Sex work decriminalization efforts leave workers, advocates and survivors divided | Meet the Press
December 9, 2023 NBC’s Meet the Press covers Maine’s misguided decision to implement the Entrapment Model of governing sex work. Melissa Broudo shares why decriminalization is the only way to ensure the rights and safety of consensual adult sex workers and human trafficking victims.
The Victims on Gilgo Beach | The Brian Lehrer Show on New York Public Radio
New York Public Radio’s “The Brian Lehrer Show” covers the lives of the victims found on Gilgo Beach and includes an interview with Crystal DeBoise. Listen here.
DSW Advocates Instrumental in VT’s Enactment of Country’s Most Comprehensive Police Sexual Violence Law
Governor Phil Scott signed S. 33, an act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures, amending 13 V.S.A. § 3259, which prohibits a law-enforcement officer from engaging in sexual contact with an individual who is in custody, being detained, or being arrested to also prohibit law enforcement from engaging in a sexual act with a person who…Continue reading DSW Advocates Instrumental in VT’s Enactment of Country’s Most Comprehensive Police Sexual Violence Law
Voice of Maine’s ‘GHRT Rewinds’ Hosts DSW’s Ariela Moscowitz
WVOM’s George Hale & Rick Tyler interview DSW’s Ariela Moscowitz on Voice of Maine’s “GHRT Rewinds” for June 7, 2023. Listen here or download it here.
DSW Collaborates With Allies To Advocate for Decriminalization
November 15-16, 2022 Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) is proud to regularly partner with Equality New York (EQNY),a statewide advocacy organization working to advance equality and justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families and to promote the decriminalization of consensual adult sex work. Earlier this month, EQNY board member Lindsay Jones, DSW Volunteer Attorney Allison…Continue reading DSW Collaborates With Allies To Advocate for Decriminalization
DSW Attends APHA 2022 Annual Meeting & Expo
DSW Legal Director Melissa Broudo, Staff Attorney Rebecca Cleary, and Volunteer Attorney Allison Kolins attended the American Public Health Association’s (APHA’s) annual meeting and expo in Boston early this November. According to their mission statement, APHA “… strengthens the impact of public health professionals and provides a science-based voice in policy debates too often driven by…Continue reading DSW Attends APHA 2022 Annual Meeting & Expo
DSW Presents at the National Harm Reduction Coalition’s Biennial Conference
DSW Legal Director Melissa Broudo and Staff Attorney Becca Cleary traveled to Puerto Rico to participate in the 13th biennial conference hosted by the National Harm Reduction Coalition (NHRC). The NHRC describes its gathering as “… the only conference of its kind in the United States. For four days, some of the most creative minds…Continue reading DSW Presents at the National Harm Reduction Coalition’s Biennial Conference
The Crime Report’s Isidoro Rodriguez interviews Ariela Moscowitz
The Crime Report’s Isidoro Rodriguez interviews Ariela Moscowitz.
Listen to Melissa Broudo on The Christian Libertarian podcast.
Listen to Melissa Broudo on The Christian Libertarian podcast.
Fighting the good fight with Melissa Sontag Broudo | Sidekick
DSW’s Melissa Broudo is featured in Morning Brew’s Sidekick.
DSW Staff Attend Key Conferences Around the World
It was a busy and productive summer for DSW staff as they traveled to multiple influential conferences to discuss the critical need to decriminalize consensual adult sex work. Staff had the opportunity to participate in panel discussions, to present their work, and to engage with legislators and academics among others. Staff Attorney Becca Cleary and…Continue reading DSW Staff Attend Key Conferences Around the World
DSW Research and Project Manager Testifies at Legislative Study Commission
DSW Research and Project Manager J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly presented on the intersection of LGBTQIA individuals and sex workers’ rights at the June 13 meeting of a legislative study commission in Rhode Island. Oshiro-Brantly co-presented with Henri June Bynx, who is also a sex worker and activist. Their presentation highlighted the parallels in the criminalization and stigmatization…Continue reading DSW Research and Project Manager Testifies at Legislative Study Commission
DSW Staff Share Their Expertise
Throughout the month of May, DSW staff participated in a number of panels and discussions highlighting the harms of criminalization, pending legislation on sex work, and reminding sex workers of their rights! DSW Legal Director Melissa Broudo joined the New York County Lawyers Association for their May 2 webinar, “Pending Legislation on Sex Work Decriminalization.”…Continue reading DSW Staff Share Their Expertise
DSW Legal Director Testifies During Legislative Study Commission
DSW Legal Director Melissa Broudo presented on the differences and distinctions between human trafficking and consensual adult sex work at the April 25 meeting of a legislative study commission in Rhode Island. She co-presented with a survivor of human trafficking, Danielle Ozuna, who shared her experience of coercion and exploitation. The study commission was formed…Continue reading DSW Legal Director Testifies During Legislative Study Commission
DSW Testified on Important Sex Work Bills in RI
DSW’s legal director, Melissa Broudo, and staff attorney, Rebecca Cleary, traveled to Rhode Island to testify in support of three important bills making their way through the Rhode Island legislature. As DSW works towards our ultimate goal of the decriminalization of consensual adult sex work, we are advocating for incremental measures that will reduce exploitation…Continue reading DSW Testified on Important Sex Work Bills in RI
HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver looks at sex work
DSW Staff Attorney Rebecca Cleary and Legal Director Melissa Broudo provided background to the producers of HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and the resulting 25-minute segment on sex work, which aired on February 27, was the best piece of mainstream reporting on the issue that we have seen. It is also hilarious.
Shifting the state’s perspective on sex work | The Capitol Pressroom
DSW’s Melissa Broudo is featured on today’s edition of The Capitol Pressroom podcast.
“What will we do if we get infected?” a qualitative interview-based study of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the health and safety of sex workers in the United States
DSW Research and Project Manager J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly co-authored and participated in all aspects of the study “What will we do if we get infected?” a qualitative interview-based study of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the health and safety of sex workers in the United States (SSM – Qualitative Research in Health, online December…Continue reading “What will we do if we get infected?” a qualitative interview-based study of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the health and safety of sex workers in the United States
Beyond Sex Work Decriminalization: Possibilities and Priorities for Marginalized Sex Workers
DSW Community Engagement Consultant Joaquin Remora participated in Beyond Sex Work Decriminalization: Possibilities and Priorities for Marginalized Sex Workers, a panel discussion by the Oregon Sex Workers’ Committee (OSWC) presented by Woodhull’s Human Rights Commissions (December 7, 2021)
Sex workers in Vermont discuss why they are seeking decriminalization | Burlington Free Press
Sex workers in Vermont discuss why they are seeking decriminalization (December 1, 2021) DSW’s J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly is quoted: “We have to separate adult consensual prostitution from [human] trafficking so that we can actually begin to go after traffickers in a more robust way.”
Conferences
October 26: APHA’s Annual Meeting DSW’s J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly, Melissa Broudo, and Frances Steele attended the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, and presented on the role of sex work decriminalization in promoting public health and safety for sex workers and communities at large. The meeting and expo was entitled “Creating the…Continue reading Conferences
DSW’s J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly on The Frontier Psychiatrists
In the latest episode of The Frontier Psychiatrists entitled ‘OnlyBans?’, hosts Dr. Carlene MacMillan and Dr. Owen Muir explore the impact of Sex Negativity online. The episode focuses on OnlyFans’ since reversed decision to ban sexually explicit content. DSW’s J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly was interviewed for the episode, describing the ways in which online content creators, including sex workers,…Continue reading DSW’s J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly on The Frontier Psychiatrists
DSW Staff Advocates at Events Around the Country
J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly and Rebecca Cleary of DSW attended the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) annual meeting. The event brings together criminal justice system advocates, impacted community members, and defense attorneys from around the country who are “committed to enhancing the capacity of the criminal defense bar to safeguard fundamental constitutional rights.” The…Continue reading DSW Staff Advocates at Events Around the Country
Paving the Path to Decriminalization in Oregon and Beyond | giddy.com
Paving the Path to Decriminalization in Oregon and Beyond (July 2, 2021) DSW’s Melissa Broudo is quoted: “We truly are sitting at the precipice of significant legislative change on a national level [for] this issue,” Broudo said. “This year alone, Oregon, with HB 3088, but also NEW YORK and Massachusetts, and in prior years Vermont and…Continue reading Paving the Path to Decriminalization in Oregon and Beyond | giddy.com
DSW’s Ceyenne Doroshow Is Grand Marshal of NYC Pride
The New York City Pride Parade, one of the most famous celebrations of Pride Month and historically the largest parade in the world, canceled its in-person festivities last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the parade so central to New York’s identity was back with a vengeance. The celebrations were streamed on news…Continue reading DSW’s Ceyenne Doroshow Is Grand Marshal of NYC Pride
DSW Staff Featured in Documentary on Decriminalization
DSW’s J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly, Melissa Broudo and Ceyenne Doroshow are featured in “Sex Work is Work,” a powerful short-film that explores the push for the decriminalization of sex work. Produced by BRIC TV, the documentary features Broudo and Oshiro-Brantly, along with sex worker Nikki Sweet, explaining why decriminalization is critical to the health and safety…Continue reading DSW Staff Featured in Documentary on Decriminalization
Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Is Marked With Intersectional Pride Series
Each of the panels presented as part of Tulsa 100: Remember, Activate, Heal was impactful, educational, and transformative. If you missed them or want to rewatch them, they are available at the links below. J. Leigh Brantly-Oshiro, DSW’s research and project manager, conceived of the Intersectional Pride Series. Along with NY-based, national, and Tulsa-based organizations,…Continue reading Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Is Marked With Intersectional Pride Series
What It Is Like to Be a Sex Worker | The Common Reader
DSW’s Frances Steele is quoted: “Even well-intended laws can get in the way. Frances Steele, a Wash.U. alum who is now a project coordinator for Decriminalize Sex Work, points out that in many states, possession of a condom counts as evidence in a prostitution charge — a serious disincentive for safe sex. When sex workers…Continue reading What It Is Like to Be a Sex Worker | The Common Reader
Babble On Podcast
DSW’s Ariela Moscowitz is featured in episode 1 and episode 6 of the Babble On podcast.
There’s a special court for sex workers, but it’s a far cry from what they need | Prism.com
DSW’s Ariela Moscowitz is quoted: “Human trafficking occurs across all labor sectors and is a horrific crime,” said Ariela Moscowitz, director of communications at Decriminalize Sex Work, an organization that works to improve public attitudes towards sex work. “It is often conflated with consensual adult sex work which leads to the dangerous assumption that all…Continue reading There’s a special court for sex workers, but it’s a far cry from what they need | Prism.com
DSW Staff Share Their Expertise
New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) hosted their annual advocacy day on April 28. The full day of programming included appearances from elected officials, a conversation with former New York City Council candidate and transgender-rights activist Elisa Crespo, and panels on TGNCNB Youth and the full decriminalization of sex work vs. the Entrapment/Equality/Nordic Model of governing…Continue reading DSW Staff Share Their Expertise
She Works Hard for the Money: Decriminalization and changing public attitudes makes sex work safer for everyone | Motif
DSW’s Ariela Moscowitz is quoted: “We’re always pushing sex work to be seen as work … and to improve the health and safety of sex workers and communities at large. We know full decriminalization leads to a decrease in trafficking.”
Podcast: New York Gritty
Episode 9–Pandemic Sexposure (“New York Gritty” podcast) (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon) DSW’s Melissa Broudo is featured.
Brooklyn DA: Outstanding prostitution warrants from past 4 decades dismissed | News 12
DSW’S MELISSA BROUDO IS FEATURED: “This is not just symbolic. It is meaningful for those over 857 people whose lives were directly impacted by criminalization who either had warrants hanging over their heads or pending court cases hanging over their heads. The criminal justice system is so crippling for people that are caught within it,”…Continue reading Brooklyn DA: Outstanding prostitution warrants from past 4 decades dismissed | News 12
DSW Staff Share Their Expertise
PornHub invited DSW’s legal director, Melissa Broudo, to share her expertise on legal issues related to sex work in their two-day “Sex Worker Survival Guide.” The event brought together a diverse group of presenters for a “how-to,” appropriate for individuals with any amount of experience in sex work. PornHub promised, “presentations, panels and conversation ……Continue reading DSW Staff Share Their Expertise
DSW Welcomes New Director of Communications
Ariela Moscowitz is joining DSW as the director of communications. We are thrilled to welcome an incredible nonprofit professional with years of experience advocating for social equity on behalf of marginalized communities to our team. Ariela is committed to changing hearts, minds, and ultimately, laws to protect sex workers and trafficking survivors. For the past…Continue reading DSW Welcomes New Director of Communications
DSW Featured at Woodhull Freedom Foundation’s Sexual Freedom Summit
DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly and Melissa Broudo spoke on a panel entitled “Fighting for Decriminalization in the Era of COVID and Black Lives Matter” at the Woodhull Freedom Foundation’s (WFF) 11th annual Sexual Freedom Summit. The event featured human rights advocates, educators and researchers, professionals, movement leaders, and organizational partners all “working towards a time…Continue reading DSW Featured at Woodhull Freedom Foundation’s Sexual Freedom Summit
‘The Oldest Profession’ Podcast Returns
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey will be departing the organization at the end of the month to more directly focus her energy on her burgeoning production company, Old Pro Productions, Inc., which aims to “tell better sex worker stories.” This month Bailey is relaunching her podcast, “The Oldest Profession,” which she originally created in 2017. By the…Continue reading ‘The Oldest Profession’ Podcast Returns
DSW’s Melissa Broudo Honored by National Trans Visibility March
DSW’s Melissa Broudo received the Lou Sullivan Award from the National Trans Visibility March (NTVM) for her outstanding commitment to defending the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals and communities throughout her legal career. The NTVM Torch Awards is an annual event that “recognizes distinguished achievements and honors individuals whose work has impacted…Continue reading DSW’s Melissa Broudo Honored by National Trans Visibility March
DSW Co-Hosts Anti-Trafficking Event in VT
DSW partnered with The Ishtar Collective (TIC), a local sex worker rights organization in VT, to host a luncheon in Montpelier that brought together state legislators, advocates, sex workers, and trafficking survivors from around the northeast U.S. The event, “Sex Work vs. Trafficking,” centered on a recent VT bill (H.568), which TIC and DSW collaborated…Continue reading DSW Co-Hosts Anti-Trafficking Event in VT
Hero(es) of the Month: Honoring the Dancers of the Lusty Lady
In 1996, the Lusty Lady in San Francisco became the first strip club in the country to successfully unionize, making history for the entire informal labor sector, including sex work. Despite the club’s closure in 2013, “Lusties,” as the dancers call themselves, remain a symbol of resilience and empowerment in an industry so often criticized…Continue reading Hero(es) of the Month: Honoring the Dancers of the Lusty Lady
DSW’s Melissa Broudo Featured in Film Series on Inspirational Women
DSW’s Melissa Broudo was featured in “As a Woman,” an interview-based film series diving into the lives of six inspirational, female-identifying New Yorkers. Written and produced by Majella Productions, the documentary explores how these individuals relate to their womanhood, and the ways this identity impacts their lived experience. The production is a beautiful examination of…Continue reading DSW’s Melissa Broudo Featured in Film Series on Inspirational Women
Hero(es) of the Month: TS Candii, SX Noir, and Gizelle Marie Organize the Largest Sex Worker March in U.S. History
More than six hundred activists, community members, and allies, including DSW’s Ceyenne Doroshow and Frances Steele, filled Manhattan’s Times Square on a Saturday at 5 p.m. The crowd gathered for the Black Sex Worker Liberation March & Vigil. When the event concluded five hours later, it was conclusively the largest demonstration for sex worker rights…Continue reading Hero(es) of the Month: TS Candii, SX Noir, and Gizelle Marie Organize the Largest Sex Worker March in U.S. History
DSW Takes Action Against EARN IT
In our last newsletter, DSW reported on how the EARN IT Act, a bill that recently advanced out of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, threatens the very heart of online security and privacy. The legislation claims to go after the online sexual abuse of minors. In a world that is quickly digitizing — and becoming…Continue reading DSW Takes Action Against EARN IT
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey on Sex Work and Police Reform
The Cape Cod, MA, chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America asked DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey to present on police reform, accountability, and gendered violence from a sex worker’s perspective. The talk started with a brief history of policing prostitution, and the social narratives we have constructed to allow police abuse to proliferate. Bailey then outlined…Continue reading DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey on Sex Work and Police Reform
DSW Supports Criminal Justice Reform Bills in New York
DSW’s Melissa Broudo and Frances Steele attended a rally in New York City supporting five state-level criminal justice reform bills that will be voted on — and hopefully passed — this legislative session. The rally featured impacted community members who shared personal experiences and state-wide data to explain the critical issues addressed by each bill….Continue reading DSW Supports Criminal Justice Reform Bills in New York
Fighting and Winning: Ceyenne Doroshow and the state of TGNCNB rights
DSW consultant, cornerstone figure of the transgender, nonconforming, nonbinary rights movement, and founder of Gays and Lesbians Living In a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.), Ceyenne Doroshow set out to raise a million dollars to support trans women of color last month. The fundraiser reached its goal in one short week and the momentum has not stopped. The…Continue reading Fighting and Winning: Ceyenne Doroshow and the state of TGNCNB rights
Black Lives Matter
Black people nationwide continue to be harassed and murdered by law enforcement, with little to no consequences. We know that this systemic disregard for Black lives is neither new nor accidental, but rather a symptom of the endemic racism that shapes the society we live in. The movement to decriminalize sex work is all too…Continue reading Black Lives Matter
Hero of the Month: Ceyenne Doroshow, Celebrating Pride Through Justice
DSW’s Hero of the Month for June is Ceyenne Doroshow — activist, organizer, and a cornerstone of the international sex worker and transgender, gender-nonconforming, nonbinary (TGNCNB) rights movements. Ceyenne, a Black transwoman, is also the founder and executive director of Gays and Lesbians Living In a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.) in NYC. G.L.I.T.S. helps to address…Continue reading Hero of the Month: Ceyenne Doroshow, Celebrating Pride Through Justice
DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly Co-founds Sex Worker Group in Vermont
A new sex worker rights organization was co-founded in VT by J. Leigh Brantly of DSW, along with local human rights advocate Henri. The Ishtar Collective is the first-ever anti-trafficking and sex-worker-rights organization to be based in Vermont. The organization is run by and for current and former sex workers, industry allies, and survivors of…Continue reading DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly Co-founds Sex Worker Group in Vermont
International Whore’s Day 2020: Virtual and Vibrant
The 45th annual celebration of International Whore’s Day (IWD) departed from the usual, where sex workers and their allies don red attire and march through city streets across the country. This year, the IWDNYC Coalition collaborated with Kink Out Events to launch an online rally and social media takeover honoring protests for sex worker rights…Continue reading International Whore’s Day 2020: Virtual and Vibrant
DSW Debates Human Trafficking in the News
An opinion piece by DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey was published in the New Hampshire Union Leader in response to an opponent’s op-ed published days before. The original opinion piece was written by Jasmine Grace, a NH resident and trafficking survivor, who challenged the intentions of those, like DSW, who are fighting for legislation to defend the…Continue reading DSW Debates Human Trafficking in the News
‘Six Feet Apart’ Podcast With Alex Wagner Features J. Leigh Brantly
DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly was a guest on the Crooked Media podcast “Six Feet Apart with Alex Wagner,” discussing sex work amidst the pandemic. “Six Feet Apart” is a weekly show that explores every aspect of the human experience during COVID-19 and how people are surviving this extraordinary and life-defining event. In the episode “Sex,”…Continue reading ‘Six Feet Apart’ Podcast With Alex Wagner Features J. Leigh Brantly
Lobbying in the Time of COVID?
DSW participated in Equality New York’s LGBTQI Virtual Day of Action. Community experts led panels and webinars on the movement’s policy priorities for this legislative session to improve the lives of LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families. After opening remarks from elected officials, including Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) and…Continue reading Lobbying in the Time of COVID?
DSW Joins Virtual Town Hall With Movement Experts
DSW’s Melissa Broudo and J. Leigh Brantly were featured in the latest edition of New Pride Agenda’s virtual town-hall series, titled “Let’s Talk Sex & Sex Work.” The webinar brought together activists, policy experts, and community members to explore the economic and cultural impacts of social distancing for LGBTQ+ people in response to the COVID-19…Continue reading DSW Joins Virtual Town Hall With Movement Experts
DSW Participates in TGNC/NB Advocacy Day in NY
The New York State legislature is following social distancing protocol, and advocacy groups have organized virtual lobbying meetings to continue their activism. Through their work with the New York Gender Diversity Coalition and other organizations, DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly helped organize an historic day of activism. Transgender, Gender-Non Conforming, Non-Binary (TGNC/NB) Advocacy Day is an…Continue reading DSW Participates in TGNC/NB Advocacy Day in NY
Our Bodies, Our Labors, Our Streets: International Women’s Day in NYC
The International Women’s Strike, also known as Paro Internacional de Mujeres, is a global movement of coalitions in more than 50 countries, organizing around International Women’s Day each year. The movement began in 2017 to honor the work of women across the world, organizing against femicide, gender-based violence, and the criminalization of abortion. This year’s…Continue reading Our Bodies, Our Labors, Our Streets: International Women’s Day in NYC
DSW Rallies With Activists To Pass the #WalkingWhileTrans Repeal
On International Sex Worker Rights Day, the Walking While Trans Coalition gathered at the Million Dollar Staircase in the Albany Statehouse to speak out about trans rights in New York state. DSW’s J. Leigh Brantly joined activists representing the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) and the Sharmus Outlaw Advocacy and Rights (SOAR) Institute. The…Continue reading DSW Rallies With Activists To Pass the #WalkingWhileTrans Repeal
Honoring Our Movement: International Sex Worker Rights Day
Sex workers and allied communities celebrated International Sex Worker Rights Day, a holiday that commemorates the tireless efforts of harm-reduction advocates around the world. The holiday began in India in 2001 when over 25,000 sex workers from around the world gathered there for a festival organized by Durbar Mahila Samanwaya. The Durbar is a Kolkata-based…Continue reading Honoring Our Movement: International Sex Worker Rights Day
DSW Travels To Nairobi to Meet With the African Sex Workers Alliance
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey sat down with the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. ASWA is a Pan-African alliance of sex worker-led organizations. The group was formed in 2009 and has grown to include members from 33 countries. Bailey and ASWA discussed the overlap between what sex workers around the world…Continue reading DSW Travels To Nairobi to Meet With the African Sex Workers Alliance
WFF Wins Appeal in Federal Court
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that plaintiffs in the Woodhull Freedom Foundation’s (WFF’s) lawsuit against the United States have standing to pursue claims. This decision guarantees sex-worker-rights advocates their day in court. The suit brought by Woodhull, Human Rights Watch, The Internet Archive, and two other plaintiffs is a constitutional…Continue reading WFF Wins Appeal in Federal Court
Adult Entertainment Industry Supports DSW in the Fight Against Stigma
DSW attended the Adult Video News (AVN) Awards Conference in Las Vegas. At this annual expo, meet-and-greet, and awards show, members of the adult entertainment industry exhibit their latest work, newest products, and talk about business initiatives. J. Leigh Brantly, Melissa Broudo, and Kaytlin Bailey presented on DSW’s work at the expo. DSW’s presence highlighted…Continue reading Adult Entertainment Industry Supports DSW in the Fight Against Stigma
2019 In Review: DSW Concludes Its First Year
This month marks Decriminalize Sex Work’s first full calendar year as a national advocacy organization. It is hard to believe how fast it has gone! Since DSW’s founding in the spring of 2019, our organization has: 1. Helped New Hampshire activists promote a study commission on sex work and human trafficking in the state, and…Continue reading 2019 In Review: DSW Concludes Its First Year
Cato Institute podcast: “Understanding Models of Legal Sex Work”
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey is featured. “Sex work [is] only legal in parts of Nevada, and there it is highly restricted. What are some of the other models for legal sex work, and which models best respect the individuals involved? Kaytlin Bailey is with Decriminalize Sex Work.”
DSW Staffers Participate in LGBTQI and Sex Worker Rights Panel
DSW’s Melissa Broudo and J. Leigh Brantly participated in the NY Transgender Advocacy Group’s LGBTQI Winter Cocktail Policy Series. Melissa and J spoke on a panel entitled “Reclaiming Our Bodies,” the first of three community-building, focused policy discussions. The event brought together LGBTQI community members and allies to learn about the intersection between sex workers’…Continue reading DSW Staffers Participate in LGBTQI and Sex Worker Rights Panel
DSW Honors International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers
DSW joined sex-worker-rights activists around the world in honoring the International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers, which takes place annually on December 17. This holiday mourns the lives of far too many sex workers who are lost to violence, stigma, and discrimination in a criminalized environment. DSW participated in three events across the…Continue reading DSW Honors International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers
DSW Attends Two Key Conferences
Kaytlin Bailey shared DSW’s work at the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC’s) Annual Policy Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. ALEC is the largest voluntary membership organization of state legislators and private-sector representatives in the U.S. DSW also attended the National Organization for Women’s (NOW’s) New York state conference to learn and exchange ideas around current efforts…Continue reading DSW Attends Two Key Conferences
DSW Welcomes Two Incredible New Team Members
DSW has gained two invaluable colleagues. Ceyenne Doroshow and J. Leigh Brantly will be joining the organization as Community Engagement Consultant and Research and Project Manager, respectively. Ceyenne Doroshow is an author, activist, organizer, performer, and public figure in the trans and sex worker rights movements. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Gays and…Continue reading DSW Welcomes Two Incredible New Team Members
The Chip Franklin Show: “Prosecuting prostitution w/Kaytlin Bailey”
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey is featured. “Chip talks to Kaytlin Bailey of Decriminalize Sex Work about why sex workers should not be prosecuted.”
Podcast: “You’re Wrong About… Human Trafficking”
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey is featured: “Mike tells Sarah how NGOs, activists and George W. Bush resurrected the ‘stranger danger’ panic for the modern era. Digressions include Reply All, muffins and Yelp for massage parlors. Mike’s vocal fry is worse than usual.”
Defense Lawyers Understand the Harms of Criminalization
DSW attended the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ (NACDL’s) 2019 Defending Sex Crimes Seminar, an annual event that brings together defense attorneys and criminal justice reform advocates. NACDL is an opportunity for experts to exchange knowledge around protecting the rights of defendants and promoting a more equitable justice process. This year’s seminar, “Zealous Advocacy in Sexual…Continue reading Defense Lawyers Understand the Harms of Criminalization
DSW Joins NYC Activists To Educate the Next Generation of Social-Justice Lawyers on Decriminalization
Melissa Broudo joined fellow activists and attorneys for a panel discussion on the whats, whys, and hows of sex-work decriminalization. The panel was organized by the NYU Law School chapter of If/When/How—Lawyering for Reproductive Justice. Fellow guests included Tiffany Cabán, who is a career public defender, recent candidate for Queens District Attorney, and national organizer…Continue reading DSW Joins NYC Activists To Educate the Next Generation of Social-Justice Lawyers on Decriminalization
DSW and Allies Gear Up for Legislative Session in Rhode Island
DSW grantee COYOTE-RI (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics) hosted a coalition meeting with human-rights activists in Providence, RI. DSW’s Melissa Broudo met with local organizations that are working to improve the lives of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable communities. The coalition outlined a strategy for the upcoming state legislative session. DSW and allies are proposing…Continue reading DSW and Allies Gear Up for Legislative Session in Rhode Island
DSW Presents at the American Public Health Association Expo
DSW highlighted the public-health implications of decriminalizing sex work at the American Public Health Association’s (APHA’s) annual international conference in Philadelphia. Attendees conduct harm-prevention research on STI prevention, drug use, the environment, migration, sexual health, and violence on national and global scales. The vast majority of public-health professionals who approached DSW’s table agreed that the…Continue reading DSW Presents at the American Public Health Association Expo
No Vote Planned for Decrim Bill in D.C.
The District of Columbia City Council held a hearing on the Community Safety and Health Act of 2019 (Bill 23-0318), which would decriminalize sex work in the nation’s capital. This would-be historic measure addresses health risks, violence against women, and human trafficking in Washington, D.C. DSW Communications Director Kaytlin Bailey testified at the 14-hour hearing…Continue reading No Vote Planned for Decrim Bill in D.C.
“Girls Do Porn” Was a Crime Ring, Not a Porn Site, Industry Experts Say | Vice
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey is quoted: “To pretend that this is what the entire porn industry is like denigrates exactly the people that they claim to be speaking for,” Kaytlin Bailey, communications director for advocacy group Decriminalize Sex Work, said. “[The women suing Girls Do Porn] are not speaking for porn actors, they are speaking for…Continue reading “Girls Do Porn” Was a Crime Ring, Not a Porn Site, Industry Experts Say | Vice
DSW Joins Community Organizers at a Trans/Sex Workers Rights Mixer
The New York State Gender Diversity Coalition convened at the Brooklyn Night Bazaar to exchange ideas about how to support gender diversity, equality, and sex worker rights in New York. This new coalition of sex workers’ rights and LGBTQIA* activists highlights the important overlap between DSW’s mission and the rights and safety of the LGBTQ…Continue reading DSW Joins Community Organizers at a Trans/Sex Workers Rights Mixer
DSW Supports the Fight Against FOSTA in U.S. Court of Appeals
Earlier this year, DSW filed an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit brought against the U.S. government by the Woodhull Freedom Foundation (WFF), Human Rights Watch, The Internet Archive, and two other plaintiffs in reaction to the terrible federal law known as the “Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act” (FOSTA). FOSTA chills speech and harms sex…Continue reading DSW Supports the Fight Against FOSTA in U.S. Court of Appeals
DSW in the News
September 19: DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey was invited onto Newsmax TV with John Tobacco and Frank Morano to chat about sex work, Robert Kraft, and why handcuffs almost never help. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rpURBEaQd2k September 22: Kaytlin Bailey appeared on “Morano in the Morning” to expand on the Robert Kraft case, why it matters for sex workers’ rights, and field…Continue reading DSW in the News
DSW Attends International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference
DSW attended the International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference in Toledo, Ohio. The conference has been an annual event since 2004, bringing together researchers, survivors, allies, and service practitioners to exchange expertise and ideas and collaborate on future initiatives to fight human trafficking and social injustice worldwide. As anti-trafficking work is central to DSW’s…Continue reading DSW Attends International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference
DSW Participates in Woodhull’s 2019 Sexual Freedom Summit
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey attended the 10th annual Woodhull’s Sexual Freedom Summit hosted in Washington, DC. She connected to sex worker rights activists and sexual freedom advocates from all over the country. Attending panels, presentations, and performances, Kaytlin was able to get a broad perspective on the issues plaguing sex workers and their allies in different…Continue reading DSW Participates in Woodhull’s 2019 Sexual Freedom Summit
DSW Makes Its Case at National Conference of State Legislatures
Melissa Broudo, DSW’s general council and RI coordinator, and Kaytlin Bailey, DSW’s communications director, met with state legislators from all over the country at the National Conference of State Legislatures annual meeting, which was hosted this year in Nashville, TN. DSW handed out fliers, t-shirts and buttons, and we started conversations with lawmakers pressing the…Continue reading DSW Makes Its Case at National Conference of State Legislatures
Nevertheless She Existed: Kaytlin Bailey Presents a Sex Worker From History
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey participated in Nevertheless She Existed, a live show and podcast produced at Caveat Theater. She told the story of Phryne, a famous courtesan in the classical Greek period who defended herself against blasphemy charges by disrobing in front of the all-male jury and declaring her perfect body a gift from the gods….Continue reading Nevertheless She Existed: Kaytlin Bailey Presents a Sex Worker From History
2020 Candidates Consider Decriminalizing Sex Work | CBS News
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey is quoted: “You have violence, you have exploitation, and you have blackmail. You have people operating outside the law, because legal protections are not extended to the entire industry.”
Queer Liberation March: Pride Without Barriers in NYC
DSW attended the Queer Liberation March and political rally that followed on June 30, organized by the Reclaim Pride Coalition to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots. The march took place on the same day as the NYC Pride Parade, which also hosted World Pride this year, but without corporate sponsors or police…Continue reading Queer Liberation March: Pride Without Barriers in NYC
Stossel: Moral Panic Over Sex Work
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey made an appearance on John Stossel’s show to draw attention to what multiple agencies in Florida called a “rescue operation.” All of the women law enforcement claims to have “rescued” from “sex trafficking” are currently facing criminal charges. Robert Kraft’s high-profile hand job drew national media attention to this case, but these…Continue reading Stossel: Moral Panic Over Sex Work
DSW Hosts Unity Reception in NYC
DSW hosted a delightful evening that was both a celebration and a rallying cry at the Cornell Club in NYC. With exquisite performances by Essence Revealed and sweet jams by DJ Mikey Palms, speakers included Dame Catherine Healy (from New Zealand), Ceyenne Doroshow, and DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey. Activists, donors, and reporters came together to celebrate…Continue reading DSW Hosts Unity Reception in NYC
Experts Urge RI Legislators to Study Decriminalization
After months of planning and inviting an all-star cast of witnesses, DSW had its first hearing before the House Judiciary Committee of the Rhode Island Legislature. State Rep. Anastasia Williams (D) presented bill H5354, which would create a temporary commission to study the effects of laws prohibiting commercial sexual activity. Approximately 15 witnesses, invited by…Continue reading Experts Urge RI Legislators to Study Decriminalization
DSW Billboard Challenges Lawmakers in Florida
Multiple police departments in Florida have recently staged news conferences to cast themselves as heroes who have “rescued” women from “slavery” … by handcuffing them. Devastating stings that result in criminal records and broken families are common, but when Robert Kraft, the widowed owner of the New England Patriots, received a high-profile hand job it…Continue reading DSW Billboard Challenges Lawmakers in Florida
Sex Workers Host News Conference in Florida
All eyes are on Florida because of the high-profile stings on massage parlors. DSW teamed up with sex workers and allies in Florida to draw attention to what criminalizing sex work actually looks like: vulnerable women in handcuffs. DSW and SWOP Behind Bars staged a news conference in Orlando to push the messages of LISTEN…Continue reading Sex Workers Host News Conference in Florida
DSW and allies lobby RI legislators
DSW teamed up with COYOTE RI and allied organizations to educate RI legislators about the negative impact of criminalizing prostitution. DSW’s lobbyists and local RI advocates engaged legislators in one-on-one conversations on the House floor to push for a study commission that would reexamine the state’s prostitution laws. Most RI legislators agreed that the laws…Continue reading DSW and allies lobby RI legislators
DSW and allies hold SESTA/FOSTA panel at SXSW
DSW teamed up with Alex Andrews from SWOP Behind Bars, Dan Savage, Larry Walters, and River del Llano from Uncage Love to discuss the dangerous implications of SESTA/FOSTA at a panel at SXSW in Austin. SESTA/FOSTA was the federal bill signed into law on April 11, 2018, which shut down services sex workers used to…Continue reading DSW and allies hold SESTA/FOSTA panel at SXSW
DSW Hosts Soiree With Dan Savage
DSW hosted in Austin a soiree with Dan Savage, donors, local activists, and panelists, where advocates for decriminalization shared strategies and stories. Libertarians, progressives, harm reduction advocates, anarchists and provocateurs mingled despite their philosophical and tactical differences. Alex Andrews, Kaytlin Bailey, and Dan Savage gave a toast to our shared goal of ending the prohibition…Continue reading DSW Hosts Soiree With Dan Savage
DSW Hosts Panel at Seattle Summit
DSW hosted a panel at the Seattle Annual Sex Worker Summit after the debut of the documentary “War on Whores,” which investigates the harms of criminalizing sex work. The film features prolific writer and sex-worker activist Maggie McNeil and Reason Foundation’s Elizabeth Nolan Brown, as they track the alarming institutional shift from the United States’ failed “war…Continue reading DSW Hosts Panel at Seattle Summit
Melissa with Bella
Here is DSW’s Melissa Broudo with COYOTE Rhode Island organizer Bella Robinson. We’re looking forward to being in Rhode Island this Thursday for another lobby day!
DSW Files Legal Brief in Federal Court Case
DSW drafted and submitted to a federal CA court a spirited amicus brief that challenges the constitutionality of the devastating SESTA/FOSTA law. This “friend of the court” brief was cosigned by an impressive array of organizations, including Sex Workers Project, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Brooklyn Defender Services, St. James Infirmary, and other allies. DSW…Continue reading DSW Files Legal Brief in Federal Court Case
VIP With Erika Jayne
DSW’s Melissa Broudo got to meet and greet Erika Jayne, one of DSW’s VIPs, when she recently played in Brooklyn, NY, on December 21, 2018. Broudo was able to thank her for her vocal support of sex workers on her show, ”The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” She is an inspiration to all people to…Continue reading VIP With Erika Jayne
Harm Reduction Coalition Attorney Panel
DSW’s Melissa Broudo joined providers from Legal Aid Society and Brooklyn Defender Services on a panel on representing sex workers at the Harm Reduction Coalition.
Melissa and Crystal at the New Hampshire Capitol Building
DSW’s Melissa Broudo and Crystal DeBoise visited Concord, NH, in October 2018 to engage in a series of key meetings to lay the groundwork for legislation.
Canvassing
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey led one of the first sex worker canvasses going door to door talking about decriminalization.
Canvassing
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey talks to voters on behalf of Julia Salazar, who is one of the first politicians to run (and win) openly supporting sex worker rights.
SESTA/FOSTA Panel With Ceyenne Doroshow, Stoya, and Suraj Patel
DSW’s Melissa Broudo participated in a panel discussing federal legislation SESTA/FOSTA and its impact on sex workers, free speech, and the internet.
PS1 MOMA Sex Worker Festival of Resistance
DSW’s Melissa Broudo coordinated and led a panel discussing diversity of experience within the sex industry at the first-ever sex worker event hosted by MOMA.
Women’s March NYC – Sex Worker Contingent
DSW’s Melissa Broudo and members of the sex worker activist community, the NYC Stripper Strike, and allies marched together in the second Women’s March in NYC.
Recorded Interview
DSW’s Melissa Broudo has participated in dozens of interviews on video, podcasts, and in print. Here she is being interviewed in her home as part of a video for the website of Gays and Lesbians Living In a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.), a sex workers’ rights and transgender rights organization for which she serves on the…Continue reading Recorded Interview
‘The Oldest Profession’ Podcast
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey poses with a red umbrella, the international symbol of sex worker rights, for her podcast, “The Oldest Profession.”
‘Sex Workers Stand Up’
DSW’s Kaytlin Bailey performs at QED during a show she produced, “Sex Workers Stand Up.”
The Stand
Kaytlin Bailey performs at The Stand in NYC.