Sex Work Would Be Broadly Legal in New York Under New Bill Introduced Monday

[Teh One Who Knocks]

NBC 4 New York




Sex work would be broadly legalized in New York state under a first-of-its-kind bill introduced by state legislators on Monday.

A group of lawmakers first called for legislation in February, but on Monday they finally came forward with a 13-page bill that would bring dramatic changes to the sex trade in the state.

The bill, written with advocacy group DecrimNY, would make it legal to both buy and sell sex under certain circumstances and modifies laws around facilities that are used as places of prostitution.

"For us, this is a bodily autonomy issue — our bodies, our choice — but more than that, it’s an economic issue. And it’s personal," Jessica Raven, one of Decrim NY's organizers, wrote in a Daily News op-ed Monday.

Two of the bill's sponsors, state senators Jessica Ramos and Julia Salazar, have said that 9 out of 10 people arrested in sex-work-related massage parlor raids are immigrants, with most being undocumented Asians.

LGBTQ youth, who often run away from home seeking acceptance, trade sex at 7 to 8 times the rate of other youth in New York City, Ramos and Salazar say.

A companion bill was also introduced in the Assembly on Monday, with five sponsors.

Nevada is right now the only U.S. state where prostitution is legal in some counties.

[DemonGeminiX]

They're just trying to keep people from leaving NY.

Either that, or they're looking for more tax revenue.

[fricnjay]

I think AOC is setting up her new career after she doesn't get re-elected.

[lost in melb.]

Now I can pick up a broad outside Broadway

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Should be legal anyway

[RBP]

Does the due diligence include cost data? I'm curious what happens to price when it's legalized.

[Hal-9000]

They're just trying to keep people from leaving NY.

Either that, or they're looking for more tax revenue.

That was my first thought. Government wants a piece of that action..

[Teh One Who Knocks]

That was my first thought. Government wants a piece of that action..

[Hal-9000]

Best part of that clip is from 1:16 when Jim is driving a car for the first time

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Best part of that clip is from 1:16 when Jim is driving a car for the first time

I like that episode a lot, it's pretty funny.

[Muddy]

Should be legal anyway

That was my first thought. Government wants a piece of that action..

Exactly. 2 consenting adults.. Whats the problem?

[RBP]

Exactly. 2 consenting adults.. Whats the problem?

Too much risk for abuse and negative societal impact unless highly and strictly regulated. "Two consenting adults" is far too oversimplified.

[Muddy]

Too much risk for abuse and negative societal impact unless highly and strictly regulated. "Two consenting adults" is far too oversimplified.

I can appreciate that.. But my point that if two consentors decide this is their choice, then there needs to be an avenue available.. I'm all about personal freedoms, baby..!

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Too much risk for abuse and negative societal impact unless highly and strictly regulated. "Two consenting adults" is far too oversimplified.

Its happening anyway, they are just making both sides criminals