In February, HB40 was passed by the Utah Legislarture, creating a safer avenue for sex workers to report criminal acts against them. In the reporting of these offenses, sex workers are immune from charges of prostitution and solicitation.
Although the passing of this bill was a huge step forward in the right direction, sex workers still deserve better options. The criminalization of sex work is putting sex workers at risk for human trafficking and violence.
Often when we think of the “decriminalization of sex work,” people believe this means legal prostitution. Decriminalization does not equal legalization. Both criminalizing and legalizing sex work is dangerous for workers and creates room for more violence.
Decriminalizing sex work would mean deprioritizing arrests of sex workers. Fewer arrests would enforce the benefits of HB40 and lower Utah’s rates of assault.
In a state that claims to value all human life, it’s surprising to see the institutional dehumanization of this community. When will Utah start viewing sex work as valid? When will Utah stop victim-blaming sex workers for the criminal attacks against them? Sex work is real work.
Hailey Brown, Murray