We’re putting together a new phase in our challenge to California’s anti prostitution law (known as Penal Code 647(b) by starting a court case in the California State Court system. Join and be inspired by the outpouring of support from workers, clients and allies for our quest to put a stop to these bad laws.
And with FOSTA/SESTA now on the books, we need that support even more than ever to get rid of these bad anti prostitution laws because they violate our freedom and liberty. Many members of the erotic community find ourselves in desperate situations because of the loss of online spaces where we can exercise our constitutionally protected right to advertise, screen clients, and share safety information.
Some have returned to or have resorted to more dangerous work conditions, such as street-based work, where we have little or no means to protect ourselves from violence or screen clients. Bad federal laws like FOSTA are always predicated upon draconian anti-prostitution state laws like California’s 647(b) and “Loitering With Intent to Commit Prostitution" California Penal Code 653.22 PC, otherwise known as the "walking while looking like a prostitute" law. These bad laws not only profile the general public as prostitutes, but also criminalize adult consensual workers' right to exist by specifically criminalizing our right to negotiate for our wages and safe work conditions, including screening our clients and vice versa.
Our last campaign ESPLERP v Gascon [16-15927], the Federal court case that challenged the constitutionality of California's anti prostitution law, ended with an unacceptable ruling in the Ninth Circuit this summer. But we here at the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) are not giving up!
