DSW Attends National Conference of State Legislatures in Boston

This August, members of the Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) team traveled to Boston, MA, to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit, one of the largest annual gatherings of lawmakers, policy experts, and advocates from across the country.

The summit provided a valuable opportunity for DSW to connect directly with legislators, share evidence-based research, and advance conversations around the urgent need for the decriminalization of consensual adult sex work and related policy reforms. As more states begin to examine the public safety and public health impacts of criminalizing consensual adult sex work, DSW’s presence at NCSL was more important than ever.

DSW also organized a well-attended social event during the summit, bringing together legislators, policy advocates, and allies for an evening of networking and meaningful conversation. The event created space for open dialogue about harm reduction, legal reform, and survivor-centered approaches to policymaking. Many attendees expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage in honest conversations about criminal justice reform outside of the formal conference setting.

Throughout the conference, DSW staff engaged with elected officials from both sides of the aisle, participated in key policy discussions, and distributed educational materials about model legislation and the lived experiences of sex workers and trafficking survivors.

“This conference is an essential space for building relationships and ensuring lawmakers hear directly from those most affected by outdated and harmful laws,” said DSW Chief Advocacy Coordinator Henri Bynx. “We’re proud to bring a human rights and public health lens to these national policy conversations.”

With legislators from all 50 states in attendance, DSW’s presence helped amplify the voices of sex workers and survivors, while encouraging more informed, compassionate, and effective policymaking.