DC to decriminalize sexwork

[GeneKlein]

I'm surprised I didn't see a thread about this already. I know it's wishful thinking but this would be some great news if they manage to get it passed.

 

As drafted, the Reducing Criminalization to Promote Public Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2017 gets rid of all criminal penalties for "pandering or inducing an individual to engage in prostitution" for consenting adults. It does not create any red light districts or way of regulating sex work, and coercing people against their will to engage in sex work remains illegal.

 

http://dcist.com/2017/10/new_bill_would_decriminalize_sex_wo.php

[+ José Soplanucas]

I won't need to move to Vegas!

[Guy Fawkes]

You'd have to move to Nye. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nye_County,_Nevada

[+ ArVaGuy]

I'm surprised I didn't see a thread about this already. I know it's wishful thinking but this would be some great news if they manage to get it passed.

 

As drafted, the Reducing Criminalization to Promote Public Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2017 gets rid of all criminal penalties for "pandering or inducing an individual to engage in prostitution" for consenting adults. It does not create any red light districts or way of regulating sex work, and coercing people against their will to engage in sex work remains illegal.

 

http://dcist.com/2017/10/new_bill_would_decriminalize_sex_wo.php

 

I will have to look into this. The devil might be in the details. Many governments have "decriminalized" sex work but then made hiring a sex worker criminal offense.

[GeneKlein]

I will have to look into this. The devil might be in the details. Many governments have "decriminalized" sex work but then made hiring a sex worker criminal offense.

 

The article goes into a bit more but it seems they plan on making it legal for consenting adults as a way to enable people involved in sex trafficking to report it to the police without fear of arrest.

[+ quoththeraven]

I will have to look into this. The devil might be in the details. Many governments have "decriminalized" sex work but then made hiring a sex worker criminal offense.

The bill decriminalizes buying as well as selling sex, differing it from the "Nordic Model" implemented countries like Sweden, which increases the punishment for johns. "If you still criminalize the person requesting or paying for it, you still drive it underground," says Grosso. "It doesn't create more opportunities for people to get the kind of services that they need."

 

(A quote from the article.)

[+ quoththeraven]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

[GeneKlein]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

 

No problem! I was excited to hear about it from a friend and just had to share. Fingers crossed it passes.

[BasketBaller]

Bear in mind that Congress has oversight of DC. The city council can pass legislation, the mayor can sign it, and Congress can nix it. So while this is encouraging it's far from a done deal.

[Mocha]

It does not create any red light districts or way of regulating sex work, and coercing people against their will to engage in sex work remains illegal

 

Does this just include D.C., or does it extend to other areas? I've been behind on my programs, but is it being discussed on CNN, HLN, etc. yet?

[GeneKlein]

Does this just include D.C., or does it extend to other areas?

 

Just DC, it seems but the article does mention it would be an ongoing project that would gradually change as they assessed it. Whether that could mean an expansion into the surrounding dmv area, who knows? Only time will tell if this passes.

[+ sniper]

There's no way this Congress lets this one go. It's not happening.

[+ ArVaGuy]

Bear in mind that Congress has oversight of DC. The city council can pass legislation, the mayor can sign it, and Congress can nix it. So while this is encouraging it's far from a done deal.

 

True. I believe the Congressional review option is around six weeks. Congress has exercised this prerogative a few times. I think these involved Marion Barry and related to budget issues.

[Mocha]

Just DC, it seems but the article does mention it would be an ongoing project that would gradually change as they assessed it. Whether that could mean an expansion into the surrounding dmv area, who knows? Only time will tell if this passes.

 

We'll have to see...hopefully

[+ pitman]

There's no way this Congress lets this one go. It's not happening.

I tend to agree. Since this Congress has accomplished exactly nothing, overturning this is an easy way to pander to their base and pretend they are doing something constructive.

[+ sniper]

"Congress Unites to Fight Human Trafficking in the Capitol!" - they would LOVE DC to pass this bill so they can kill it. You can't buy that PR. Unless they did.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Or perhaps, the city counsel can sneak the bill amongst a bunch of other routine papers and let the deadline passed, as they did with weed.

http://ilikepinga.com/2017/09/15/marihuana-dc/

[+ Avalon]

Statehood might be the answer. I've wondered why in the past when the Dems controlled the Oval and Congress they didn't make it so.

 

Or is DC like Puerto Rico where the residents don't pay federal income tax?

[+ José Soplanucas]

Statehood might be the answer. I've wondered why in the past when the Dems controlled the Oval and Congress they didn't make it so.

 

Or is DC like Puerto Rico where the residents don't pay federal income tax?

 

No, sir. We do pay income tax. Taxation without representation.

http://www.plateshack.com/y2k/DC/dc2011duseries.jpg

[+ Avalon]

No, sir. We do pay income tax. Taxation without representation.

http://www.plateshack.com/y2k/DC/dc2011duseries.jpg

 

At one time DC was 10 miles square but the part on the Virginia side was returned to that state. Maybe the rest of DC should be returned to Maryland?

[+ José Soplanucas]

At one time DC was 10 miles square but the part on the Virginia side was returned to that state. Maybe the rest of DC should be returned to Maryland?

 

If the inhabitants of the District should be heard, we want statehood.

[LaffingBear]

Bear in mind that Congress has oversight of DC. The city council can pass legislation, the mayor can sign it, and Congress can nix it. So while this is encouraging it's far from a done deal.

Well, I got beaten to that reply!

 

So.... +1

[+ quoththeraven]

No, sir. We do pay income tax. Taxation without representation.

http://www.plateshack.com/y2k/DC/dc2011duseries.jpg

Is that also true of Puerto Rico? (I suspect it is but haven't checked it out.)

 

More colonialism...

[+ José Soplanucas]

Is that also true of Puerto Rico? (I suspect it is but haven't checked it out.)

 

More colonialism...

 

I have no idea about Puerto Rico. I was responding to @Avalon , who seems to know residents of Puerto Rico do not pay federal income taxes. But I do not know.

[+ Avalon]

I have no idea about Puerto Rico. I was responding to @Avalon , who seems to know residents of Puerto Rico do not pay federal income taxes. But I do not know.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Puerto_Rico

 

<<The Commonwealth government has its own tax laws and Puerto Ricans are also required to pay most US federal taxes, with the major exception being that most residents do not have to pay the federal personal income tax>>