Former sex workers’ rights advocate Jelena Vermilion announces bid for Hamilton mayor

Scarlett Gillespie, publicly known under the alias Jelena Vermilion, has announced that she will be running for mayor of the City of Hamilton.

Gillespie has been recognized under the name Jelena Vermilion for her work as sex workers’ rights advocate, artist and as the executive director of Sex Workers’ Action Program (SWAP) Hamilton.

She has been named one of Hamilton’s YWCA Women of Distinction and her advocacy has resulted in the association receiving $100,000 in city funds to conduct a gender-based safety audit.

Gillespie says her mayoral platform will focus on housing, tenant protections, climate justice, community-led safety initiatives, strengthening local arts and City Hall accountability, accessibility and transparency.

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This is the local advocate’s first time publicly connecting her legal name to her well-known pseudonym.

“That name allowed me to advocate safely in difficult and often hostile environments,” says Gillespie in a statement shared by SWAP.

“As I step forward to run for mayor, I am choosing to stand publicly under my legal name, Scarlett (Jelena) Gillespie, while acknowledging the work and reputation I built as Jelena Vermilion.”

Other candidates who have announced their run for Hamilton mayor are Ward 8 Coun. Rob Copper and Keanin Loomis. This is Loomis’ second bid for mayor of Hamilton after he narrowly lost out to current Mayor Andrea Horwath in 2022.

Hamilton’s municipal election is set for Oct. 26.

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