Sex work as a term covers a broad range of sexual labor, including jobs like camming, stripping, phone sex, and prostitution to name a few. Some forms of sexual labor are regulated, others are criminalized. Pornography and stripping are regulated in the US, with states setting rules about things like working conditions, zoning, and obscenity standards. The direct exchange of sex for anything of value, i.e. prostitution, is the type of sexual labor that tends to be criminalized. Our most urgent focus is to decriminalize all forms of consensual sexual labor.
In order to exercise our fundamental right to sexual freedom, we must have bodily autonomy: the ability to decide how we use our bodies. This includes deciding with whom we want to have sex, and whether ro not we want to exchange anything for sex.
We also have the fundamental human right to choose our work, and in combination with the rights to personal autonomy and sexual freedom, this means that sex work should not be criminalized. Restricting, punishing, and criminalizing sex work is, at its core, about controlling our bodies and reducing our ability to participate in labor of our choosing, to access pleasure, and to express ourselves sexually. Such restrictions erode our freedom to make choices about our bodies, lives, and livelihoods.
Sex workers deserve respect, care, safety, and protection. Decriminalizing sex work is an integral step in assuring that sex workers have that support.
Sex work is interconncted with various human rights, including the right to health, the right to safety, the right to privacy, the right to choose our work and be paid fairly, and the right to personal autonomy.
Blog Posts
- Reaching Settlement in the City of Jacksonville 2022
- Tech’s Censorship of Porn & the Difficulty of Getting Paid 2022
- Discrimination Against Sex Workers 2022
- Violence Against Sex Workers 2021
- OnlyFans’ Banning of Porn and Reversal 2021
- FOSTA – Woodhull’s Fight against a Miserable Failure 2021
- Stepping Toward Decriminalization 2021
- Marginalization and Murder 2021
- The Dangers of the SAFE Tech Act 2021
- Section 230, the “Internet’s First Amendment” 2021
- The Pandemic Economy and Camming 2020
- Social Solidarity in Practice: Supporting Sex Workers During the Coronavirus 2020
- Holding Space for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers 2019
- What’s Happening with Woodhull Freedom Foundation vs. the United States? 2019
- What About SESTA? 2018
- Centering Sexual Freedom on Human Rights Day 2017
- 5 Ways to Advocate for Human Rights 2015
- Rentboy.com Latest Victim in the Ongoing War Against Sex 2015
- The War on Porn Rebranded as the War on Sex Trafficking 2015
- Communities of Privilege, Ethics Of Pleasure, Economies of Pain 2015
- Still Harmful to Minors 2014
- How To Help Young People For Real, Step One: Listen To Them 2014
- 91 Bad Words About Young People and Prostitution: The New York Times Edition 2014
- Censorship by Money: Snuffing Out Adult Entertainment by Denial of Banking Services 2014
- For love or money? 2014
- Isaacs Obscenity Case & Life Without Miller 2014
- Witnessing Transformation – Performers into Producers 2014
- Florida Sheriff Continues ‘War on Porn’ and Sets Sights on Backpage 2013
- Dangerous Intersections 2013
- The ‘Naked Truth’ on adult entertainment Theocrats eager to legislate morality 2013
- Feminism or Fascism: Iceland’s Stunning Ban on Pornography May Be Spreading 2013
- Erasing Criminal Convictions for Survivors of Trafficking: One Step in the Right Direction 2012
- A Call to Change U.S. Policy on Sex Work & HIV 2012
- Some People Enjoy Being Prostitutes……… Get Over It 2012
- If you can’t beat it, regulate it 2012
- Killing the Messenger: The Campaign Against Online Escort Advertising Sites Part II – Operational Policies & Legal Issues 2011
- Killing the Messenger: The Campaign Against Online Escort Advertising Sites 2011
- She Was How Old? – The Current Dangers of Accidental Involvement of Minors in Erotic Imagery 2011
- Ad Placement Fail? 2011
- Ten 2011
- My first whore job 2010
- Don’t tell anyone: I’m a whore 2010
- Sex Workers Stop Traffick 2010
Summit Programs
Press Releases
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Joins Human Rights Orgs, Files Amicus Brief Opposing Texas Social Media Law 2022
- Woodhull’s Human Rights Commission Releases Findings from Super Bowl Sex Trafficking Myths 2022
- Woodhull Announces Human Rights Commissions 2021
- OnlyFans Statement 2021
- The Sex Workers Human Rights Commission 2021
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Files Motion to Declare FOSTA Unconstitutional 2020
- Woodhull Wins FOSTA Appeal 2020
- FOSTA Appeal Moves Forward With Woodhull’s Statement 2018
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Appeals FOSTA Ruling 2018
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Files Lawsuit Challenging FOSTA 2018
- Washington, DC Passes Bill to Repeal Discredited “Prostitution Free Zones” 2014
- Civil Liberties Groups Condemn Government Attacks on Escort Service Providers – Cite First Amendment and Human Rights Concerns 2014
- Legendary Sexual Freedom Advocates to be Honored for Dedication to Establishing Sexual Freedom as a Fundamental Human Right 2012
- International Sex Worker Rights Day 2012
- Woodhull Testifies Against Human Rights Biolcations in Washington, DC 2012
- Human Rights Victory 2011
Media Mentions
- Johns Hopkins University Hosts Panel on Decriminalization 2021
- LGBTQ Agenda: Queer, sex worker rights advocates sound off on OnlyFans flip-flop 2021
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Denounces Anti-Porn Campaign 2021
- Top Digital Rights Organization Highlights Woodhull’s Anti-FOSTA Litigation 2020
- Federal Court Hears Woodhull’s Appeal Challenging FOSTA 2019
Coalition Sign-Ons
- Decriminalize Sex Work California Coalition’s Housing as Healthcare Budget Ask
ACLU California Action
- Response to Shootings at Gold Massage Spa
Red Canary Song
- Harms Done by SESTA/FOSTA and Section 230
Fight for the Future
- Eliminate EARN IT Act
Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)
- Repeal the “Walking While Trans” Ban
Center for Constitutional Rights
- Support for the Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019
Decrim Now DC