Today's International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Lately we've seen public discourse about sex work, so let's discuss.

As a public defender for my entire career, I have always and will continue to advocate for the full decriminalization of consensual sex work. 1/9

We must decriminalize sex work in order to protect sex workers from police violence, help sex workers access health care, lower the risk of violence from clients, reduce mass incarceration, and advance equality in the LGBTQ community... 2/9

especially for trans women of color, who are often profiled and harassed whether or not they are actually sex workers.
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Similar to other forms of prohibition, criminalizing sex work has been a long-running failure — making it harder for women and other marginalized people to come out from the shadows and into legal protection in situations of abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. 4/9

Sex work is work. Criminalizing this work stigmatizes and disproportionately targets people of color and trans women, who are already some of the most vulnerable members of our community. 5/9

It traps sex workers in poverty and makes them afraid to come forward to report abuse or other violent acts perpetrated against them.

Decriminalizing sex work is a necessary step we must take to make our city safer for everyone, including and especially the marginalized. 6/9

When people consensually work in the sex trade, they should be allowed to work free from fear of prosecution.
Our current system polices sex work and puts those workers in danger. These workers are often left to live in poverty. 7/9

Police carry out violence against them simply because of what they do.

By decriminalizing and destigmatizing sex work, we can lift our neighbors out of danger — so they no longer fear reporting if they’ve been attacked or going to a health clinic when they need care. 8/9

Furthermore, the End Demand/Nordic/Prohibitionist model makes sex workers less safe while still criminalizing someone’s job. We must fully decriminalize sex work. No exceptions. 9/end

I have already committed that as Manhattan District Attorney, I will decline to prosecute prostitution related offenses, unlicensed massage cases, and charges where those offenses have been used as a pretext for an arrest. 10/9

It is critical our next Manhattan DA is an ally to the SW community and is committed to listening to sex worker-led and survivor-centered organizations and what they advocate for. I will do just that.

I hope you'll support us in this mission. 11/9 https://secure.numero.ai/contribute/ElizaOrlins