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Quotes from Discussion on
Ending Violence, Discrimination and Stigma
Oakland YWCA
Sponsored by SWOP-USA
December 17: Third Annual International Day
to End Violence Against Sex Workers
Cynthia
Chandler, co-director of Justice Now: “Attempts to
rehabilitate sex workers are patronizing at best if not blatant white
supremacy.” 
Nat Smith, Bay
Area Organizer for Critical Resistance: “We
don’t believe sex work is a crime and we don’t want
to see sex workers put into the system.” 
Avaren
Ipsen, Bible Scholar: “It is ironic that adultery has
been completely decriminalized, which use to be a capital crime, when
prostitution is now being made a felony by George Bush. But it
[prostitution] has never been a crime in the Bible. We have stopped
stoning adulterers. Why can’t we stop putting prostitutes in
jail?” 
Natasha Sommers, SWOP’s Transgender Outreach Coordinator: “Decriminalization will ensure that I will not be reading about my fellow transgender sex workers’ deaths in the paper over my morning coffee.”
Veronica Monet, former prostitute, published author, sex educator and SWOP activist: "The Arguments Against Decrim Include:
Most prostitutes do not want to be prostitutes
Most prostitutes are forced to be prostitutes via abusive pimps and/or trafficking
Most prostitutes are incest survivors
Most prostitutes are addicted to drugs
Prostitution erodes family values
Prostitution destroys neighborhoods and attracts criminal elements Prostitution degrades women
Prostitution is rape
These are the Wrong Arguments when discussing Decrim. We can agree or disagree on these issues but ultimately, no matter what we believe to be true about prostitutes and prostitution – decriminalization eliminates many of the problems currently associated with prostitution and empowers prostitutes to make whatever choices work best for them as individuals.
Decrim is about
MORE Choice Decrim is about MORE Safety
Decrim is about MORE Human Rights
Decrim is about MORE Respect, Dignity, Opportunities and Options Decrim can redirect monies currently spent to criminalize prostitutes. That money is better spent helping prostitutes live improved lives. That money can also be used to provide education and training in alternative professions for those prostitutes who make that choice.
Decrim is
NOT about Promoting Prostitution. Decrim is NOT about Capitalism.
Decrim is NOT about Giving Husbands Permission to Cheat on Their Wives.
Decrim restores Constitutional Guarantees taken for granted by most citizens for Women, Men and Transgenders who work in the sex industry.
The next time someone quotes a study or survey that purports to tell you what prostitutes want – ask them if those prostitutes polled asked to be arrested. No matter whether a prostitute wants to continue to work in prostitution or not – No matter what a prostitute thinks about prostitution – NO prostitute wants to go to jail."