Resources


A small sample of the support for Rhode Island’s decriminalization, both local and across the world. This issue spans the political spectrum; we have supporters from the far-left, the far-right, and everywhere in between.

· A Letter from 50 educators around the world, urging Rhode Island to not enact a harmful law

· Ph.D. Elizabeth Wood thinks we all need to calm down, approach this rationally

· Ph.D. Ronald Weitzer debunks common myths about indoor prostitution, it's -not- the same as streetwalking sex work. (Note the comments)

· Why are 'outsiders' interested? Because Rhode Island has the right idea, according to sound science

· The Rhode Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking takes 'no position' on the prostitution bill, Brown University Students Against Human Trafficking outright opposes it

· Executive Summary of the 'Kicking the Door Down' report, in which trafficking victims advocate for "anything that doesn't involve police" to investigate trafficking

· Article from Brian Hull's blog. Possibly the most in-depth and rational discussion of the issue available online

· The website for 'Happy Endings?', a local documentary about Asian Massage Parlors

· A letter from the Rhode Island Republican website to Providence City Council that highlights some very 'common sense' thoughts on the issue

· Another RIRepublican article highlighting the fallacy of the 'Prostitution = Trafficking' idea

· Links to several other RIRepublican articles supporting decriminalization

· Link to a ProJo article where the ACLU, and various other groups oppose the changes in the proposed law. Note the overwhelming comments supporting our position.

· RIFuture article "Criminalizing Prostitution Will Be Very Bad for RI"

· Craigslist killer foiled because Rhode Island sex workers call the police

· A local research piece showing ineffectiveness of criminalization

· Editorial on the Brown Daily Herald

· A petition by several organizations to block 5044A

· The sex workers themselves testify at the Senate Judiciary

· Reproductive Heath Reality Check article

· San Francisco Sex Worker Fest links to articles

· Providence Daily Dose criticism of Donna Hughes' Carnival of Prostitution editorial. Read the comments for input from actual sex workers

· Melissa Ditmore, Ph.D. congratulates the Obama administration for realizing that Trafficking isn't a problem of prostitution, it's present in many labor markets

· The Best Practices Policy Project opposes legislation that indiscriminately victimizes all sex workers

· An excellent piece in 'Carnal Nation' about Craigslist, murders, and why we aren't outlawing babysitting

· Civil Rights Attorney Andrea Ritchie rails against proposed anti-prostitution laws in Rhode Island, "the Wrong Solution to the Wrong Problem"

· Kmareka, a local women’s issues blog thinks we should 'wipe out prostitution', but not through criminalization