New York on Monday introduced a bill to decriminalise sex work. The first of its kind proposed legislation in the country brought in by Democratic lawmakers makes it legal to engage in consensual sex for money. While a group of lawmakers had first called for legislation in February, on Monday they put forward a 13-page bill demanding change in the state of sex workers in New York. The Stop Violence in the Sex Trade Acts is a set of bills which aims to amend the current laws of the state to decriminalise sex work while upholding existing anti-trafficking laws. Ban on Guided Amsterdam Red-Light District Tours Upsets Prostitutes; Sex-Workers Say Such Experiences Teach Men to Respect Women.

The bill, written with advocacy group DecrimNY,  a coalition of more than 30 organizations that work for LGBTQ, racial justice and immigrant rights, makes it legal to both buy and sell sex under circumstances. It also modifies laws around facilities which are used as places of prostitution. Sex Workers & Escorts Listed As Skilled Workers in New Zealand Visa Application Form for Immigrants.

Two of the bill's sponsors, state senators Jessica Ramos and Julia Salazar said that 9 out of 10 people arrested in sex-work-related raids are immigrants. In most cases, they have been Asians without documentation. Ramos in the release said, "We will finally make strides against trafficking by empowering sex workers to report violence against them. Sex work is work and everyone has an inherent right to a safe workplace." Commenting on the bill, Salazar said, "Sex work is work and should not be criminalized by the state."

Cecilia Gentili, a former sex worker and advocate for the bill during the unveiling of the bill said, "Criminalization kills our community. And criminalizing buyers hurts us, too. How are you going to help me by cutting my income?" Ramos and Salazar say that youth who identify themselves as members of LGBTQ community trade sex at seven to eight times the rate of other youth in New York City. Nevada is currently the only state in the United States where prostitution is legal. Sex Worker Who Slept With More Than 1200 People Shares Some of Her Weirdest Experiences.

According to Decrim NY, data collected by a national poll conducted in collaboration with Data for Progress in May found 56 percent of respondents support decriminalizing sex work while 17 percent oppose it. According to the poll, the remaining 27 percent remained neutral on the topic. Meanwhile, advocates highlighted how the current state laws affect the women of colour and members of the trans community

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 11, 2019 09:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).