1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

I am writing to vocalize my support for Senate Bill 97 to decriminalize sex work in the state of Colorado. The criminalization of sex work puts sex workers, many of whom are victims of sex trafficking, in an unfairly precarious position. Sex workers who have been faced with criminal charges find that they are unable to find other work due to their criminal record, and are forced back into the cycle of relying on sex work for survival. Sex workers who face abuse, rape, and other forms of exploitation in their work are unable to seek protection and legal recourse due to the criminalization of sex work. Regardless of any personal opinions or ethical concerns about sex work in general, criminalizing sex work does not stop it from occurring, but rather serves primarily to punish the vulnerable people who rely on sex work for survival. Decriminalizing sex work would make it easier for those who do not want to continue relying on sex work to seek other job opportunities, and it would allow sex workers who have been exploited or victimized to seek protection and legal recourse. I strongly urge you to show your support for Senate Bill 97, and to help Colorado set an example for the rest of our nation by becoming the first state to fully decriminalize sex work.