Nikki Thomas

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Nikki Thomas is a Canadian who used to work in the sex industry and later led Sex Professionals of Canada. She has three degrees from the University of Toronto: a Bachelor’s degree in political science, and Honours degrees in Sexual Diversity Studies and Psychology. She began sex work in 2007 to pay for tuition and worked until 2013.

In Bedford v. Canada, she supported legalizing brothels, arguing that criminalizing prostitution pushes the industry underground and creates opportunities for predators. She said that if brothels were legal, workers could require clients to show identification, which could help prevent crimes like the murders linked to Robert Pickton. Natasha Falle, a former prostitute, disagreed, saying legalization would not guarantee safety because many women become prostitutes out of desperation, even if laws change.

After the Court of Appeal for Ontario struck down several prostitution-related laws, Thomas said there was a need to persuade the public that the new situation is not dangerous and that sex workers are not subhuman. She also said she was disappointed that the law against communicating for the purposes of prostitution remained.

In a 2011 interview with CTV Two Alberta, Thomas claimed to be a psychologist, but she was not registered as a psychologist in Alberta or Ontario, where she lived. She was referring to her education in psychology, not practicing as a psychologist.