An effort in Massachusetts to decriminalize in-person sex work made some progress this week, according to 22News reporter Ellen Flemming.
Bill H.1867, which was introduced by Representative Lindsey Sabadosa, was heard this week at a meeting on various criminal justice efforts currently underway in the state. The hearing gave Sabadosa an opportunity to advocate for her bill, which she has been working to move forward for the past several years.
Sabadosa explained that her legislation is modeled after existing sex work laws in New Zealand, which she argues have a history of protecting vulnerable women.
“In New Zealand, we found with full decriminalization, what you have is people who are more willing to report if they’re the victims of crimes, because they’re not worried about being arrested or incarceration,” Sabadosa explained, a claim that all sex workers know is absolutely correct.
She also argued that full decriminalization would have a positive impact on the health of everyone who participates in sex work, including both sex workers themselves and their customers.
“You have people who are more willing to go to doctors and get treatment, you have fewer STI’s and STD’s transmitted and you just have better overall public health of people who engage in these activities,” Sabadosa continued.
If her bill is eventually passed, it would have a drastic positive impact on both sex workers and their customers, since neither group would be subjected to any criminal charges going forward. The law would also expunge many past criminal records related to prostitution charges, as well as marijuana-related convictions.
Sabadosa was first elected to the Massachusetts State House of Representatives in 2018, making her the first woman to represent the First Hampshire District. Her efforts to decriminalize sex work stand in stark contrast to country-wide Republican efforts that target trans Americans, their families, LGBTQ+ library books, doctors who provide gender-affirming care, and all adult content online.
