Gavin Newsom (D), prevent police from attempting to use loitering as evidence of a person’s intent to engage in sex work. But proponents of the bill, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Equality California, and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking say that the bill does not decriminalize soliciting or engaging in sex work. “Arresting people because they ‘look like’ sex workers is discriminatory and wrong, and it endangers sex workers and trans people of color,” he said in a statement. But supporters argue that criminal penalties for sex work — including loitering laws — only serve to intimidate victims from coming forward, lest they be arrested or thrown in prison. “Arresting sex workers doesn’t make them safer, doesn’t make our communities safer, and doesn’t prevent sex work.

Source: MetroXpress September 17, 2021 16:30 UTC