April 17, 2024 Equality New York (EQNY), a grassroots advocacy organization that advances the human rights of all LGBTQI+ New Yorkers and their families, held their annual advocacy day in Albany. The three priority bills that advocacy day centered were: Gender Identity Respect Dignity and Safety Act (Salazar S2860 & Rozic A709A)This bill relates to the treatment and placement of incarcerated people based upon gender identity. Immunity from Prosecution for Sex Workers and Survivors of Trafficking (Sepúlveda S1966 & Kelles A7471)This bill encourages victims of human trafficking and se ..read more

April 4, 2024 Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) advocates testified in front of the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee in support of four bills critical to improving health and safety for sex workers and survivors of trafficking. DSW Legal Director Melissa Broudo, Community Liaison Henri Bynx, Staff Attorney Rebecca Cleary, and Volunteer Attorney Alison Kolins joined advocates, including representatives from the ACLU and Amnesty International, to ensure legislators have the facts necessary to make sound decisions. They testified in support of the following bills: S2225, “An Act Relating to ..read more

March 27, 2024 Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) co-hosted an event in San Francisco with Reason on the decriminalization of sex work. The event was a fireside chat with Elizabeth Nolan Brown, a senior editor at Reason magazine who covers sex, technology, bodily autonomy, law, and online culture. The chat was moderated by DSW Political Director Rob Kampia, who introduced Brown to the audience and led her in a discussion on the difference between legalization and decriminalization, the impact of FOSTA/SESTA, and what the public gets wrong when it comes to preventing trafficking. Two philanthropis ..read more

March 25, 2024 Following years of advocacy and organizing, Strippers Are Workers, based in Washington, is celebrating a major victory. SB6105, known as the Stripper’s Bill of Rights, was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee. The bill provides the most comprehensive statewide protections in the country. Previously the state with the most stringent restrictions, including a complete ban on alcohol sales in clubs, will become the most progressive in terms of ensuring the health and safety of dancers and patrons. “Strippers are workers, and they should be given the same rights and protections ..read more

March 20, 2024 Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) staff members are busier than ever. Within the span of just a few weeks, staff members testified at three different hearings in front of the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee. Ensuring that legislators have the most compelling, accurate evidence to support laws that would decrease trafficking and increase public health and safety has never been more important. DSW advocates testified in support of the following proposed legislation: Immunity Legislation H7165 | S2441 This bill provides immunity from arrest and prosecution for commercial sexua ..read more

March 5, 2024 It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Cecilia Gentili, a beloved transgender actress, author, activist, and icon who passed away at the age of 52 on February 6, 2024. Cecilia, an asylum seeker from Argentina, dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of those often marginalized and overlooked, including undocumented immigrants, sex workers, people living with HIV, and the LGBTQ+ community. In her passing, she leaves behind a legacy of resilience, activism, and unapologetic self-expression. Cecilia was born in Argentina on January 31, 1972. Due to her lived e ..read more

February 27, 2024 Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) gathered elected officials, advocates, sex worker rights activists, and survivors of trafficking to urge the New York State Legislature to pass S1966 (Sepulveda) / A7471 (Kelles), an act to amend the penal law in relation to individuals engaged in prostitution who are victims of or witnesses to a crime. S1966 / A7471 (Kelles) is common-sense legislation that would encourage sex workers and trafficking survivors who are crime victims and witnesses to report their experience to law enforcement, receive medical care, and seek help. People involved ..read more

You need to add a widget, row, or prebuilt layout before you’ll see anything here. The post The Washington state legislature is taking up a so-called ‘Strippers Bill of Rights’ | NPR/All Things Considered appeared first on Decriminalize Sex Work ..read more

January 31, 2024 Companion bills S.277 and H.605, introduced this month in Vermont, propose to eliminate offenses related to the location of prostitution while retaining the offenses of aiding or abetting, engaging in, or procuring or soliciting prostitution. Passage of this bill would increase access to housing for individuals formerly or currently engaged in sex work1, allow them to access justice should their right to housing be denied based on their occupation, and reduce stigma and discrimination against sex workers, which gravely affects all aspects of their lives. DSW and other advoc ..read more

January 30, 2024 Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) has been fortunate to partner with dedicated and talented interns pursuing a number of fields of study, and we are thrilled to welcome Jessica Moore, who is pursuing a masters in public health (MPH) and plans to be a lawyer. Moore is an Atlanta native. She graduated from Jasper County High School in 2018. While there, she engaged in independent biotechnology research focused on the genotype and phenotype of Lichens. The computational biology research “Lichen Phenotypic Expression with Genomic Verification” led Jessica to win the Regional Science ..read more