Tell Congress to pass the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act!
Target: United States Congress
Trump-era legislation that was supposedly intended to stop sex trafficking — but instead actually got sex workers killed — is still endangering people today. The Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) were designed to make website owners and online platforms liable in events of online sex trafficking, in part by amending Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA). In fact, the legislation forced sex workers off of the platforms that fund their very survival. Following the passage of FOSTA-SESTA, an already vulnerable community (particularly trans and queer people of color) experienced heightened rates of suicide, self harm, and assault. This is what happens when our elected officials write legislation without the input of the communities actually affected — people suffer, and some die.
The SAFE SEX Workers Study Act would compel Congress to finally address the issues made by SESTA/FOSTA through studying its effects. While it’s a small start that doesn’t solve the immediate problems sex workers face, it’s a first step in ensuring that sex workers have input on legislation that effects them — hopefully kick starting an end to all of the invasive and discriminatory policies that have become more popular amongst online platforms in recent years. Sex work is work, full stop. Every independent worker deserves access to financial services, personal safety, and healthcare.
Add your name to demand Congress pass the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act!
Lexi, a professional Florida escort, told HuffPost in 2018 that because of FOSTA-SESTA, sex workers can’t screen clients like they used to, adding, “this bill is killing us.”
The fight to decriminalize and protect sex workers is not a standalone issue. It runs parallel alongside other longstanding battles, including those for LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and racial justice. To make the most informed decisions for these groups, we MUST demand our legislators work with marginalized communities to enact policies that actually reduce harm. The ongoing harm caused by SESTA/FOSTA must be officially investigated as soon as possible. Informed legislation — with meaningful input from those directly affected — is the only way forward.
Sign your name to call for Congress to pass the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act and protect our most marginalized communities!