How to decriminalize sex work, get the law on your side

There is hope! Here are 4 organizations fighting for decriminalization, based on the idea that sexual freedom, including sex work, is a basic human right. All 4 agree that sex work is entirely distinct from human trafficking. 2 of these organizations were founded in the 21st century.

The first 3 are nonprofits, the 4th is a trade association.


1 -

Sex Workers Outreach Project

http://www.nswp.org/sites/nswp.org/f...20150410_0.pdf

2 -

Woodhull Sexual Freedom Foundation

https://www.woodhullfoundation.org/2...edom-day-2017/
https://www.woodhullfoundation.org/2...er-rights-day/

3 -

Amnesty International

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...-human-rights/
https://www.amnestyusa.org/files/amn...ed_-_final.pdf

Note the fourth bullet point in particular of Amnesty’s worldwide policy regarding sex work:

“Repeal existing laws and refrain from introducing new laws that criminalize or penalize directly or in practice the consensual exchange of sexual services between adults for remuneration;”

So although Amnesty’s focus is on a much broader range of issues than the hobby, their official position on the hobby plays a role in all of the causes they work on.

4 -

Free Speech Coalition

The trade association of the pornography industry. Their name derives from the fact that the court cases legalizing porn production in parts of the USA were based on the First Amendment (Freedom of Speech) to the Constitution. Without those court cases the porn business could not exist, at least not as big as it is, since most hardcore porn performers have to be paid to make the films.

http://www.freespeechcoalition.com/

Last year, Free Speech Coalition successfully persuaded California voters to defeat Proposition 60 (by a narrow margin) that would have required porn performers to wear condoms or else face lawsuits from any citizen of California, even though polls showed 70% of voters in favor of Proposition 60 before the election, and the organization in favor of Proposition 60 outspent Free Speech Coalition by $1 million in their get-out-the-vote campaigns. So I am in awe of the new director of Free Speech Coalition who made that effort his first priority. And inspired by his new initiatives not only on decriminalization, but also on changing the corporate censorship policies of Google, Facebook, and other major thought leaders regarding sex work, since their policies subtly influence popular opinions and perceptions.


Disclaimer: I give small annual contributions to each of these four organizations.


Also - these 4 organizations occasionally circulate petitions regarding decriminalization and sexual freedom through change.org So sign these!

Also - until decriminalization happens, every provider and hobbyist should find legal counsel that has a track record getting acquittals after sting operations, especially if your city/county/state has any tendency to run wild with sting operations. Even if you have never been arrested, stings can happen to any of us.

Finally, consider spreading the word to other providers and hobbyists you meet. Also gets the opportunity to find out who would be a good attorney “just in case”. We are all in this together.


Knock on wood, everyone stay safe.


Moderators - I was not sure if this post belongs in legal forum or political forum. So if I guessed wrong please feel free to move it - thank you.

Moved here from the Political Forum.

Great post, and I'm glad to see that mods think legislative activism information belongs here. The political forum is for other types of political discussion, IMO.

lol ... uncle sam will not decriminalize anything unless they can tax it !!! so until then, individual states and government in this country will continue to see it as a crime and arrest accordingly (to fill in the revenue loss that they loose of course, on our adult entertaining antics and ongoings) if they cant tax it they will make it a crime with punishable fees and surcharges ... no one is safe

lol ... uncle sam will not decriminalize anything unless they can tax it !!! so until then, individual states and government in this country will continue to see it as a crime and arrest accordingly (to fill in the revenue loss that they loose of course, on our adult entertaining antics and ongoings) if they cant tax it they will make it a crime with punishable fees and surcharges ... no one is safe Originally Posted by Randilyn

Randilyn, prostitution is not actually illegal at the federal level - it is the state and local jurisdictions that would have to decriminalize, unless a federal court case rules the laws against sex work to be unconstitutional.

Also, decriminalization would open the possibility go-go clubs etc., massage parlors, etc. to allow the hobby to be practiced openly, which could grow their business substantially - and those businesses DO pay taxes.

Germany has seen its sex trade grow every year since legalization. Like anything you make easier for people to get, demand will grow.

Randilyn, prostitution is not actually illegal at the federal level - it is the state and local jurisdictions that would have to decriminalize, unless a federal court case rules the laws against sex work to be unconstitutional.

Also, decriminalization would open the possibility go-go clubs etc., massage parlors, etc. to allow the hobby to be practiced openly, which could grow their business substantially - and those businesses DO pay taxes.

Germany has seen its sex trade grow every year since legalization. Like anything you make easier for people to get, demand will grow. Originally Posted by Bratzdoll

well as of right now in the individual state of NY it's a big no no

The girls would need to say goodbye to their no see list. Can't discriminate based on race, religion, disabilities, sexual orientation, age, etc. So your gonna have to fuck and suck the wheelchair guy, the guy with cerebral palsy, the black guy with the huge dick, the 90 year old with early dementia. Have you seen George Bush in his wheelchair lately? Yep, gonna have to fuck him and let him lick your ass hole and pussy!!

Tonyvicksa,
You are actually getting into a distinction I left sort of blurry in my original post. The sentence I quoted from Amnesty International particularly conflates decriminalization with legalization. What you are describing would be a problem with full legalization.

Technically, decriminalization (prostitution remains illegal but punishable with small fines and no criminal record instead of felonies and jail time) would leave sex work outside of the scope of regulation (such as discrimination laws).

Randilyn,
Not only New York, but everywhere in the USA it's a big no-no because of a state, county, or city law, except for a few counties in Nevada (and those are fully legalized, and so license and regulate their brothels). Also, Rhode Island legalized indoor prostitution from the 1980s to the early 2000s, at which time the legislature considered a decriminalized ban before deciding to fully outlaw.

Got it Bratz, thanks for the clarification.

Thanks for the links and information!

Germany has seen its sex trade grow every year since legalization. Like anything you make easier for people to get, demand will grow. Originally Posted by Bratzdoll

Same thing happened in Holland..

As a proud gun owner and hobbyist, it is shame that a person can get into more trouble paying someone in the worlds oldest profession, then someone who has no right to own a gun (read Texas church shooting a few months ago)

As a proud gun owner and hobbyist, it is shame that a person can get into more trouble paying someone in the worlds oldest profession, then someone who has no right to own a gun (read Texas church shooting a few months ago) Originally Posted by soldierboy44

I agree. Just like i find it screwey someone can get as much jail time for abusing an animal as they could if they abused a human.. You would think abusing ahuman would be MORE of a crime..