Osgoode Law School student dies at 32

Tamara Khandaker
Contributor
In her most widely-recognized photograph, Wendy Babcock is wearing a shirt that reads “SLUTS UNITE” and carrying a boldly-coloured sign, which says “Hookers and Dykes Unite in the Fight for our Rights.”

While the 32-year-old’s public life appeared to be on an uphill swing, the sex worker-turned-activist-turned-Osgoode Hall Law School student was found dead at her home August 9. Police have suspected no foul play.
Babcock was raised in an abusive family and spent most of her childhood under the care of the Children’s Aid Society. When she turned 15, Babcock signed up to work as an escort to make ends meet. She went on her first “date” with a client, unaware that sex would be involved in the exchange.
She continued to work in the sex trade until 2003, until her friend — also involved in sex work — was murdered by a client, which pushed Babcock to immerse herself in sex worker advocacy.
That same year, however, Babcock was forced to surrender her son to the Children’s Aid Society. She attempted to regain custody until her death, but was prevented based on a time-related technicality.
During this time, Babcock continued to speak out as an activist for sex workers’ rights.
She partnered up with the Special Victims Unit of the Toronto Police Service to ensure that sex workers could report violent incidents without fear of being prosecuted for their work.
“Wendy was very helpful as an advocate for us in the community of sex workers,” says Det.-Const. Leanne Marchen, who had the opportunity to work with Babcock.
Marchen explains that the majority of sex workers are, as a community, mistrusting of the police.
“[Babcock] helped us break ground because she was one of them,” she recalls.
Among several sex worker advocacy projects she was involved in, Babcock founded the group “Bad Date Coalition”, a program sex workers could use to report incidents of violence, including details of the attackers as a preventative measure for other sex workers.
She also worked with “Street Health”, a non-profit organization which provides physical and mental health services and education for the marginalized. Her efforts in harm reduction earned her the Public Health Champion award in 2008.
Despite having no high school diploma, Babcock was accepted into the prestigious Osgoode Hall Law School in 2009. A large part of her tuition was donated by her friends and supporters as well as through events and fundraisers.
“Her heart was always in the right place and she desperately wanted to be an advocate for the community she was part of,” said Marchen. “That’s why she went to law school, and we’re very proud that she actually got as far as she did.
“It’s unfortunate that for whatever reason, she couldn’t fight anymore, because she could have been a great fighter for that community.”
Babcock would have been entering her third year at Osgoode Hall this September.