P.M.GRAN.TE: Safety, Support, and Solidarity in Pueblo
A Homegrown Network Rooted in Care
P.M.GRAN.TE is a mutual aid and wellness program based in Pueblo. It’s part of the larger Rouge Support Network — a partnership made up of artists, storytellers, health workers, and community advocates. Everyone involved brings their own lived experience to their mission-based work, and that’s what makes it such a powerful model.
Cora (they/them), a co-founder and board member, explains:
“P.M.GRAN.TE stands for People of Marginalized Genders & Sexualities Reclaiming, Affirming, Nurturing, and Teaching Each Other.”
The name is also a nod to the pomegranate — a sacred fruit in many cultures, often tied to divine feminine energy.
Led by and for Sex Workers
While their services are open to those experiencing houselessness/housing instability, criminal legal system involvement, poverty, racism, substance use, and recovery from domestic/sexual violence, every volunteer at P.M.GRAN.TE is a current or former sex worker. That lived experience matters deeply. In Pueblo, sex work has become more dangerous due to a mix of legal, economic, and cultural challenges. Cora explains:
“It’s important for staff to understand the ups and downs of working in the industry and the discrimination we face when trying to organize and make things better.”
Meeting Basic Needs with Compassion
P.M.GRAN.TE holds weekly drop-in events where people can get free essentials, such as:
- Women’s clothing
- Hygiene products
- Sexual and reproductive health supplies
Thanks to support from The Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s WINcome program, they also provide cash gifts twice a month.
Cash is Safety
The most common use of that cash? Paying phone bills. For many sex workers, having a working phone is a lifeline. It helps them stay safe, screen clients, and stay in touch with community.
Participants can also join The Lysistrata Cooperative, where they receive quarterly cash payments and take part in writing workshops, surveys, and member-led decision-making.
“Having access to regular cash helps someone take a break from a dangerous client or cover basic needs without taking unnecessary risks.” -Cora
Sex Work Has Become Riskier
Since Congress passed the SESTA/FOSTA laws in 2018, things have gotten worse for sex workers. These laws shut down online platforms that many used to find and screen clients safely. Now, even sharing safety tips online can be considered a felony.
In Pueblo, things are even harder. A new camping ban has pushed more people into unstable housing. Demand for P.M.GRAN.TE’s services has surged, with up to 40 people attending each session.
The organization is now opening a second drop-in location with WINcome funding to reach more people — especially those who have trouble getting across town due to limited bus service and long distances. It also hosts a permanent free item area that is typically stocked with clothes, snacks, beverages, etc.
What Makes Pueblo Different
Unlike larger cities, Pueblo’s spread-out layout and lack of transportation options make it easier for sex workers to end up in unsafe situations. “It’s easy to get into a car and end up somewhere remote,” Cora says. “That’s a very different safety dynamic than in big cities.”
Additionally, there is very little anonymity. Cora reports that many of the people she meets experience continual harassment from law enforcement, even if they have been sober for years.
A Call for Continued Support
As public benefits like Medicaid and SNAP are being cut at the state and federal levels, programs like P.M.GRAN.TE are even more vital.
And yet, Cora reminds us:
“We get so little funding — even when it’s not for cash. But cash is one of the most meaningful ways we can help someone stay safe and stable.”
