DSW Staff Testify in Rhode Island

Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) staff members traveled to Providence to testify in support of H. 8057, a bill that would decriminalize consensual adult sex work. Legal Director Melissa Broudo, Staff Attorney Becca Cleary, and Chief Advocacy Coordinator Henri Bynx appeared before the House Judiciary Committee, continuing DSW’s sustained advocacy in the state.

They were joined by members of the Boston Sex Workers and Allies Collective (BSWAC) and the Erotic Laborers Alliance of New England (ELA-ONE), who also testified in support of the bill, underscoring the broad, regional coalition pushing for reform.

For these advocates, the hearing was a return to familiar ground. Having testified before the committee multiple times over the years, Broudo, Cleary, and Bynx are well known to lawmakers and staff alike. Their repeated presence reflects both the persistence of the movement and the ongoing need to educate policymakers about the harms of criminalization. Over time, that persistence has helped build meaningful momentum for decriminalization, as lawmakers become more familiar with the issue and the people directly impacted by it.

In their testimony, DSW staff emphasized that criminal penalties for consensual adult sex work create barriers to safety, justice, and health. They highlighted how criminalization discourages individuals from reporting violence, limits access to essential services, and perpetuates stigma that isolates already vulnerable communities. Drawing on legal expertise and direct experience, the team urged lawmakers to move beyond punitive frameworks and instead adopt policies that respect autonomy and prioritize harm reduction.

The hearing marked another step in Rhode Island’s ongoing conversation about sex work policy. With each appearance before the committee, DSW continues to build relationships and offer critical insight, helping to shape policies that improve health and safety for sex workers while advancing their rights.