Decriminalize Sex Work Staff Testify at Massachusetts State House

Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) staff testified before a joint hearing of the Judiciary Committee at the Massachusetts State House, urging lawmakers to advance policies that prioritize safety, health, and human rights for sex workers across the Commonwealth. DSW staff were joined by a number of other advocates from Massachusetts and around New England including members of the Boston Sex Workers and Allies Collective (BSWAC).

During the hearing, advocates spoke in strong support of House Bill 1980, legislation that would decriminalize consensual adult sex work in Massachusetts. Testimony emphasized that criminalization forces sex workers into dangerous conditions, increases vulnerability to violence, and discourages people from seeking medical care, legal protection, or support services. Decriminalization, speakers argued, is a proven harm-reduction approach that allows sex workers to work more safely while enabling law enforcement to focus on coercion, trafficking, and abuse.

At the same time, DSW staff testified in opposition to House Bill 1683, which proposes “End Demand” legislation. Often framed as targeting buyers rather than sellers, End Demand models still criminalize sex work in practice, staff explained, by pushing the industry further underground. This approach has been shown to increase risks for sex workers, strain relationships with law enforcement, and fail to meaningfully reduce exploitation.

DSW’s appearance at the November 25 hearing underscored a growing movement in Massachusetts to rethink outdated laws and adopt evidence-based solutions rooted in dignity, safety, and autonomy. As the legislature continues to consider these bills, DSW remains committed to advocating for full decriminalization and to ensuring that sex workers’ voices are heard loud and clear on Beacon Hill.