Association of Seattle Prostitutes (Coyote) publishes its first newsletter in June 1974.

  • By Priscilla Long
  • Posted 1/01/2000
  • HistoryLink.org Essay 2307
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In June 1974, the Association of Seattle Prostitutes, a chapter of Coyote (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics), issues its first newsletter.

The text of the newsletter is as follows:

Association of Seattle Prostitutes

June -- 74
Vol. 1, No. 1

Seattle's Coyote finally has a name for our local chapter. After running a contest for some time, we found a winner. We are ASP. Association for Seattle Prostitutes. Our motto is "At the Breast of the Queen City." No more OW OW OW Ahoooooooooo, folks, we're hissing now. Hopefully, an end to the laws which perpetuate the persecution and harrassment [sic] of profesional women (a highly hypocritical arrangement which mysteriously ignores the wealthy men who procure services) will be as swift and painless as Cleopatra's. Ahhh, dreaming again. The winner of this grand contest is T. S. Bissel. And now, to announce the delightful prize we promised but avoided spelling out, T.S. is about to receive 50, count 'em, 50 Coyote buttons.

Benefit

Our benefit at the Apple Theatre went well, giving us enough money for a phone and printing costs. On top of that, we got five free passes. Thanx to the owners, this month's generous benefactors. Our problem now is office space. One centrally located (downtown, Capitol Hill) room where we could install phone. If you have space to donate, please let us know by phone or mail. Our message phone is through Women Out Now, 587 6982. As all the post office boxes in Seattle were taken, you can reach us care of [From] The Ground Up, P.O. Box 4145, Pioneer Square Station, Seattle, Washington 98104.

Picket

An angry hiss to the Hotel Roosevelt. They are giving free rooms to the vice squad for entrapment purposes while raking in dollars from business generated by working women. It's time for ASP to hit the streets in a picket line. The picket is from 5 - 7 and from 12 - 2 am on June 14th. Support ASP! Join us at 7th and Pine on Friday night.

Friday, the 14th

Last week a woman was stabbed to death on 5th and Pine Streets while only a block away the vice squad was engaged in entrapment activities. Does the SPD really need to clean up the streets for our wives and daughters, while murders go unnoticed? Homicide, not Hookers!

ASP is still in need of lawyers who will provide legal services at low or no cost. While Seattle has a few conscientious public defenders there aren't enough to give poor professional women necessary legal help. All of us don't work out of Broadmore.

The Governor's Conference recently graced Seattle. This is a good summer for conventions. If anyone turns an interesting, illustrious trick ASP would love the information. We promise no press releases. BETTER AN HONEST HOOKER THAN A CROOKED POLITICIAN.

Buttons are now available at the cost of a mere buck from Left Bank Books at the Pike Place Market. July promises to be a hot month. Watch for further news announcing "Never on Sunday," An Asp benefit featuring Margo St. James, (Coyote's national chairwoman), music, food and good times.

Keep Hisssssssssssssssing!


Sources:

Association of Seattle Prostitutes, Mimeographed newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 1 (June 1974), In possession of Dotty DeCoster, Seattle, Washington.

Note: This essay was corrected on June 8, 2014, to state that COYOTE stands for "Call off your old tired Ethics."

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