Illinois Escorts

A recent study, reported by MSN, reveals that decriminalizing sex work significantly enhances the safety and well-being of sex workers. In jurisdictions where sex work is decriminalized, workers are more likely to access justice, receive specialized support, and assert their boundaries. Conversely, criminalized settings increase vulnerability to exploitation, modern slavery, and a reluctance to report abuse due to stigma and fear.

Stigma and Fear Result from Criminalization

Research across four legal jurisdictions confirms that decriminalization reduces stigma and empowers workers to negotiate consent and seek support, thereby lessening their risk of exploitation. Professor Teela Sanders, of the University of Leicester, emphasizes that "stigma against sex workers—particularly in criminalized and partially criminalized settings—can be embedded within essential services such as health care and policing. This stigma often leads to compounded harm for sex workers, further alienating them from the services they need.”

The study found that legal barriers and fear of law enforcement in criminalized settings prevent sex workers from reporting abuse, contrasting sharply with the experiences in decriminalized or legalized areas like New Zealand and Nevada's managed brothels.

Urgent Need for Legal Reform

Researchers, interviewing criminal justice professionals, support workers, and sex workers from the US, New Zealand, and the UK, found that legal frameworks directly impact how workers negotiate consent. Decriminalized settings fostered greater awareness of legal rights and empowered workers to set boundaries. Authorities’ responses to violence varied significantly based on legal recognition.

Sanders calls for "an urgent need for legal and policy reforms to protect sex workers’ rights and empower them to set and maintain boundaries, while providing effective mechanisms for redress.” Distrust of authorities, exacerbated by criminalization, was a major barrier to reporting abuse.

Full Decriminalization for Justice

Sex workers interviewed for the report recommended ensuring survivor choice in reporting, building trust through specialized support, and fostering partnerships between mainstream services and sex worker-led organizations.

Deputy Chief Constable Dan Vajzovic of the UK’s National Police Chiefs’ Council stated, “Across society, we need to do more to tackle violence against women and girls; this is especially true when considering under-protected communities such as sex workers. I welcome this contribution to strengthening our knowledge base and hope that it allows consideration of whether better legislative frameworks can be developed.”

The research advocates for full decriminalization of sex work to improve protections and access to justice. Freedom United supports this call.

Call to Action: Support Illinois SB2391

Freedom United urges Illinois lawmakers to pass SB2391, which aims to protect sex workers’ rights and safety while combating human trafficking. This legislation is crucial to preventing abuse, stopping trafficking, and ensuring every individual’s right to safety and autonomy.

Illinois lawmakers are set to introduce legislation this week that would fully decriminalize sex work, making the state a pioneer in this policy shift. This move follows years of advocacy by Equality Illinois and the Sex Worker Advisory Group, a coalition of Black and Brown sex workers.  

The bill, sponsored by state Representatives Will Guzzardi and Celina Villanueva, aims to reduce violence against sex workers by removing criminal penalties for consensual sex work, expunging related records, and establishing a sex workers' bill of rights.

Advocates argue that current laws force sex workers into dangerous situations, hindering their ability to screen clients and report crimes.

"The threat of arrest keeps sex workers unsafe and in the shadows," says Brian Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois.

Studies show alarming rates of violence against sex workers, with disproportionate impacts on transgender individuals.  

"There's no single solution to this epidemic, but decriminalization has proven effective elsewhere," says Representative Guzzardi.

The bill does not affect penalties for sex trafficking or abuse.

"People deserve safety, dignity, and respect," Guzzardi emphasizes.

Advocates hope decriminalization will reduce stigma and improve the lives of sex workers. "We are everyday people," says Jayr, a sex worker and security guard.  

While Illinois previously reduced prostitution penalties, the bill aims for full decriminalization, sending a powerful message about bodily autonomy and freedom.

The legislation is expected to be formally introduced this week.

Democratic Congressman Shri Thanedar has called for the nationwide decriminalization of sex work in the U.S., citing its potential to enhance protections for sex workers and combat trafficking and exploitation of minors. His remarks came after the House Ethics Committee released findings implicating former Congressman Matt Gaetz in alleged misconduct involving minors and payments for sex.

Thanedar argued on Twitter that decriminalizing sex work would allow workers to report abuse without fear of legal repercussions. “Sex workers should be able to come to law enforcement when they are victims of abuse,” he wrote, adding that such measures could prevent the trafficking and exploitation of children. He emphasized that decriminalization would improve access to justice, health care, and unionization for sex workers, while regulating the industry to curb illegal activities. “It also helps them report crimes against them,” he noted.

Currently, sex work is legal only in parts of Nevada, where it is highly regulated. A 2023 report identified fewer than two dozen businesses operating statewide. Advocates argue that broader decriminalization would create safer working conditions and reduce stigma.

The Ethics Committee's report revealed allegations that Gaetz paid for sex with women, including a 17-year-old who claimed she was paid $400. Gaetz denied the accusations, citing the Department of Justice’s decision not to pursue charges as evidence of his innocence. Despite his denial, the allegations have marred his political career, including a failed bid for Florida attorney general and mounting opposition to a potential gubernatorial run in 2026.

Thanedar’s proposal highlights a growing call for reform, aligning with efforts to protect vulnerable populations and ensure dignity and rights for sex workers. Decriminalization, he contends, would address systemic issues while fostering safety and accountability in the industry.

The Illinois General Assembly this spring approved a proposal to allow sex workers’ criminal charges expunged from their records for convictions dating back to when prostitution was classified as a felony in Illinois.

Back in 2013, Illinois reduced a prostitution conviction down to a Class A misdemeanor. Despite no longer being considered a felony offense, a conviction can still carry a maximum fine of $2500 and up to nearly a year in jail.