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A push to legalize prostitution has come to Albany

Posted at 11:24 PM, May 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-08 23:24:22-04

ALBANY, N.Y. (WKBW) — The push to legalize prostitution has come to Albany.

"A full decrim bill, we want to decriminalize sex work" activist and former sex worker Jessica Raven said.

Rallying in Albany on Tuesday, the hope was to encourage lawmakers to eliminate a law that can charge individuals with a misdemeanor for loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. Often this can be done through discrimination according to activists. In addition to the elimination of that law, those rallying also supported legislation that would eliminate charges for individuals forced into prostitution. This could create momentum that leads to full legalization of prostitution.

"It's the best path forward for people in the sex trades whether they're trading sex by choice, by origin, or by circumstance" Raven said.

NYS Assemblyman (R) David DiPietro from East Aurora is one who does not agree with this.

"Just the lowest I've ever seen this government go and it gets worse."

As of now the full legalization has not been proposed yet. The plan is for that to happy next week. If it does, it is unsure if/when it could be voted on.