Between vision and reality: Why survival is at stake for the Paramour Collective

Support for solidarity-based, collective structures and safer spaces for marginalized people is under acute threat in a society that is sadly increasingly moving toward fascism. Whilst actively standing up against this rise in conservatism, Paramour Collective as an independent, cooperatively organized collective of sex workers struggles every month with covering our financial survival during this early phase of the project. 

Who we are

The Paramour Collective is more than just an escort agency. It is a self-managed, independent project based on cooperative principles: collective decisions, transparent structures, shared responsibility. No top-down hierarchies. No profit-oriented focus. No reproduction of binary thinking. 

The people who run the Paramour Collective belong to marginalized groups themselves. They are sex workers, trans people, enbies, and often live in precarious circumstances. They know from their own experience how urgently there is a need for spaces where protection, self-determination, and creative freedom are possible. That is exactly why this project exists.

Our work

What often goes unnoticed: most of the work at Paramour Collective is unpaid. Hours of plenary meetings, writing grant applications, bookkeeping, program planning, awareness-raising, maintenance, community communication...

All of this happens alongside paid work, care work, job dates— on a voluntary basis. Those who take on responsibility here do so out of conviction. But conviction doesn't pay the rent.

As a cooperative, independent collective, we have no financial buffer. Funding structures are complicated, lengthy, and often not tailored to self-organized, marginalized initiatives. Many programs require their own funds, bureaucratic capacities, or institutional collateral that we simply don't have.

The existing structures favor large organizations, established institutions, and projects with access to resources. Small, grassroots collectives fall through the cracks. Not to mention the hostility toward sex work that we encounter time and again. We are working against a system that does not think along with us.

And yet we persevere. Because we know that this space is needed.

Realtalk 

The reality is that if our financial situation does not stabilize, the Paramour Collective will not survive this year.

We cannot continue to rely solely on unpaid work for months on end. We can no longer compensate for structural deficits with personal self-exploitation. And we don't want to either—because sustainable solidarity work should not be based on chronic overload.

Call to our community

If you have ever visited our website, participated in an event, met one of our Paramours on a date, felt seen, protected, or inspired here—then you are part of this story.

And now we need you.

We call on our community and all our supporters:

• Make a one-time or regular donation
• Share our work
• Talk about us
• Pass it on

Every contribution—big or small—helps keep the Paramour Collective alive and gives it the potential to expand.

Solidarity spaces don't just happen on their own. They are built, nurtured, and defended. By people. With time. With energy. With heart.To ensure that the Paramour Collective is still here tomorrow, we need your support today. Let's work together to ensure that independent, marginalized, cooperatively organized initiatives don't disappear—but can grow.

If you are able to support us financially...

Please donate via our Throne and the following link:
https://throne.com/paramourcollective

Or, in the traditional way, via our bank account:

GENODEM1GLS
Paramour Collective
IBAN: DE 0743 0609 6713 3234 0700
BIC: GENODEM1GLS

Here is also a brief overview of what our ongoing expenses will be for the coming year of 2026, in order to be transparent with you…

 

As you can see, the project is not exactly living the high life. and it would be a huge relief for us to be able to cover all these costs. 

Yours Paramours