BC Coalition of Experiential Communities

Matthew R. Taylor

     Matthew was born and raised in our Nation’s capital and moved to Vancouver B.C  in 1996. He became involved in sex work, working both on street and off and has now been exited from the industry for over 3yrs.  Since that time, he continues to be actively engaged in several community based initiatives with involvement in various important action groups and committees.  Matthew hopes that by using his voice and experience, he can help raise awareness and thus, increase health and safety for all members of community that are impacted by sex work in Vancouver.

     Matthew is one of the newest members of the BC Coalition of Experiential Communities.  As a result of his experience in the sex industry, he became a co-founder of the BC Coalition of Experiential Men which has emerged in recognition of diversity within the industry as well as to help ensure the inclusion of gender and sexual identity when dealing with issues of health and safety in sex work. More recently, Matthew has worked with CIHS (Community Initiative for Health and Safety) – a project  in partnership with LIC (Living in Community), works to balance perspectives on Vancouver’s sex industry and help promote knowledge/education and create awareness around the issue of street level sex work in Vancouver.

     Currently, Matthew is the Program Director for HUSTLE: Men on the Move which, in partnership with PEERS Vancouver, provides a valuable male/youth component to support programming for sex workers. HUSTLE is the first outreach and support service of its kind, designed and implemented by experiential men who see a need for an increase in specific frontline services to male sex workers.  Attention is also given to identifying and supporting youth who are street entrenched and may be at risk of exploitation in Vancouver communities. 

      For more information on HUSTLE programming and services, please visit us at www.peersvancouver.org.  Simply put, the more time we spend together, the less we are alone.  Peace