On March 29th, 2012 a judge ruled that continuing to require people convicted for solicitation of prostitution under the “Crimes Against Nature Statute” to register as sex offenders violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. This decision follows the abolishment of the Crimes Against Nature Statute (CANS) and frees approximately 500 people previously convicted under the statute from this discriminatory and disparate punishment. More information is available at Women With A Vision’s website and the Center for Constitutional Rights case page. Special thanks to Streetwise and Safe for bringing this information to our attention.
Tag: Human Rights
The following information is submitted by the Best Practices Policy Project (BPPP) and the Desiree Alliance. Both organizations were founded in 2005 to be part of a re-emerging movement for sex worker rights in the United States. Both groups prioritize sex worker leadership in issues of concern to them and strive to ensure social justice through anti-oppression/anti-racism work. The Desiree Alliance has worked since its inception to speak to the concerns of the wide range of people— including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities—who engage in sexual commerce (such as street sex work, escort work, informal sexual negotiations for basic income). The Best Practices Policy Project is dedicated to building excellence amongst organizations working with sex workers and related communities of people also affected by anti-prostitution policies (such as transgender people, youth, low income people of color and immigrants) so that collectively we can build a society in which these communities can enjoy their health and rights.
April 21, 2011, Amy Lieberman of Womens ENews described public art actions in New York City which raised awareness about Recommendation 86. Lieberman describes how advocates are “pushing for safer conditions on the ground that will make it easier to detect people who are coerced into transactional sex.” The full article includes a photo of advocates from SWOP-NYC and quotes from key service providers in the area.
