Advocates Rally in Albany

Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) staff, alongside trafficking survivors, sex workers, and other stakeholders from around New York, gathered in Albany to urge lawmakers to support Cecilia’s Act for Rights in the Sex Trades (Cecilia’s Act). The bill would decriminalize consensual adult sex work in New York and vacate past prostitution convictions. The legislation is named after the late and great Cecilia Gentili, a sex worker and advocate who fought tirelessly for decriminalization until her passing in 2024. Similar legislation has been introduced in New York since 2019, and each year more advocates show up in Albany to fight for its passage.

This year, more than 50 people gathered to meet with lawmakers, including leaders from statewide and national organizations like DecrimNY, Equality NY, Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Old Pros, Make the Road New York, The Ishtar Collective, and many more. Advocates held 15 meetings with different legislators to discuss why decriminalization is the only evidence-based solution to reduce exploitation and improve public health and safety. The coalition emphasized that Cecilia’s Act is backed by people with lived experience, including sex workers and survivors of trafficking, as well as major human rights organizations.

The growing support for Cecilia’s Act reflects a broader shift in how lawmakers and the public are approaching sex work policy. Advocates continue to push for policies rooted in harm reduction, bodily autonomy, and evidence rather than stigma and criminalization. While the bill has not yet passed, each year’s advocacy day brings new supporters into the movement and builds momentum toward a future where sex workers can live and work safely without fear of arrest.

To join the New York coalition of advocates supporting sex workers and decriminalization, contact DecrimNY at decrimny.com or on Instagram at @decrimny.