Decriminalizing Sex Work - An Overview of Successes and a Plan Forward

East Tower 

The focus of this paper is to review the current state of prostitution laws in the United States and an overview of recent efforts to decriminalize prostitution. Recent wins will be discussed as well as opportunities for future successes in various states.
The author is a legal advocate and clinical social worker with over 24 years in the field. She is a cofounder of Decriminalize Sex Work, the nation's leading (and only) national policy organization focused on reforming laws related to the sex industry from a sex worker's rights perspective. Major obstacles to the movement will be discussed as well as efforts to work with policy advocates across the spectrum who share values, such as human rights, women's rights, LGBTQ+ movements, labor movements, and human trafficking advocates, to name a few. The recent change in Maine's law making in the first "end demand" state in the United States will be discussed.
The paper will appeal to attendees who are interested in learning about sweeping national policy change for stigmatized populations. Those who are interested in general in policy movements built on a pragmatism of winning will also find value. Specific tools and strategies will be discussed.