Boston sex workers and advocates are speaking out about a local brothel ring case that has garnered public attention. The Boston Sex Workers and Allies Collective (BSWAC) is urging lawmakers to consider legislation that would remove penalties for the buying and selling of sex. They believe that public attention on the brothel case may lead to poorly formed bills that increase penalties on people who purchase sex.
The group opposes the public naming of brothel clients, arguing that it does not reduce trafficking and can actually make clients less likely to report cases of exploitation or trafficking. They are advocating for bills that would protect sex workers and those being trafficked, such as a bill sponsored by Rep. Natalie Higgins that would provide immunity for reporting crimes related to selling sex.
BSWAC is also pushing for legislation to create a committee to study decriminalizing sex work and to repeal laws that criminalize soliciting for a prostitute and being a common night walker. The group is emphasizing the distinction between consensual sex work and trafficking, calling for public testimony from the women involved in the brothel case to determine if they were working under exploitative conditions.
Prosecutors in the case have considered the women working in the brothels as victims and have not charged them. Advocates are concerned about the treatment of these women and the potential harm caused by requesting their testimony. Overall, the push from BSWAC highlights the complexities surrounding the legal status and social stigma of sex work in the Greater Boston area.
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