ACLU Supporter –

As we all know, demands to end anti-Black police violence have been growing across the country for months – and even amidst this most pivotal election time, we cannot stop speaking out until the brutality ends.

Sex workers need to be a part of that conversation. Police regularly target, harass, and assault sex workers – or people they think are sex workers, such as trans women of color. That's why it's time to talk about decriminalizing sex work – something the ACLU has supported since 1973.

Advocating for sex work decriminalization is advocating for personal autonomy, LGBTQ+ and women's rights, decarceration, immigrants' rights, racial justice, and equal access to the right to life and security. You can visit here to find our latest research brief on the issue, policy recommendations, ways you can help, and more.

But first, here's a quick lesson on some of the reasons to decriminalize sex work. It would:

1. Reduce police violence. Police abuse against sex workers is common, but police rarely face consequences for it. That's partly because sex workers fear being arrested if they come forward to report abuse.
2. Deter violent clients. Like the police, sex workers' clients know they can rob, assault, or even murder a sex worker – and get away with it – because the sex worker does not have access to the same protections from the law.
3. Provide access to health care. Some sex workers will forgo medical care because they are afraid that if medical staff find out about their jobs, they will be poorly treated or even arrested. In some states, carrying condoms can be used as evidence of intent to do sex work, so many sex workers opt not to carry condoms to avoid arrest.
4. Advance LGBTQ and women's equality. Cis and trans women and members of our LGBTQ communities make up a large portion of sex workers and face disparate impacts in criminalized settings. Trans women of color are the most impacted – police often profile them as sex workers and subject them to harassment.
5. Fight mass incarceration. The criminalization of sex work feeds the mass incarceration system by putting more people in jail unnecessarily. Those incarcerated tend to be trans and/or people of color, two groups that are already disproportionately incarcerated.

ACLU Supporter, sex work is real work. Period. You should be able to maintain your livelihood without fear of violence or arrest. You should be afforded access to health care and other services without discrimination. And you should be able to seek justice when you are harmed.

It's time we push for a world where all people – including sex workers – are ensured those basic legal protections. You can start now by educating yourself on this important issue and joining the fight ahead. Thank you.

For all of us,

LaLa B. Holston-Zannell
Pronouns: she, her, hers
ACLU Trans Justice Campaign Manager