First I’m going to tell you about an important action New Yorkers should take to help pass a bill that will prevent condoms from being used as evidence of prostitution. Then I’m going to unpack why some if the writing about this issue has been problematic and has painted it with too-broad strokes.

1.Via the Sex Workers Project:

 

Two important things have happened that make this a good time to voice your support for the bill.

• Senator Montgomery, the lead sponsor, has asked that the Codes Committee vote on the bill by mid April.
• Council Member Jessica Lappin has introduced a New York City Council resolution in support of the bill.

Here are two quick and easy actions you can take that will really make a difference:

• New York City residents, please call your Council Member and ask them to sign onto Resolution 0710-2011. Find your Council Member here, and call their Legislative Office.
•  New York State residents, please call your Senator and ask them to co-sponsor and support Bill S323. Find your Senator here, and call their Albany Office.

 For more info about what to say to your representatives, click here.

2. There have been a number of articles published over the past year about the fact that in many places in the US, condoms are seized and used in loitering stops as evidence of prostitution. For an example of the way this meme played out, read this piece on the condoms-as-evidence issue in DC. It’s outrageous that condoms are being distributed by harm reduction agencies as well as state-run clinics & programs and then are snatched up by the police and used as evidence against the people they are supposed to be protecting.

But the problem with some of the pieces written about the issue is that everyone doesn’t have an equal chance of being subjected to this act of policing. This could not happen to “you,” the Average Citizen (implied: white, cis, middle class, on your way to a hot date). Policies like this one exist solely to uphold the ability of police to harass people of color, poor people, and often trans women who are profiled as being sex workers or nabbed for “walking while trans.”

From an advocacy standpoint, it’s important to make asks that are relatable - as in, wow! this could affect me or people I care about. But from a truth standpoint, it’s necessary to stress that laws like this affect some populations more/in different ways than others.  Bill A1008/S323 needs to be passed because it is a step toward justice, because in our current society, all are not equal before the law. And those of us with privilege need to step up and make those calls when we see the value in the better society this advocacy can create, not just when its a thing that could make our own lives better.