This bill may lead to an increased risk of human trafficking in YOUR city.


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[[link removed]] Dear John,

If you know and care about how sex trafficking really works, the sentence below
should shock and horrify you.

D.C. CIty Council is currently debating legislation that, if enacted, would
decriminalize pimping, brothels, and sex buying in our city. Take Action
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In 2018, the Polaris-operated U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline learned of
70 cases of sex trafficking in D.C. This is likely a miniscule percentage of
what is happening in our city, as human trafficking is notoriously
underreported. We believe that decriminalizing pimping, brothel-owning, and sex buying will
increase the amount of trafficking in D.C. Click here to let your city council member know what you think of this bill.
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It’s important to know that this bill also decriminalizes prostitution, meaning
that the direct sellers of sex - trafficked or not - would not be subject to
arrest and prosecution. We strongly support decriminalizing people in prostitution, as arresting them
only strengthens the hands of traffickers and makes it more difficult for
survivors to rebuild their lives.

But this bill is a bridge too far and will unfortunately hurt many of the very
people its supporters claim to want to help. There are better ways to protect
transgender people and other individuals facing discrimination and economic
dislocation in our community. Some of our most vulnerable neighbors will pay the price and suffer the worst
if this bill is enacted. We shouldn’t stand by when the unintended consequences of a bill are likely to
make human trafficking worse in the city we call home.

If you agree, act now.
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In Solidarity,

Bradley Myles
CEO
Polaris

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P.O. Box 65323, Washington, D.C. 20036
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