DSW, Allies, and Elected Officials Urge NY Legislature To Offer Immunity to Sex Workers & Survivors of Trafficking

May 10, 2022

Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) — as part of ImmunityNY, a coalition of organizations dedicated to reducing harm and increasing safety by passing S.2233-A (Sepulveda)/A.255-A (Gottfried) — organized and participated in a day of meetings with press and legislators in Albany to encourage passage of this common sense legislation. It is good public health and criminal justice policy to allow consensual adult sex workers and survivors of human trafficking who are victims or witnesses of crime to report their experiences to law enforcement and healthcare providers without fear of prosecution for prostitution. Immunity laws benefit all communities by allowing law enforcement to better detect criminal activity.

This vital legislation would encourage sex workers and trafficking survivors who are crime victims and witnesses to report their experiences to law enforcement, receive medical care, and seek help. People involved in commercial sexual activity, whether by choice or because they are being trafficked, are often targeted by predators who know they are unlikely to report victimization or seek medical attention for fear of their own arrest. When abusers are not reported to law enforcement, they are able to continue their acts of violence and exploitation with impunity. “Because of the legal jeopardy they would be placed in, sex workers often do not report crimes when they are targeted for violence. This bill protects a victim or witness to a crime from prosecution for prostitution when seeking help, health care, or assisting in any investigation regardless if it results in a conviction. Similar to the ‘Good Samaritan’ laws of 2011, this bill protects people seeking assistance or seeking to simply do what’s right,” said Senate bill sponsor Senator Luis Sepúlveda (D-Bronx).

States across the country are increasingly adopting laws that grant some form of criminal legal immunity from prosecution for prostitution to people who report crimes – including California, Colorado, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Utah, and Washington, where an immunity bill was signed into law by the governor in early May 2022. “Immunity legislation is gaining popularity across the country with bipartisan support and collaborative efforts between activists, survivors, legislators, and law enforcement, who are all in agreement that these policies are crucial in advancing public health and safety. Ensuring that perpetrators of violence cannot repeatedly exploit their victims’ vulnerability and allowing survivors of violence to seek help is common sense public policy, which is why immunity laws are increasingly common in other states,” said Rebecca Cleary, DSW staff attorney.

“The immunity bill is necessary to implement a framework of protection for sex workers who are victims of horrific crimes. Passing the immunity bill means freeing sex workers from institutional harm and the negative consequences created to enslave sex workers by traffickers who have become masterminds of the criminal justice system. Only a failed system won’t allow victims to tell their stories,” said Dawn Rowe, president and CEO of Girl Vow.

“Too often sex workers are afraid to report violent crimes committed against themselves or others, or even to seek health care for their injuries, because contact with police means likelihood of arrest,” said Assembly bill sponsor Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan). “Our laws create an inherently criminalized environment in which sex workers are targeted for violence. This would be an important step toward changing the dynamic between police and sex workers. It is similar to the ‘Good Samaritan’ law which protects people who seek help when someone suffers a drug overdose. All New Yorkers deserve safety from violence, and I hope we can advance this important bill.” Laura Mullen, who is a survivor and the co-founder of the Survivor Advisory Board and an anti-trafficking service advocate at ECLI-VIBES, shared, “Where I come from, criminals are criminals if you commit a crime, no matter the circumstances behind it. If only one person would have understood that I knew this and was scared of being arrested on my own or even alongside the person trafficking me, I would have used my voice to report him and other crimes that actual criminals committed. You see, they had a choice and I didn’t.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., released a statement in conjunction with the press conference and legislative meetings. “New York is safer when survivors and witnesses feel comfortable reporting crimes. But individuals involved in the commercial sex trade often feel reluctant to report crimes because they are afraid they will be prosecuted themselves for prostitution offenses.” He implored the legislature to pass the bill. “Silencing these individuals does not protect us, it only protects the perpetrators of the crimes these survivors and witnesses are too afraid to report,” Bragg added.

New York residents can send a letter in support of this critical legislation here.

Learn more about immunity/good samaritan/safe reporting laws for sex workers and survivors of trafficking around the country here.

Melissa Broudo speaks during the press conference.

Melissa Broudo speaks during the press conference.

DSW Newsletter #36 (May 2022)

Vermont Legislature Ratifies Burlington’s Vote To Strike Archaic and Discriminatory Language from City Charter

May 10, 2022 The Vermont Senate voted to pass Burlington’s charter change, striking harmful language from the city charter. In March, 69% of Burlington residents voted to support equity, safety, and dignity by opting to remove the...
Read More
Vermont Legislature Ratifies Burlington’s Vote To Strike Archaic and Discriminatory Language from City Charter

DSW, Allies, and Elected Officials Urge NY Legislature To Offer Immunity to Sex Workers & Survivors of Trafficking

May 10, 2022 Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) — as part of ImmunityNY, a coalition of organizations dedicated to reducing harm and increasing safety by passing S.2233-A (Sepulveda)/A.255-A (Gottfried) — organized and participated in a day of meetings...
Read More
DSW, Allies, and Elected Officials Urge NY Legislature To Offer Immunity to Sex Workers & Survivors of Trafficking

DSW Legal Director Testifies During Legislative Study Commission

April 25, 2022 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...
Read More
DSW Legal Director Testifies During Legislative Study Commission

DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

May 2, 2022 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...
Read More
DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

DSW Newsletter Archive

DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

May 2, 2022

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.”

The New York County Lawyers Association provided this description of the program: The criminal justice system’s approach to sex work has changed in recent years as some area district attorneys’ offices have pledged to stop prosecuting some sex work related offenses, while some continue to prosecute those accused of patronizing and third parties.

Still, the continued criminalization of sex work disproportionately affects the LGBTQ community, communities of color and immigrant communities where, for many, sex work remains a means of survival in the face of economic insecurity.

Pending legislation in Albany (the “Stop the Violence in the Sex Trades Act” S3075/A849) aims to decriminalize sex work between consenting adults and allow workers a safe and secure environment, without the stigma and fear of judgment, arrest, and incarceration. Meanwhile, the “Sex Trade Survivors Justice and Equality Act” proposes asymmetrical criminalization [or client criminalization], eliminating penalties for some sex work related offenses, while levying fines against customers, roommates, drivers, and others. Both bills would continue to criminalize sex trafficking, exploitation, and coercion.

———

DSW was proud to sponsor and participate in Equality New York’s 2022 advocacy day. The day was filled with compelling and educational panels, discussions, and legislator meetings. DSW Research and Project Manager J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly, volunteer attorney Alison Kolins and Legal Director Melissa Broudo traveled to Albany to take part in the event. Melissa Broudo moderated “The Criminalization of Sexuality: From Banned Books to Prison Walls,” during which panelists “explored the linkage from repressive/no sexual health education (banned books/banned teachings) to criminalization of people for gender expression and sexual acts (i.e. prostitution). The continuum of stigmatization and marginalization across these divergent — but connected — issues is central to understanding the continued backlash queer and trans folks receive when there are cultural and legal shifts. Silencing, shaming, stigmatizing, and ultimately criminalizing people for who they are or what they do with their bodies is a continuum that must be examined and fought.”

———

J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly hosted the 2022 Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Non-Binary, and Intersex (TGNCNBI) Advocacy Day, spearheaded by New York Transgender Advocacy Group and the New York State Gender Diversity Coalition. The full day of programming included “Sex Work Issues and Legislation,” during which DSW Staff Attorney Rebecca Cleary and Ceyenne Doroshow discussed the fight to decriminalize sex work and lift up sex workers, the 2021 repeal of the “Walking While Trans Ban,” the pending immunity bill, and Supreme Court Justice Alito’s leaked draft opinion on abortion rights and its connection to sex work.

———

Melissa Broudo and J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly traveled to DomCon in Los Angeles where they shared information about the critical need to decriminalize consensual adult sex work throughout the conference and also presented “Sex Work, Fetish Work, and the Law.” Their presentation explained the different legal and regulatory bodies that affect people involved in all forms of sex work, including fetish work — even in ways that one may not expect. They also discussed how to navigate legal digital spaces post-SESTA/FOSTA.

J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly and Melissa Broudo pose at DomCon.

J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly and Melissa Broudo pose at DomCon.

Melissa Broudo moderates “The Criminalization of Sexuality: From Banned Books to Prison Walls” during Equality NY’s Advocacy Day.

Melissa Broudo moderates “The Criminalization of Sexuality: From Banned Books to Prison Walls” during Equality NY’s Advocacy Day.

J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly and Melissa Broudo join other advocates for a press conference during Equality New York’s Advocacy Day.

J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly and Melissa Broudo join other advocates for a press conference during Equality New York’s Advocacy Day.

DSW Newsletter #36 (May 2022)

Vermont Legislature Ratifies Burlington’s Vote To Strike Archaic and Discriminatory Language from City Charter

May 10, 2022 The Vermont Senate voted to pass Burlington’s charter change, striking harmful language from the city charter. In March, 69% of Burlington residents voted to support equity, safety, and dignity by opting to remove the...
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Vermont Legislature Ratifies Burlington’s Vote To Strike Archaic and Discriminatory Language from City Charter

DSW, Allies, and Elected Officials Urge NY Legislature To Offer Immunity to Sex Workers & Survivors of Trafficking

May 10, 2022 Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) — as part of ImmunityNY, a coalition of organizations dedicated to reducing harm and increasing safety by passing S.2233-A (Sepulveda)/A.255-A (Gottfried) — organized and participated in a day of meetings...
Read More
DSW, Allies, and Elected Officials Urge NY Legislature To Offer Immunity to Sex Workers & Survivors of Trafficking

DSW Legal Director Testifies During Legislative Study Commission

April 25, 2022 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...
Read More
DSW Legal Director Testifies During Legislative Study Commission

DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

May 2, 2022 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...
Read More
DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

DSW Newsletter Archive

DSW Legal Director Testifies During Legislative Study Commission

April 25, 2022

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 last year following the unanimous passage of House Resolution 5250, which proposed a special legislative commission to study ensuring racial equity and optimizing health and safety laws affecting marginalized individuals. The bill, as passed, delineated who should sit on the commission, which includes thirteen members, including individuals with lived experience. Other members of the commission include two legislators, a member of COYOTE RI, a representative from Amnesty International, two representatives of organizations serving populations disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of commercial sex, the director of the Department of Health, an attorney from the Rhode Island Public Defender’s Office, the Rhode Island attorney general, or designee, a representative from the Brown University Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, and the president of the Rhode Island Police Chief's Association, or their designee.

The study commission has met monthly since fall of 2021 with experts from both within the commission and outside of it testifying at each meeting. In her capacity as legal director at DSW and with over twenty years of experience representing and advocating for the legal rights of consensual adult sex workers and survivors of human trafficking, Broudo spoke about the devastating consequences of the conflation of consensual adult sex work and human trafficking. Broudo attended law school and received a Master of Public Health degree because she has long been interested in improving the health and safety of individuals engaged in commercial sex whether by choice or force, fraud, or coercion. She helped to draft the legislation proposing the study commission as she believes that public policy should be informed by research and evidence. The commission will present its findings to the legislature next year.

Read news coverage of the April 25 commission meeting here.

DSW advocates for the creation of study commissions focused on evaluating prostitution laws, addressing trafficking concerns, and identifying better ways to create support systems for both sex workers and trafficked people.

A study commission should examine and provide recommendations on the health and safety impacts of revising laws related to commercial sexual activity; identify the methods of human trafficking and exploitation to develop strategies to reduce these activities; and ensure accountability in the treatment of marginalized and targeted communities by police. Prostitution laws are often applied in a way that creates an environment in which exploitation thrives. Those laws often disproportionately harm already marginalized communities. They also fail to meaningfully address the issue of human trafficking. There is a need to comprehensively research and then reform legal and support systems around sex work and trafficking in order to keep people safe and ensure access to resources.

Read our fact sheet on study commissions to review existing laws and address trafficking and exploitation here.

Melissa Broudo testifies during the April 25 legislative commission meeting.

Melissa Broudo testifies during the April 25 legislative commission meeting.

DSW Newsletter #36 (May 2022)

Vermont Legislature Ratifies Burlington’s Vote To Strike Archaic and Discriminatory Language from City Charter

May 10, 2022 The Vermont Senate voted to pass Burlington’s charter change, striking harmful language from the city charter. In March, 69% of Burlington residents voted to support equity, safety, and dignity by opting to remove the...
Read More
Vermont Legislature Ratifies Burlington’s Vote To Strike Archaic and Discriminatory Language from City Charter

DSW, Allies, and Elected Officials Urge NY Legislature To Offer Immunity to Sex Workers & Survivors of Trafficking

May 10, 2022 Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) — as part of ImmunityNY, a coalition of organizations dedicated to reducing harm and increasing safety by passing S.2233-A (Sepulveda)/A.255-A (Gottfried) — organized and participated in a day of meetings...
Read More
DSW, Allies, and Elected Officials Urge NY Legislature To Offer Immunity to Sex Workers & Survivors of Trafficking

DSW Legal Director Testifies During Legislative Study Commission

April 25, 2022 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...
Read More
DSW Legal Director Testifies During Legislative Study Commission

DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

May 2, 2022 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...
Read More
DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

DSW Newsletter Archive

DSW Testified on Important Sex Work Bills in RI

April 5, 2022

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 and violence perpetrated against sex workers and survivors of trafficking. If passed, the three bills introduced in RI, which Broudo and Cleary testified in support of, would bring immediate health and safety benefits to individuals engaged in sex work.

H7704, currently being reviewed by the House Judiciary Committee, grants immunity from prosecution for commercial sexual activity to any victim or witness of a crime if they report the offense to law enforcement, seek or receive health care services as a result of their involvement or witnessing the offense, or assist or attempt to assist in the investigation and prosecution of the offense. Importantly, this protection is honored even if they later withdraw their cooperation.

People involved in the sex trade (whether by choice or by force, fraud, or coercion) are often victims of violent crime and exploitation, but they frequently don’t report crimes perpetrated against them due to fear of arrest. When abusers are not reported to law enforcement, they are able to continue acts of violence and exploitation with impunity. Immunity laws allow sex workers and trafficked people to safely report crimes and seek medical care without the fear that they themselves will be criminalized. They equip law enforcement entities with an increased ability to identify, investigate, and convict perpetrators of violence and trafficking. Immunity laws directly protect victims and witnesses of violence and they ultimately benefit all communities by allowing law enforcement to better detect criminal activity.

H6637 / S2233, in committee, establishes criteria for the criminal offense of sexual assault when the victim is in the custody of a peace officer. It provides that a person convicted of custodial sexual assault would face imprisonment for not more than three years. Forty states have laws making sexual interaction between a law-enforcement agent and a person in their custody illegal.

As Broudo wrote, “Most people cannot believe police are permitted to do this. The reality is that they should not, but that they do, on quite a regular basis. Sex workers and those profiled as sex workers — especially transgender women of color — are subject to routine sexual assault by police offering ‘deals’ (‘if you do this, I will not arrest you now’). This is not consent — in fact, it is the very definition of coercion. Other states, including Nevada and Pennsylvania, are currently considering similar laws to punish custodial sexual assault. To say there is a power imbalance between law enforcement and those in their custody would be a severe understatement — people who are in custody have no agency, have fear about what is to come, and are at the complete and total mercy of those who have taken them into custody. There cannot possibly be a consensual sexual encounter between someone in custody and the person in charge of their freedom. When you think of who may be in custody, there is a disproportionate chance that person will be part of a marginalized or more vulnerable group [people of color, specifically Black and Brown people, are significantly more likely to be arrested]. When it comes to sex work, Black and Brown women, especially transgender women, are the most likely to be arrested — and also the most vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and stigma. These factors are easily exploited by law enforcement.”

H7672, currently in committee, mandates a patient shall “be afforded respectful, considerate care” not be discriminated against on any basis including age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or income source or profession.

Health care access is critical for the rights and safety of all. This is especially true when it comes to sex workers who face increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual assault, and physical assault as a result of the criminalization of their work. Many sex workers do not seek critical healthcare because they have faced discrimination, or reporting to law enforcement  by medical professionals. Protection against discrimination in seeking care is not only life-saving; it’s an important step in protecting against the spread of STIs and increasing resource access for some of our most underserved community members.

Further, healthcare providers serve a critical role in identifying and helping to report (with the patient’s permission) instances of human trafficking. Unfortunately, because of the criminalization of commercial sex, individuals trafficked for the purpose of selling sex are afraid to seek services. This is not only a violation of human rights, it is a public health and safety concern. We must make safe, confidential, and appropriate healthcare resources available to all individuals.

Rebecca Cleary testifies in front of the RI House Judiciary Committee.

Rebecca Cleary testifies in front of the RI House Judiciary Committee.

Melissa Broudo testifies in front of the RI House Judiciary Committee.

Melissa Broudo testifies in front of the RI House Judiciary Committee.

DSW Newsletter #35 (April 2022)

DSW Testified on Important Sex Work Bills in RI

April 5, 2022 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...
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DSW Testified on Important Sex Work Bills in RI

CO Quickly Advances the Safe Reporting Assaults Suffered by Sex Workers Act

April 20, 2022 The Safe Reporting Assaults Suffered by Sex Workers Act, HB22-1288, allows sex workers to come forward to report a crime, access medical or emergency services, or both, if they are in need or witness another...
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DSW Report Finds Strong Racial and Gender Biases in Prostitution and Trafficking Enforcement

April 15, 2022 DSW’s new report, “By the Numbers: New York’s Treatment of Sex Workers and Trafficking Survivors,” examined data that had not previously been examined in its totality. Our analysis demonstrates that racial and gender biases...
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Oregon Sex Workers Committee’s Human Rights Commission

April 11, 2022 The Oregon Sex Workers Committee (OSWC) hosted its second Human Rights Commission Hearing. The hearing, held in Eugene, OR, brought together a diverse group of individuals including sex workers, allies, and members of law...
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STI Awareness Month

April 1, 2022 Each April, the American Sexual Health Organization (ASHA) recognizes Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Awareness Month. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognize STI Awareness Week from April 10-16. According to ASHA:...
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Save the Dates

May 1, 2022 Sex Work Survival Guide Summit event link/registration Date: May 1, 2022 Times: 10am-12am EST — recording will be available per perpetuity online Cost: FREE May 2, 2022 Webinar: Pending Legislation on Sex Work Decriminalization...
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Save the Dates

DSW Newsletter Archive

DSW’s Ceyenne Doroshow Is Grand Marshal of NYC Pride

June 27, 2021

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 stations to minimize crowding, but that did not stop the city from showing up with pride in many colors.

DSW’s own Ceyenne Doroshow was named a Grand Marshal of this year’s event, leading the parade that kicked off on 25th Street, processed down 5th Avenue, before making a right into the West Village, past the Stonewall Memorial, and ending just before the Christopher Street Pier. Melissa Broudo, J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly, Rebecca Cleary, and Frances Steele of DSW processed just behind her. Doroshow, a cornerstone figure of the international transgender and sex worker rights movements, was interviewed by Angelica Ross of Pose before commencing the march.

Ceyenne Doroshow is the founder and executive director of Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.) Inc. The Organization works to provide holistic care to LGBTQ sex workers and recently broke ground on the first-ever trans-owned and run housing cooperative for transgender sex workers. In addition, Doroshow is on the board of SWOP Behind Bars, the Caribbean Equality Project, the SOAR Institute, the Sex Workers Project, TGJIP of San Francisco, and the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG). Doroshow was honored to act as Grand Marshal for Pride. In an interview with ABC 7, she said, “I've been doing this work for 30 years, not wanting to be a part of just one thing, but wanting to be a part of the bigger picture … making sure people get what they need. So Pride to me and being a part of this year looks very different. It's kind of a hot and spicy feeling or a sweet and spicy feeling.”

DSW staffers also took part in the Queer Liberation March that occurred later that day. The Reclaim Pride Coalition organized the parade as a protest to the Heritage Pride March two years ago. It began at Bryant Park and processed down 7th Avenue with rainbow flags and signs that included "Liberation and Justice." Later, the celebration continued in and around Greenwich Village.

The week before Pride, Governor Cuomo signed the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) into law in New York State. The GRA recognizes non-binary gender designation on official documentation and eases the process of name changes and birth certificate alterations. J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly and Frances Steele attended the ceremony.

As DSW’s work highlights, LGBTQ justice is intimately connected with sex worker rights, health, and safety, an intersection that organizers and policy-makers have increasingly recognized. This year’s event is a reminder of how far we have come since the Stonewall Uprising inaugurated NYC Pride in 1969. It also recognizes how far we have to go. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two leaders of Stonewall, marched for sex worker rights and the abolition of HIV/AIDS, as well as LGTBQ pride, but sex workers are still criminalized and abused across the country. To address issues of gender equity and diversity and sexual identity justice, we must decriminalize consensual adult sex work as a legitimate form of labor that allows resource access for disenfranchised and marginalized individuals.

DSW’s Ceyenne Doroshow is Grand Marshal of NYC Pride

Ceyenne Doroshow pictured just before the parade commenced on Fifth Avennue (DSW 2021).

DSW’s Frances Steele, J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly, Allison Kolins, Rebecca Cleary, and Melissa Broudo celebrate the conclusion of the Heritage Pride March (DSW 2021)

DSW’s Frances Steele, J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly, Allison Kolins, Rebecca Cleary, and Melissa Broudo celebrate the conclusion of the Heritage Pride March (DSW 2021)

Melissa Broudo of DSW (right) marches with XX and Precious X of Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.) (DSW 2021)

DSW’s Frances Steele, J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly, Allison Kolins, Rebecca Cleary, and Melissa Broudo celebrate the conclusion of the Heritage Pride March (DSW 2021)

DSW and G.L.I.T.S. Inc. staffers carry the G.L.I.T.S. banner through Greenwich Village towards the end of the march (DSW 2021)

DSW and G.L.I.T.S. Inc. staffers carry the G.L.I.T.S. banner through Greenwich Village towards the end of the march (DSW 2021)

DSW Newsletter #27 (June 2021)

Hero of the Month: Elisa Crespo

June 13, 2021 Elisa Crespo is fighting for a world where all people feel “included, safe, seen, and heard.” Right now, she is focusing on the rights and dignity of...
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Hero of the Month: Elisa Crespo

DSW Staff Featured in Documentary on Decriminalization

June 17, 2021 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...
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Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Is Marked With Intersectional Pride Series

June 1, 2021 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,...
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Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Is Marked With Intersectional Pride Series

DSW’s Ceyenne Doroshow Is Grand Marshal of NYC Pride

June 27, 2021 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...
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DSW’s Ceyenne Doroshow Is Grand Marshal of NYC Pride

The Charge of Soliciting Prostitution

In this comprehensive guide to the charge of soliciting prostitution, DSW answers the most frequently asked questions about solicitation and other prostitution laws. Is soliciting prostitution defined differently in every...
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Hero of the Month: Elisa Crespo Hero of the Month: Elisa Crespo
DSW Staff Featured in Documentary on Decriminalization DSW Staff Featured in Documentary on...
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DSW Newsletter Archive

DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

April 28, 2021

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 sex work. DSW’s legal director, Melissa Broudo, moderated the latter panel and DSW’s research and project manager, J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantley appeared as a panelist.

Along with the the other esteemed panelists, Oshiro-Brantly discussed various legal frameworks for sex work. The panelists concurred that, as sex workers, they hope that New York and other US states will adopt full decriminalization. Though each panelist has unique and varied experiences, they all believe that no law should ever be enacted without input from impacted communities. The criminalization of sex work, whether full or partial, puts them and their communities at risk.

For more information on how these models differ and why full decriminalization is the only framework that leads to increased public health and safety and a reduction in exploitation, read our briefing paper Debunking the Entrapment Model, a.k.a. the End Demand Model.

TAKE ACTION! HELP DEFEAT ENTRAPMENT MODEL LEGISLATION.

Please send this letter to your State Representative and help reject the Entrapment Model before it gets a foothold in the United States. With your support, we can fully decriminalize consensual adult sex work across the country and improve the health and safety of our communities.

DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

The Panel.

DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

Courtesy of New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG).

DSW Newsletter #26 (May 2021)

Hero of the Month: Norma Jean Almodovar

May 15, 2021 A relentless activist for justice, truth, marginalized groups, and simple human decency, Norma Jean Almodovar is a force of nature. With incredible courage, grace, and a great...
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NY Senate Passes the START Act

May 24, 2021 The New York State Senate passed the Survivors of Trafficking Attaining Relief Together (START) Act (S.674/‍A.459), which would provide greater protections for survivors of human trafficking by allowing them...
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DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

April 28, 2021 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...
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DSW Staff Share Their Expertise

Remembering Margo St. James

May 1, 2021 DSW was thrilled to sponsor the online international memorial for legendary sex worker rights activist, Margo St. James. In addition to sponsoring the event, DSW’s Melissa Broudo...
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Remembering Margo St. James

Mark Your Calendars

June 1-3, 2021 New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) and many other advocacy partners from across the country are gathering in Tulsa, OK, for Tulsa 100, An Intersectional Pride Series....
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Remembering Margo St. James Remembering Margo St. James
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DSW Newsletter Archive

Mark Your Calendars

April 6, 2021: Equality New York (EQNY), a statewide advocacy organization working to advance equality and justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families, will hold its 2021 Advocacy Day on April 6. DSW’s Legal Director Melissa Broudo, is part of the team organizing the day; DSW’s J. Leigh Oshiro-Brantly and Ceyenne Doroshow, and Broudo herself, will all be featured on panels throughout the event.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.equalityny.org/2021-nys-lgbtqi-virtual-advocacy-day/

SWOP Mayoral Forum

(tentative date) May 20, 2021: SWOP Brooklyn will host a New York City Mayoral Candidate Forum on sex work and police reform. Candidates will answer questions from the community and have the opportunity to outline their plans to hold law enforcement accountable, reform mass incarceration, and improve the health, safety, and human rights of sex workers, trafficking survivors, and our communities at large. The date is subject to change.

Courtesy of Equality New York.

DSW Newsletter #24 (March 2021)

Heroes of the Month: Scientists for Sex Worker Rights

March 3, 2021 Since 2001, sex workers, allies, and advocates have commemorated International Sex Worker Rights Day on March 3 in an effort to raise awareness of the human rights abuses...
Read More
Heroes of the Month: Scientists for Sex Worker Rights

Rhode Island Introduces Legislation Aimed at Protecting Sex Workers

March 8, 2021 DSW is pleased to be working with allies in Rhode Island on four bills critical to the health and safety of sex workers and communities as a...
Read More
Rhode Island Introduces Legislation Aimed at Protecting Sex Workers

Decriminalization News From Oregon and Louisiana

March 3, 2021: New Orleans District 91 State Representative Mandie Landry proposed a new bill decriminalizing prostitution in Louisiana on International Sex Workers’ Rights Day. Landry partnered with local sex worker rights...
Read More
Decriminalization News From Oregon and Louisiana

Mark Your Calendars

April 6, 2021: Equality New York (EQNY), a statewide advocacy organization working to advance equality and justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families, will hold its 2021 Advocacy Day...
Read More
Mark Your Calendars
Heroes of the Month: Scientists for Sex Worker Rights Heroes of the Month: Scientists for...
Rhode Island Introduces Legislation Aimed at Protecting Sex Workers Rhode Island Introduces Legislation Aimed at...
Decriminalization News From Oregon and Louisiana Decriminalization News From Oregon and Louisiana
Mark Your Calendars Mark Your Calendars

DSW Newsletter Archive

Mark Your Calendars for December 17

December 17, 2020 – International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

We’ve gathered a small sampling of the events taking place around the world to mark the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Each year on December 17, sex workers, advocates, and allies call attention to the violence committed against sex workers and the critical need to remove the social stigma, discrimination, and criminalization that perpetuate this violence. We hope you’ll join a gathering to show your commitment to improving health and safety, and ending violence in all forms against sex workers.

SWOP Behind Bars posted: “Join us for a community hosted event from 9 am to midnight [EST] on Thursday, December 17. Drop-in anytime using the zoom link. Names will be read at the beginning of each hour. We have an amazing group of hosts and we can’t wait to see you there!” Join the Zoom meeting here.

♦ Join the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) and DSW for a community conversation with an incredible panel of sex-worker-rights advocates: Ceyenne Doroshow of Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.), J. Leigh Brantly of NYTAG and DSW, Black queer transmasculine advocate Mataoe Aiden James Nevils, and moderator Frances Steele of DSW. The discussion will take place on December 17 from 4 to 5 pm EST via Zoom. Register for the panel and other upcoming NYTAG events here.

SWOP Brooklyn says: “Join us for a Night of Remembrance and a virtual celebration as we launch our Patreon!” All proceeds from the event will fund their weekly street outreach program and mutual aid fund. Tickets available here.

Black Sex Workers of Colorado posted: “We would like to remind CO SWs and allies to save the date for the evening of Thursday, Dec 17th for our virtual IDEVASW event! Final time and performers [TBD]. This event will be donation based for allies and there will be no donation required for SWs. To reserve your spot, SWs please email [email protected] and allies please email us your proof of donation via: Cashapp $rmswc303, gofundme.com/f/b62ay-rmswc-outreach-expansion, or by contributing items through the street outreach wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/612VJ9819JJR/?ref_=lol_ov_le.” Follow blacksexworkersco on Instagram for more information.

(Photo: NYTAG)

DSW Newsletter #21 (December 2020)

Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden James Nevils

December 8, 2020 Seeking medical care can be scary and stressful for anyone. Now imagine that you know you need medical attention but also know that you’ll confront stigma and...
Read More
Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden James Nevils

The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later

November 24, 2020 The conflation of consensual adult sex work and human trafficking remains a harmful paradigm that continues to be promoted by a number of organizations and individuals, especially...
Read More
The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later

Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit

November 19, 2020 The New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) hosted a Transgender Day of Remembrance Virtual Summit on November 19 and 20. In addition to providing a space to...
Read More
Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit

G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind

November 18, 2020 G.L.I.T.S. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society) unveiled their brand new housing complex — the first housing program run by transgender individuals for transgender individuals in...
Read More
G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind

NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban

December 10, 2020 In a historic vote, the NYC Council unanimously voted to repeal Resolution 0923: Loitering for the Purpose of Engaging in Prostitution (LPP), commonly known as the “Walking...
Read More
NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban

Mark Your Calendars for December 17

December 17, 2020 – International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers We’ve gathered a small sampling of the events taking place around the world to mark the International Day...
Read More
Mark Your Calendars for December 17
Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden James Nevils Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden...
The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later
Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit
G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of...
NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’...
Mark Your Calendars for December 17 Mark Your Calendars for December 17

DSW Newsletter Archive

Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit

November 19, 2020

The New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) hosted a Transgender Day of Remembrance Virtual Summit on November 19 and 20. In addition to providing a space to remember those whose lives were lost, the summit was filled with informational, powerful, and inspirational panels and presentations, such as the transmasculine panel "What's the T: Transmen Talk Trauma, Sex Work, and Tina" and a presentation on "Environmental Justice: Advocating for Our Environment in a Post COVID-19 World.”

Many notable individuals were in attendance, including Sen. Brad Hoylman, co-sponsor of the bill to repeal the “Walking While Trans” ban (SB 2253/AB 654). Activist and civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo presented and Samuel Nemir Olivares, a progressive activist running for State Committee, also joined the event. Jumaane Williams, the public advocate of NYC, also spoke.

Ceyenne Doroshow, founder and executive director of G.L.I.T.S. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society) and DSW consultant, was one of the 2020 recipients of the Marsha P. Johnson Community Leader Award. Upon acceptance, Doroshow exclaimed, “I value you. I value your push. I value your stamina. … You are all capable of building the utopia you want.”

The New York State Division of Human Rights provided a Know Your Rights presentation to attendees. (Photo: DSW)

Ceyenne Doroshow was one of the 2020 recipients of the Marsha P. Johnson Community Leader Award. (Photo: DSW)

DSW Newsletter #21 (December 2020)

Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden James Nevils

December 8, 2020 Seeking medical care can be scary and stressful for anyone. Now imagine that you know you need medical attention but also know that you’ll confront stigma and...
Read More
Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden James Nevils

The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later

November 24, 2020 The conflation of consensual adult sex work and human trafficking remains a harmful paradigm that continues to be promoted by a number of organizations and individuals, especially...
Read More
The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later

Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit

November 19, 2020 The New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) hosted a Transgender Day of Remembrance Virtual Summit on November 19 and 20. In addition to providing a space to...
Read More
Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit

G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind

November 18, 2020 G.L.I.T.S. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society) unveiled their brand new housing complex — the first housing program run by transgender individuals for transgender individuals in...
Read More
G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind

NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban

December 10, 2020 In a historic vote, the NYC Council unanimously voted to repeal Resolution 0923: Loitering for the Purpose of Engaging in Prostitution (LPP), commonly known as the “Walking...
Read More
NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban

Mark Your Calendars for December 17

December 17, 2020 – International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers We’ve gathered a small sampling of the events taking place around the world to mark the International Day...
Read More
Mark Your Calendars for December 17
Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden James Nevils Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden...
The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later
Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit
G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of...
NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’...
Mark Your Calendars for December 17 Mark Your Calendars for December 17

DSW Newsletter Archive

G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind

November 18, 2020

G.L.I.T.S. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society) unveiled their brand new housing complex — the first housing program run by transgender individuals for transgender individuals in NYC. The building has 11 apartments and is located in the Woodhaven neighborhood of Queens. Ceyenne Doroshow, founder and executive director of G.L.I.T.S., plans to have each apartment lovingly decorated by a designer. The basement will hold an educational and learning center.

“Thirty years of a dream, of doing something like this,” Doroshow said at the opening ceremony. “But not just doing it; putting us in an area, in a location where we don't have to run.”

G.L.I.T.S. addresses the stigmatization and criminalization of trans people due to laws prohibiting sex work. Doroshow is a prominent leader in the Black Trans Lives Matter movement and has been featured in national news outlets such as Vogue, GQ, and The Wall Street Journal.

Ceyenne Doroshow and DSW’s Melissa Sontag Broudo celebrate the opening of the housing complex. (Photo: Melissa Sontag Broudo)

Ceyenne Doroshow’s dream becomes reality. (Photo: CNN)

DSW Newsletter #21 (December 2020)

Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden James Nevils

December 8, 2020 Seeking medical care can be scary and stressful for anyone. Now imagine that you know you need medical attention but also know that you’ll confront stigma and...
Read More
Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden James Nevils

The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later

November 24, 2020 The conflation of consensual adult sex work and human trafficking remains a harmful paradigm that continues to be promoted by a number of organizations and individuals, especially...
Read More
The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later

Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit

November 19, 2020 The New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) hosted a Transgender Day of Remembrance Virtual Summit on November 19 and 20. In addition to providing a space to...
Read More
Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit

G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind

November 18, 2020 G.L.I.T.S. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society) unveiled their brand new housing complex — the first housing program run by transgender individuals for transgender individuals in...
Read More
G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind

NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban

December 10, 2020 In a historic vote, the NYC Council unanimously voted to repeal Resolution 0923: Loitering for the Purpose of Engaging in Prostitution (LPP), commonly known as the “Walking...
Read More
NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban

Mark Your Calendars for December 17

December 17, 2020 – International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers We’ve gathered a small sampling of the events taking place around the world to mark the International Day...
Read More
Mark Your Calendars for December 17
Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden James Nevils Hero of the Month: Mataoe Aiden...
The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later The Palermo Protocol: 20 Years Later
Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit Transgender Day of Remembrance Summit
G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of its Kind G.L.I.T.S. Opens First Housing Complex of...
NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban NYC Council Repeals ‘Walking While Trans’...
Mark Your Calendars for December 17 Mark Your Calendars for December 17

DSW Newsletter Archive