SF Officials Pushing To Legalize Sex Work

What’s the story?

• San Francisco City Supervisor Hillary Ronen is pushing to legalize sex work, backing a plan proposed by sex workers and residents to designate a red-light district in the city. Ronen plans to make an official request to state lawmakers to decriminalize sex work after she introduced the resolution to the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors.
• The announcement follows a reported rise of sex work in the Mission District, which has angered residents and led city police to set up roadblocks on Capp Street to divert sex worker traffic. 
• Ronen said: 

“What’s happening right now on Capp Street is it’s become more brazen, and bigger than we’ve ever seen it before. Instead of repeating the same cycle that we’ve repeated for decades, it’s time to try something new. Figuring out where a red light district would be and getting the authorization of the city attorney will not be easy.”

The state of sex work in San Francisco

• While sex work is illegal throughout California, San Francisco residents have reported an increase in street-based sex work in parts of the city.
• In June 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom repealed a law that targeted sex workers, ending arrests for loitering with the intention of engaging in sex work. 

Do other cities have designated “Sex Worker” zones?

• In the 1980s, the first legal sex worker zones were opened in the Netherlands to deal with residents’ complaints and to improve the safety and health conditions of sex workers.
• Cologne, Germany, has a designated red light district with semi-private stalls for customers and sex workers. Stalls are designed for safety, with easy escape routes and emergency buttons, and social workers are on-site to provide support and services.
• In the U.S., Nevada is the only state where sex work is legal in some counties. In places where it is legalized, like in Las Vegas, the sector is highly regulated and only allows sex workers to work in licensed brothels.

Should California legalize sex work? Should more U.S. cities do the same?

- Laura Woods

(Photo Credit: Flickr)