Activists Question Kamala Harris' Statement on Sex Work (XBIZ)

Read the full article by Stephen Yagielowicz at XBIZ.com 

SAN FRANCISCO — Sex work activist group the Erotic Service Providers Legal Education and Research Project (ESPLERP), has issued a statement in response to remarks made by presidential candidate Kamala Harris in a recent interview.

According to the group, it “is not impressed” over Harris’ comments to The Root, where she claims that she is now open to some decriminalization of sex work — despite supporting harmful FOSTA legislation and other questionable moves.

“Given her history, we need to know what Kamala Harris really believes,” says Maxine Doogan of ESPLERP. “At one point in the interview, she sounds like an old school anti-prostitutist from the 1980s — using epithets like ‘pimps’ and ‘Johns.’ Then she says she is open to the decriminalization of sex work.”

“She needs to clarify her position,” Doogan adds, “starting with an unequivocal statement that she supports the decriminalization of sex work for all consenting adults.”

Doogan notes Harris has a decidedly mixed history on sex work.