New Bill To Decriminalize Sex Work Proposed By D.C. Councilmember

WASHINGTON, D.C. — D.C. Councilmember David Grosso held a news conference Thursday morning to discuss a new bill that would decriminalize commercial sex work in the District.

"I believe that we as a society are coming to realize that excessive criminalization is causing more harm than good," Grosso said at the conference. "...it's time for the District of Columbia to reconsider the framework in which we handle commercial sex work, and move from one of criminalization to focus on human rights, health and safety."

Grosso, an avid human rights activist, introduced the "Reducing Criminalization to Improve Health and Safety Amendment Act of 2017" at the conference. The bill would rid criminal penalties for "pandering or inducing an individual to engage in prostitution" for consenting adults, decriminalizing buying and selling sex.

Grosso said this legislation would help sex workers live "safer and healthier lives," and that current laws put people in danger and inhibit the fight against HIV. He believes the bill would also make it easier for the District to tackle complaints from communities regarding trash and other nuisances related to prostitution.

Advocates believe if sex workers do not have to fear arrest, they will seek out health care services, police help and other measures that will ensure their safety and the practice of safe sex.

"Removing criminal penalties for engaging in sexual exchange reduces public violence and protects sex workers," a fact sheet by Team Grosso says. "People in the sex trade are safest when their work is not criminalized, because they are able to screen clients, to negotiate safer sex practices, and to report incidents of client and police violence."

The fact sheet says criminalization of sex work has a greater negative impact on groups already facing discrimination, such as communities of color, gay and trans people, immigrants, people with criminal convictions and people with disabilities. Research shows that over 80 percent of street-based sex workers experience violence in the course of their work.

Aditionally, one in five sex workers in D.C. has been approached by police asking them for sex, the fact sheet says.

"The bill does not change any of our laws regarding coercion or exploitation, which will continue to be prohibited," Grosso said.

Grosso led the conference with HIPS, an organization that "promotes the health, rights, and dignity of individuals and communities impacted by sexual exchange and/or drug use due to choice, coercion, or circumstance," according to their website.

"The issue of criminalization, the fear of arrest, the fear of law enforcement has superseded nearly every other issue that people come to us with," Cyndee Clay, the Executive Director of HIPS, said at the press conference. "Even people who are in horribly abusive situations fear police and fear law enforcement, specifically because law enforcement are... the ones who are enforcing these prostitution laws."

This bill was developed in "close partnership" with the Sex Workers Advocates Coalition, and the bill is in line with Amnesty International, the World Health Organization and numerous other expert organizations, Grosso said.

The news conference was held at HIPS' headquarters at 906 H St. in Northeast Washington. Watch the full news conference here:

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