The Issue: In New York, as in other places, condoms are often confiscated by police and then used as evidence of intent to engage in prostitution. This spring, people in the sex industry and our allies are putting pressure on elected officials in Albany to demand that they pass Bill S1289/A1008, which would stop police from using condoms as evidence of prostitution.

The Red Umbrella Project is offering a free, full day legislative advocacy training on Sunday, April 15 at the Urban Justice Center (123 William Street, 16th floor.) in NYC to prepare for our Albany lobby day on Tuesday, April 17. Learn from a veteran staffer of the state legislature how bills become law, how to monitor bills as they make their way through the process, and how to talk to your elected representatives about your concerns. We will be joined by NY State Assemblymember Richard Gottfried for an hour during the training. The training is from 10 am to 4 pm, and lunch, snacks, and beverages will be provided. 

To RSVP or ask questions, email audaciaray@redumbrellaproject.org. We have limited capacity for both the training and the free lobby day bus, so please RSVP early. We highly encourage you to attend both the training and the lobby day, however, it’s not required to do both. Please indicate in your RSVP if you plan on attending both or just one.

Also, if you would like to distribute postcards to promote this training in your community, let me know and I can get some to you.