Antonia Crane 2019: On the Founding of Soldiers of Pole (Now Strippers United)

For the 123rd episode of Private Parts Unknown, host Courtney Kocak welcomes writer and sex worker advocate Antonia Crane. Antonia is the founder of Strippers United (formerly Soldiers of Pole), the author of the sex work memoir Spent, and a current Ph.D. candidate at USC.

We've covered sex worker labor rights a lot on this podcast, and today, I'm sharing a pivotal interview with Antonia Crane from 2019 that helped start it all. As you may know from the recent episode with Velveeta of the newly unionized Star Garden strippers in North Hollywood, California, they were hugely inspired by the Lusties of the Lusty Lady in San Francisco. The Lusties were the first strippers to successfully unionize in the U.S., back in 1997. And the Star Garden dancers also got assistance from Strippers United. Antonia Crane has been involved in both of these efforts. She was one of the original co-founders of Soldiers of Pole (now Strippers United), and she helped inspire this whole new generation of activist strippers. This is part one of a two-part series. Tune in next week for Antonia's 2023 interview.

For more from today's guest, Antonia Crane:

• Follow Antonia on Instagram @antoniacrane
• Follow Antonia on Twitter @antoniacrane
• Check out the Strippers United website strippersunited.org

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