Prostitution in Rhode Island: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

Article Images

Line 1:

{{Short description|none}}

'''Prostitution in Rhode Island''' was outlawed in 2009. On November 3, 2009, Republican Governor [[Donald Carcieri]] signed into law a bill which makes the buying and selling of sexual services a crime.<ref name="Arditi, Lynn">{{cite news |author=Arditi, Lynn |title=Bill Signing Finally Outlaws Prostitution |url=http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2009/11/governor-carcieri-signed-into.html|work=Providence Journal |date=2009-10-03 |~~accessdate~~access-date=2013-11-13 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131113205521/http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2009/11/governor-carcieri-signed-into.html|archive-date=13 November 2013}}</ref>

Prostitution was legal in [[Rhode Island]] between 1980 and 2009 because there was no specific statute to define the act and outlaw it, although associated activities were illegal, such as street solicitation, running a brothel, and pimping. With the passing of the law, [[Prostitution in Nevada|Nevada]] became the only [[Prostitution in the United States|U.S. state which allows legal prostitution]].

Line 6 ⟶ 7:

Exchanging sex for money is illegal, for both the prostitute and the customer, and is classified as a [[misdemeanor]].

The law makes selling sexual services a [[misdemeanor]] crime punishable with a fine of $250 to $1,000, or up to six months in prison, or both for first offenders.<ref name="Arditi, Lynn"/> The legislation includes a provision that empowers judges to erase any record of charges of convicted prostitutes after one year.<ref>{{cite news |author=Arditi, Lynn |title=RI Senate Passes Prostitution Law |url=http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/10/ri-senate-pass-bill-to-outlaw.html|work=Providence Journal |date=2009-10-29 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091102003245/http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/10/ri-senate-pass-bill-to-outlaw.html |archive-date=2 ~~Nov~~November 2009}}</ref> Multiple offenders face a fine of $500 to $1,000, or up to a year in prison, or both.

Customers face a fine of $250 to $1,000, or up to a year in prison, or both, for first offenders, and a fine of $500 to $1,000, or up to a year in prison, or both, for multiple offenders. The law offers no provision to allow a judge to expunge the record of the customers. The crime is also classified as a [[misdemeanor]].

Line 13 ⟶ 14:

==History==

Prostitution was [[Decriminalization of sex work|decriminalized]] in Rhode Island in 1980, when the prostitution laws were amended, reducing prostitution from a felony to a misdemeanor. The drafters of the law removed the section that addressed committing the act of prostitution itself, and only street solicitation remained illegal.<ref name="Arditi">{{cite news |author=Arditi, Lynn |title='Behind Closed Doors" How RI Decriminalized Prostitution |url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_LAW31_05-31-09_NVEHGBH_v161.3e90048.html |work=Providence Journal |date=2009-05-31 |~~accessdate~~access-date=2009-07-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090601211914/http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_LAW31_05-31-09_NVEHGBH_v161.3e90048.html |archive-date=1 June 2009}}</ref> Prostitution remained decriminalized in the state until November 2009, when it was outlawed again.

It has been argued that the lawmakers who amended the Rhode Island prostitution laws in 1980 had decriminalized indoor prostitution by mistake, without realizing that the new laws were creating a "[[loophole]]." [[Rhode Island Senate|Rhode Island State Senator]] [[John F. McBurney III]] was the only member of the General Assembly at the time of the 2009 vote who had served in 1980. He stated in 2009, "We probably vote on 500 bills a year (...) They didn't know what they were voting for."<ref name="Arditi"/>

John C. Revens Jr. is a former Senate Majority leader and a lawyer who served in the General Assembly for nearly four decades. He agreed, "They would never sponsor a bill decriminalizing prostitution if they knew what it was. No way. Not in a million years."<ref name="Arditi"/>

*1976: [[COYOTE]] is a [[sex ~~worker~~workers' rights]] activist group led by [[Margo St. James]]. They filed a lawsuit against Rhode Island. The argument was based on how much power the state should have to control the sexual activity of its citizens in the case ''COYOTE v. Roberts''. The lawsuit also alleged discrimination on how the law was being applied. Data was submitted that demonstrated selective prosecution, as the Providence Police were arresting female prostitutes far more often than the male customers. Ralph J. Gonnella was Margo St. James's lawyer. He argued that the prostitution law was so broad that it failed to even mention money. It could make sexual relations between unmarried adults a crime punishable by a $10 fine, and the person who initiated the offer of sex could be charged with soliciting and face up to five years in prison.<ref name="Arditi"/>

*1980: Rhode Island General Assembly changed the law on prostitution, deleting the statute which prohibited the act of prostitution itself, but continuing to prohibit street solicitation. With the change in the criminal statute, the lawsuit ~~was~~filed ~~dismissed~~by ~~which~~COYOTE was ~~filed by COYOTE~~dismissed.

*1998: State Supreme Court rules in ''State v. DeMagistris'' that the law against soliciting for prostitution was "primarily to bar prostitutes from hawking their wares in public," and it could not be applied to convict someone for activity that takes place in private.

*2003: Prostitution charges against four women arrested at two Providence spas were dismissed after attorney Michael J. Kiselica cited the 1998 Supreme Court ruling, successfully arguing that Rhode Island had no law against indoor prostitution.

Line 24 ⟶ 25:

*2009: Prostitution was outlawed. On November 3, Governor [[Donald Carcieri]] signed into law a bill which made it a crime to exchange sex for money.

An article by Scott Cunningham and [[Manisha Shah]] published in the ~~<u>~~Review of Economic Studies~~</u>~~ found that the judicial decriminalization of indoor prostitution in 2003 caused a 30% decline in reported ~~female~~rapes ~~rape~~with female ~~offenses~~victims and a 40% reduction in female [[gonorrhea]] incidents during the six years that prostitution was not an illegal offense.<ref>Cunningham and Shah (2017) "[https://academic.oup.com/restud/advance-article/doi/10.1093/restud/rdx065/4756165 Decriminalizing Indoor Prostitution: Implications for Sexual Violence and Public Health]". <u>Review of Economic Studies</u></ref>

== 2009 legislative session ==

Line 31 ⟶ 32:

At the beginning of 2009, two bills were introduced in the [[Rhode Island General Assembly]] which defined the crime of prostitution to include any location (one bill, H5044, originated in the House, and the other, S596, in the Senate).

The most prominent proponent of criminalization was Representative [[Joanne Giannini]] (D).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schweitzer|first1=Sarah|title=Many seek ban as prostitution thrives in R.I|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2009/08/13/in_rhode_island_battle_over_legal_prostitution_rages_on/|newspaper=Boston.com|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date=13 August 2009}}</ref>

She introduced Bill H5044 into the [[Rhode Island House of Representatives|House]] on January 8, 2009 (co-sponsored by Reps. Coderre, Melo, Gemma, and Fellela), and it was referred to the Committee which considered it on April 4, and substituted the text (Sub A) on April 30. The House voted on this with amendments on May 13, and the bill passed to the Senate Committee on May 28 where it remained until the Assembly recessed for the summer.

In the [[Rhode Island Senate|Senate]], a similar bill was introduced by Senator Jabour<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kilgus|first1=Laura|title=Rhode Island no longer 'safe haven' for indoor prostitution|url=http://thericatholic.com/stories/rhode-island-no-longer-safe-haven-for-indoor-prostitution,2624?|website=Rhode Island Catholic|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|language=en|date=9 November 2009}}</ref>

on February 25 (co-sponsored by Senators O'Neill, Lynch, Cote, and Picard). The Judiciary Committee conducted hearings on June 25.

The Senate hearings attracted much media attention. Asian spa workers, recruited by [[Tara Hurley]], testified against the bill.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Arditi|first1=Lynn|title=Sex workers testify at Senate hearing on prostitution bill|url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_BILL_06-19-09_UIEPAKU_v59.3cd847f.html|website=The Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date= 22 June 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090622171141/http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_BILL_06-19-09_UIEPAKU_v59.3cd847f.html |archive-date=22 June 2009}}</ref>

After the testimony of the sex workers, a number of other groups spoke out against the bill. The Committee recommended version Sub A by a vote of 8:4,<ref name="arditi1-5-09">{{cite web|last1=Arditi|first1=Lynn|title=R.I. Senate panel OKs bill outlawing indoor prostitution|url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_BILL_05-01-09_QDE7QTD_v46.38672b3.html|website=The Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date=1 May 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090503032704/http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_BILL_05-01-09_QDE7QTD_v46.38672b3.html |archive-date=3 May 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

which was voted on in the Senate the following day and referred to the House. Both bills were accompanied by other [[Trafficking in human beings|trafficking]] legislation, H5661 (Giannini) and S605 (Senator [[Rhoda Perry]]).

As both the House and the Senate recessed, two separate versions of prostitution bills remained. Both chambers had to approve a single identical bill in order for it to be sent to the Governor, for him to sign it into law. The two bills differed in the levying of punishment. The Senate version of the bill called for staggered penalties for first, second, and third offenses. Prostitutes, their customers, and property owners found guilty of a first offense would have been punished by a civil "violation" and a fine of $100. The House version of the bill called for no penalties for landlords but contained stiffer penalties for prostitutes and customers who were first-time offenders. Anyone found guilty of prostitution faced imprisonment for up to 6 months and a fine of up to $1,000. The penalty for subsequent offenses was up to a year imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000.

Upon review of both versions of the prostitution bills, the State Police, Attorney General [[Patrick C. Lynch]], and Governor [[Donald Carcieri]] called for the passage of the House version of the bill, with stiffer penalties for first-time offenders. Supt. Col. Brendan P. Doherty of the [[Rhode Island State Police]] testified that the police agency, "cannot support civil sanctions for such reprehensible acts."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Arditi|first1=Lynn|title=R.I. law-enforcement officials say Senate bill outlawing indoor prostitution is flawed {{!}} General Assembly|url=http://www.projo.com/generalassembly/PROSTITUTION_BILL_OPPOSED_27_06-28-09_5CES69K_v53.38ad7c3.html|website=The Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604040849/http://www.projo.com/generalassembly/PROSTITUTION_BILL_OPPOSED_27_06-28-09_5CES69K_v53.38ad7c3.html|archive-date=2011-06-04}}</ref>

====Media scrutiny ====

Two front-page articles were published in the ''[[Providence Journal]]'' before the General Assembly returned for a special session, and ''[[Happy Endings?]]'' was released to the general public—a documentary on the Asian [[massage parlor]]s in Rhode Island.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.projo.com/art/content/HAPPY_ENDINGS_FILM_05-24-09_Q9EFHNF_v25.1ecfa95.html |title= Film chronicles R.I.'s Asian brothels |publisher=Providence Journal |date= May 24, 2009 |~~accessdate~~access-date=2013-03-07 |first=Lynn |last=Arditi |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604040055/http://www.projo.com/art/content/HAPPY_ENDINGS_FILM_05-24-09_Q9EFHNF_v25.1ecfa95.html |archive-date=4 June 2011}}</ref><ref name="CHANNEL 12">{{cite web|title=Documentary looks inside massage parlors|url=http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/providence/film_documentary_happy_endings_massage_providence20090606|website=WPRI.com|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date= 6 June 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100131022849/http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/providence/film_documentary_happy_endings_massage_providence20090606 |archive-date=31 January 2010}}</ref>

[[File:spadoor.jpg|left|thumb|Front door of a Providence spa with multiple police stickers]]

*On September 18, 2009, the ''Providence Journal'' reported that the [[Fraternal Order of Police]], representing the [[Rhode Island State Police]], and the Providence, Barrington, Warwick, and Cranston police had solicited donations from the spas. Many city spas have stickers decorating doors and windows, along with logos noting that the spa accepts all major credit cards. Donations from these spas also paid for ads in ''The Rhode Island Trooper'', the official publication of the non-profit Rhode Island State Police Association, a membership organization of [[state police]] "dedicated to the improvement of the law enforcement profession...."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Arditi|first1=Lynn|title=R.I. police charities solicit donations from "spas"|url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/police_and_spas_09-20-09_8PFLRRA_v245.2af21fd.html|website=The Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date=September 18, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110622052555/http://www.projo.com/news/content/police_and_spas_09-20-09_8PFLRRA_v245.2af21fd.html |archive-date=22 June 2011}}</ref>

*On October 25, the Journal reported that over 30 women representing spas in Rhode Island gathered at a Providence Community Center to voice their concern on the pending legislation. Sunyo Williams was working in a [[Pawtucket, Rhode Island|Pawtucket]] spa with three other women, and she said through an interpreter that nobody was under any force to work in that field, and that the women were willing to answer one by one and testify that it was their own choice. She said that each woman had a separate tax identification number and paid taxes, and that all her customers came from [[Massachusetts]], and that the women were making money and spending it in Rhode Island. Some of the other women also spoke or asked questions of the lawmakers, or representatives of advocacy groups such as the Rhode Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking, who attended Sunday's 8:30 a.m. meeting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjeZeg8g_30 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/VjeZeg8g_30 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=R.I. prostitutes speak out against bill to close loophole|last=WPRI|date=26 October 2009|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Special legislative session===

*RI House of Representatives: On October 28, the House passed a bill which defined the crime of prostitution.<ref>{{cite news |author=Arditi, Lynn |title= Full House OKs ban on indoor prostitution |url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/HOUSE_PROSTITUTION_10-29-09_FDG8T13_v78.3b407aa.html |work=Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=2009-10-29 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604044529/http://www.projo.com/news/content/HOUSE_PROSTITUTION_10-29-09_FDG8T13_v78.3b407aa.html |archive-date=4 June 2011}}</ref>

*RI Senate: On October 29 the bill passed the Senate.<ref>{{cite news |author=Arditi, Lynn |title= Update: RI Senate passes prostitution bill, 36-2 |url=http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/10/ri-senate-pass-bill-to-outlaw.html |work=Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=2009-10-30 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111007072224/http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/10/ri-senate-pass-bill-to-outlaw.html |archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Riprostitutionlawsign.jpg|right|thumb|Governor Carcieri signs into law the bill which outlaws prostitution, as Rep. Joanne Giannini looks on]]

Line 74 ⟶ 75:

On November 20, 2010, the Rhode Island state police, Providence police and special agents from U.S. [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] shut down a brothel operating in a first floor apartment in Providence and arrested two women.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/prostitution_ring_11-23-10_0CL3ELT_v10.36d7960.html |title=State, city police and ICE shut down brothel in Providence neighborhood |date=2010-11-23|publisher=Providence Journal|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629045643/http://www.projo.com/news/content/prostitution_ring_11-23-10_0CL3ELT_v10.36d7960.html |archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/11/ri-state-police-arrest-14-on-p.html|title= Update: Police shut down brothel in Providence, nab 14 | date = 2010-11-22|publisher=Providence Journal |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110106114213/http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/11/ri-state-police-arrest-14-on-p.html |archive-date=6 January 2011}}</ref>

Research published in 2017 in the ''[[Review of Economic Studies]]'' found that after the decriminalisation of prostitution Rhode Island in 2003, [[gonorrhoea]] decreased by 40% in females, and that sexual violence fell by 30%.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bulman|first1=May|title=Decriminalising prostitution could 'dramatically' reduce sexual violence and STI transmission, finds study|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/prostitution-decriminalise-sexual-violence-sti-transmission-diseases-reduce-study-a8120316.html|website=The Independent|~~accessdate~~access-date=22 December 2017|date=20 December 2017}}</ref>

== Parties in the debate ==

The main support for a full prostitution ban has come from the Governor, Attorney General, police,<ref name="projo.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_HEARING_10-28-09_5TG8KME_v45.3c1bae9.html |title=Bill to close loophole in prostitution law clears hurdle |publisher=Projo.com |access-date~~= |accessdate~~=2013-03-07 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604044541/http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_HEARING_10-28-09_5TG8KME_v45.3c1bae9.html |archive-date=4 June 2011}}</ref> [[Donna M. Hughes]] of the [[University of Rhode Island]],<ref>[http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/ Donna Hughes, URI] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205023912/http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/ |date=2005-02-05 }}</ref> and Citizens Against Trafficking (CAT). CAT was formed by Donna M. Hughes and Melanie Shapiro after leaving Rhode Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking (RICAHT) when that group refused to support Representative Giannini's version of the bill.<ref name="projo.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://citizensagainsttrafficking.org/|title=Happy Endings? Documentary - BUY THE DVD|website=citizensagainsttrafficking.org}}</ref> Also providing testimony for support of the law was [[Concerned Women for America]], [[Laura Lederer]], and Margaret Brooks, a professor of [[economics]] at [[Bridgewater State College]].

In addition to RI Coalition Against Human Trafficking, opposition to the bill came from women's rights groups, anti-trafficking groups, sex workers, and [[sex educator]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riaclu.org/documents/2009prostitutionbillopposition.pdf|title=Statement to House of Representatives on H5044A|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720183626/http://www.riaclu.org/documents/2009prostitutionbillopposition.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Arditi|first1=Lynn|title=Groups oppose bill to criminalize prostitution in R.I|url=~~https://web.archive.org/web/20101101054618/~~http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/06/groups-oppose-b.html|website=The Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date=10 June 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101101054618/http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/06/groups-oppose-b.html |url-status=dead|archive-date=1 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Advocats Slam RI Anti-Prostitution Bill|url=http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/local_ap_providence_advocates_slam_anti_prostitution_bill_20090610_nek|website=WPRI.com|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date= 10 June 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101101180356/http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/local_ap_providence_advocates_slam_anti_prostitution_bill_20090610_nek |archive-date=1 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Arditi|first1=Lynn|title=Lawmakers urged to block prostitution bill|url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_ACLU_06-11-09_O1EM9H3_v123.4122b3f.html|website=The Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date= June 11, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101101054628/http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_ACLU_06-11-09_O1EM9H3_v123.4122b3f.html |archive-date=1 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://womensenews.org/story/health/091202/female-sexologist-awaits-pawtucket-zoning-board|title=Female Sexologist Awaits Pawtucket Zoning Board|first=Amy|last=Littlefield|date=2009-12-03|publisher=WeNews}}</ref> These groups included Amos House, [[Brown University]] Students Against Human Trafficking, Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE),<ref>{{cite web|title=DARE in the News: Member Rose Perry Speaks out Against Prostitution Prosecution Bill|url=http://www.daretowin.org/?p=112|website=DARE|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date=15 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110192854/http://www.daretowin.org/?p=112 |archive-date=10 November 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Needham|first1=Cynthia|title=Bill targets loophole in Rhode Island prostitution law|url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_LOOPHOLE_04-09-09_VDDVTEO_v9.3865d13.html|website=The Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date= 9 April 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604040935/http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_LOOPHOLE_04-09-09_VDDVTEO_v9.3865d13.html |archive-date=4 June 2011}}</ref>

Family Life Center,<ref>{{cite web|title=OpenDoors|url=http://www.ri-familylifecenter.org/index.php?name=pagetool_news&news_id=68 |website=OpenDoors|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018~~|date=~~ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111008065150/http://www.ri-familylifecenter.org/index.php?name=pagetool_news&news_id=68 |archive-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>

the International Institute of Rhode Island, [[American Civil Liberties Union]],<ref>{{cite web|title=News Release: National Project Joins Local Organizations in Opposing Legislative Effort to Further Criminalize Prostitution|url=http://www.riaclu.org/News/Releases/20090610.htm|website=Rhode Island Affiliate, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018~~|date=~~ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090915230618/http://www.riaclu.org/News/Releases/20090610.htm |archive-date=15 September 2009}}</ref>

Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, Rhode Island National Association of Social Workers and the Rhode Island [[National Organization for Women]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Women need rehabilitation not penalties|url=http://www.riaclu.org/documents/2009ProstitutionhandoutNOW.pdf|website=Rhode Island ACLU|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date= 10 June 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720183720/http://www.riaclu.org/documents/2009ProstitutionhandoutNOW.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref>

Other groups providing testimony included the [[Urban Justice Center]].<ref>[http://www.sexworkersproject.org/downloads/2009/20090608-swp-hb5044a-memo-in-opposition.pdf Urban Justice Center: Memorandum in Opposition – H.B.5044.] Urban Justice Center Sex Workers Project, June 8, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.sexworkersproject.org/downloads/2009/20090618-swp-statement-to-senate-judiciary-committee.pdf Urban Justice Center: Statement to hearing of Senate Committee on the Judiciary on S.B. 0584.] Urban Justice Center Sex Workers Project, June 18, 2009.</ref>

Individuals included the women's chaplain of the [[List of Rhode Island state prisons|Adult Correctional Institutions]] and [[Ann Jordan]], the Director of the Program on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor at [[Washington College of Law]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center/projects.cfm|title=Program on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100225081341/https://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center/projects.cfm |archive-date=25 February 2010}}</ref> who provided testimony arguing that the bill would not help fight trafficking, but instead worsen the problem.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jordan|first1=Ann|title=Letter to Senate Judiciary Committee, American University Washington College of law|url=http://www.riaclu.org/documents/2009prostitutionLetterRISenate.pdf|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date= 5 June 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720183735/http://www.riaclu.org/documents/2009prostitutionLetterRISenate.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> During the summer recess, two Representatives, [[David Segal (politician)|David Segal]] and [[Edith Ajello]] outlined their reasons for opposing the bills.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Segal/Edith Ajello: Don't turn prostitutes into criminals|url=http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/CT_segal21_07-21-09_1TF2P1V_v17.3f89696.html|website=The Providence Journal|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date=21 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604041113/http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/CT_segal21_07-21-09_1TF2P1V_v17.3f89696.html |archive-date=4 June 2011}}</ref> Similarly Senators Jabour and McCaffrey stated the arguments for the Senate bill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldnews.com/opinions/x1528795864/GUEST-OPINION-Senate-bill-would-close-RI-prostitution-loophole-08-15-09|title=GUEST OPINION: Senate bill would close RI prostitution loophole, 08-15-09|first=Sen. Paul V. Jabour and Sen. Michael J.|last=McCaffrey}}</ref> The Senate bill was seen as too weak by supporters of the House bill because it lacked prison time.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hughes|first1=D|last2=George|first2=R. P.|title=Not a Victimless Crime|url=http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NWQ3MDdhZDBiNTE2Yzk4OWZjM2MwYTE1Mjk0MDRiMmM=|website=National Review Online|~~accessdate~~access-date=16 April 2018|date=10 August 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090812105122/http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NWQ3MDdhZDBiNTE2Yzk4OWZjM2MwYTE1Mjk0MDRiMmM= |archive-date=12 August 2009}}</ref>

~~==Help and support for male sex workers==~~

[[File:Rich Holcomb and James Waterman displaying the Project Weber poster at the 2010 HIV Prevention Summit in Washington DC..jpg|thumb|Rich Holcomb and James Waterman displaying the Project Weber poster at the 2010 HIV Prevention Summit in Washington, D.C.]]

In the United States and other places, there are few resources and little support readily available for male sex workers working or living on the streets.<ref>{{cite web|last=Siegel|first=Joe|title=Do HIV/AIDS Service Organizations Effectively Reach Male Sex Workers?|url=http://www.edgenewengland.com/index.php?id=126242|website=Article in Edge New, Boston, Mass.|accessdate=28 October 2011}}</ref> Men and boys in this situation may face many issues. They may be at a higher risk for health problems and abuse. Male street prostitutes may have issues such as drug addiction. Offering support and health care to such stigmatized people can be difficult due to a reluctance to disclose information about their work to health care professionals, which can also make male prostitutes difficult to identify in order to reach out to.

In recent years some organizations directed specifically at helping male sex workers have been founded and some studies have begun being done on this little-studied population. For example, [[Richard Holcomb]], a former sex worker, founded 'Project Weber',<ref>{{cite web|last=Siegel|first=Joe|title=Former Male Prostitute Helps Hustlers Leave R.I. Streets|url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=national&sc2=news&sc3=&id=125867|website=Article in Edge New, Boston, Mass.|accessdate=30 November 2011}}</ref> a [[harm reduction]] program in [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], [[Rhode Island]] that offers resources and support to male sex workers living on the streets, including a needle exchange and HIV testing. Holcomb cited the lack of data available on male commercial sex workers in the region as his reason for helping develop a 2010 survey to assess the needs of this population. Project Weber recruited and surveyed 50 male sex workers living on the streets of [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]. Holcomb cited the fact that he and members of his team are former sex workers themselves as one of the primary reasons why they were able to gain access to the men in order to conduct this survey.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goslant|first=Justin|title=Male Prostitution in Providence|url=http://www.theanchoronline.org/news/2011/10/31/male-prostitution-in-providence|website=Article in The Anchor Newspaper.|accessdate=31 October 2011|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702224116/http://www.theanchoronline.org/news/2011/10/31/male-prostitution-in-providence/|archivedate=2 July 2012|df=}}</ref> The project says they have gleaned valuable data on male sex workers who work and live on the streets of Providence. Holcomb has also created several documentaries meant to draw attention to the subjects of male street prostitution and drug use.

== See also ==