The Canadian Press

(Online)

Toronto sex workers, supporters march ahead of landmark Supreme Court hearing

Vancouver sex workers rally planned later today

TORONTO — Dozens of sex workers and their supporters marched through downtown Toronto this afternoon, one of several rallies planned across Canada to call for the decriminalization of prostitution.

Demonstrators brandished red umbrellas and chanted "Sex work is real work, decriminalize now!"

The event is one of a handful planned ahead of next week's highly anticipated Supreme Court of Canada hearing, which will determine the future of the country's prostitution laws.

The case stems from an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that struck down a section of the law that forbids brothels, but upheld a ban on communication for the purposes of prostitution, which effectively makes street prostitution illegal.

One of the three women behind the legal challenge, Terri-Jean Bedford, is expected to speak today at the Toronto rally.

Similar marches are also scheduled in Montreal and Vancouver, among other cities.