaching practical skills, and boosting confidence. Despite the uncertainties inherent in the nonprofit sector, Sly remains optimistic about the future. She is proud of the foundation New Moon Network has built and confident in her team's ability to create opportunities for grassroots leaders. She is encouraged by the momentum within the broader movement for sex workers' rights and by the collective efforts of those working to strengthen it, citing the motto "We take care of us" as a source of bravery.

Key Facts

  • Savannah Sly is the founder and co-director of New Moon Network.
  • New Moon Network has channeled over $2.5 million to more than 150 grassroots organizations since its launch in 2023.
  • Sly is also the co-director of New Moon Network and has been advocating for the rights and welfare of people in the sex trade since 2013.
  • She serves on the board of the Free Speech Coalition and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation.
  • Sly created and launched Spokes Hub, a leadership academy for advocates with lived experience in the sex trade.
  • Her commentary has been published in Brookings, Teen Vogue, and Psychology Today.